Despite being active for a few years, Solid Gold remains one of the best-kept secrets of the Minneapolis music scene. That may change with the coming of their first LP Bodies of Water, which kicked off in style with a well-attended CD release party at Varsity Theater, drawing over three hundred people.

The album contains eleven tracks, two of which were released on their previous EP “Who You Gonna Run To?” Though mainly electronic, it doesn’t give due justice to dismiss Solid Gold’s music as simply that. Psychedelic, rock, pop, and even some club flavors permeate the mix, …

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For over a decade, thousands of people have flocked to gawk in awe at some of the finest pop culture wares of our neighbors across the pond. This year the tradition continues, as the British Television Advertising Awards returns to the Walker Art Center. This hour and a half film showcasing industry highlights will be playing December 5th-30th in the Walker Cinema. Reprising his role from last year, BTAA administrator Peter Biggs will host the opening night screenings.

The concept of paying money to watch advertisements might invoke skepticism in even the most avid pop culture …

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In 60 years, Mexico’s children will not be hearing stories of mere hardship from their grandparents. Instead, they will hear gruesome tales of mass murders, decapitations, and kidnappings. They will have described to them the sounds of gunshots outside of classroom windows, explosions in city streets, and the sorrow following the deaths of loved ones. This is assuming, of course, that the drug wars of today are not present in 60 years.

Blood on the Tracks
On October 19, 12 adult bodies were discovered outside of an elementary school in Tijuana. The children of the school, already …

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I want to say that a movie called What the [Explicative] Do We Know? knocked me flat on my ass and made me get over it—but I feel like you’d probably judge me (see! you’re already doing it).

“You sniffing my boxers dude?” “Dude! Get this…” “ Dude! That’s sick…” “Dude, like, I know what you’re saying…” “Hell yeah, Dude…” This completes the interacting range of “dude” usage, as presented by Social Anthropologist Scott Kiesling. According to his work, the usage of ‘dude’ chiefly indexes a social stance of “cool solidarity” to one’s peers, an identity that Kiesling argues taps into the hegemonic hold that non-intimate heterosexual “nonconformity” has upon masculine identities within this country. The quotes above serve as the five quintessential instantiations of ‘dude’ in conversation. All of which guide the ‘cool solidarity’ social position. They …

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On the chilly night of November 14, the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater in Minneapolis opened the doors of its warm and cozy movie theater converted to stage converted to movie theater. “This is where it all began for me,” says Laura Heit, live matchbox puppeteer and Minneapolis native. When the lights dimmed Heit appeared elegantly on stage, glimmering in her silver sparkling top and sipping on a glass of wine. Through all the formality, it was hard to imagine that the audience was about to witness a matchbox sized puppet show.

Heit …

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I can remember the day my dad moved out of our house with crystal clarity. I was in 5th grade and my mother came to the stairs leading to my room and told me that I had to come down because there was something my parents needed to tell me. And I knew, probably through some subconscious interpretation of the tone in her voice, that something very jarring was about to happen.

My dad was gay. And he still is and he always was and always will be, because …

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Hey everyone,

QUICK! What’s the last song you listened to?

Don’t be shy…I just finished listening to “You’ve Been Flirting Again” by Bjork off of Post.

Thanks everyone
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From: Matt Miranda [photographer]
Subject: Re: Staff Favorites
They Said That by Conflict
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From: Joey Englehart [staff writer]
Subject: Re: Staff Favorites
…hmm. The Landfall Planetarium by Happy Apple.

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From: Colleen Powers [campus]
Subject: Re: Staff Favorites
“The Crane Wife 1 & 2″ by the Decemberists.
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From: Sage Dahlan [managing editor]
Subject: Re: Staff Favorites
Bound to Fall – The Pines

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From: Scott Doane [staff writer]
Subject: Re: Staff Favorites
“Acid Tongue” by Jenny Lewis off of Acid Tongue. She’s hot.

Last night, I caught the band Dub Trio at the Varsity Theater. I don’t wish to wreck any reps here, but Dub Trio have a profound fondness for Celine Dion and listen to her Canadian warbles backstage to prepare for shows. Take that however you will, but that is the case.

Their sound is far from that of the pop diva, but I was not actually terribly surprised by the band’s fondness. Dub Trio is indeed a trio who perform dub music, of sorts, but …

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Apparently, the appearance of a wordsmith was like the second coming of Christ. Susie didn’t rave about it on the bus ride over, yet Marnie could see anticipation in the way she sat upright and clinged to the handrail. All this for some guy who told tall tales while scamming people for food and money? He was probably homeless and his words were nothing more than the result of being beaten down for a lifetime. His sanity was cracked, she was sure of it; she was determined to think so. What was Marnie anticipating? A scraggly, rancid, plump old man …

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Art by Lucy Michelle

As December approaches, it’s getting to Christmas special season. Last night I went to Bryant Lake Bowl to attend one of the most infamous Christmas specials of all time, the Star Wars Holiday Special. Technically, this is not a Christmas special, as it takes place a long time ago in a galaxy without a Jesus or a Santa Claus. This is a “Life Day” special, centering on the sacred Wookie Christmas equivalent which, from what I could tell, involves nothing other …

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Obama’s cabinet appointments are going to be very important. After running on a platform of change of leadership, integrity, and political reconciliation between warring factions, Obama needs to be very careful that his cabinet picks represent these values. This is why Obama’s first round of probable picks worries me: two of three are firm, long-time Obama backers, all three are democrats, all three are long term Washington insiders, and is not quite a lobbyist, but not quite free of the appearance of being one. Not exactly a recipe for change.

Obama’s man for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Former Senator …

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Life has always been easy for Marnie Williams. Her mother was never a crack whore and her father never hit anyone nor anything in his life. Both her parents were relatively no-fuss kinda people. Their home was in a quiet suburb and had a good sized lawn and patio adorned with an oversized chrome “hungry man” grill out back. The refrigerator was always stocked with healthy and meaty options, and the kitchen was neither too dirty nor freakishly clean. The walls were painted up and down with creamish colors and hung with an odd mix of modern art and homey …

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Nader:Postmortem from The Wake Student Magazine on Vimeo.