Pick Six

A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:

Rosanne Cash songwriting blog entry, New York Times. Her explanation of how she and Joe Henry wrote a new song ("So It Goes") together via e-mail offers fascinating insights into the process of creative collaboration. Suzanne Vega and Andrew Bird also blog therein.

Scott Weiland quote, Entertainment Weekly. The drug-addled Stone Temple Pilots frontman on his addiction: "A lot of junkies have died with that Keith Richards poster pinned inside their minds. But no one is Keith." Indeed.

Mid-America Music Hall of Fame induction, Medina Entertainment Center. Too many inductees and too-long speeches resulted in a too-small audience for Saturday's terrific, closing all-star R&B set featuring Rockie Robbins, Carl Bradley and others doing classics by the Spinners, Temptations and Doobie Brothers.

JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE

www.nin.com. This has to be the coolest, most fan-friendly music site on the Web. It's set up so you can download various tracks (guitar, drums, vocals, etc.) and mix your own version of Nine Inch Nails songs, upload them so everyone can share and even save your versions to iTunes for your iPod -- all for free. Nice!

Wilco, Rochester, Minn. Wilco played yet another venue in Minnesota, mixing an inspiring set of old tunes and new. This band just keeps getting better with each album and tour -- there's no other like it.

The Raconteurs, "Consolers of the Lonely." Jack White and Brendan Benson let loose and really shine on their second CD, more effectively intertwining their voices and guitars this time around. And I love that they put it out with no advance notice (no critics, no leaks, no unnecessary waiting).

FRED T. MILLER, DUNDAS, MINN.

TO CONTRIBUTE: POPMUSIC@STARTRIBUNE.COM