Minneapolis label Forged Artifacts digs up many hidden gems on 18-track compilation

There are a lot of old-school traits to admire about the all-local, 18-track charity compilation "The Greatest of All-Time, Vol. 2," from its cover image that pays homage to Twins legend Kirby Puckett to the fact that it's available on cassette as well as digitally. And then there's the actual music on it — many scrappy, rowdy, guitar-heavy bands that sound as if they came out of the '80s or '90s underground.

In truth, a lot of the acts on the exciting new collection from Minneapolis label Forged Artifacts have members born in the '90s or later, and a few of the groups are so new they don't even have a Polaroid up in the studio at Radio K yet.

They range from provocative spazz-punk groups Tony Peachka and Royal Brat to fuzzed-out, cranked-up melody makers Ahem and Fury Things (two of the best cuts), and from the stylish, PiL-flavored post-punk band Posh Lost to the screaming, raging maniacs of MURF. Other participants — all of whom contributed new/unreleased tunes — include Suzie, Ripper, What Tyrants, Panther Ray, Cheap Fantasy and the Southside Desires offshoot Private Interests.

"There are no overlapping bands from the first comp," Forged Artifacts founder Matt Linden bragged, comparing it with his prior 11-act collection.

Another change from the 2015 set: "The times we're in now," Linden said. He and the bands will donate proceeds from "TGATV2" to the ACLU and the kids music-ed program Hopewell Music. Fury Things, Ahem, Posh Lost, Private Interests and Cheap Fantasy will all perform for the release party Friday at Blockfort Studio, 2920 Talmage Av. SE. in Minneapolis (9 p.m., $5, 18 & older, forgedartifacts.com).

Twin Cities expat Dan Wilson's new album "Re-Covered" features his own versions of some of the many songs he wrote for or with other artists, kind of like Paul McCartney stealing back "Helter Skelter" from Charles Manson (although, contrary to popular belief in some states, the Dixie Chicks never actually killed anyone). The Semisonic frontman just launched a campaign for the LP at pledgemusic.com/DanWilson featuring preorders with a wide variety of bonus features. … Prince cohorts Eric Leeds and Paul Peterson are also now taking orders for the first album by their instrumental funk/jazz band LP Music via pledge music.com/LPMusic.

A record that had 39 years to meet its funding goals, the Suicide Commandos' second album, "Time Bomb," lands this weekend with a listening party Friday night at the Turf Club's Clown Lounge (7 p.m.) and a free acoustic in-store set Saturday at Treehouse Records (2 to 4 p.m.). Read our interview with the band at startribune.com/music. … The Commandos will also — by absolute, total, unintentional coincidence (ahem) — perform at the Star Tribune's free August Music + Movies series at Lake Harriet Band Shell the same night "Grumpy Old Men" is screening, Aug. 25. With all Minnesota-made movies this year, the series will also pair Romantica with "Sweet Land" (Aug. 5), Tony Peachka with "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (Aug. 11) and Colin Campbell & the Shackletons with "The Mighty Ducks" (Aug. 18).

Sound Unseen will host a 50th anniversary screening of the Dylan doc "Don't Look Back" with an introduction and short musical set by Dylan Hicks at Trylon Microcinema on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ($12, Trylon.org). … A fixture in Erik Koskinen's and Molly Maher's bands going back to their Nye's days, fellow guitar ace Paul Bergen is leading his own band, the Astronauts of Rhythm & Sound, through two months of free Wednesday night gigs at the Hook & Ladder Theatre through June (7-10 p.m., thehookmpls.com).

Beloved mid-'00s punk quartet the Soviettes are reuniting Saturday at the Turf Club in a benefit and celebration for Libby Johnson of Bombshell, who is fighting cancer (the show is sold out). … Also in the midst of kicking cancer, soul stirrer Sonny Knight and his mighty band the Lakers sadly had to cancel all their upcoming tour dates while the frontman enters a hopeful new round of chemotherapy.