Continuing the Minneapolis love... The Hold Steady released their latest album Boys and Girls in America yesterday and if stories of teenagers and college kids set to every riff heard in an arena between 1976 and 1982 (and then some) is your bag, go here and check out the album stream. Even though they're in New York now, the Hold Steady is every bit a Minneapolis band as the Replacements were. It's not so much for the kids, but the adults might like it. (And for those of you who, like me, were put off by Craig Finn's shouted-not-sung stylings on Separation Sunday, he's dialed that back a notch or two. He's almost singing now.)
Prince Does Kids Music
No, really, "Song of the Heart," for a kids' movie -- Happy Feet.
It's a pleasant, funky mid-tempo number that will erase absolutely no memories of, say, Prince tearing up First Avenue in Purple Rain, but it's nice enough.
Sadly, it's the only Prince cut on the soundtrack. For what it's worth, here's the track listing for the soundtrack, to be released Oct. 17th.
1. Song of the Heart - Prince
2. Tell Me Something Good - Pink
3. The Joker / Everything I Own - Jason Mraz/Chrissie Hynde
4. I Wish - Fantasia/Patti LaBelle/Yolanda Adams
5. Boogie Wonderland - Brittany Murphy
6. Somebody To Love - Brittany Murphy
7. My Way - Robin Williams
8. Do It Again - The Wondermints
9. Jump And Move - The Brand New Heavies
10. Kiss - Nicole Kidman
11. Golden Slumbers - K.D. Lang
12. John Powell Score Suite
Two songs by Brittany Murphy?... Well, at least those Wondermints and K.D. Lang tracks could be good.
(Thanks to Stereogum for the tip.)
Review in Brief: Now The Day Is Over - The Innocence Mission

Please Release Me: October 2006 Edition
Well, it's not like Oct. 3rd isn't already busy enough as it is, CD-release-wise -- new stuff from Beck, the Decemberists, the Hold Steady, even the Killers (though their new album is getting absolutely miserable reviews). But, hey, even in the kids' music segment we got a new (sort of) Ralph's World. Not to mention a bunch of other stuff to look forward to.
So here we go:
Oct. 1: AudraRox - I Can Do It By Myself
Oct. 3: Ralph's World - Welcome To Ralph's World
Oct. 8: The Sippy Cups - Electric Storyland
Oct. 10: Gothic Archies (Stephin Merritt) - The Tragic Treasury: Songs from a Series of Unfortunate Events
Oct. 16: V/A - Colours Are Brighter
Oct. 17: V/A - New Orleans Playground (Putumayo)
Oct. 24: Wee Hairy Beasties (Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Kelly Hogan, Devil in a Woodpile) - Animal Crackers
Oct. 24: V/A - Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook Vol. 1
Review in Brief: Sing Along With Sam - Hullabaloo

Fever For The Kids
But in a good way.
News from MTV that Luscious Jackson -- best known for their 1996 album Fever In Fever Out -- will release a kids' album in the not-too-distant future. Frontwoman Jill Cunniff told MTV.com that they're seeking a label for the album. (Hello, Little Monster Records, are you listening?) In addition, they'll be performing "family concerts where parents can come with their kids, because a lot of our fans have kids now."
Now if only the Beastie Boys would do a kids' album.
(Thanks to Bill and the Pokey Pup for the heads-up.)