The Magnolias

• Genre: Punk
• Hometown: Minneapolis

About

The Punk purists of the late 1980s might have shunned the Magnolias, but from today's perspective, their feisty, bright, gritty guitars and gravelly vocals sound way more vicious than much of what's being passed off as Punk these days. In the shadow of Twin/Tone labelmates the Replacements, the Magnolias were (and still are) unfortunately overlooked all too often. Strong melodies work through their songs like steel, and although their songs fall on the poppier side of things, these guys show right off the bat that they mean business. Each song is a left hook, but just when you get used to the left hook, they surprise you with a catchy right. Minneapolis has bred some of the best bands ever -- the Magnolias included.

- Mark Murrmann