Pop the Lock

Formed in Minneapolis in December 1984, the Magnolias released five albums/CD's and one EP from 1986 to 1996 on Twins Tone Records and Alias Records. In 2007 the band released a batch of outtakes/unreleased recordings on the CD 'Better Late Than Never'. 'Pop The Lock' is the first new studio recording of the band in 15 years. 'A blistering 11-track album recorded on two-inch, 24-track analog tape and the production mastery of Mike Wisti. Lead guitarist Mike Leonard returns to the fold and steps to the mic to deliver 2 songs of his own, while bassist Kyle Killorin also rejoins the band and has never sounded better. Former Pushbacks drummer Pat McKenna brings his solid, classic style of rock drumming to the foundation of the recording. CD BABY REVIEW: The Magnolias / quot;Torture Yoursquot; from Pop the Lock (Buy at CD Baby) One of the most prolific bands signed to the legendary Twin/Tone records in the 80s and 90s, The Magnolias sprung from the same Twin Cities scene that spawned the Replacements, Soul Asylum, Hüsker Dü and others, and released 5 albums between 1986 and 1996, when they disbanded. Since then, they have reformed, realigned and reconfigured more times than we have room for here, but those interested in their quot;complicatedquot; history (their words) can read more on their website. To us, it's enough that this album rocks hard and delivers hook after hook. FROM TROUSER PRESS: THE MAGNOLIAS Discography: Concrete Pillbox (TwinTone) 1986 For Rent (TwinTone) 1988 Dime Store Dream (TwinTone) 1989 Hung Up On ... EP (Alias) 1992 Off the Hook (Alias) 1992 Street Date Tuesday (Twin Tone) 1996 Better Late Than Never (SMA) 2007 THE PUSHBACKS (Fronted by John Freeman) No Strings Attached (Veto) 1999 Formed in the towering shadow of Hüsker Dü and the Replacements and a few years behind Soul Asylum, the Magnolias were doomed to be Minneapolis' scruffy also-rans, the band that got left behind when everyone else graduated to the big leagues. And while the revolving-lineup group never developed a national profile anywhere near the scale of those other bands, singer/guitarist John Freeman has persevered, making music to be properly proud of. The Mags spew back hometown styles with gusto on Concrete Pillbox, which they co-produced with Grant Hart. (Note the familiar drum sound.) Some of Freeman's songs show real melodic and structural promise; a bit of power pop (and a faint Cheap Trick influence) emerges in the quartet's aggressive playing. Replacements soundman Monty Wilkes co-produced For Rent, a looser, better-developed collection that features a new bassist and a snare-happy mix. Roaring out of the starting gate with 'Walk a Circle,' 'Glory Hop' and 'Goodbye for Now,' the Mags shed imitation (save an abiding Buzzcocks influence) for a loud, textured personality they can call their own. Over catchy riffs that put a nifty twist into the hard-driving songs, Freeman's voice registers aggression in both hoarse rage and quiet poise. A very promising sophomore LP. Recording the inconclusive Dime Store Dream in Prince's Paisley Park Studios didn't make the Magnolias funky, but it did give them a raging guitar sound. A busy new drummer and producer Jim Rondinelli's overheated mix interfere with the group's small-scale charm, but some cool songs ('Flowin' Thru,' 'Don't See That Girl,' the pseudo-Replacements 'Coming on Too Strong,' 'In My Nightmare') do cut through. While Freeman's singing gives the album it's reassuring consistency, bits of vocal syncopation ad