Local Rockers Issue Roundabout Judy Garland Tribute

"There Is No Place Like MPLS" trumpets the cover of the Cardinal Sin and Small Town Burn a Little Slower's new split 7" single EP (Grey Flight Records), the contents of which indeed ought to imbue area fans of melodic punkindie with civic pride. The vinyl is done in a lovely black-and-white marble pattern, which, in keeping with the theme of Midwestern provincialism, ends up looking Holstein-ish. Each band gives up an original and a cover (Small Towns take on Rocky Votolato's "Suicide Machine"; the Cardinal Sin do a faithful version of the Wedding Present's "Brassneck"). My no-contest favorite is the Cardinal Sin's "The Saddest Song," tough-plus-vulnerable and completely deserving of its "Yeaaahh!" conclusion.