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

Pat Donohue, Harriet Brewing. The Twin Cities guitar great offered an intimate, up-close and personal musical journey.

Grammy nomination for "Common Ground: Dave & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy." The feuding Blasters brothers' first album together in 30 years is full of foot-stompin' country blues-roots music.

Doug Seegers, "Going Down to the River." A former homeless Nashville busker-turned-cult-figure in Sweden, he's now working with Emmylou Harris. He's the anti-Music Row side of Nashville, with some Motown and Memphis mixed in.

Jackson buck, KFAI-FM DJ

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D'Angelo, "Black Messiah." With no notice, he released his first CD in 14 years, and it's a surreal mix of George Clinton, Sly Stone, Prince and Bad Brains — with politics mixed in.

Home Free, "Full of Cheer." The Minnesota a cappella quintet applies its creativity to yule classics; bass man Tim Foust shows his humor on the original "Full of Cheer," and violinist Taylor Davis graces "Silent Night."

"Last Train North." The 29th annual mixed CD of holiday tunes compiled by Minneapolitans Martin Keller and Susan Hamre is a quirkily eclectic treat that keeps on giving.

Jon Bream, Star Tribune