Music

Most things in life fall into a gray area. It is rare to see something that can be easily categorized.

There are people who will hear Minneapolis rapper P.O.S.' debut, "Ipecac Neat," and with knowledge of his background - a black kid raised on punk rock - try to rationalize the album. They'll try to divorce it from the hip-hop aesthetic, label it some sort of rap-punk hybrid.

Compilations are tricky. Most throw random artists and genres together for a ridiculous mix of songs, all barely worthwhile, except for a couple gems which you can find elsewhere anyway.

In the dark, grimy recesses of the 7th Street Entry, the Strike is getting ready to play its first all-ages show in the Twin Cities in more than five years.

"The point was never to be depressing," said Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart, "but to be open and honest."

"Teletubbies" are dumb. They are just colored chubby costumes with adults inside who prance around and point at things. They make Barney look like a genius.

Could it be? Is that the voice of Craig Finn? Is that Tad Kubler's signature sliding quick stop guitar? Could this be a hidden Lifter Puller track, never before released? Or - gasp - is this new Lifter Puller?!?!