And Ya Say Twins' City!

The Twin Cities sports landscape is looking a little bleak right now. The Vikings have been spinning their wheels for three weeks now and, even if the Randy Moss trade comes to fruition, are still facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs. The Wild only won one preseason game and are starting the season on the other side of the world (more on that to come). And the Timberwolves’ season actually peaked two days ago with a preseason win over the Lakers.

However…

The Twins playoff series against the New York Yankees starts tonight! I have absolute faith that this is the year that the Twins get over this hurdle and beat the Yankees in the postseason.

Why? Five reasons:

01. The Twins have solid pitching from their starters to their closers. Liriano, Pavano, Duensing, & Blackburn may not instill fear into the Yankees lineup, but they are remarkably consistent and aren’t afraid to put the ball in play. At the other end, Jesse Crain and Matt Capps have turned into one of the best 8^th-9^th inning combos in the league.

02. The Twins have Target Field on their side. October in Minneapolis ain’t nothin’ to fuck with. Fortunately, we’ll be riding the bat of Smokin’ Joe Mauer, who was born and raised in these winters. What’s 45 degrees to me, homey? Plus, the shine of the new stadium is just too much. The story of the new stadium and it’s World Series win will be a story we tell our kids (well, a story YOU tell your kids. That ain’t my style. I’ll tell Basset about it).

03. The Yankees have grown fat and complacent. After winning a championship last year, the desire and drive isn’t where it needs to be this time of year.

04. The “Big Four” of the Yankees (Pettite, Jeter, Rivera, & Posada) are all over 35 and dealing with the inevitable consequences of getting older, slower, fatter, slower, dumber, & fatter.

05. Lastly, man, fuck some Yankees! We’re due!

Alright, let’s break this down position by position and see who has the edge:

Catcher: Bro Mauer vs. Jorge Posada

Mauer: Conceived, born, & educated behind home plate.

Posada: As a child, Posada used to steal fruit from the market in his hometown. When confronted by his mother, he threw an apple at her. Of course, the throw was 3 feet short and 6 feet two her left, leaving her standing up, completely safe.

First Base: Kid Cuddy vs. Mark Teixeira

Cuddy: Has played every position in the Twins organization, including pitching, catching, manager, first base coach, pitching coach, bus driver, uniform launderer, and PED-dealer-keeper-awayer. Because of his devotion to the team, management has asked him repeatedly to please, “slow his roll,” to which he’s angrily responded, “Fuck that!”

Teixeira: After leaving Texas to sign with the Yankees after the 2008 season, Teixeira was heard claiming that the only thing that was “bigger in Texas” was the women. Of course, this never really bothered him as he has no interest whatsoever in women.

Second Base: O-Dogg vs. Robinson Cano

O-Dogg: Just ‘scited man! Keep it loose, lil’ rowdy! Man, gets cold, but I ain’t sweat, nawww, not O-Dogg!

Robinson Cano: Has made millions of dollars while playing and living in New York City, yet refuses to buy an MTA card. Rather, he waits until rush hour to push through doors that have been propped open by handicap (and fully paying) patrons.

Shortstop: J.J. Hardy vs. Derek Jeter

Hardy: Acquired from Milwaukee during the offseason for Carlos Gomez. Hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, however, the drop off is understandable, as this season was his first experience living in a major Midwestern city.

Jeter: Captain Clutch had career lows in batter average, RBI’s, and on-base percentage. Also, he dated Mariah Carey. No, really.

Third Base: Danny Valencia vs. Alex Rodriguez

Valencia: During the AL Central-clinching party, CF Denard Span said of Danny Valencia, “Watch out ladies, Danny’s out on the town tonight.”

Rodriguez: Has never actually showered in front of teammates because years and years of abusing performance enhancing drugs have left his testicles as shriveled as a Nevada Boxing Commissioner’s.

Left Field: Deltron vs. Brett Gardner

Deltron: Finally living up to the potential he’s scratched at for years. Plus, he has a Misfits tattoo (leading to the “Delmon Young Fiend Club” and bridging the gap between hipster jerk-offs and bros). During the clinching celebration he claimed that, “This is the best time of the year. Poppin’ bottles.” I would like to hang out with Deltron.

Gardner: What the fuck is a “Brett Gardner?”

Center Field: Denard Span vs. Curtis Granderson

Span: Seems to be aligning himself quite nicely with the tradition left behind by center fielders Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter. He’ll likely go down as second on the list, just ahead of Hunter, as he can grow a full beard and has actually not swung at every face-high fastball he’s ever seen.

Granderson: The former Tiger seems to lack the motivation and drive to succeed in the postseason thanks to the peace of mind he’s gained from seeing only three boats on fire on the streets of The Bronx, as opposed to the daily boat burnings he witnessed in Detroit.

Right Field: Twitches Kubel vs. Nick Swisher

Kubel: Has a remarkable knack for coming through in the clutch despite twitching he’s been mainlining Starbucks.

Swisher: The broiest bro who ever broed. Swisher carries twice as much luggage on road trip as any other Yankee, filling an extra two bags with hair gel, roofies, Coors Light, Axe Body Spray, and Ed Hardy t-shirts.

DH: Jim Thome vs. Lance Berkman

Thome: A revelation this year, leading the Twins in home runs and becoming a charming, gentlemanly fan favorite.

Berkman: Looks a lot like that guy who kept calling your mother after she and your dad split up, doesn’t he?

Starting Pitchers:

Twins:

Francisco Liriano: Once waited at the airport for 45 minutes to pick up his sister, even though his sister texted him and said she’d be delayed and she’d just catch a cab.

Carl Pavano: Everyone in New York hates him. Yes, that goes in the plus column, as everybody knows New Yorker’s are self-centered assholes with no taste and no appreciation for anything they can’t latch onto and suck like leeches.

Brian Duensing: Has never tipped less than 15%. Even on coffee.

Nick Blackburn: I had a friend who did some intern work at the STrib and she told me that Nick Blackburn is the only Twin who isn’t a bro. No truth to the rumour that he listens to Ratatat to get pumped up for starts.

Yankees:

C.C. Sabathia: Once tried to grill and eat a “Brett Gardner.”

Andy Pettite: Has dutifully tried to help teammate Alex Rodriguez make peace with his steroid-abuse-based shrunken testicles by constantly showing off his own steroid-abuse-based shrunken testicles.

Phil Hughes: Had his name in the rumours of potential Johan Santana trade that eventually fell through. Never quite got over the prospect of living in the greatest city modern man has ever built.

Closers: Matt Capps vs. Mariano Rivera

Capps: Came over from Washington in the middle of the season, got a save in his first game, and said, “I’m just so excited to be in Minnesota. The fans, the stadium… Minneapolis is great.” 50 years ago we took your team, this year we took your closer. Hope you enjoyed Christian Guzman.

Rivera: The greatest closer in postseason history. Hates puppies.

Prediction: Twins in four.

Series MVP: Deltron (3 HR, 9 RBI, 2 Outfield Assists, at least one shouting match with Yankee fans, and more popped bottles than anyone this side of Gucci Mane.)

Get on the bandwagon now! When the Twins with the World Series we’re tipping over the 7.

Flatbasset-October '10

I'm a couple of days late. I had this playlist all ready to go on the 1st and then got caught up in an epic weekend. I'm back at it now, though. This is one of the better playlists I've put together, so click it, type the numbers, slap it on your iPod and go take in Minnesota's most beautiful time of year.

Flatbasset-October '10

I'll bet you thought I forgot about this one, huh?

01. Central Services – What Would God Do?

Central Services was an NYC-based collaboration between El-P (beats) & the late Camu Tao (vocals). Sadly, Camu died last year just before his solo debut came out.

As you can kind of tell from this track (and can certainly tell from the whole Forever Frozen In Television Time EP), Camu was essentially TV On The Radio before TV On The Radio. The beats are menacing (I mean, it is EL-P), but Camu’s weird, abstract harmonies deserve the credit for making these songs. I downloaded it for free at the Strange Famous Records website. You should too.

02. School Of Seven Bells – Heart Is Strange

School Of Seven Bells is made up of the guy who left The Secret Machines (and, fortunately, all their prog-rock pomposity) and a pair of twin girl singers.

I put this one on the mix because my dude J-Bird and I went and caught their show down at 7^th St. just a couple of days before I put the mix together. I really want to like this band more, but, even after the live show, I find them firmly entrenched as a “shuffle” band. Each song on both of their albums stands up on its own, but taken as a whole it all kinda blends together. This song is the perfect example. The harmonies are great, it has a good melody, the guitar & drum machine are a nice canvas, but I never get the sense that anyone is letting go, y’know? As a whole, the albums feel like they were constructed just a little too well, with every mistake (if that’s what you call them, I call them personality) airbrushed away.

03. Descendents – When I Get Old

This song came out in 1996, when I was a 14 year old just getting into punk rock. I’m now twice that age and rediscovering punk rock. I now know what it’ll be like when I get old.

Sidenote: I will always kiss my girlfriend and try to grab her ass.

04. Big Boi – Shine Blockas (w/Gucci Mane)

I don’t even know what to say about this song. It’s probably my favorite song of 2010. The beat shines so hard, Big Boi crushes it, and Gucci perfectly delivers the hook. No song will change your mood from angry to awesome as fast as this one.

Sidenote: Gucci has now appeared on as many Flatbasset mixes as Morrissey. Take that for what you will.

05. New Century Masters – Gentry Pines

Favorite Minnesota Current Song Of The Day from September. New Century Masters sounds like the name of some kind of long lost pop band from the 60’s (the type of shit my girl Inga would dig out of the vinyl bin for $1.79). Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised when their sound actually matched their name. Hook, hook, keyboard, chorus, do-do-do… and back again. You all know I’m guilty of loving a good hook and this (and the Jukebox The Ghost song at the end) are more exhibits to add to the collection.

06. Phatnumber – Don’t Get Weary

Phatnumber is actually a friend of mine. He’s a producer that was born in Sota, lived in Arizona for a bit, and has been back in the TC for quite a while now. Due to his incredibly good nature, he passed along a disc full of his beats for me to vibe with. Let me tell you, “Don’t Get Weary” is just the tip of the iceberg. Perfect music for rolling down Lyndale in September with the windows down and the stereo up.

Sidenote: Be sure to grab this mp3 if you’re digging it, because it might be a minute before this shit gets out to the general public.

07. R.E.M. – Imitation Of Life

You know how sometimes you’ll go on kicks for a couple of weeks where some artist just sounds awesome? And then a couple more weeks will pass and you’ll wonder what you were on? R.E.M. is that band for me. A couple of times a year I really, really love this band. The rest of the year they just annoy me.

However, “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” “(Don’t To Back To) Rockville,” & “Imitation Of Life” always sound awesome to me. Pretty much all of R.E.M.’s post-2000 material gets torn up by critics. They’re mostly right, as the whole albums are pretty dull. But taken as a stand alone single this is a sugar rush.

08. Kanye West – Power (Remix) (w/Jay-Z)

At this point, you all probably just expect Kanye West on the mixes. I probably shouldn’t even try to explain it anymore. Jay’s verse ain’t so hot, but the track makes up for it in its last third when Yeezy freaks the fuck out over Funkmaster Flex’s beat. Love it or hate it, man. I can’t sell it any better than Kanye himself.

09. Lifter Puller – I Like The Lights

This one is a Twin Cities classic. Half Dead & Dynamite is not my favorite thing that Lifter Puller ever did, but some nights I’m convinced it’s the greatest rock ‘n roll album ever recorded.

10. The Queers – Punk Rock Girls

Remember what I said earlier about rediscovering punk rock? Case. In. Point.

Sidenote: I still wish they could all be punk rock girls.

11. Young Jeezy – My President (w/Nas)

"Woke up this morning, headache just pound, pay all these damn bills, feed all this damn hound..."

12. Interpol – Try It On

Have you noticed how each of Interpol’s records, when compared with its predecessor, is good but not quite as good. Interpol isn’t quite as good as Our Love To Admire. OLTA isn’t quite as good as Antics. And Antics isn’t quite as good as Turn On The Bright Lights. When you have a couple of years between records, you’re mostly just excited for a new Interpol record. However, have you tried comparing Interpol to TOTBL? Good god! These dudes have really fallen off.

13. Ratatat – Fix Up (w/Dizzee Rascal)

First of all, if you have a friend who doesn’t like Ratatat, you should be immediately suspicious of them.

Second, I love British hip-hop.

Dear Ratatat, please remix more British hip-hop.

14. Jukebox The Ghost – Empire

British pop music is more addictive than caffeine & PCP combined...

15. Atmosphere – The Loser Wins

I’m sure you know I don’t particularly enjoy saying this, but Atmosphere’s new To All My Friends/Blood Makes The Blade Holy album is pretty awful. I understood having a live band on tour (especially when Nate the guitar player has turned up on a bunch of tracks already), but this record sounds dangerously close to Ben Harper territory. Was Ant even around for this album? I remember going to bat for that song “Guarantees” a while back when someone said it sounded like Jack Johnson. After hearing this latest album, I feel like I didn’t have a leg to stand on.

I put this track on here because it speaks to me personally. I’ve always tried to keep an open mind when I meet new people. I’ve tried to find common ground and build friendships with people for years now. Over the last year however, I’ve watched some of my post-NYC friendships come and go amid all kinds of bad circumstances. Cynical though it may be, I’ve learned that I really do need to get better at choosing friends.

If The Day Does To You What The Day Does To Me...

If you’ve been downloading my playlists for the last year, you know that my love of Doomtree is a poorly concealed secret. Since the day I bought P.O.S.’s Audition album on a whim, it’s a love affair that I’ve only gotten deeper and deeper into. By now I’ve been to several Blowouts, countless CD release shows, and met just about everyone in the collective (all of whom are even friendlier than you could imagine). In fact, to this day Dessa is the only artist in my iPod who has also pet my dog.

Well, the spine of the Doomtree collective is the people behind the beats. Paper Tiger, MK Larada, P.O.S., Cecil Otter, & Lazerbeak provide an always stellar backdrop for the MC’s to shine. Today, one of those producers is stepping out on his own.

Aaron Mader has been part of the Twin Cities music scene as long as I’ve been aware of the scene. We all know, love, and miss The Plastic Constellations. Their tightly wound guitar attack coupled with that bizarre hip-hop lyrical style was something that only the Twin Cities could have created (and, probably, only the Twin Cities could have embraced). As part of TPC, Mader played a big role in helping bridge the gap between indie rock kids and hip hop kids.

(Quick TPC sidenote: Sadly, I wasn’t able to make it to the TPC reunion show a few months back. My man Jesse went though and told me that people were throwing up the Wings & Teeth the whole show. So much for not being known for ex-members. Regardless, TPC, motherfucker, cop a feel or two.)

To help scratch that hip-hop itch fully, Mader christened himself “Lazerbeak” and started making beats with the fledgling Doomtree crew, which has gone a long way to helping redefine Twin Cities hip-hop as more than just Atmosphere (and if you’ve checked my last.fm page, you know I’m not hating. I’ve got nothing but love for Atmosphere).

Lazerbeak’s solo album Legend Recognize Legend comes out today and in celebration of its release, I’m counting down my Top 10 Lava Bangers. We keep it live, live, live…

First, 5 Bonus Lava Bangers:

15. Doomtree – Drumsticks

14. Mike Mictlan & P.O.S. – Shux

13. Dessa – Dutch

12. Doomtree – Coup For The King

11. F. Stokes – Soul Clap

Alright, Top 10. Turn ya headphone joints up.

10. P.O.S. – Let It Rattle (from Never Better)

I’ve spent so many words on this blog talking about my love for this album that I’m not going to get into it all again. It’s easily the most important album to me personally that’s come out in my adult life. Besides that, it’s a wrecking ball. The album has a bizarre dark/positive/punishing vibe to it and all of that is set up by this opening track. With its echoing voices, hammer of the gods drums, and quiet/loud/quiet/loud/louder/reallyquiet/loudest structure that pushes and pulls until it climaxes with P.O.S. reminding Steve Buscemi that he’s out of his element. Really, it’s the perfect way to introduce one of the most complex hip-hop albums of the decade.

09. Sims & Dessa – The Wren (from Doomtree)

While I don’t envy any producer charged with following “Gander Back,” Beak’s “The Wren” is just the left turn that Doomtree’s self-titled album needed after an intro and a couple of rap-boast tracks. Sims and Dessa paint a obtuse-yet-accurate portrait of failed relationships, although it never comes off that they were the two dating. More like two friends lamenting their own break ups over drinks, but not really talking to each other, more just talking to hear themselves say it out loud.

Lazerbeak structures the perfect backdrop for that type of conversation. The horn climaxes sounding both liberating and angry, helping frame the perplexing questions and lack of answers that with any relationship conversation.

08. Mike Mictlan & Omaur Bliss – Young Hunger (from Hand Over Fist)

This one is less about lyrical content (although Mictlan, as usual, absolutely kills it, and Omaur Bliss delivers a fine hook. I remember these three killing this one live at the CD release show) and more about that crazy guitar bit during the verses. I know it’s hard, since Mike’s going like a freight train, but try to listen to that guitar under the verses. Just listen to it! I can just picture Beak sitting in his house shredding his guitar and then looping, shredding, looping, over and over until it sounds like hip-hop & metal never heard of Fred Durst. Also, acknowledge that flute. Always acknowledge the flute.

07. Mike Mictlan & Dessa – Kid Gloves (from Doomtree)

One of the best live tracks Doomtree performs. Those horns fade in like your neighbor is next door listening to a Chuck Mangione record. Then they drop out for that killer bassline during the verses. As you’ve probably noticed a pattern developing, the song tops out hard at the end. I can’t help but think this is a lesson Lazerbeak learned during all those years in TPC. While most guitar bands end with a climax of guitar freakout, Lava Bangers are the hip-hop equivalent, hitting hardest at the end and leaving you wondering what you just witnessed.

06. P.O.S. – Purexed (from Never Better)

I’m basically out of things to say about this song. Just listen to it. Those keyboards that come in during the second half of each verse are the aural equivalent of looking at a world of stars through a clear, cold night.

05. Sims – 15 Blocks (from Lights Out Paris)

Easily the most laid back of the Lava Bangers on this list (Lava Lounger?). This is one of those great hip-hop tracks where the lyrics and beat match each other perfectly. That keyboard perfectly matches the feeling of walking and trying to cope with your struggles. They loop back and forth like an idea that you can’t quite shake, but you know dwelling on it won’t get you anywhere. Then the guitars start chopping around, equating the anger you’re bound to feel with yourself for not being able to let said idea go.

04. F. Stokes – Tickle Me Mars (from Death Of A Handsome Bride)

First off, this is easily the most slept-on hip-hop album to come out in the last 5 years. Beak’s beats kill and F. Stokes brings his A game throughout. Absolutely go get it now.

“Tickle Me Mars” is the rollicking freakout closer of the album and it’s like nothing else in the Lazerbeak catalog. It’s like when they sat down, they had the beats for the rest of the album and someone said, “Hey, what about that crazy beat you been working on?” It works brilliantly, somewhere between Doomtree and Outkast’s “B.O.B.” It’s just too easy to picture Lazerbeak sitting at home mashing the button his MPC that says “Mars” over and over with a dastardly smile on his face.

03. Lazerbeak – Legend Recognize Legend (from False Hopes 13)

As far as I know, up until today this was the only track released that was credited solely to Lazerbeak. It’s two minutes of a producer just killing it, making you wonder why MC’s are necessary to begin with. Honestly, when I heard Beak was going to put out a solo album I was hoping it would sound like 45 minutes of tracks like this. Sampling Jay-Z is always a good choice. I’ve seen Beak perform when he has that gunshot noise on the MPC and it always kills (no pun intended).

(NYC Sidenote: When I was living in New York Phil came and visited me while on leave from the Navy. Phil and I have a special set of inside jokes that are ours alone (as most male friends do). Thanks to this song, our phrase for the week was, “Yeah-ya-ya-ya-yeah Chuuuch!” Not sure if that’s interesting or not, but it meant something to us.)

02. Mike Mictlan – Prizefight (from Hand Over Fist)

The closing track from their collaborative album, Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak sum up their story in just over four minutes with a song good enough to make you relate to them and make you want to go out and fight your own fight. The beat creates a jungle of noise as Mictlan tells his story of finding his way out of said jungle. The way the beat slides from that flute-y line into the horns and then into the sped up sample of the chorus is a perfect backdrop for Mictlan’s autobiographical struggles.

This alone would be enough to make the song an absolute banger, but, even from the producer’s seat, Beak manages to inject himself lyrically into the track with the sped up, “Think I’m gonna throw away all the chains from my heart ‘cause lately I’ve been feeling like I’m free…” The song cracks back, only now the horns and flutes have been replaced by a single guitar and some banging drums. It’s almost like this was the seed of this upcoming solo albums, combining killer beats, poignant lyrics, any instrument under the sun and then back to the rock roots of a guitar solo. Vintage.

01. P.O.S. – Stand Up (Let’s Get Murdered) (from Audition)

As I mentioned up top, Audition was my introduction to the Doomtree community, so this track was my introduction to Lava Bangers. Honestly, the first time you go through Audition, it’s a tough listen (especially if you’re completely unfamiliar with DTR.). First, you have “Half-Cocked Concepts,” which is a great track, but if you bought the record expecting regular hip-hop, it’s a lot to process. Follow that with, “De La Souls,” an amazing track that, by featuring Greg Attonito, which helped me get my bearings as a punk kid trying to figure out the album. However, when those horns come blasting through the car speakers at the beginning of “Stand Up,” you’ll quickly realize that this isn’t just the self-conscious rap of De La Souls or the difficult genre-bending of “Half-Cocked Concepts,” it is a fully formed, supremely confident album that is ready to redefine exactly what “hip-hop” means. To this day, those three tracks, in that order, are the best introduction to the Doomtree universe.

Back to this track. The horns obviously speak for themselves. I don’t know any track that gets my adrenaline going within the first 10 seconds quite like this one. While the horns are the star of the show, much like MC’s are usually the star of a track, the crazy backward guitar solo near the last refrain acts as a metaphor for producers in general. It’s one last stroke of genius to remind you that, while MC’s may be the obvious star, it’s the producer (and the little things) that make a track stand up and murder.

So there you have it, my list of Top 10 Lava Bangers. Lazerbeak’s solo album, Legend Recognize Legend, comes out today and I sincerely hope everyone goes and picks it up. He has a CD release show this Friday at The Fine Line featuring Paper Tiger spinning, TPC reunion, and Beak and his Ensemble Of Legendz tackling the album. I won’t be able to make it (sadly, $10 is outside of my budget), but I highly encourage everyone to get there if you can.

I’ll leave you with two last Lazerbeak solo tracks.

First, the mp3 for lead single “Salt & Sea” (be sure to catch the last 1/3 of the song, when all the pieces come together.)

And here’s the video for “Land’s End.” Enjoy.

Flatbasset-September '10

Everybody! What is up! Sorry I haven't been around for a minute. My beloved laptop Bandit bit the dust a few months back and I had to have an appropriate period of mourning. We had a hell of a run. I lost all kinds of stuff when she went down. Bad times.

However, I'm back and I'm ready to help you cope with yet another looming winter. Special thanks to my sister Erin for hooking me up with a "new" laptop. You better believe Spiekerboxx and I will be doing big things all winter. To all you motherfuckers in the blogosphere, I'm saying "fuck you" loud and clear...

So here's the new mix. In case you're new to the game, click the link. It'll take you to a Megaupload that is filled with distractions. You don't have to register for anything, just type the stupid little letter-number combo into the upper right hand dialog box and you'll be on that Flatbasset mix before you know it.

Flatbasset-September '10

Time for some track by track. Couple of disclaimers though. First, August/September was a very tough time for me. That inevitably colored the tracks I chose for this playlist. Second, I wrote this track by track after 2 Brandy Gingers, 2 Summits, & 3 Tall Boys. Believe it or not, this colored the writing. Just roll with it.

01. Lupe Fiasco - Go Go Gadget Flow

So I finally got around to downloading Lupe Fiasco’s second album The Cool despite the fact that Food & Liquor, his first album, remains in my top 10 all-time hip-hop albums. It’s a little longer than is necessary, but Lupe still kills it. This is the first real song on the album and the chorus is, “I’m from a city in the Midwest, best city in the whole wide, wide world.” You know I have no love for Madison (it’s arguably negative love, or, as we call it in my circle, hater vision), I do live in a city in the Midwest.

This brings me to an interesting point that was first presented to me in Chuck Klosterman’s Killing Yourself To Live. Klosterman relates a story about driving around listening to The Replacements and breaking down into tears. He broke down not because of anything Paul Westerberg was singing, but because one of his best friends adored The Mats and had recently died from cancer. His point was that all art, no matter the format, is always drawn back to the consumer’s experience, what they want to take from it, rather than what the artist is trying to present (which is inevitably colored by their own experiences as well). It seems like an obvious point, but I had never put it right before me and it made perfect sense.

For further insight into this point, please listen to Wilco’s “What Light.”

02. Wavves – King Of The Beach

This one was tied for my favorite Current Song Of The Day this month. Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of the whole Wavves laid back, beach dwelling, stoner vibe (mainly because I don’t smoke weed and I hate being outdoors). Plus, the drama surrounding this group is a little nauseating.

However, this single, which, from what I hear is indicative of the whole album, is pretty killer. Gone is the fuzzed-out guitar, drums, vocals combo from their breakout album. Supposedly this one is a much more fully realized, full-band effort (and this single backs that up). Plus, after the month I’ve had, a chorus of, “You’re neeeeverr gonna stop me, no, you’re neeeever gonna stop me,” really struck a, “hey, fuck it” chord with me. See, it’s all the consumers point of view.

03. Hepcat – Can’t Wait

I put this one on as a throwback. That’s right, third-wave ska. I was there. I’m old and I love it.

Also, much like I mentioned before, my attitude for this month could be expressed in a chorus of, “Baby, if I cause you pain, why don’t you go his way.”

04. Nas – The World Is Yours

As a teenager looking for ways to rebel, West Coast hip-hop was where it was at. Snoop, Dre, Ice Cube… That shit killed. Plus, it was catchy, easily digestible, and full of parent-upsetting obscenities. As I get older and start digging deeper and deeper into hip-hop, I’ve developed a real appreciation for the East Coast sound. While the thug talk holds little appeal to me, the crackling vinyl, the spoken sung chorus, and lyrics that actually sound like reality (rather than gangster-parody. Hi, Tupac.), tend to strike closer to the indie hip-hop that re-kindled my love for the genre years ago.

This track is my favorite off of Nas’ debut Illmatic, an album so good that even former arch-nemesis Jay-Z wouldn’t dare attack. Plus, it sounds great rolling down 94 on payday (“Who’s world is this? The world is yours”).

(Minnesota Sidenote: In the opening track off of P.O.S.’s Never Better he drops the line, “Their out for presidents to represent them, you really think a president can represent you?” This is the track he’s referencing with that line. Step ya game up, Obama defenders.)

(Personal Sidenote: I wanted to put this one on the list because Nas is from Queens and, as far as I can tell, I’m the only person in MPLS who will go hard for Queens. Hate if you want, but that’s my second home.)

05. Babyshambles – There She Goes

There are many better, catchier songs on Babyshambles Shotter’s Nation album that I could have put on here, but I just couldn’t get over the line, “How could I let go, since I caught a glimpse of you in your white plimsolls, twisting and turning to Northern Soul?” Yeah, I’m the whitest person who ever lived.

06. Fort Wilson Riot – All My Friends

My favorite Minnesota Current Song Of The Day for the month.

Fort Wilson Riot turned up on the Twin Cities scene a few years back as something like a 12-piece performance art, indie-pop group. Needless to say, that was a little much for me to digest (although “An Imagined Civil State” was a pretty killer single).

Since then, they’ve returned as merely a two-piece. This is the lead single off of their home-recorded second album and I think it’s pretty stellar. Again, this has much to do with the mood I was in this month. A song about missing all of your friends hit a little close to home.

(Pet Peeve Sidenote: I hate people who say things like, “Respect and love.” At least they wrapped it in a hook.)

07. Murs – Asian Girl (w/9thmatic)

HaHa! Yeah, that just happened. Step ya noodle game up!

08. Ash – Punk Boy

When I was back in Red Wing collecting CD’s from my parents’ house a few months back I picked up nearly all of my Ash collection (their first four records). Since then I’ve been on a bit of a kick. Even though their later albums are better, with catchier chorus’s and more mature songwriting, their first two albums (1977 & Trailer) will always make me feel like I’m 16 years old again (Sidenote to Sarah Elise: Act like you don’t know). While they achieved plenty of popularity in Europe, they never got their due in America. Perhaps that’s because most people here have no idea what a line like, “Who’s that boy with the ocean green eyes in Rough Trade every Saturday?” means. Even pushing 30, I wish I could hang out at Rough Trade every Saturday.

09. Dark Time Sunshine – It Lives

I downloaded Dark Time Sunshine’s Believeyoume EP from the Strange Famous Records website for free a couple of weeks ago. I couldn’t believe what I was listening to! It’s like a mix of El-P & Sims. I was even more surprised when I dug a little deeper and found out that it was two Scottish dudes. Ladies and gentleman, the future of hip-hop is wide open.

10. Mystery Jets – Dreaming Of Another World

Tied for my favorite Current Song Of The Day (see Wavves above). I know I went a little hard on the British bands this month, but that’s the mood I was in.

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like hooks like this just aren’t coming from American bands these days. Or maybe they just don’t sound as great without that accent. Ah well, killer single.

11. Passion Pit – The Reeling

Maybe you remember months ago when I was counting down my Top 250 Songs Of The Decade and I put Radiohead’s, “2 + 2 = 5” in the top 20. If you don’t, here was my line of reasoning. It’s not my favorite Radiohead song of the last decade (they did put out, “All I Need,” after all), but it was my favorite because it was Phil’s favorite. And every time we listened to it he would do his best Thom Yorke impression. Now I can’t listen to it without picturing him performing this ridiculous ritual, and really, that’s what music is about, capturing a place and time.

That was my reasoning for putting “The Reeling” on the playlist this month. I’ve always thought it was a pretty good song (and I dance hard to this shit in my milk cooler), but after hanging out with my dude Mike all summer and watching him start bobbing around like a drunk every time this song came on the jukebox, it will always hold a special place for me.

12. Soul Position – Keep It Hot For Daddy

Alright, first thing’s first, how great is this RJD2 beat? Goddamn! Ohio goin’ hard.

Second, as much as I love Blueprint (and I really do), he can’t always match the quality of the beats RJD2 brings to the table. However, in this one, he absolutely nails the feeling of meeting a great girl for the first time. It’s not easy to walk the line between humour (“I want it so bad I just might player hate, tell these other dudes you got, like, 6 kids”) and honesty (“You thinkin’ ‘bout me? I’m thinkin’ ‘bout us. Yeah, I’m outta pocket, I’m thinkin’ ‘bout love.”). Not easy to do.

13. Gorillaz – Some Kind Of Nature (w/Lou Reed)

I put this one on the playlist before I mentioned it in C & O #2 up above. I don’t even really know what to say. This new Gorillaz album is just soooooo fucking good. I highly suggest everyone track down a copy this afternoon. Damon Albarn has never sounded more comfortable in his own skin (and the Gorillaz skin, for that matter). A track like this sincerely makes me hope that 20 years from now Damon Albarn is guesting on some young punk’s new album. Mark my words, within 20 years we’ll be talking about Damon Albarn in the same breath that we talk about David Byrne, Morrissey, and Lou Reed.

14. Buzzcocks – Promises

Alright, story time…

One of the things that was crazy about this month was the fact that my ex was back in town from NYC. Now, obviously, this would be difficult even if everything went according to plan. It was a very serious relationship and those things are always tough to revisit (especially when you know the situation is only a week long).

But first, let me go back even further, to the first time she visited after I moved back to MPLS. We spent nearly every day of the week together and it was just like old times. We went shopping, walked around Uptown, took Basset to St. Paul and let her run around, and basically spent a week acting like we were still together (despite the fact that we both knew that this was not a healthy approach). Well, her last night in town we went out and had a few drinks and came back to my place. Um, hmmm…, you know where that’s going. What was tough was that, the next day, she told me something along the lines.of, “Listen, that was really nice. I promise, whenever you need something like this, or need me in general, I’m going to be there.”

Now, in the interest of fairness and not completely upsetting her, she has been there every time I’m in a bad place and need someone to talk to. Every time. And I know she’ll be there next time. For this, she will always have my love.

Back to the semi-current. When she came back this time, I had mentally prepared myself to spend another week with her. I couldn’t have been more excited to see her and have another week that we could call, “ours,” y’know, separate from her life in NYC and mine in MPLS. Well, when she got back, we hung out at my place, played with Margaret Basset, and had a few beers and, honestly, it was the best night I’ve had in months. However, when I pushed for us to go out and have a night, it didn’t quite play out like that. She explained that she couldn’t come out with me because she has a man back in NYC and that if she went out and had drinks with me it would lead to “trouble.” Well, of course it would. That was the point.

Now, while I completely understand and respect her relationship in NYC, I was in the midst of a tough time (remember those 35W bridges?) and had really been counting on a week where I could put my troubles to the side. Obviously, this was an incredibly unhealthy approach and a bad decision (Of course, I’m so far removed I don’t even remember what, “good decisions” feel like anymore). The lesson, as always: I’m just not very bright.

Back to the real current. When I was putting this playlist, I was still coping with the sting of this rejection. Hence, a song with a chorus of, “How could you ever let me down? These promises were made for us,” hit me a little close to home. I don’t regret putting it on there, as that’s how I was feeling at the time, but I hope it’s existence on the playlist, and this summary, don’t make her hate me forever.

15. Kid Cudi – Erase Me (w/Kanye West)

If you follow the playlist, you know I’m a junkie for a good hook. And this hook is as big as it gets. I mean, just listen to those drums! I love Kid Cudi regardless, but if he wants to go for a more “pop” sound, I’ll defend it to the end.

Also, you know I can’t make these playlists with a Kanye appearance. Yeah, it’s a problem.

(Personal Sidenote: See above. Still a bit bitter. Perhaps someday I’ll be in magazines & on TV and you won’t be able to escape me.)

16. Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Even though it’s been two months, I still don’t know what to make of the new Arcade Fire album. It seems really good, but whenever I listen to it, it all just kinda bleeds together. Of course, I thought the same thing about Neon Bible when it came out. This one caught my ear right away though, as it’s one of the few Arcade Fire songs I feel like I could dance to. Plus, who can’t relate to lyrics like, “I need the darkness, would you please cut the lights?” Perhaps that relates to my story above too.

Flatbasset - June '10

Alright, sorry I'm late yet again. It's been a very peculiar month. Let me give you the broad strokes.

It all started out very well with Minnesota's 152nd down at the Triple Rock. Drinking, dancing, friends I hadn't seen in a minute, a couple of new friends made... Good times all around.

Then I took a night and made my way down to Red Wing. Got to see some people who I genuinely love. Picked up a box of records that were lost in the great Squawk Box collapse of '09. Again, good times.

Things took a turn for the worse after that. On two seperate occasions at First Ave. I managed to burn the bridges of two of my five longest friendships. I'm not even sure burn is a strong enough word. I absolutely 35-W'd them. I'm surprised MNDOT didn't turn up. Drank a bit, said and did some things I shouldn't have (I still have no good stories that start with, "We were drinking gin..."). I've always prided myself on living a life without regrets. Not so much anymore. If either of you ends up reading this, I'm sorry. I suck. Hopefully we'll get to talk about it at some point.

Sidenote: It would happen at First Ave. That was one of the few places left that made me feel like an innocent 15 year old every time I stopped by. I haven't been back, but I doubt it will still feel that way.

As a way of trying to cope with those nights I threw myself into work. Today (the 8th) is my first day off after 11 straight days working. I managed to clock 97 working hours into those days plus 8 hours rolling in my Blueberry Taurus. Gotta get my money right for Phil's return to the Twin Cities. Thankfully, that bridge is indestructible.

In the middle of all this, Ms. Basset developed a disgusting ear infection that caused all that gross brown stuff that builds up in her ear to come spewin out and stick to the fur around her ear. The ear was raw, so I couldn't clean it without her whimpering. This on top of dealing with the heat in my apartment. She was hot and lethargic for a few weeks (see, pets do resemble their owners). Fortunately I got her to the vet, shoved pills down her throat for a week, and now she's as lovey and energetic as ever.

Anyway, I used this day off to throw this mix together. Enjoy!

Flatbasset - June '10

Hey, track list and individual mp3 time.

01. Wale - Triumph

I downloaded Wale’s Attention Deficit on a whim. You all know that my love of hip-hop is rooted in indie stuff, but in the last 5 years, the line between “indie” and “mainstream” has been blurred to the point that Interscope would sign an artist like Wale. I seriously rocked this album all summer. It’s introspective enough that it’s not quite commercial, but funny and danceable enough that I can still, well, laugh and dance to it. And roll down 94 feeling like a millionaire.

Sidenote I: I have no love for the Michael Vick line in this song. However, the Kirby Puckett line makes up for it.

Sidenote II: Does this beat sound vaguely familiar? It should. It was made by Dave Sitek. Yeah, that Dave Sitek. He produced a couple of the beats on Attention Deficit. While the rest of TV On The Radio is busy making pointless solo albums and nearly unwatchable movies, Dave Sitek is balling hard.

02. Superdrag - The Staggering Genius

This one is one of the tracks that I found when I went home and grabbed a box of my old CD’s to load onto Squawk Box a couple month’s back. I have always loved Superdrag. Like always. I actually remember hearing “Sucked Out” on The Edge years ago and being late for work because I had to sit and wait through a few more songs (most likely Tonic, Alice In Chains, & Folk Implosion) just to find out who it was. You all know me, I am a sucker for a good hook and Superdrag made a living off them. Well, tried to make a living of them.

03. T. Rex - Life's A Gas

For some reason, after the bridge burning mentioned earlier, I was listening to T. Rex’s Electric Warrior album (not that I need to justify listening to T. Rex, just trying to give you some context). I got to this song and was struck by Bolan’s “coulda, coulda, it really doesn’t matter at all, life’s a gas…” life theory. When you know you’ve fucked up, this song can be quite the medicine.

04. Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat

Another lost album that I tracked down, I was afraid that Hard-Fi’s Stars Of CCTV wouldn’t be as good as I remembered it. You know how these buzzy British bands can be. However, I popped it in and it was even better than I remembered. “Hard To Beat” especially, is sounds better than ever. Perfectly dancy summer single about drinking, dancing, and lusting after the girls you’re drinking and dancing with. This song is dying for a dancefloor remix.

05. A.R.M - Fear Of The Mundane (w/Slug)

A.R.M. is made up of Krukid, Budo, & M.Anifest. This song’s beat is a killer, but the message of it really spoke to me. Obviously, my routine is much closer to the “ordinary life” than that of independent rappers, but who isn’t afraid of that “white picket fence, kids, & a wife.” Hmmm…

06. Blur - Fool's Day

I was torn between putting this song of something from the new Gorillaz album on this mix, since they turned up right around the same time. However, this is the first new Blur track in 8 years! The full lineup! Sadly, the reunion seems to have come and gone without anything else being recorded and no American shows played. Still, all it takes is two minutes to remind us all how perfect Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn are for each other. Who knows if there’s another reunion in the future, but, c’mon guys! A reunited Blur or a reunited Smiths are the only two things that could ever get me to slog out to Coachella or the Pitchfork festival. I don’t actually want The Smiths to reunite, so please, lads, force me to drive to the desert.

07. Kudzu Wish - Re: Assassins

I discovered Kudzu wish back in 2002 while killing time driving around St. Paul waiting for The White Stripes show at Roy Wilkins to start and calling everybody I could think of to see if they wanted to use my extra ticket. I used to kill a lot of time in St. Paul at the old Eclipse Records store and so I drove over their just to see who was playing. These guys were absolutely tearing that little stage up with just me and four other people watching. I grabbed the record and chatted with them momentarily. I remember telling one guy that I was heading to The White Stripes show and he seemed jealous. As a young punk kid who assumed that all punks hated all things non-punk, this was a bit of an eye-opener. You mean I can like punk rock and indie rock and that’s OK? When you’re a stupid kid (and lord knows I was), these types of moments can be very influential.

08. Kanye West - Hey Mama

Natural ending to the last story: Now I’ve swung so far from an aspiring punk kid that I can’t help but put Kanye West on every mix I post. I know, it’s an addiction.

I actually wanted to put this one on May’s mix for Mother’s Day, but May is Minnebasset month, so it made it a month late. This one’s for all the mom’s I know.

For Sarah Bess’s mom for making me feel welcome even though I’m pretty sure she never liked me.

For Steph’s mom for doing the same things, but doing it halfway across the country and on her dime.

For Phil’s mom for knowing all the words to “Shhh…”

For Sarah Elise’s mom for always loving my like her own son even though I would never have blamed her if she didn’t.

For my sister because she’s raising those kids right in Red Wing. She’s two years younger than me and it blows my mind that she could handle that kind of thing.

For my own mom… I don’t even know where to start. Even though I’m absolutely sure I’ve caused her to roll her eyes more than all my siblings combined, she’s always been there when I’ve been in a bad spot. Even when I put myself if these bad spots, she’s always been home when I knocked or on the other end of the phone just to say, “Sorry, honey. It’ll be OK.” I don’t know what else you could want from a mom. Thanks, Mom.

09. Taking Back Sunday - Liar (It Takes One To Know One)

I put this one on here fro two reasons. First, you all know that I can’t resist a good hook and, hate it or love it, this song is catchy as hell.

Second, this is easily the most stereotypically emo song in the history of emo. It’s simultaneously accusatory (“Liar, if we’re keeping score…”), self accusatory (“I’m an addict for dramatics, I confuse the two for love…”), cryptic (“We’ve got 26 days to work with…”), afraid of adulthood (“How long will this hold, is it any different now that we’re old…”), innocent & guilty (“We’re all choir boys at best, intrusive and arrogant…”) and, y’know, screamy (“Liar!!!!...”). If you had to explain to someone who had never heard music before what “emo” is, this would be the best song to play.

10. Black Francis - Six Legged Man

WTFuck is Black Francis talking about? I dunno, but honestly, who even tries to figure these things out anymore? Just enjoy the ride.

11. The Cribs - Last Year's Snow

Remember a couple of month’s back when I put “We Were Aborted” on a playlist and claimed that it was the only track of the new Cribs album that I liked? Turns out Ignore The Ignorant just needed some time to grow. It’s now my favorite album of 2010 by far (at least until the new Lazerbeak and Kanye albums come out, but it may still win). Johnny Marr’s guitar shivers and sparkles all over this one like it did back in the good old days. Not only that, but the Jarmans'manage to put together some startlingly mature lyrics. “Confusion, I’ll greet like an old friend…” That’s been the theme of my 2010.

Colloquial sidenote: “I want to think you won’t remember me like last year’s snow.” Apparently in Wakefield, England, this means you’re afraid you won’t be remembered at all. In Sota, I took this line to mean that I’d like to not be remembered like last year’s snow because we always remember last winter as worse than it was. I’d rather not be remembered as a worse person than I actually am. Not sure if that makes sense or not. It does in my head.

12. The Hold Steady - Barely Breathing

I haven’t quite figured out what to make of the new Hold Steady album yet. It’s easily their most “classic rock” sounding album yet, with even fewer of the left turns that made the first four albums so much fun. Also, for a band that has spent album after album building up a bizarre narrative of drugs, alcohol, sex, & murder, only a quarter of the tracks on this album concern said narrative. Unraveling that story has been half the fun. Not that the songs are bad, but waiting two plus years for more clues and only getting a handful of them is a little discouraging.

Personal Sidenote: My friends and I made a night of their show on the 4^th of July at First Avenue. It was four of us who absolutely love this band and, this being a homecoming show, we were really looking forward to getting stupid and singing along with all the Minnesota references. For whatever reason, they avoided playing all the songs that are too Minny-Centric. No “Southtown Girls,” no “Hot Soft Light,” no “Little Hoodrat Friend…,” etc… This was on the heels of Tad Kubler’s quotes that THS is, “not a Minnesota band.” Guys, we want to love you! Just throw us a bone! No one’s questioning your status as pseudo party boy, indie darling, cred-craving, cliche Brooklyn-based fucksticks (trust me, it’s no secret). However, telling us that Minneapolis will always feel like home isn’t going to mean you’re gonna wake up with James Murphy’s number deleted from your iPhone. We don’t ask for much.

13. Swollen Members - Go To Sleep

My man Jesse burned a copy of Swollen Member’s Black Magic album. It’s a very good album, but not unlike a lot of indie rap posse albums, it’s just too damn long. I had to go 16 songs into the 21 song album to find the best track. Posse’s, listen, find an editor. I know you’ve all got hot verses to get out. Believe me, we want to hear them, but putting out an album over 15 tracks long is just too much to digest. No matter how good the songs are, they’ll just blend together unless you’re a superfan.

14. Alkaline Trio - Old School Reasons

Every 18 months or so I go on a serious Alkaline Trio kick. Unlike so many of the punk bands I liked when I was younger, when I sing along to their records, I never have this sense that I should’ve grow out of them (as opposed to the way I’ll only sing along to The Get Up Kids if the road is empty).

Dancing Sidenote: When I’m dancing in my dairy cooler it’s almost always to hip hop or some dancy indie stuff (Passion Pit, Daft Punk, etc…). However, I got busted twice in the same day dancing to the Alkaline Trio back there. For whatever reason, Alkaline Trio makes me want to dance. It’s quite possible that I’m the whitest person that ever lived.

15. Sage Francis - Best Of Times

“It was beautiful

It was brutal

It was cruel

It was business as usual…”