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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: 20 Years of The Current!

The Current's van and table set up at the Minneapolis Art Car Parade on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday, July 22, 2006.
The Current's van and table set up at the Minneapolis Art Car Parade on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday, July 22, 2006. Luke Taylor | MPR

by Jill Riley and Nilufer Arsala

January 06, 2025

The Current launched 20 years ago this month, and we’re celebrating in a big way with two nights of shows at First Avenue! To further celebrate this 20-year milestone, we’ll look back at the music you helped power over the last two decades by highlighting songs from each year’s Top 89 Countdown during The Coffee Breaks for the rest of January.

From The Current: Top 89 albums of 2006

The Current launched in 2005, but the first official Top 89 Countdown launched the year after (and focused on album releases), so that’s where we’re going to start. The list is linked above, so take a look to see what was hot in the mid-aughts and suggest your favorite jams!

So, for today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs from The Current’s first Top 89 Countdown would you like to hear?


Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played

Neko Case- John Saw That Number
The Flaming Lips- The W.A.N.D.
Prince- Lolita
Mates of State- For the Actor
The Decemberists- O Valencia!
Cat Power- Could We