Now that the media buzz from U2‘s surprise free album drop has died down, users who weren’t necessarily excited about the album—but found it in their music libraries anyway—are making their voices heard. Exactly how many copies of Songs of Innocence were actually downloaded is unknown, but it may be as few as 200,000. (Death and…

Let's put together a list of pessimistic songs. What do you want to hear for the 9:30 Coffee Break?

Bob Crewe, a writer and producer who was a force behind many hit songs—notably for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons—died on Thursday, of a brain injury, at the age of 83. Crewe wrote or co-wrote songs including “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and the Labelle…

Jeff Tweedy is in a band. No, not that band; not that band, either. It's an outfit he recently launched with his son, Spencer Tweedy, and is appropriately named Tweedy. Sukierae is the project's first album, and it's our Album of the Week.

“Are you a Replacements fan?” As I participated in the excited run-up to the Replacements homecoming show at Midway Stadium last night, friends and colleagues would occasionally ask that question—acknowledging that the event was of such historic importance in Minnesota music history that I’d pretty much have to be there even if I didn’t like…

For a band who hasn’t necessarily been vocal about their reunion or their relationship with their hometown (ok, they haven’t given a single interview or said a peep about either), it was hardly a surprise that the Replacements were light on sentimental banter and heavy on hits throughout their hour-and-40-minute set at Midway Stadium. They…

What covers of Replacements songs do you want to hear for today's 9:30 Coffee Break?

This weekend is insane. And the big sold-out Replacements show at Midway Stadium is just the icing on a big ol’ musical cake—there are also big release shows happening Friday and Saturday with Maria Isa and PaviElle, not to mention P.O.S.’s triumphant return to the stage with his first headlining show in two years tomorrow in downtown…

The Target Corporation’s annual meeting—in Target Center, natch—is one of the biggest private music shows in Minnesota each year; it’s up there with the annual Starkey Foundation benefit, where Garth Brooks and Miley Cyrus have shared a stage with Bill Clinton and Meat Loaf. At Wednesday’s meeting, an arena full of Target employees clad in…

What demos and alternate takes of familiar Replacements songs would you like to hear for today's 9:30 Coffee Break?