CLOUD CULT

Rumor has it that Al Gore's favorite band is THE BEATLES. If that's true, it may prove highly inconvenient to him once he learns of Minneapolis's CLOUD CULT. Indeed, a flip-flop of John Kerry-proportions may soon be in order.

CLOUD CULT was formed by CRAIG MINOWA in 1995 as a "not-for-profit, music-centered, environmental and philosophical movement." Well, THAT sure sounds like a bucket of monkeys, now doesn't it. But hey, at least the word "music" is in there. That's a start.

Minowa, it should be noted, got his degree in Environmental Science and has worked for groups such as Greenpeace, Clean Water Action, and Citizens for a Better Environment. (You listening, Al?)

The band rather gradually grew into the six-person collective that it is today. Of course, one of those persons plays the cello and two of those persons are painters. Yes, that's right... while the other four persons are playing their instruments on stage, these other two are... well... just up there painting pictures, I guess.

Naturally, it should come as no surprise that, when the band tours, it tours "green." Thus, they endeavor to counter their CO2 emissions from travel "with acres of tree planting, purchasing wind power credits to power the stages, and equipping the tour van with solar panels." (Getting horny yet, Al?)

CLOUD CULT's latest album, THE MEANING OF 8, came out April 10 and is intent on "comparing religions and philosophies from around the world with Carl Jung's theories of universal symbolism and collective unconscious." Hoo boy. There's that bucket of monkeys again....

Fortunately, the music is a lot more fun than that description would seem to suggest. CLOUD CULT's sound has been compared to that of both BECK and MODEST MOUSE, and it certainly does have an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink quality to it. Radical style-shifts occur not only BETWEEN songs, but WITHIN them. Think of this listening experience as akin to strolling a street-fair. Not partial to the wares in this booth? Try that one over there. With 19 songs, THE MEANING OF 8 has booths aplenty.

(Oh, and Al... one last thing.... Craig Minowa lives on an "organic farm powered by geothermal energy and built partially from reclaimed wood and recycled plastic." Yeah, that one should pretty much seal the deal....)

CLOUD CULT on MySPACE.

CLOUD CULT on their eco-friendly way >>>

Apr 20 2007 10:00P/Shank Hall/Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apr 21 2007 8:00P/Macalester College/Saint Paul, Minnesota
Apr 22 2007 10:00P/Dempsey's: The Aquarium/Fargo, North Dakota
Apr 24 2007 8:00P/The Filling Station/Bozeman, Montana
Apr 25 2007 10:00P/The Badlander (18+)/Missoula, Montana
Apr 26 2007 8:00P/Fez Ballroom (21+)/Portland, Oregon
Apr 27 2007 1:00P/KEXP - Seattle In-Studio/1pm/Seattle
Apr 27 2007 8:00P/Neumos (all ages)/Seattle, Washington
Apr 28 2007 8:00P/Willamette University (Brown Field)/Salem, Oregon

From the LP THE MEANING OF 8, 2007 >>>
[MP3] "Please Remain Calm"
[MP3] "Take Your Medicine"

From the LP ADVICE FROM THE HAPPY HIPPOPOTAMUS, 2005 >>>
[MP3] "Car Crash"