A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:
Spoon. I saw them in concert at First Avenue last April and still can't stop listening to them. A great indie band!
James, "The Morning After/The Night Before." Maybe I'm aging myself, but listening to this new split album by James takes me back to its great songs of the 1990s. This one is a bit mellower than the band's great 2008 album, "Hey Ma," but is definitely worth a listen.
Ike Reilly Assassination's annual pre-Thanksgiving concert at First Ave. A great way to meet up with old friends the night before the holiday. Having a drink and listening to truly one of music's best songwriters are hard to beat, and will definitely get you in a festive mood. Happening again Wednesday.
SCOTT WEISBERG, MINNEAPOLIS
TO CONTRIBUTE: POPMUSIC@ STARTRIBUNE.COM
Robyn, Fine Line. She's a strong singer, a wicked dancer, a clever pop revisionist ("When Doves Cry" kicked off the second encore) and even a mean rapper ("Konichiwa Bitches"). Better than Gaga, for sure.
" 'Treme': Music From the HBO Original Series." No TV soundtrack has ever been more integral to its series, and few New Orleans compilations have been this authentic. Inexplicably released months after the season finale, the 19-song collection includes many cuts played live on camera and priceless tracks by Dr. John, Trombone Shorty, Kermit Ruffins and more.
