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Best local albums of the year (so far)?

Posted on June 28th, 2009 – 7:33 AM
By Chris Riemenschneider

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Ah… top 10 lists are so much fun aren’t they? Especially when you disagree with them. Be sure to click over to our main music page to read my picks for the local discs that really stand out this year. Someone already left a comment about Halloween, Alaska’s record being a clear omission from the list (I did include one of H,A’s songs in a sidebar on 10 more great new local songs to download).

Go ahead and make a case here for any other Minnesota records of ‘09 that you think you’ll still be enjoying by year’s end. Or go ahead and reiterate your love for any of the discs that did make the list. Just don’t promote your cousin’s Tool cover band here or whatever. And please note: Solid Gold’s record, which has turned into the biggest local disc of ‘09, came out last fall so it technically doesn’t qualify. Like those guys need more hype, anyway.

9 Responses to "Best local albums of the year (so far)?"

Bob says:

June 29th, 2009 at 9:05 am

How about “01″ by The Arrest. Just released in May. Fine songwriting, production and musicianship. Add great guitar work by the pedal happy Mark Edwards, but probably the strongest point would be the vocals.

Lenny says:

June 29th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

I really like “This Darkness of Love” from The Sunny Era!

Great use of instrumentation, VERY interesting in the way the songs are constructed and developed, and a nice blend of world music and indie rock.

kaye says:

June 29th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

How about This World Fair self titled album or the new Halloween Alaska CD or Ari Herstand’s latest CD? All of these are very worthy.

April says:

June 30th, 2009 at 8:53 am

I loved Muja Messiah…Adventures of a B-boy D-boy!

Skelly says:

June 30th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

“Like those guys need more hype, anyway.”

Solid Gold does need more hype, and lots of it, as does every other young band in these cities.

Unless of course your Motion City Soundtrack. Then you’re just invisible in the local press and don’t matter. (/sarcasm)

solace says:

June 30th, 2009 at 3:16 pm

Motion City Soundtrack are awful tho.

Skelly says:

June 30th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

@solace

“Motion City Soundtrack are awful tho.”

Well, that’s maybe why they didn’t make Chris’ list then. ;) (or it could’ve been because they don’t have a new album out yet.)

Borangutan» Ari Herstand, Kill To Kill, and Gospel Gossip in the News – Borangutan says:

June 30th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

[…] Best local albums of the year (so far)? – Star Tribune Pop Life […]

jess says:

June 30th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

what about some good old fashion pop?

mayda-the interrogation

yes?