Atmosphere
“You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We Are Having”
While most bands and musicians’ main goal is to sign to a major label, Atmosphere took a different path, making independent hip-hop, like the punks who made music their way during the punk scene of the early 90s: Creating their own record labels, making their own deals, setting up their own tours and creating fans, one at a time. It’s not to say Atmosphere will never sign to a major label, but if they do, at least they can sign on their own terms, especially after their latest CD “You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We Are Having” and multiple sold-out shows at First Avenue. Even if they ended it right now, Atmosphere is poised to go down in Minneapolis music history, right along with Prince, Husker Du, and The Replacements.
www.rhymesayers.com
Belles of Skin City
“Ha-Ha Boardroom Think Tank Tantrums”
David Joe Holiday, who once was Dave Matters from Kentucky Gag Order, has had the good fortune of being in critically acclaimed bands. He has the soul of a frontman and isn’t afraid to engage an audience. When the Belles of Skin City released their debut CD, there was a good chance they’d rise to the top of a critic’s list, enjoy an easy time securing gigs in town and develop a rabid following.
www.bellesofskincity.com
Birthday Suits
“Cherry Blue”
The members of Birthday Suits enjoyed some notoriety in Sweet J.A.P. and have created a great punk rock record as a two-piece, generating enough racket with guitar, drums and vocals, proving that less is more.
www.niceandneatrecords.com
Blind Shake
“Rizzograph”
At Rift’s press time, it says “Happy Holidays” on the Blind Shake Web site’s “shows” page, which is normally filled with tour dates. Post punk is alive and well on their new CD, catchy and noisy at the same time.
www.theblindshake.com
CHARIOTS (America,North)
“Congratulations”
The Chariots are the best of both worlds: A great sounding CD and a spastic and entertaining live show. We can only hope they’ll survive the long distance relationship with their guitar player and next year at this same time, we can talk about how great their new CD is.
www.chariots-music.com
Chris Koza
“Exit Pesce”
His CD was released in 2004, but really didn’t take off until 2005. When it did hit, it was almost as though it was released about five months ago. Koza pulls off the singer/songwriter combination with flawless action; he also pulls off the one man, guitar and vocals show with ease. His songs are catchy and great to listen to and his new CD, which should be out in early 2006, shouldn’t take quite as long to catch on.
www.chriskoza.com
Cloud Cult
“Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus”
Rift had done an article on Cloud Cult before and when the new CD came in, we gave it a listen or two, but it didn’t really seem like that big of a deal. It wasn’t love at first site, but after a few dates (listens) and some good times, it really sank in how great a CD it is. It is different than anything else musically going on, with its haunting electronic sounds intertwined with strings, bass and drums. The vocals cut through with remarkable melody and the out there I-am-looking-for-something lyrics.
www.cloudcult.com
Desdamona
“The Ledge”
Almost in every genre, there are fewer women then men. Hip-hop is no exception. Luckily, Desdamona shatters the stereotypical hip-hop formula and instead, weaves intricate stories and poetry over music creating a perfect fit. While she does take her jabs at those who said she couldn’t make it, it feels more like she wants to tell you who she is and why she needs to create to live. “The Ledge” is not just one of the best hip-hop CDs of the year, it is one of the best CDs of the year.
www.desdamona.dunation.com
Digitata
“Sexually Transmitted Emotions”
Digitata got some attention from Radio K and will be playing at Radio K’s Best New Bands of 2005 at the First Avenue Mainroom in January 2006. Their sound is 80s pop, heavy on the keyboards punctuated with catchy and breathy vocals.
www.myspace.com/digitata
Dosh
“Powder Horn”
Sometimes labeled as hip-hop and sometimes said not to be hip-hop at all, Dosh uses loops and soundscapes to create what can best be described as sound art. It isn’t easy to pull off doing experimental music as art and get attention, but Dosh seems to have to found that middle ground.
www.doshfamily.com
Fitzgerald
“Raised By Wolves”
Going from a primarily folk sound to a more organic electronic mix made Fitzgerald’s solid songwriting better, made the duo more interesting and garnered them more attention. It’s great to see bands and musicians grow and not regurgitate the same CD over and over again. I look forward to what they come up with next.
www.fitzgeraldmusic.com
Flavor Crystals
“On Plastic”
The Flavor Crystals CD, “On Plastic,” literally echoes and voyages through experimental guitar noodlings and simplistic backbeats. “On Plastic” is already great to listen to, but I bet with a bit of mind expansion and illegal drugs, it would be one of the best CDs ever.
www.flavorcrystalsounds.com
Happy Apple
“The Peace Between Our Companies”
Indie jazz at its best, Happy Apple seems to be the band that keeps putting out CDs and getting talked about. When you are three of the best musicians in town, there can’t be any denying Happy Apple is already legendary.
www.happyapplemusic.com
Kill The Vultures
Self-Titled
Kill the Vultures do hip-hop dirty, sometimes lyrically, but mostly in their low-fi loops and fuzzy backbeats. In a local scene full of more polished and produced CDs, they stand out with their more experimental feel. Look for them to do more of the same in the next year.
www.killthevultures.com
Kruddler
“Tuesday Night Lie”
Local mainstays Kruddler released another record and again were able to keep alive in the scene. Sort of like a rash that never goes away, but in a good way. A rash that doesn’t itch or cause any discomfort, it just stays around and keeps on going and going and....
www.kruddler.com
Low
“The Great Destroyer”
A record on Sub Pop, massive touring plans and a great buzz, Low ended up staying on the down low (no pun intended) until the end of the year, due to some unfortunate circumstances and issues within the band. Hopefully, they can put some of this misfortune behind them and keep being a great band into the future.
www.chairkickers.com
STNNNG
“Dignified Sissy”
How do you pronounce it? I don’t think anybody cares, but this band is on the rise. Picked To Click and a totally kick-ass performance at the Minnesota Music Awards has this band poised either to break up or to put out a slew of impressive CDs and rock shows. There’s something to be said for just doing what you do and banging out sound that is like Jesus Lizard on overdrive, and a stage show that makes you wonder if there is going to be spurting blood from a band member, or the entire band will be dragged from the stage kicking and screaming.
www.stnnng.com
Tim Rally Gold
“With Us, Not At Us”
This is Rift’s glory pick. Tim Rally Gold was the only band out of about 20 who sent us CDs (mostly demos and hand-made releases) that made five of our writers give TRG a thumbs up. The hand-written CD face and CD cover didn’t sway us from the fact the music was catchy and well-written. TRG might not be at the level of all these other bands, but I’m sure by the time their next CD is released, we’ll see some great things.
www.timrallygold.com
Honorable Mentions
Bridge Club, Build My Gallows High, Charlie Parr, Dallas Orbiter, Dayfeed, Doug Little Quartet, Duplomacy, Falcon Crest, Faux Jean, Front Porch Liquor Pigs,Gay Beast, Fog, Haunted House, I Self Divine, Jistoray, Less is More, Lifestyle of Wigs, Lonesome Dan Case, Malachi Constant, Mark Mallman, Mel Gibson and the Pants, Melodius Owl, Mute Era, Nathan Miller, Phil Hey Quartet, Quadmuth, Revolver Modele, Seawhores, Sicbay, Signal To Trust, Sims, Sons of Vietnam, Styrofoam Duck, Tapes ‘n Tapes, The Cardinal Sin, The Deaf, The Deaths,
The Plastic Constellations, The Soviettes, The Vets, Thunder in the Valley, Total Fucking Blood, Uber Cool Kung Fu and Valet.
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