Alan Sparhawk, Mimi Parker, and Steve Garrington comprise Low, the minimalist alt-rock group that shares Northern Minnesota roots with talent such as Bob Dylan, Haley Bonar, Charlie Parr, and Trampled by Turtles. Low’s debut studio record I Could Live In Hope (1994) garnered raves from critics both locally to nationally, from publications ranging from SPIN to Le Journal de Quebec,…

Another collaborator on the forthcoming Adele album has been revealed: Damon Albarn. The Blur frontman, though, doesn’t think his contributions will make the cut. “Adele asked me to work with her and I took the time out for her,” Albarn told The Sun. “And I’m not a producer, so…I don’t know what is happening really. Will she use any of the…

Hey kids! Jack White‘s company Third Man Records has announced a compilation of kids’ music that will be released on vinyl along with a special portable children’s turntable. This Record Belongs to ______, which will be released November 6, includes a storybook and features kid-friendly tunes by artists including Carole King, Jerry Garcia, Nina Simone, Donovan, and Shel Silverstein.…

Of all the people who have weighed in on the beef between hip-hop artists Drake and Meek Mill, perhaps the most unexpected are the Arcs. A lo-fi new video for their song “Outta My Mind” cuts away twice—first to a Chinatown fight and then to a discussion of the argument that started when Meek Mill accused Drake of not…

Low: Ones and Sixes Low‘s long-awaited 11th studio album, Ones and Sixes, finally arrives on Friday by way of Sub Pop Records. The minimalistic Duluthians have more than 20 years of songwriting under their belt, yet this album’s source of inspiration seems to be fresh and in the moment for guitarist Alan Sparhawk. “This one, I…

On Saturday night in Surrey, England, Rod Stewart performed publicly with the Faces for the first time in 22 years. At a charity fundraiser to fight prostate cancer, the band played hits including “I Feel So Good,” “Ooh La La,” and “You Can Make Me Dance.” (Rolling Stone) Saturday night would have been the late Freddie Mercury‘s 69th…

Prince’s latest album, HITNRUN, is out today. There’s no such thing as an “ordinary” Prince album, but this new album—his 38th studio release—is certainly anything but. For one thing, it’s being released—at least at first—exclusively via Tidal, Jay Z’s streaming music service. For another, it’s described as “super experimental” (and this is coming from a guy…

If there was a name for that singular, warm, musky sandalwood aroma that permeates the walls of Paisley Park, it would have to be Anticipation. How else to describe that smell of upscale, anything-might-happen glee? It’s intoxicating. It makes reasonable people do embarrassing things. And it keeps people coming back for more. I’ve lost count of…

At its heart, the Minnesota State Fair is a giant party. Essential to any party is the music, and on Saturday, Sept. 5, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Avett Brothers turned out two breathlessly generous sets of music that elevated the mood at the state’s biggest party from celebratory to transcendent. Music fans…

We’re rolling into fall with round five of Local Current’s DJ in Residence! The Current has been inviting local musicians to take over our all-Minnesota music stream to talk about the local music scene and to spin tracks from other local musicians. Martin Devaney, Sophia Eris, Al Church, and Reina del Cid have all had…