Best Local CD Releases

Dan Wilson, Free Life
Dan Wilson is having one heck of a year, first winning a Grammy for cowriting the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice," then finally releasing his epic debut solo record Free Life. Produced by Rick Rubin, this beautifully sweet, folk-tinged work showcases the former Semisonic singer's range and gets an even greater boost from appearances by Gary Louris, Mason Jennings, Eric Fawcett, Sheryl Crow, and JoAnna James, to name a few.

Happy Apple, Happy Apple Back On Top
Emotions run high on this record. The funky bass line on "The New Bison" that opens the disk makes you feel instantly cooler, and that connection doesn't let go until the final fade-out. Each song grabs you with its intensity, some frenetic and loud, others soft and quiet. Simply put, our hottest hometown jazz group is indeed back on top.

The Bad Plus, Prog
This internationally acclaimed jazz trio said good riddance to Sony and released Prog on its own imprint, Do the Math. The coherence of each player's contribution makes it the band's most accessible body of work to date. Though the arrangements of popular songs from Bowie to Bacharach are undeniably moving, it's the original compositions by the Plus that prove this powerhouse trio has become too progressive to be lumped into any single musical genre.

Low, Drums and Guns
Nine months after its release, we still can't get "Breaker" out of our head. The Duluth-based trio took a foray into the rock world in recent years, but for its latest record returned to its minimalist, slow-core roots, emphasizing two-part harmonies that are angelic even when the lyrics are full of self-reflective scorn.

Vicious Vicious, Parade
On his sophomore release, Erik Appelwick's brand of swanky pop proves that the Tapes 'n Tapes sideman is also a worthy frontman. The psychedelic rock and funk influences on Parade make listening to it feel like there's a party in your eardrums.

Brother Ali, The Undisputed Truth
One of the hallmarks of Minneapolis hip-hop is that the rappers deliberately enunciate, so it's critical that what they're saying actually means something. With a balance of heartbreaking and inspiring lyrics of family and growth, on top of choice R & B, reggae, and funk beats from Ant of Atmosphere, Ali's Truth is nothing less than a masterful, exquisitely produced record.