The Soft Pack are a band who deftly walk the line between chaos and control, and Wednesday night they showed that their constant touring has allowed them to find a great mix between the two.

While the trials of tribulations of the disc have been sifted over endlessly, in the end it is Jeff Tweedy’s mesmerizing songs that make this such a timeless album.

Their second (and last) album contained their best song (“Can’t Stand Me Now”) but didn’t live up to the consistent rush of their debut record…

“Losing My Edge” is as smart as it is snarky, and is wildly entertaining, even if it is throwing insult bombs at the very kids who were likely to listen to it most.

With all of the talent in the Twin Cities much of the attention is focused around the Rhymesayers record label however, and there is one rapper—who in my book—was the flat out best rapper of the decade: Brother Ali.

On Reasons Red Pens have proven themselves to be wise beyond their years, crafting an arresting album that transcends the local scene and positions them to be heard in the near future by a much bigger audience.

We know you read the site, so here is your chance to speak up: does Pitchfork Media suck?

No matter how much it seems like Cass McCombs should be boxed in as a run of the mill singer/songwriter, he keeps proving time and time again how he is a uniquely talented voice in a genre that can often be stale and repetitive.

Even though they are working in a genre that isn’t my favorite, I think Grey Skies did a great job with their new EP and created a strong batch of songs that have them carving their own niche in the local scene.

Photo and video coverage of Megafaun and Happy Apple at Minneapolis’ Cedar Cultural Center.

Vancouver’s Japandroids headlined a great triple bill at the Turf Club in St. Paul late Sunday night (and early into Monday morning). Unfortunately, copious amounts of booze lead to the end of Japandroids set dissolving into a bit of a train wreck, marring what until then had been a great night of music.

Due in part to their excellent sophomore album, Gather Form and Fly, Megafaun has seen an increasing level of recognition as the band continues to explore their rustic folk sound. Culture Bully’s Josh Keller recently caught up with the band to talk about their latest record, their previous stops in the Twin Cities and what they have planned for the rest of the year.