Pick Six is a half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view.
Bob Thaman of Minnetonka:
1 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, "Back the Way We Came: Vol. 1 (2011–2021)." I never followed Oasis or the Gallagher brothers but after hearing Noel's group on "CBS This Morning," I had to get this double CD of greatest hits. This is a special treat. Even a few hints of Burt Bacharach weaved within.
2 Maroon 5, "Jordi." I've always followed Maroon 5 but their last album, "Red Pill Blues," was a disappointment. They more than make up for it with their new one. Loaded with pop hits and guest duets, it is a magical production.
3 "Breaking the Band" TV series. What a shocker to pull the curtain back on the biggest bands of their era. Led Zeppelin members weren't choir boys but finding out that neither were the original Beach Boys is a parting of the sea. Mike Love having Dennis Wilson beat up, and Dennis jumping off his drum stand during a concert to throw punches at Love in front of the audience. What a show!
Jon Bream, Star Tribune critic:
1 "Summer of Soul." Seeing this documentary in a movie theater with stellar sound is such an informative, insightful and enriching look at Black America in 1969. Not only do we experience priceless performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Mavis Staples and the Fifth Dimension, among others, but producer/director Ahmir (Questlove) Thompson puts this daytime-only Harlem music fest into cultural context. A must-see that belongs on the list of the best music documentaries of all time.
2 Nur-D, yard concert. The unstoppable Minneapolis rapper entertained neighbors of all ages with the family-friendly side of his repertoire. What a joyous, playful presence.
3 Kurt Elling, Crooners. As the marquee name at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the undauntingly adventurous Chicago vocalist mesmerized for a generous 100 minutes, from the 15-minute opening scat piece to a spoken-word reading of Tom Waits' "Circus."
