Food Pyramid - Dexedream, from the new album "Ecstasy & Refreshment."

Daft Punk gets UN-lucky...again! As Alt-J vacated the top spot last week, #1 was there for the taking, but The National stole it, spurred by fans eyeing tickets to their big show at Roy Wilkins Auditorium August 6.

A lot of people think the record industry made 12" vinyl singles just so songs could be longer. To an extent, that's true, but there's a more nuanced history to it than that. At 10 p.m. on July 18 Jake Rudh will play a selection of tracks that not only made the dance floors swell back in the 80s, but continue to do so on the Transmission dance floor today.

Local Current Live is taking place at the M.I.A's Third Thursday Bike Night tonight. We're getting excited with a 9:30 Coffee Break of bike songs.

MPR News Arts Reporter Marianne Combs joins The Current's Steve Seel and Jill Riley to talk about Bike Night (and cuttlefish) at the MIA, a comic-book retrospective at MCAD, and three reasons to consider a road trip to Winona, Minn.

Minneapolis-born, New York-based jazz and soul artist José James has been on the road constantly this year, having just released his Blue Note debut, No Beginning No End, to glowing reviews. But today, James announced that there is one place that won’t be seeing him anytime soon. As the country continues to discuss the sociopolitical…

It says a lot about Crankshaft and his Gear Grinders that his name was inspired by a gig he snagged at a car show. Over the past five years, the man known on his driver’s license as Alex Larson has played seemingly played every venue in the Twin Cities metro area, from country roadhouse bars…

SOKO - First Love Never Die, from the new album "I Thought I Was An Alien."

What do you think of the new Jay-Z single "Heaven" featuring Justin Timberlake? Musically, does it do anything for you? Lyrically, does the recycled R.E.M. refrain put the track in the spotlight, or the corner? Let's get the conversation started. Read what The Current staff has to say, then share your opinion of the track off Jay-Z's latest Magna Carta... Holy Grail.

Maybe a sweaty Coffee Break will help you out with this heat. What songs with sweat in the title or in the lyrics do you want to hear for today's 9:30 Coffee Break?