The state of Minnesota has a pretty incredible musical legacy, and that legacy is the focus of a new digital compilation from the people at Sub Pop. The label is using the term "mixtape" to refer to Maximum MN, but we already know that it's the kind of classic compilation that Sub Pop might've release decades ago. This particular release is a benefit for the International Institute Of Minnesota, an organization that aids immigrants and refugees, in the wake of ICE's murderous raids on the state.
On Maximum MN, eight acts from the Sub Pop roster pay tribute to eight different songs that came from the state of Minnesota. That means we've got some great bands taking on some classics: Downtown Boys covering the Replacements' "Can't Hardly Wait," Sweeping Promises doing Hüsker Dü's "Something I Learned Today," Shabazz Palaces reimagining Prince's "Pop Life," Jenn Wasner's Flock Of Dimes tackling Low's "Especially Me."
There are a bunch of fun curios in there, too. Sub Pop OGs Mudhoney cover their '80s underground contemporaries Halo Of Flies. Weird Nightmare, the solo project from former METZ frontman Alex Edkins, covers Paul Westerberg, the solo project from former Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg. (We're all just solo projects of ourselves, you know?) I have never had reason to care about Hippo Campus, but Yuno's version of their song "The Way It Goes" isn't bad. And Pissed Jeans clearly have more fun than anyone else with the concept, covering "Body Rules," the 1984 single from former governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Check out the compilation below.
Maximum MN is out now on Sub Pop, and you can get it at Bandcamp. It doesn't have any Bob Dylan covers. Maybe that would be too cute.
