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

Gnarls Barkley, "Run" video. It's a takeoff on "Soul Train" with the unhip host (Justin Timberlake) dressed like "Thriller"-era Michael Jackson with Don Cornelius oversized glasses. The bright colors and pop-art optical effects make this forward-thinking flashback seem über-groovy.

Estelle, "American Boy." Dig the irony as the London singer pines for American boys set to a breezy international soul sound. Think Soul II Soul with a Kanye West rap cameo.

"Who Earns What," Spin. It's a music-biz survey of salaries --from bloggers ($35,000) to artist managers ($500,000). The big surprises: $150,000 for a rock photographer and for the singer in a Led Zeppelin tribute band.

JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE

TO CONTRIBUTE: POPMUSIC@STARTRIBUNE.COM

Bruce Springsteen, Xcel Energy Center. Great set. The "Magic" material sounded incredible and more urgent this time. Quite a thrill to finally hear "Darkness on the Edge of Town" and "Jungleland."

Bob Wooton with Six Mile Grove, Turner Hall in New Ulm, Minn. One-third of Johnny Cash's Tennessee Three was spot-on with his take on Cash's classics. SMG's Brandon Sampson played one of the best harmonica solos I've heard on "Orange Blossom Special."

The Hold Steady's new album preview in Rolling Stone. With talk of mandolin solos and talk boxes on the CD, I can't wait to see what goes down the next time the band is at First Ave. Also, I couldn't believe that the members just quit working day jobs. I thought opening for the Rolling Stones meant that your only obligations were to rock out and to have a Sharpie on you at all times.

CHRIS HAASE, MARSHALL, MINN.