Jack Garratt's debut album stands out for its use of dynamics and tempo; quiet moments contrast with bombastic cacophony. The result is a collection of electro-pop gems that create an immersive musical experience.

Toki Wright and students from St. Paul’s McNally Smith College of Music have created a hip-hop mixtape called Watch the Stove, featuring contributions from Bobby Raps (thestand4rd) and DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip. As you might guess from the song titles — including “In Love with the Glove,” “Food for Your Soul,” and “Hamburger Helper” — the project was sponsored by…

Explorers and educators Dave and Amy Freeman are spending a year living in the Boundary Waters to raise awareness about that wilderness. Twin Cities musician Ben Weaver wanted to support the Freemans with a delivery of poetry and music -- and he invited The Current's Bill DeVille and Nate Ryan along for the trip. See photos and video from this musical adventure.

Each week on the Local Show, we’ll meet a new person from the Minnesota music community who has some fresh discoveries to share in a feature called “Ask a Cool Person.” These people will come from all corners of the scene, including record store clerks, recording studio engineers and producers, artists, writers, bookers, photographers, and…

Happy April Fools! For today's Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention some form of pranks or trickery?

For decades, hundreds of vinyls and tapes sat untouched following the 1979 suicide of Audiotek Systems, Inc. owner Dan Holmes. Now, 260 reel to reel tapes from the Minneapolis record label and studio are on eBay for $19,900. ASI originally operated at 711 W. Broadway Ave. until Holmes moved the business to a studio attached to his…

When Kelsey from the Current emailed me and asked me if I wanted to be the Local Current’s DJ in Residence, I had to read it a few times. I initially thought she was asking me to help her find someone to do it (which would have been cool too). But after re-reading and confirming…

Hank Williams’s life and career were tragically short, but unfortunately all you get from Marc Abraham’s new biopic is the “tragically” half of that equation. Sorely lacking in narrative drive, I Saw the Light seems to go on forever as we’re dragged through one sad moment after another in the life of this flawed genius. It’s too bad that I…

Thursday night features the first of two concerts in tribute to the late David Bowie. The show, live from Carnegie Hall is being streamed – for a recommended donation of at least $5 – via Skype. Access to the stream can be found at musicofdavidbowie.com. The show, however, appears to be going on without the…

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention other bands?