Minnesota is arguably as melodious as any state in the union. Over the years, it has produced almost as many great musicians and bands as it has lakes – and the variety is as diverse as the weather.

From the reverb-drenched sounds of The Trashmen in the ‘60s (anyone remember “Surfin’ Bird”? – “A-well-a, b-b-b-bird, bird is the word …”) to Prince’s reign over the pop charts in the mid-‘80s; from helping elevate folk into the realm of poetry with the export of Bob Dylan to the Cities’ post-punk heyday that spawned acts like The Suburbs and H?sker D?; from blues legends such as Lamont Cranston and Spider John Koerner to the hard rock of Slaveraider and American Head Charge – Minnesota has delivered something for everyone.

This blogger’s favorite Minnesota contribution to the larger musical gene pool will always be The Replacements [1] – the Twin Cities tipplers, ragtag romantics and, ultimately, self-saboteurs who influenced more rock bands than they sold records. The Mats’ first four albums – constituting a slop-rock, proto-grunge paradise and originally released on the local Twin/Tone label – finally got the deluxe reissues [2] they deserve this week.

Whether current or former, famous or provincial, who or what composes your favorite Minnesota music?