Album Of The Week: "Hell Yep" by Frankie Teardrop

Flatbasset Radio's Album Of The Week for the week of July 3rd-9th, 2016:

Frankie Teardrop - Hell Yep

01. Not A Love Song
02. Stay Dumb
03. It Flipped
04. Get It (Kelly)
05. Diet
06. Back To It
07. Convertible/Cig Death
08. Beauty Station
09. My Boys
10. Pissin' In The City
11. D.E.F.L.
12. Waiting For You

(Frankie Teardrop by Niya DeLa Pena)

Well, folks, welcome to one of the more morose entries in my Album Of The Week column. I'm sad to say that, this week, I'll be writing up Frankie Teardrop's final album. We all knew this day would come, of course, but not in July of 2016.

For those of you who've been following along with the blog & podcast, you likely know that MinneSarah & I have been huge supporters of Frankie Teardrop for a long time now. I've played their songs five times on the show and this week's marks the third time one of their records has appeared in AOTW.  Hell, it was just two episodes ago that I was waxing nostalgic about their ten-minute performance of "Free Fallin'" at 10K Sounds Festial a couple years ago.

However, it all started rather inauspiciously. Here's what I wrote about Frankie Teardrop's song "Lines" back in March of 2014:

"I spent a week with Tough Guy a while back.  It's a fine, basically enjoyable throwback sort of record.  However, I've yet to see Frankie Teardrop live, which is evidently necessary to totally buy into what Frankie Teardrop's selling.

    "Lines" is a perfectly serviceable, straight ahead rocker.  That, however, is pretty much it.  There's no great chorus to boost the song up, no crazy guitar solos, nothing particularly memorable.  It just trucks along for a minute & forty seconds and then leaves.  Even Frankie's lyrics about abusing substances and pushing things too far ring a little hollow when delivered in such a workmanlike manner.  I don't know if it was MPR or the band that decided to push "Lines," but I know Frankie Teardrop can do better. Try giving "New Beverage" or "Killed A Man" a listen for a more interesting take on just what Frankie Teardrop is capable of doing."

Damn. That's pretty cold. Who would have thought that this band would go on to be one of the flagship bands of the blog?

I'd feel bad about that review, but Frankie Teardrop spent the next two years going out and doing exactly what I was hoping they'd do. Beginning with the Raiders EP they went from "serviceable" to a band that trafficked almost exclusively in crazy guitar solos and great choruses. It was thrilling to watch a band find their sound so quickly & so precisely.

Which brings us Hell Yep, their first and last full-length. The album opens with "Not A Love Song," which boils the Frankie Teardrop experience down to its essence. "This is not a love song, my heart just exploded..." sings Frankie Teardrop mastermind Jordan Bleau, and it's a quintessential FT couplet. They care too much, they don't care at all, here comes the hook, here comes the guitar. One song into the album and we've already got a classic on our hands.



The second track on the album, however, is the track that best explains how we got here. At 3:47 "Stay Dumb" is the longest song on the album by over a minute and with good reason. It's both mission statement and eulogy. It shows how the band has grown (check out the acoustic guitar/feedback/rolling drums intro) from delightfully simple garage rock band to power-pop geniuses.



"I don't wanna stay dumb..." Bleau sings in the chorus, detaching the line from anger or angst and weighting it to a melody that underlines his point. You see, here's the dirty little secret about Frankie Teardrop - they were never dumb. Sure, they may have been playing simple to make the point that there should always be a home for good old fashioned rock n roll music, but that "dumb rock" was never their calling. Bleau's guitar work in the jangling indie-pop band Gloss showed exactly what kind of talent he had. As half of the manpower/brainpower behind No Problem Records, he & Alex Uhrich have shown time & again that the last thing they want to do is release "dumb" rock music. "There's got to be more to life..." Bleau sings in the bridge, "I don't believe the hype..."

What makes the rest of the Hell Yep so much damn fun are the moments when the band shows just how smart they can be (without sacrificing any of the hooks). Listen to the keyboards that fill out "Get It (Kelly)," the drum machine intro at the beginning of "Diet" or my favorite, the absolute double pixie stick rush of the lead guitar & pre-chorus keyboards on "Waiting For You." Add up all those little flourishes and you'll realize that Frankie Teardrop has made one of the smartest "dumb" record you've ever heard.



At 12 songs in 22 minutes, Jordan Bleau & the boys have trimmed every ounce of fat from their sound and delivered a perfect debut LP. Everything about the band that worked in the past has been amplified while everything clumsy has been jettisoned. The whole thing's been given a pop sheen that makes it completely accessible for new fans, while still having all the personality that'll keep older fans coming back.

Twist those words a little bit, and you can see why Hell Yep also makes for a perfect ending point for Frankie Teardrop. They've pushed their sound as it can be pushed. All those little keyboard washes and acoustic intros I've been fawning over are clearly the work of a man who wants to push his sound further but feels he needs a clean break & a fresh slate to do so. To put it briefly, it's the kind of final statement that leaves you wanting more. And those are always the best kind.

I don't know what happens next for Jordan Bleau, but Frankie Teardrop made for quite an opening act. Boys, it was a hell of a run. Can't wait to see what comes next.

If you'd like to download Hell Yep or any of the other Frankie Teardrop releases, head over to their Bandcamp page.

For more TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Previous episodes of Flatbasset Radio are archived on his Mixcloud page.  Stop by Flatbasset Radio's Facebook Page & give it a "Like" if you have the time.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #79

"It takes strength to be gentle & kind..."

Well hello again, podcast fans! Welcome to Flatbasset Radio: Episode #79!

Folks, summer's officially upon us and, in tribute, I've got red-hot jams lined up for this week's episode. As per usual, sorry for the gap between episodes. I'm very lazy. Conversely, thanks to everybody who did check out Episode #78. My buddy Nick & I teamed up for that one and I think it turned out to be the best one we've ever teamed up for.

That, however, is the last episode. On this week's show I've got a jam from my favorite reunited punk band, a cut from an iconic soundtrack, a set for our brothers & sisters in England, a spotlight on Flatbasset Radio's Album Of The Week, some under-informed political talk, a check-in on some of our Twin Cities friends, a few anniversaries, a lot of sweating, even more swearing, and my absolute ultimate summer jam! All that plus the Cover Of The Week & one of the most classic Flatbasset Flatclassics ever!

As always, Flatbasset Radio is completely free. I've finally set up a decent downloading site, so if you'd like to download Flatbasset Radio: Episode #79 (with all the appropriate iTunes tagging), just click here.

If you don't have the time or desire to download the show, just click the Mixcloud player below and you're good to go.



Here's how Flatbasset Radio: Ep. #79 plays out:

01. Descendents - Victim Of Me

02. Joey Bada$$ - Brooklyn's Own

03. The Pooches - Rhythm Of The Rain

04. Sugar Ray - Fly (w/Super Cat)

05. The Jam - Going Underground

06. Primal Scream - Trainspotting

07. The Specials - Racist Friend

08. Clementine - Evergreens

09. Devata Daun - Be A Stranger

10. Dem Atlas - Grbge Trsh

11. Frankie Teardrop - Waiting For You

12. The Smiths - I Know It's Over









There you have it, folks. Drink lots of water.

For more TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Previous episodes of Flatbasset Radio are archived on his Mixcloud page.  Stop by Flatbasset Radio's Facebook Page & give it a "Like" if you have the time.

Flatbasset Radio's 25 Most Played Albums: May '16

Well hello again, internet. Welcome to yet another edition of Flatbasset Radio's Top 25!

That's right, folks, it's the first of the month. Cash your government checks, pay your rent, and indulge me in a bit of instant nostalgia.

As always, a big, big thank you to everybody who stopped by the blog last month. My buddy Nick & I put together an epic episode of Flatbasset Radio just a couple of weeks ago and it's gotten a very nice response, so thanks to anybody who gave it a spin. If you haven't given it a listen, you really should. Matter of fact, you should probably go back and listen to the other 77 episodes of the show too just to make sure you haven't missed anything.

Anyway, let's get to this post. I listened to a whole bunch of new music this month. The new Radiohead is excellent. The new Aesop Rock is even better. Fog's new one is great. I finally got around to Kanye's new one (epic!). Frankie Teardrop's new (and final) record is a gem. The new Astronautalis goes in. Ditto fore Homeboy Sandman. All in all, good month.

Before I get to the stats, the usual reminder: Every song listened to counts as a "play." Seems obvious, right? So, for example, the new Radiohead record has 11 songs, meaning each time I listen to it all the way through it counts 11 "plays." As usual, all stats come from my Last.FM page. Give it a follow if you really want to stay up on what's getting the most plays around Planet New Basset.

Alright, here we go...

01. Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid (107 plays)

02. Astronautalis - Cut The Body Loose (77 plays)

03. Frankie Teardrop - Hell Yep (70 plays)

04. Fog - For Good (56 plays)

05. Kanye West - The Life Of Pablo (39 plays)

06. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool (33 plays)

07. Tim Gadban - Vanishing Animal (33 plays)

08. Various Artists - ECS 100: Ecstattic Forever (A Compliation) (33 plays)

09. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Hearts Of Oak (26 plays)

10. Homeboy Sandman - Kindness For Weakness (26 plays)

11. The Hang Ups - The Hang Ups (25 plays)

12. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - All This Useless Beauty (24 plays)

13. Down By Law - Blue (24 plays)

14. R.E.M. - Eponymous (24 plays)

15. Tapes 'N Tapes - Outside (24 plays)

16. Lil' Wayne - The Dedication 2 (24 plays)

17. Ego Death - Daze (23 plays)

18. Paper Tiger - In Other Words: Part One (23 plays)

19. The Person & The People - Dark And Low (22 plays)

20. Various Artists - Meat Tape (22 plays)

21. The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me (22 plays)

22. Thursday - War All The Time (22 plays)

23. My Bloody Valentine - M B V (18 plays)

24. Lunch Duchess - My Mom Says I Have A Rich Inner Life (18 plays)

25. Steely Dan - The Royal Scam (18 plays)

There it is, everybody. Stay tuned for more shows & words & stuff.

Image via Tap Music
Stats via my Last.fm page

For more TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Previous episodes of Flatbasset Radio are archived on his Mixcloud page.  Stop by Flatbasset Radio's Facebook Page & give it a "Like" if you have the time.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #65

The world is fucked but it won't get me down...

Well hello again, podcast fans!  Welcome back to Flatbasset Radio!

How ya been?  I know it's been a while since I last posted a show and I apologize for that. In my defense, I'm very busy & very sleepy.

However, this past weekend was Flatbasset Radio's three year anniversary and that seemed like an appropriate reason to get back on the mic.

As usual, this week's show has jams for days. I also find time to discuss the pros & cons of reunion albums, one of the 80's biggest bands, what type of music is done best by Brits & what style is done best in the Midwest, & getting lost in the bass.  I also check in on some of the show's friends, celebrate some anniversaries, get into the Cover Of The Week & celebrate one of my favorite albums with the Flatbasset Flatclassic.

As always, Flatbasset Radio is completely free. Just click the Mixcloud player below and you're good to go.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #65 by Tcdroogsma on Mixcloud

01. The Libertines - Barbarians
02. Danger Doom - Benzi Box
03. Braid - East End Hollows
04. Ryan Adams - I Want To Know What Love Is
05. The Persian Leaps - The Infection
06. Nick Monaco - Private Practice
07. Shopping - Straight Lines
08. Son Volt - Live Free
09. Your Old Droog - 48th Street
10. Cars & Trains - Ten Lions & The End Of The World
11. Frankie Teardrop - End Of Summertime Blues
12. Rancid - Roots Radicals

There you have it, folks. Feels good to be home.

For more TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Previous episodes of Flatbasset Radio are archived on his Mixcloud page.  Stop by Flatbasset Radio's Facebook Page & give it a "Like" if you have the time.

Flatbasset Radio's 50 Most Played Albums: June '15

Well hello again, everybody.  Welcome to yet another installment of the least interesting thing on the internet (well, except for Tidal).  It's the beginning of a new month, which means it's time to recap my most played albums from the previous month with a vague collage and no real explanation!

Before I hash out the list I just want to mention that June was a pretty tough month here at Planet New Basset.  The blog and show's namesake & mascot Margo (aka Flatbasset) had a bit of a health scare this month that took up a lot of time, money, and energy.  I won't bore you with the specifics of it all, but she looks like she's getting through it.  She's a tough gal.  Send some positive thoughts her way.

Alright, let's get into it.  As always, one "play" = one song.  So an album with ten songs on it would be registered as ten "plays."  Larger pictures indicate more plays.

01. Clementine - Crooked Brain (51 plays)

02. Frankie Teardrop - Demos / B-Sides (42 plays)

03. Wild Ghosts - Joy Ranch Sessions (42 plays)

04. William Within - Lost In Writing (35 plays)

05. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment (33 plays)

06. BNLX - Good Light (33 plays)

07. Ramones - Mania (33 plays)

08. Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted (28 plays)

09. The Promise Ring - Nothing Feels Good (24 plays)

10. Various Artists - Back In Business Vol. 3 (20 plays)

11. Gulfer - Split With Fago.Sepia (19 plays)

12. Steel Tipped Dove - Centuries Long Sigh (19 plays)

13. Steely Dan - The Royal Scam (18 plays)

14. Various Artists - Give 'Em The Boot Vol. 1 (18 plays)

15. Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late (18 plays)

16. The Flagrants - The Flagrants (17 plays)

17. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (16 plays)

18. Roc Marciano - The Pimpire Strikes Back (16 plays)

19. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly (16 plays)

20. Ian Kamau - Cocoon (15 plays)

21. The White Stripes - De Stijl (14 plays)

22. Various Artists - Father/Daughter Spring Sampler 2014 (14 plays)

23. Supergrass - I Should Coco (13 plays)

24. Pixies - Bossanova (13 plays)

25. Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me (13 plays)

26. Superdrag - Last Call For Vitriol (13 plays)

27. Mike Swoop - New Love (13 plays)

28. Veronica Falls - Waiting For Something To Happen (13 plays)

29. Various Artists - Stroked: A Tribute To Is This It (13 plays)

30. Greetings From Tuskan - The Love From Afar (13 plays)

31. The Roots - Phrenology (12 plays)

32. Green Day - Kerplunk! (12 plays)

33. Belle & Sebastian - The Boy With The Arab Strap (12 plays)

34. Superhopper - Does This Sound Exciting Yet? (12 plays)

35. The Good, The Bad, & The Queen - The Good, The Bad, & The Queen (12 plays)

36. Rebels To The Grain - Fine Wine (12 plays)

37. Edger - Rudiments (12 plays)

38. Blur - The Magic Whip (12 plays)

39. Ivy - Realistic (12 plays)

40. All - Allroy Saves (11 plays)

41. Alkaline Trio - Crimson (11 plays)

42. The Replacements - Tim (11 plays)

43. Kill Sadie - Experiments In Expectation (11 plays)

44. Lifter Puller -Half Dead And Dynamite (11 plays)

45. Portishead - Dummy (11 plays)

46. Haley Bonar - Big Star (11 plays)

47. Del The Funky Homosapien - Iller Than Most (11 plays)

48. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams (11 plays)

49. Johnwayne - Cassette 3: Marion Morrison Mixtape

50. Radiohead - In Rainbows (10 plays)


There you have it, everybody.  Big thanks to everybody who read the blog & listened to the show last month. All episodes of the show are available to stream over on my Mixcloud page. If you dig it, stop by the Flatbasset Radio Facebook page & give it a "Like."


Information via my Last.fm account
Photo via Don't Drink And Root

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #54 (Best Of 2014 - Minnesota Music)

Look what I do for my city...

Well hello again, everybody.  Welcome to Flatbasset Radio: Episode #54!

This is it, everybody.  After counting down the best of The Current's Song Of The Day in Episode #52 & the best of Radio K's Song Of The Day in episode #53 it's time to call 2014 a wrap by looking back at some of the best local music of the year.

While I find it hard to believe that anybody is still sleeping on the sounds coming out of the Twin Cities, I suppose it could happen.  So, in case you weren't paying attention, 2014 was yet another outstanding year for local music.  Honestly, I had to trim songs to keep this episode at an hour despite the fact that, off the top of my head, I can think of at least five local albums I didn't even get a chance to listen to last year.  We're in a golden age here, people.  Don't take it for granted.

Speaking of not taking things for granted, in order to fit as much music on this one as I could I decided to step away from the microphone this time.  That's right, Episode #54 is one solid hour of commentary-free jams!  Enjoy it, everybody, because my shitty voice and even shittier microphone will be back before you know it, mispronouncing band names and popping "p's" to our heart's content.

For now, though, a celebration bitches!

As always, this episode is available to stream or download for free.  Click on the album title below to download the show. Just click on the Mixcloud player below to stream.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #54 (Best Of 2014 - Minnesota Music)

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #54 (Best Of 2014 - Minnesota Music) by Tcdroogsma on Mixcloud

Now, just because I didn't record any commentary doesn't mean I don't have things to say about these songs.  Let's break this one down:

01. Some Pulp - Undone '93 (The Tubetop Song) (from Some Pulp)

That's right, Episode #54 picks up right where Episode #53 left off.  I played Some Pulp's "Oh Oh (Who's Cryin' Now)" as last week's Flatbasset Flatclassic of the week.  That song is the second song on Some Pulp.  "Undone '93" is the first.  Like I mentioned in my AOTW post, the first three songs of the album are pretty much my favorite 8 minutes of music of 2014.

02. Manny Phesto - Cedar Ave (from Southside Looking In)

2014 was a breakout year for Manny Phesto.  On the strength of his Southside Looking In album he finally seems to be breaking through to a wider audience than just the hip-hop heads of the Twin Cities.  The entire album melds Mike The Martyr's soulful beats with Manny Phesto's mostly-positive raps.  The album seems meant to remind people that, "Hey, things aren't great, but they could always be worse and we can always make them better."

03. The Persian Leaps - Permission (from Drive Drive Delay)

Speaking of artists who had breakout 2014's, here's The Persian Leaps.  Lord knows I've said plenty about these St. Paul power-poppers over the last couple of years, but they're so good that they earn every word.  Drive Drive Delay was self-released on lead singer Drew Forsberg's Land Ski Records label (more on them down below) and found the band writing more rewarding songs while skimming a layer of gloss from their debut EP Praise Elephants.  Those two things combined to make Drive Drive Delay one of the most re-playable EP's of 2014.  And  yes, re-playable is a word.

04. Franz Diego - Neo-Archaic (from Equinox)

Twin Cities' veteran Franz Diego had himself a fine 2014.  In addition to the Equinox EP he also released (as a "Name Your Price" download) an LP titled Float.  Throw in his continued reputation as a man-on-the-scene in MPLS and the continued success of his Turnt Up! dance night at Honey and it seems like Diego is really making the most of his niche in Minneapolis.  "Neo-Archaic" is the lead song from the entirely Xanja-produced Equinox and it provides a nice snapshot of what Franz Diego's all about.

05. Hollow Boys - Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love? (from Into The Night)

With "Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love?" (this week's Cover Of The Week) Hollow Boys have set a precedent on Flatbasset Radio.  They are now the first artist to be played on THREE consecutive shows!  Congats, Hollow Boys.  I mentioned in one of my previous posts that 2014 found Hollow Boys stepping their game up and becoming one of the best bands in the Twin Cities.  Into The Night, a four song EP consisting of covers of Twin Peaks songs played a part in that.  This cover of The Ronettes classic is another example of just how good they've become at injecting their own vibe into other people's songs.

06. Sims - This Is The Place (w/Astronautalis) (from Field Notes)

While it's been several years since Sims has released a proper full-length album (2011's classic Bad Time Zoo), Sims has only seen his profile grow.  He took a real star turn on Doomtree's No Kings LP and, though I haven't heard it yet, I'm sure he only solidifies his position on the new All Hands.  Field Notes is not a stop-gap release in the traditional sense.  Yes, it's only an EP, but it finds Sims shedding what was left of his emotional baggage and turning his camera outward, commenting on both the rap scene and society at large.  "This Is The Place" was the collaboration that spawned two sold out shows at The Mainroom featuring Sims & Astronautalis as co-headliners.

07. Frankie Teardrop - 100% (from Raiders)

The next three songs are played right in the heart of this podcast for a reason.  Jordan Bleau & Alexander Uhrich are the co-founders of No Problem Records and, perhaps more than anybody else on this show, they had a hell of a year.

Their year opened up in earnest with the release of Frankie Teardrop's outstanding Raiders EP.  After making his mark with Tough Guy EP, Jordan & company took things to a whole new level with Raiders.  The songs here are more polished, more concise, catchier, and more personal than ever before while still maintaining an edge-of-your-seat attitude that has made Frankie Teardrop one of the leaders of the next generation of great Twin Cities rock bands.

08. Dee Dee Mayo - Waking Up On The Beach/Jungle Party (from Dee Dee Mayo Sweats It Out)

No Problem Records continued their winning ways with Dee Dee Mayo Sweats It Out.  Dee Dee Mayo (aka Howler bassist Ian Nygaard) crafts a truly bizarre, mostly instrumental album that caused me to liken its sound to a beach party on the moon. "Waking Up On The Beach/Jungle Party" is the undeniable centerpiece of the record, a six minute spaced out guitar jam that eases into the frame and hypnotizes for six minutes.

09. Suzie - Coffin In Houston (from Born Single)

Continuing to prove that No Problem Records is going to be home to more than just punk rock, here we have Suzie's Born Single.  Much like Dee Dee Mayo was the spaced-out side-project of a successful local musician, Suzie follows the same formula (the brain child of Night Moves' Mark Ritsema) except instead of a jungle on the moon Born Single sounds like it would soundtrack a sweaty dance club on the dark side of the moon.  It's no surprise that, after a couple local headlining shows, Suzie seems set to conquer the Twin Cities.  And a big chunk of that is due to the fact that the boys at No Problem Records have created a label that allows artists to embrace their stranger side without concerns of popularity or profitability.  I couldn't be more excited to see where all three of these artists go from here.

10. Medium Zach - More Than Superman (w/Slug) (from Valued Input)

If you've been paying attention for the last decade I shouldn't have to sing you the praises of Medium Zach.  you should be two-steps ahead of that.  If you haven't been paying attention, figure it out.  Whether he's existing as half of Big Quarters (with his brother Brandon Allday), remixing tracks, or, in this case, gathering some of his friends and producing an EP, Zach's work should never be ignored.  His beats are meticulous, patient and purposeful, a perfect reflection of a man who is one of the kindest, smartest artists in the Twin Cities.

11. Howler - Here's The Itch That Creeps Through My Skull (from World Of Joy)

It seems like World Of Joy didn't receive the same type of adoration as Howler's debut America Give Up, and that's a shame.  While it's somewhat understandable considering that most of the album seems like a more raw, more angry version of that album, moments like "Here's The Itch That Creeps Through My Skull" stand as evidence that once Howler sheds their skin the future is wide open.  I don't know if he's like the comparison or not, but in a city that's always looking for the next Paul Westerberg (or, up until this year's reunion, the first Paul Westerberg) Jordan Gatesmith has the best chance of anybody in recent memory.  All the way down to the cover art World Of Joy was Howler's Hootenanny.  We all know where The Mats went next.  Hopefully Howler's ready to take that next step.

12. MaLLy - City Of Fear (w/Rapper Hooks) (from The Colors Of Black)

The Colors Of Black was a surprising turn for MaLLy.  Following the success of The Last Great..., TCOB found the man using his new found popularity as a pulpit rather than a podium.  MaLLy spends most of this album angry at the world around him which, given the racially-tinged events of 2014, is completely warranted.  TCOB stands as a fascinating look at a man who works hard to scale the mountain only to find that being on top only gives him a better view of ugliness below.

13. Human Kindness - Giant People (from You Are So Loud That I Want To Die)

I've written hundreds of words about Human Kindness on this blog and I promise this is the last time I'll write about them until they release some new music (which should be soon.  I see those scrobbles, guys.  I know it's out there.)

"Giant People" is the closing track on YASLTIWTD and, where the album spent time rising and falling, "Giant People" finally gives the big payoff.  Just listen to the last 90 seconds of this one!  Lord only knows what these guys have planned for the next record, but they ended their first one on a high note.

14. Allan Kingdom - Observe (from Future Memoirs)

By the end of the year Future Memoirs had become overshadowed by Allan Kingdom's work as a member of TheStand4rd, and that's kind of a shame.  While the 12 year age difference between Kingdom and myself means that I sometimes can't keep up with what he's on about, tracks like "Observe" hit any demographic.  Kingdom's flow is certainly an acquired taste, but, as you can hear on this one, he's got a firm grasp on just what he's trying to accomplish.

15. The Person & The People - Run (from What A Drag)

Remember earlier when I said we were going to talk about Land Ski Records again?  Well, here we are.

Much like their labelmates The Persian Leaps, The Person & The People represent everything that's great about Twin Cities power-pop right now.  If, like me, you're the kind of guy who sits around waiting for new Sloan and Superdrag albums, do yourself a favor and get on board with The Person & The People.

(Quick aside: I had a very, very minor role in helping Land Ski Records and The Person & The People come together (as mentioned here).  Thanks, guys.  Good to know this blog hasn't proven to be completely useless over the years).

There you have it, Minnesota music fans!  Enjoy!

For more of my rantings you can give me a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Previous episodes of Flatbasset Radio are archived on his Mixcloud page.  Stop by Flatbasset Radio's Facebook Page & give it a "Like" if you have the time.

Album Of The Week: August 4th-10th, 2014

Flatbasset Radio's Album Of The Week for the week of August 4th-10th, 2014:

Frankie Teardrop - Raiders

01. Raiders
02. 100%
03. No More Drugs
04. She Kept Lyin
05. Personal Hell
06. It Takes Time

This is Frankie Teardrop's second time appearing here as an AOTW.  Back in November of 2013 I spent a week with his debut EP Tough Guy.  Back then I wrote that I couldn't tell if the songs were "garage rock songs polished up or pop songs stripped down."  While that's still the case with Raiders, it's becoming clear that Frankie's pop-rock heart beats strong & clear.

Raiders shows a welcome amount of growth from an artist who's last record contained songs like "Pizza Lyfestyle" and "New Beverage."  The record's opening one-two punch of "Raiders" & "100%," stands as the best two songs Frankie's written to date (if you're a fan of the Flatbasset Radio podcast you might remember us opening with "Raiders" a few weeks back).  Both are energetic, catchy, & poppy and benefit greatly from the addition of a second guitarist.  Lyrically, however, they start hinting at some of the darker subject matter to come.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #39 by Tcdroogsma on Mixcloud

As you can probably imagine just from the titles of the last four tracks, Frankie's songwriting has taken a turn for the personal (though I'm willing to bet "Pizza Lyfestyle" was personal in its own way).  The band is young enough that emotional turmoil of the second half of the album rings clear.  For example, "She Kept Lyin" is not an angry, detached dig at said liar as much as it is an explanation of mood.  The record ends on relatively positive note with "It Takes Time," which finds Frankie showing the maturity to understand that, well, things take time.

My friend Adam recently described Frankie Teardrop as "Bauhaus covering the Beach Boys," which nails their sound pretty well.  I finally caught these guys a couple of weeks back at the 10,000 Sounds Festival and I can attest to the "you really have to see them live" reputation that they've earned.  The band's trajectory from Tough Guy to Raiders is an encouraging one and I'm excited to see where these guys go next.  Until then, really, you should see them live.

Raiders was self-released by Frankie Teardrop on his brand new No Problem Records.  If you'd like to check it out for yourself head over to the Bandcamp site where the record's available as a "Name Your Price" download.

Newest Industry Presents - Flatbasset Radio: Episode #39 (w/MinneSarah

(THIS POST ORIGINALLY APPEARS ON THE TWIN CITIES BLOG NEWEST INDUSTRY)

I need some time in the sun-shee-yine...

Hello, podcast fans!  Welcome to Flatbasset Radio: Episode #39!

For those of you who are unaware of the Flatbasset Radio format, here's what you're looking at: TCDroogsma is our resident MP3 junkie. As you've probably noticed in his Songs Of The Week column, he's not always the most positive music fan. In an effort to prove that he is, in fact, a fan of music, we give him an hour each week to play the songs he's digging and talk a little bit about them. Once he's recorded his podcast we put it right here on the website for free to stream and/or download!

For the second straight week TCDroogsma ventured to St. Paul to share co-hosting duties with MinneSarah.  Along the way they discuss the new Twin Cities "It Boy," the origin of Madison, Wisconsin, the career of Las Vegas' greatest band, their "radio personas," the power of rock n roll duos, songs to soundtrack mowing the lawn, the sexiness of Norah Jones, lessons learned from "Family Guy," a great show that's coming up this weekend, why you probably shouldn't come to Flatbasset Radio for the latest in hip-hop, whether or not 1994 was the pinnacle of human evolution, how rock bands no longer aim for universal appeal, and whether or not Oasis was better than The Beatles!  All that plus your Cover Of The Week & Flatbasset Flatclassic!

You can download the podcast for free by clicking the episode's title or stream the episode by clicking on the Mixcloud player below.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #39

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #39 by Tcdroogsma on Mixcloud

01. Frankie Teardrop - Raiders
02. ¡Mayday! & Murs - Brand New Get Up
03. The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It
04. Father John Misty - Trouble
05. Ian Brown - Golden Gaze (Single Version)
06. Jazz Spastiks (w/Apani B Free) - Move
07. Royal Blood - Little Monster
08. Jacuzzi Boys - Be My Prism
09. Young Thug (w/Maceo) - Picacho
10. Painted Palms - Forever
11. Oasis - Rock 'N' Roll Star

There you have it, music fans! Enjoy!

For more TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Previous episodes of Flatbasset Radio are archived on his Mixcloud page.  Stop by Flatbasset Radio's Facebook Page & give it a "Like" if you have the time.



 

For more MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah).  She can also be found right here on Newest Industry filing reports out of St. Paul for our Big Day Out column




For more Newest Industry be sure to give us a follow on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) to stay up on the work being done by all of our contributors.  More importantly, we have a Facebook page here.  Trivial as it seems, stopping by and giving us a "Like" is a free & legitimate way to support the blog. 

Songs Of The Week #82: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

St. Paul & The Broken Bones, William Fitzsimmons, Parker Millsap, I Break Horses, & Frankie Teardrop...

Well hello again, MP3 junkies!  Welcome to Songs Of The Week #82!
 
For those of you who are new to the SOTW column, here's the story:  TCDroogsma and MinneSarah are both fans of The Current's Song Of The Day podcast.  They're also both opinionated and have access to computers.  Seeing an opportunity to let them indulge in their MP3 habit and put them to work writing reviews we created the Songs Of The Week column.  Over a year later later and here we are.

As always, we strongly suggest that you follow this link and subscribe to the podcast yourself.  It's free and it's fun for the whole family!

To that end, once you've given each song a spin or two, feel free to cast a vote for your favorite song of the week in the poll to the right side of the page.  The artist who accrues the most votes wins the validation that comes from winning an anonymous internet poll, arguably the loftiest height to which a modern musician can aspire.

As per tradition TCDroogsma and MinneSarah have not read each other's reviews prior to posting

So... Droogsy, Sarah... thoughts?

01. St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Call Me (from the album Half The City)

 
TCDroogsma:

     As I mentioned a month or so ago when we were reviewing Nick Waterhouse, this white boy soul/R&B revival sound doesn't really do anything for me.

     Poor St. Paul's heart seems to have gone the way of the his bones.  Now, I'm fine with a good heartbreak song, but this isn't it.  "Call Me" swings in all the right places, so much so that I think it would have made a great instrumental.  Unfortunately, that's not the case.  St. Paul comes off like a Stage 5 Clinger, begging for a phone call (and, sadly, the validation that comes with a phone call).  It's time to move on, bro bro, from this woman and from the 60's.

MinneSarah:

     As far as funky soul revival, "Call Me" is as listenable as anything I've heard.  While deceptively titled "Saint Paul and the Broken Bones," this band is out of Alabama.  While the lyrics don't lament what has happened to cause the break up - the man's needs are clearly articulated - he needs a call!  The lady's side of this story is left out - and there isn't any detail about what happened.  Horns add to the melee, rather than detract from it.  As far as persuasiveness - I wouldn't call this guy unless I was feeling the same premature ending and unopened doors.  He sure can sing, so probably the less I know about potential relationship drama, the better. 

Final Score - TCDroogsma: 2/5
                               MinneSarah: 3/5

02. William Fitzsimmons - From You (from the album Lions)

TCDroogsma:

     In "From You," William Fitzsimmons is actually in the same frame of mind as St. Paul.  Instead of begging for validation, Fitzsimmons has turned down the volume & turned inward.

     Musically, the skittering drums do a lovely job of mirroring the racing mind that comes with taking stock of a breakup.  The rest of the song is filled with understated guitar strums, keyboard plinks and border-defining lead lines.  Fitzsimmons pledges his love ("I will look for you until they put us both back in the ground"), but, in the songs most crushing line, wonders "When should I concede that the best of my years were apart from you?"  It may be personal experience coloring my impression of the song, but I'm intimately familiar with that feeling, and with the feeling that, no matter how good the good times seem, they're still missing something (or someone) that should have been there to share them.

MinneSarah:

     Sometimes these songs of the day can sound like they were meant to be on another radio station - Cities 97?  "From You" sounds incredibly manicured and easy listening.  The ennui of this song makes it sound like it was recorded for the Garden State soundtrack.   The 3/4 time pulls the song forward, but gives it a sense of impermanence.

     While I've been lamenting the lack of a Duncan Sheik successor (seriously - you try and live my life), William Fitzsimmons is not fitting the bill.  "From You" is beautiful, but without the substance that would get me excited about such a potentially guilty pleasure. 

Final Score - TCDroogsma: 3.5/5
                               MinneSarah: 2/5

03. Parker Millsap - Disappear (from the album Parker Millsap)

TCDroogsma:

     Parker Millsap is coming out of Oklahoma playing music that sounds like it could only come from Oklahoma (Sorry, Flaming Lips. Sorry, um, Hanson).

     "Disappear" is the same sort of cliche country/blues hybrid that annoyed the hell out of me two weeks ago when Erik Koskinen was indulging in beer & cigarettes.  While it's easy to appreciate Millsap's desire to skip out of his small town (it IS Oklahoma), his desire to travel back to the Dust Bowl is a little more difficult to explain (though, in his defense, "Parker Millsap" sounds like a name straight out of Steinbeck).  The rustic guitar-and-violin sound that makes up the canvas for Millsap's proposal is straight out of the Woody Guthrie playbook (not a compliment in my world), while the straggled, dueting vocals come off as the Carter Family on moonshine.  I'm sorry, but I think we've reached the point where this sort of whispy nostalgia just can't be taken seriously coming from somebody under 30.

MinneSarah:

     My goodness.  While more than a few times this winter, I've felt that packing up for a vacation and leaving everything behind (temporarily - I'd never just up and leave...again).  In this Parker Millsap song, he outlines things that so many of us would be thankful for - coffee, a house, friends - and says he wants to abruptly leave it all behind.

     While everyone has fantasized about starting anew, these lyrics come across as ungrateful and irrational.   Maybe that's just the acoustic guitar and violin.  And it's a proposal song - nothing is more romantic than putting yourselves into poverty.  I can tell you one thing - if a guy I was living with tried to propose via this song - I'd truly consider moving abruptly, disguising myself, and cutting all ties. 

Final Score - TCDroogsma: 1/5
                               MinneSarah: 1/5

04. I Break Horses - Faith (from the album Chiaroscuro)

TCDroogsma:

     I've spent five days with "Faith" so far and I still have no goddamn idea what it's about.  Like, none whatsoever.  No bother, though.  These lyrics could be about just about anything and it wouldn't make much of a difference since I Break Horses work up such a bright, shiny world of synths and drum machines around the vocals.  "Faith" is not a song meant to be dissected, it's meant to be injected straight into your frontal lobe.  It may be all blinking lights and plastic sexuality, but my goodness is it gorgeous.

MinneSarah:

     There's nothing wrong with a little electronic music.  While there is not a lot of unique that stands out about "Faith,' its droning beats sound hypnotic - and coupled with a long walk through the white tundra - sounds near perfect.  The vocals are a overshadowed by the distorted synthesizer, but vacillate between monotone and heavily emotional.  The overall effect is wistful yet upbeat.  I will be adding this to my running mix, though clearly I'm missing the message and just enjoying the ride (or rather walk).  Music like this makes me sound sophisticated and forward moving, which if any of you have seen me on a walk - basically sums me up ;-) <----(winky face).

Final Score - TCDroogsma: 3.5/5
                               MinneSarah: 4/5

05. Frankie Teardrop - Lines (from the album Tough Guy)

TCDroogsma:

     I spent a week with Tough Guy a while back.  It's a fine, basically enjoyable throwback sort of record.  However, I've yet to see Frankie Teardrop live, which is evidently necessary to totally buy into what Frankie Teardrop's selling.

    "Lines" is a perfectly serviceable, straight ahead rocker.  That, however, is pretty much it.  There's no great chorus to boost the song up, no crazy guitar solos, nothing particularly memorable.  It just trucks along for a minute & forty seconds and then leaves.  Even Frankie's lyrics about abusing substances and pushing things too far ring a little hollow when delivered in such a workmanlike manner.  I don't know if it was MPR or the band that decided to push "Lines," but I know Frankie Teardrop can do better. Try giving "New Beverage" or "Killed A Man" a listen for a more interesting take on just what Frankie Teardrop is capable of doing.

MinneSarah:

     While I hate to jump on a bandwagon - I've found myself aboard the Frankie Teardrop wagon.  As a live show, Frankie is the best I've seen in a while.  As a recording, I'll confess, some of the magic is lost.  You may think this band is any old sixties-ish coast rock revival band.  Not so, friends.  The lyrics are a sage warning about the dangers of fast living, "your heart is way too big to go to jail, kid."  This coming from the cutest little dudes in Minneapolis!   I love the energy, the street wisdom from likely straight A students, and a pure love of rock and roll.  The rapturous shrieks are a testament to how exuberant a song about the dangers of drugs can actually be.

Final Score - TCDroogsma: 2.5/5
                               MinneSarah: 4.5/5

Well there you have it, MP3 junkies!  Another week's worth of songs downloaded, reviewed, & filed away!

As always, please keep in mind that neither Newest Industry nor our contributors are in any way affiliated with the artists above, The Current, or MPR.  We're just music fans with laptops and a bit too much time on our hands.

For more TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  He can also be found right here on Newest Industry hosting our free weekly podcast Flatbasset Radio

For more MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah).  In addition to  filing reports out of St. Paul for our Big Day Out column she occasionally joins TCDroogsma as co-host of the Flatbasset Radio podcast.


For more Newest Industry be sure to give us a follow on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) to stay up on the work being done by all of our contributors.  More importantly, we have a Facebook page here.  Trivial as it seems, stopping by and giving us a "Like" is a free & legitimate way to support the blog.