Six cool things in music, from two points of view:

Subdudes, "Flower Petals." Somewhat of a departure from their signature sound, this new CD is a bit more country and roots. Gregg Allman recently named them as one of his current favorites -- quite a compliment considering they've been around for 20-plus years.

Wilco, Wilkins Auditorium. They really won me over. They seemed to start kind of slow and deliberate, but, by mid-show, they were in a full-scale rock-'n'-rolling rage. Their two encores, which were as long as the show itself, clinched my vote as one of the best performances I've seen in a long time.

"Relix: The Book - Music for the Mind." The magazine that has been a main source for jam-band music and the whole Grateful Dead experience has come out with a 30th-anniversary compilation. Not only is my work in this coffee-table book, but other Dead visual artists also are featured.

CLAY DUVal, Golden Valley

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Bruce Springsteen, Giants Stadium. Even though there was nothing extra-special at this final concert ever in the soon-to-be-demolished stadium, what was special was experiencing "Born to Run," the Jersey state anthem, and the closing "Jersey Girl" with 50,000 wildly rabid fans in New Jersey.

Metallica, Target Center. Even though the too-big, in-the-round stage made James Hetfield's performance too stagey and visually diffuse, this quartet played with renewed ferociousness. Loved watching Lars Ulrich drum from various angles; newish bassist Rob Trujillo brought a suitably refreshing youthful presence to these born-again thrashers.

"101 Dalmatians," Orpheum Theatre. With less-than-memorable music by Dennis DeYoung of Styx fame, this familiar story isn't the musical it could be (we're the guinea pigs for this world premiere), but the cast of kids as dogs and a handful of actual Dalmatians in cameos make it worth your time.

JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE