I was a fan of Steve Perry before I lived in Minneapolis, reading his articles on Prince in Musician as a teenager in Madison, Wisconsin, and his slow-boil of an essay on Motown and black nationalism in the book Facing the Music as a college student in D.C. When I moved here in the early '90s, and noticed his name next to amazing editorials in City Pages, I put two and two together, and counted yet another reason to feel lucky I moved here. My career at the paper began after his departure in 1997, but he was very much an influence (and a generous source) even without his central, biting, clarion voice in the paper. When he came back in 2002, my first hope was that he would bring political essays back to City Pages--which he did. He also, right off the bat, put together one of the more heartening overnight group efforts the paper had ever undertaken, the Wellstone tribute issue. When Steve pulled off something similar post-Katrina with "New Orleans: Survivor Stories," I considered it one of our proudest moments. His accompanying essay is an example of what he can do that so few newspaper editors even try. I've had my sharp disagreements with Steve, and I know I've caused him headaches. But he's never wavered in supporting my work, which I consider a great gift.

On Monday, Steve announced that he'd be leaving City Pages (more here). Within a day, we heard he'd been replaced by Kevin Hoffman of the Cleveland Scene (more here). Steve's departure follows that of many other City Pages staff (including arts editor Dylan Hicks, music editor Lindsey Thomas, staff writer Molly Priesmeyer, and web designer Karl Pearson-Cater) since the takeover of Village Voice Media by New Times, and echoes similar partings at Village Voice papers around the country (more background on pre-merger rumbles, the announcement, the merger, one firing, another, another, the Idolator flap, and another resignation). What I hope lives on at City Pages as part of Steve's legacy is the idea that thinking is as important as reporting. I hope these blogs live on as well--the page you're reading is part of his legacy, too. See you later, Steve, hope to see you and Cecily soon, and stop by to post once in a while. Update: See comments for more links. Britt's goodbye.

10 things I posted last year that my friends might actually read, in chronological order. (Above: Me talking to Ice Cube at McNally Smith.)

1. "You can't do all of it by yourself": a tribute to Coretta Scott King (Complicated Fun, February 3, 2006).

2. Can't Go Home: Juvenile's New Orleans, the ghost town America made (City Pages, April 5, 2006), with more photos here.

3. Audio: James Baldwin and Malcolm X (Complicated Fun, April 25, 2006).

4. Top ten blurry highlights from Homegrown (Culture to Go, May 9, 2006), more photos here.

5. photos from Art-A-Whirl (Complicated Fun, May 24, 2006).

6. "Desmond Dekker Came First": the real-life "007" (Complicated Fun, June 2, 2006).

7. "Something about that song haunts you": A history of "We Shall Overcome" (Complicated Fun, June 9, 2006).

8. "Out Loud: They scream. They wear tacos for underwear. Meet Faggot, rock's next big gay thing" (City Pages, June 21, 2006), more photos here, plus Lindsey's account of treasure hunting here.

9. Ten Thousand Bullets: D.C. lifer George Pelecanos writes about murder, drug feuds, riots, dog-fighting--and also a little violence (City Pages, July 19, 2006) with more Q's and A's here.

10. Reggaeton Animal: Immigrant dreams, dirty dancing, and the revolution: Meet the new Latin hip hop of Maria Isa and Danny y Elliot (City Pages, November 22, 2006), with more photos and links here.

Bonus track: Living Like a Monk: How Minnesota musicians revived '60s rockers the Monks (City Pages, August 16, 2006).

Here are the Top 10 public highlights from "our circle" in 2006--i.e. authors, musicians, and critics who have received (or still do receive) a paycheck from City Pages (sorry, Chuck). This isn't a list of best stories or controversies; write your own list for that.

10. Katy Reckdahl moves back to New Orleans.

9. Now syndicated, Rob Nelson (Year in Film) gets a Rotten Tomatoes page.

8. (tie) City Pages sweeps 2006 Minnesota SPJ Page One awards (with nods to "New Orleans: Survivor Stories," Beth Hawkins, Paul Demko, G.R. Anderson, Britt Robson, and more). Meanwhile, Dara Moskowitz gets two James Beards.

7. (tie) Melissa Maerz survives firings at Spin magazine, stays on as associate editor. (The year-end issue is like a City Pages reunion, with Will Hermes, Jon Dolan, Mikael Wood, Michaelangelo Matos, and Lindsey Thomas.)

Elsewhere, Dolan becomes senior music critic for Blender; Jon Caramanica becomes music editor for Vibe; and Longtime CP contributor Robert Christgau moves on to Rolling Stone, NPR, and MSN.com. As Dennis Lim takes his critics poll to Indiewire, Michaelangelo Matos edits, and writes the lead essay for, Idolator's new music poll (Rod Smith helps), and is subsequently banned from writing for City Pages. Village Voice Media LLC employees are instructed not to vote in the poll, though at least one employee defies the gag order (more here).

6. (tie) Ann Ursu rounds the bases of baseball bloggerdom as Bat-girl, publishes The Shadow Thieves (Atheneum). Meanwhile, Eric Dregni (hello, Vinnie?) publishes five books: Midwest Marvels: Roadside Attractions across Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin; Weird Minnesota; Follies of Science: 20th Century Visions of Our Fantastic Future; Zamboni: The Coolest Machines on Ice; Scooter Bible: From Cushman to Vespa, the Ultimate History and Buyer's Guide.

5. Jim Walsh releases CD as the Mad Ripple, hosts hootenannies.

4. (tie) Jim DeRogatis's Sound Opinions begins airing on 88.3 FM the Current. Meanwhile, Zak Sally champions Tool on ABC News (hello, Pitchfork, he wrote that article for City Pages).

3. Former City Pages editor Monika Bauerlein becomes editor in chief of Mother Jones.

2. Theater critic Quinton Skinner hooks me late with his gripping 2005 thriller 14 Degrees Below Zero, leaving this fan to play catch-up with his short-story contribution in this year's Twin Cities Noir (yada), also featuring Brad Zellar.

1. Diabo Cody publishes a hit memoir, Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper (Gotham), and makes a rock-star appearance on Letterman. Hey, even my dad was excited about this.

I need the glory:

Trama rhymes "internet bullies" with "Pete Scholtes" on this track from The Mixed Up Tape. (Actually, it's SHOLE-tiss, but who cares). He performs at that CD's release party on January 25 at the Dinkytowner.

Recently posted elsewhere: Michael Yonkers cheats death--barely (CTG 1/18/07), 3 quick questions: Afrika Bambaataa (A-List/CTG 1/17/07), Minnesota Jukebox: Anti-death-penalty country, MN bubblegum, and the Flamin' Oh's (CP 1/10/07), Paul Nelson in the year-end Rolling Stone (CTG 1/8/07), Grandmaster Flash cracks Rock Hall of Fame (CTG 1/8/07), Minnesota native on 'Ego Trip's (White) Rapper Show' (CTG 1/8/07), ballot in Strib's critics poll (Star Tribune 1/4/07), Artist of the Year: P.O.S. (CP 12/27/06), Local Music Yearbook '06 (CP 12/20/06), P.O.S.'s album of the year (CP 12/20/06).

1. Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback documentary and various Monks videos on Youtube

2. P.O.S. "Bleeding Hearts Club (MPLS Chapter)" video (at Youtube) (scenes from the shoot)

3. Ill Chemistry (Desdamona and Carnage) at Trocadero's 11/28/06 on Youtube

4. The Flamin' Oh's "I Remember Romance" vintage Chuck Statler video on Youtube

5. Vintage Eyedea and Slug freestyle footage from The Wake-Up Show; part 2; both at Youtube

6. DJ Snuggles at the State Fair on Youtube

7. (tie) Tapes 'N Tapes "Cowbell" video (at Youtube) and appearance on Letterman at Youtube

8. Heiruspecs "Positions of Strength" video at Youtube

9. Second Stage tent collapses at Green Man festival at Starfire TV

10. Signal to Trust live in the Entry at Schedule Two

More videos:

Documentary: Bunker's: An American Music Story (official site)
TV series: Drinking With Ian
Haley Bonar's "Devilish Man" video at Youtube
TV: Unknown Prophets song played on Channel 4
Lao Crimino "Move Som'm" video on MySpace
The Alarmists at the Varsity in June on Youtube
The Suburbs playing Loring Park in 1980 at Youtube
Danny y Elliot and Maria Isa in City Pages
Low playing "Sunflower" at Loring Park in 2006 via Youtube
Bone Appetit at Homegrown Festival in Duluth
Heiruspecs in Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine mini-doc
5th Annual Twin Cities Celebration of Hip Hop
Trama's "Pack It Up" video
Documentary: Pick Up the Mic (documentary featuring Tori Fixx) (L.A. opening)
The Chosen Few at the Dinkytowner
Pigeon John namedropping Slug in "Freaks! Freaks!"
Soul Asylum and Wyclef Jean, "Gone Till November"
P.O.S. "Half Cocked Concepts" video
Andrew Bird and Martin Dosh live footage at Youtube
TV: Atmosphere on Jimmy Kimmel
Atmosphere, "Say Hey There" video
Street Kingz, "I Shine" video
Prince, "Black Sweat" video

Not available: Rick Fuller's 'First Avenue HayDay' documentary; The C.O.R.E.'s "Northern Exposure (Tease Me)"; Prince on SNL; Atmosphere on Conan
www.youtube.com/rhymesayers

Add your own suggestions below and I'll add them to the "more videos" list.

NPR's "Overlooked 11" of 2006.
Local Critics' Local Music Top 10s.
Danny Boy's best photos of 2006
Britt Robson's 100 best CDs of 2006
Top 10 MN music video moments of 2006
Slate Year in Music
The Current staff Top 10s
Fimoculous 2006 list of music lists
Rex's own top albums

Paul Nelson in Rolling Stone's year-end issue (CTG 1/8/07)

Leave it to James Brown to die on Christmas, then have a multi-city touring funeral. He deserves a big finish, though his death is the kind that makes you think about your living parents and the world, and realize that some things really do come to an end. Unlike with other musical heroes who have died in recent years, I don't find myself wishing I'd interviewed Mr. Brown. However ultimately mysterious the human being was, you can't help suspect that the journalists around him, the memorists, the authors of his biographies, his autobiography, the 2003 documentary, and that recent in-depth Rolling Stone profile, got just about as much information out of the man as anyone was ever going to get. Not that Brown didn't have more to say to us, and more music to make, or that there isn't much more to say about his music.

But he was well covered, and in the end, better appreciated. I'm proud of suggesting to Steve Perry that he call Alan Leeds, and the beautifully edited result is the remembrance in this week's City Pages. Someday I'll interview "Funky Drummer" Clyde Stubblefield again. For now, my only contribution will be to say that JB's influence on popular music as a whole was never seriously calculated before 1988 (I know, because I read every last word about him then). That was when hip hop began taking his music apart to see how it worked, something I'll probably keep doing for the rest of my life, too. James Brown changed rhythm, period. To paraphrase DJ Shadow: Thank you for inventing modern music.

James Brown links (updated through January):

Photos: Rolling Stone photos

Audio: James Brown on Democracy Now!

James Brown at Robert Christgau

Culture to Go remembrances

The usual messy Wikipedia entry

Status Ain't Hood takes a stab at remembrance

Matos on the reissues that changed my life

Douglas Wolk on "The Popcorn"

Audio: Terry Gross's 2005 interview with James Brown

ILX Sandbox thread

Chicago Tribune tribute

CD: Star Time

WFMU blog response

Loudersoft video links