News and InterviewsPicks For 2016 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ClassMarie Andrusewicz • Dec 17, 2015Newer acts like The Smiths and Nine Inch Nails were overlooked. The prog rock band Yes got a no. And for Chic, the record of futility continues.
The Current Music NewsToday’s Music News: Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ becomes first album to go 30 times platinumStaff • Dec 16, 2015Michael Jackson‘s epochal album Thriller has become the first album ever to sell 30 million copies in the United States. The landmark inspired Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid to declare Jackson the “biggest artist of all time.” (Rolling Stone) The album is claimed to have sold 100 million copies worldwide, twice the amount of its nearest competitor, AC/DC‘s Back in Black. Another…
Coffee Break9:30 Coffee Break: Ugly sweatersAnna Reed • Dec 16, 2015Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is in celebration of everyone's favorite zeitgeist tradition - ugly holiday sweaters. Give us your best suggestions for sweater songs.
Local Current BlogThe O.K. Show, Episode 10: Rock ‘n’ roll dreamer Dan Israel comes to terms with his divorce and his healthAndrea Swensson • Dec 16, 2015Back when I was just getting into following the local music scene and realizing that there are musicians here in my own city that I could go out and see, and who I could buy CDs from directly out of suitcases at their merch tables, I came across Dan Israel’s breakout album, Dan Who? After…
News and InterviewsNoah Lennox on Panda Bear vs. Animal Collective and 'Painting With'David Safar and Noah Lennox • Dec 15, 2015Ahead of their tenth studio album's release, Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear of Animal Collective sat down for a chat with The Current's David Safar about Painting With, the logistics of cross-country collaborating and their Baltimore airport stunt.
The Current Music NewsToday’s Music News: Lil Bub is the latest cat to have a hit albumStaff • Dec 15, 2015Lil Bub has a hit album: Science & Magic: A Guide to the Universe is at number two on Billboard’s dance/electronic albums chart. As Billboard notes, Bub isn’t the first cat to chart: the Jingle Cats had two Billboard 200 albums in the ’90s, and of course MC Skat Kat (voiced by The Current’s own Derrick “Delite” Stevens) had…
Coffee Break9:30 Coffee Break: Cool downAnna Reed • Dec 15, 2015With just under 200 nations recently committing to lowering planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, we want to dedicate today's break to cooling down the Earth. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're looking for songs that feature the word "cool" in the title or lyrics.
DuluthLunar Bedrooms, Battlerat, Kristy Marie, and Shaunaa Heckman: This week’s Minnesota record releasesAaron Bolton • Dec 15, 2015Lunar Bedrooms: Lunar Bedrooms EP Lunar Bedrooms’ debut EP will be out into the world come Thursday. The new-wave — or should I say next-wave — crew is set to release a seven-track EP at the Triple Rock. There is an additional remix of “GSVRU” by c.Kostra as well. They will be joined by Pornonono,…
The Current Music NewsToday’s Music News: Bob Dylan buys new Christmas lightsStaff • Dec 14, 2015The Christmas lights on the hedge surrounding Bob Dylan‘s house in Malibu have been documented since 2008 — and analyzed, in increasingly absurd detail — by his neighbor, writer Merrill Markoe. This year, Markoe reports that after several years of using the same “weather-worn” lights, Dylan has celebrated this year’s holiday season with a brand-new set of Christmas…
Coffee Break9:30 Coffee Break: Culinary companionsAnna Reed • Dec 14, 2015For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're looking for the best songs to compliment the following three dishes: Granola and yogurt, club sandwich with a dill pickle spear and kettle chips, steak dinner with red wine.