Flatbasset Radio: Episode #137 (Best Of 2019 - The Current Song Of The Day)

 

Magenta, orange, acid green, peacock blue, and burgundy...

 

 

Well hello again, everybody! Long time, no see. Hope everybody is doing alright.

 I realize that it's kind of ridiculous to be finally dropping the Best Of 2019 podcasts during the fourth week of November, 2020. Truth is, like pretty much everybody, I've just been holding on for dear life for most of the year. It's been a tough run for everybody.

However, I miss doing the show and I'm nothing if not a sucker for tradition. So, before I can get to any new episodes, I felt it was important to continue the annual countdowns. I've done these shows every year since 2012 and I take a lot of pride in them.

Before we get to this year's countdown, a few links. First, previous Current SOTD countdowns:

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #7 (Best Of 2012)
Flatbasset Radio: Episode #28 (Best Of 2013)
Flatbasset Radio: Episode #52 (Best Of 2014)
Flatbasset Radio: Episode #70 (Best Of 2015)
Flatbasset Radio: Episode #89 (Best Of 2016)
Flatbasset Radio: Episode #113 (Best Of 2017)
Flatbasset Radio: Episode #133 (Best Of 2018) 

Of note: Flatbasset Radio: Episode #7 is posted here as a download from Archive.org because the show was "disabled" on Mixcloud. Not sure what that means, but I was so bad at doing the show back then that they probably took it down out of embarrassment.

Second, follow this link to head over to The Current and subscribe to the podcast for yourself. As you're about to hear, they give away some absolute classics.

With all of that out of the way, let's get to the show. Robot Ralph resumes his annual hosting duties and our annual tradition continues.

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 #137, 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.

 

Let's go!

 

 

10. oso oso - Dig (II)

 

 

09. The Prizefighters - Just Let The Music Play

 

 

08. Pedro The Lion - Yellow Bike

 

 

07. Lazerbeak - Valley Low

 

 

06. Slaughter Beach, Dog - Heart Attack

 

 

05. Cigarettes After Sex - Heavenly

 

 

04. The Shackletons - Happy Boring Life

 

 

03. Caribou - Home

 

 

02. Purple Mountains - Margaritas At The Mall

 

 

01. Jack Klatt - Ramblin' Kind

  

 

 

 

 

There you have it, everybody.

Thanks for listening!

Flatbasset Radio Artwork by Ross Auger

For more Flatbasset Radio you can give me a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Previous episodes of Flatbasset Radio are archived on my Mixcloud page and are available to download on my Archive page.

Flatbasset Radio's 25 Most Played Albums: June '17

Well, folks, another month's past. With July upon us, it's time to take a look back at which albums were getting the most spins here at Planet New Basset over June, 2017.

Sorry I'm a couple days late with this post. The Canada Day show always conflicts with posting this one on the first of July and honestly, I was just lazy yesterday, so here we are. Big thanks to everybody who's checked out that Canada Day show, though. It's one of my favorite episodes to record each year.

Alright, let's get to the thing.

(As always, one "play" equals one song. For example, that new Mux Mool album has 10 songs on it, so each time I listen to it front to back it counts as ten "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.)

01. Mux Mool - Implied Lines (Deluxe) (70 plays)

02. V/A - ECS 108: Heavy Future (A Compilation) (56 plays)

03. Allan Kingdom - Lines (56 plays)

04. V/A - Unpop 149 (54 plays)

05. Jeremy Ylvisaker - Dimebag (45 plays)

06. Early Eyes - Minutes (44 plays)

07. Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love (44 plays)

08. Gorillaz - Humanz (42 plays)

09. Naked Raygun - Throb Throb (42 plays)

10. The Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray (41 plays)

11. Gospel Gossip - Sing Into My Mouth (41 plays)

12. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (40 plays)

13. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger (39 plays)

14. The Dickies - The Incredible Shrinking Dickies (39 plays)

15. V/A - Unpop 148 (38 plays)

16. Lazerbeak And Bionik - Pool Boys (37 plays)

17. The Promise Ring - 30° Everywhere (36 plays)

18. Teenage Confidential - Afterschool Rendezvous (36 plays)

19. Dylan Hicks - Alive With Pleasure (35 plays)

20. Art Brut - It's A Bit Complicated (35 plays)

21. Tiger Army - Music From Regions Beyond (35 plays)

22. The Cribs - Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever (34 plays)

23. The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me (34 plays)

24. Arab Strap - Elephant Shoe (33 plays)

25. JM Airis - Indian Summer (33 plays)

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

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #99

I've never been too good with names...

Well hello again, everybody. Welcome to Flatbasset Radio: Episode #99!

Another Friday, another batch of jams. This week's episode is stuffed full of... ummm... audio goodness? Sure, let's go with that.

I've got twelve songs lined up on this week's show. A few anniversaries, some new local stuff, a show or two to look into, a mysterious local group, the latest from one of Minnesota's most famous ex-pats, the latest from a couple of Minnesota beatmakers, Glasgow's #1 dog-themed indie-pop group, some throwback funk, a Cover Of The Week courtesy of an English blog, an absolute gem of an early 90's classic, and one of the most "important" Flatbasset Flatclassics of all-time.

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 #99 (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 Episode #99 plays out:

01. Real Numbers - Frank Infatuation

02. MMYYKK - Square One

03. The Pooches - Postcard From A Provo Winter

04. Dennis Brown - Wichita Lineman

05. Frances Gumm - I Will Not Be Destroyed

06. Little Shalimar - Bounce 3

07. Elvis Depressedly - Bruises (Amethyst)

08. The Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray

09. Craig Finn - Jester & June

10. Lazerbeak And Bionik - High Dive

11. Dinosaur Jr - Been There All The Time

12. The Beatles - A Day In The Life










There you have it, folks! Enjoy!

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

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #59

Lord, to be thirty-three forever...

Well hello again, podcast fans.  Welcome to Episode #59 of Flatbasset Radio!

Sorry it's been a minute since I posted a new show.  I've been working very hard at things that aren't this blog & podcast.  It's good for me but maybe not so good for you.  I'm a very selfish man.

Anyway, show's back and June's shaping up to be a great month for the podcast so let's start it here.

In this week's episode I begin by apologizing for such a sleepy, sleepy guy before discussing the definition of "surf noir," the pros & cons of the Kent State shooting on its 45th anniversary, the moment Danger Mouse cemented his legacy, coming to terms with Pink Floyd, just what happens when you spend 40 hours per week with somebody, my unequivocal, errr... tolerance for Johnny Marr's solo career, and the real moment Craig Finn let go of Lifter Puller.  All that plus some anniversaries, the Cover Of The Week, the Flatbasset Flatclassic, and all the bro-mance one man can muster!

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

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #59 by Tcdroogsma on Mixcloud

01. Murder Shoes - Charlotte Manning

02. Gorillaz - Kids With Guns
03. The Dandy Warhols - Ohio
04. Wu-Tang Clan - Tearz
05. Pink Floyd - Pigs (Three Different Ones)
06. Los Campesinos! - Avocado, Baby
07. Johnny Marr - The Trap
08. Sims - 15 Blocks (Lazerbeak Remix)
09. Wild Ones - Golden Twin
10. The Hold Steady - Stevie Nix

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.

Album Of The Week: June 2nd-June 8th, 2014

Flatbasset Radio's Album Of The Week for the week of June 2nd-June 8th, 2014:

F. Stokes - Liquor Sto' Diaries

01. Caps
02. Can't Call It
03. Summer Coldest
04. Gots To Save You

First thing's first, sorry I'm late with this post.  I typically try to get these posted at the beginning of the week, well before I've had a chance to spend the week with the album.  However, I was busy this week.  If these posts had any consistent viewers I'd feel pretty bad, but they don't so, meh...

Anyway, I had the pleasure of spending the week with Liquor Sto' Diaries, a surprise free EP from New York by way of Madison by way of Chicago MC F. Stokes.

You know I like to stay Minnesota with my AOTW picks, but F. Stokes is essentially Minnesotan at this point.  His Midwestern roots are clear, with Chicago being home and regular stops back in Madison.  His best known album (I think) is Death Of A Handsome Bride, a nine song record produced by Doomtree's Lazerbeak.  That album is consistently excellent from front-to-back, showcasing Stokes' ability to be both serious & playful, innovative & classic all in the same breath.

Liquor Sto' Diaries spins more of the same stories.  Stokes reminisces about the good times growing up in Chicacgo and the hard times of becoming a man in Chicago, all in a voice that shows he's grateful for both experiences.  For production, Stokes turned back to his friends in Doomtree.  Lazerbeak turns up to bookend the album.  Both "Caps" and "Gots To Save You" ride Beak's patented rich, soulful beats.  Paper Tiger turns up to provide the beat for "Can't Call It" and "Summer Coldest."  Both of these stay away from the expansive sounds of Paper Tiger's solo work and hue more closely to his excellent Beat Tape.  F. Stokes is a thoroughly enjoyable MC in his own right, but pairing him with these beats is just ridiculous.

Anyway, the album's available as a free download over at the Potholes Music Bandcamp page.  Go download it and let it soundtrack your strolls to the liquor store this summer.

Flatbasset Radio Presents - MinneClassics #1: TCDroogsma on "Purexed"

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

Hush, let 'em try to find the beauty in your face...

Well hello podcast fans!  Welcome to MinneClassics #1!

As you can probably tell from the fact that this is Episode #1, MinneClassics is a new feature here on Newest Industry.  Basically, TCDroogsma decided to create a feature which allows him (or his guests) to take some time and really shine the spotlight on a local artist and a song of theirs that is deemed "Classic."  They'll discuss the song, why they think it deserves "classic" status, and then play the song.

In this edition of MinneClassics, TCDroogsma discusses "Purexed" from P.O.S.'s album Never Better.  It's the 5 year anniversary of that albums release, so Droogsy discusses why the album was important to him, talks about his time living in NYC, what it was like when the Never Better tour rolled into the town, and how the video helped him make a major life decision.


Give his 12 minute podcast a listen below or download it for free by clicking on its title.

MinneClassics #1: "Purexed" by P.O.S. 

MinneClassics #1: "Purexed" by P.O.S. by Tcdroogsma on Mixcloud

As TCDroogsma mentions in the podcast, here's the "Purexed" video.

There you have it, podcast fans!  The first in what will be a long line of MinneClassics! 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 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. 

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #11

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

It's Minnesota, man, your face will freeze fast...

Well hello again, music fans! Welcome to Flatbasset Radio: Episode #11!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with our podcast, here's the idea: Each week TCDroogsma participates in our Songs Of The Week column. Since he's typically pretty negative, sowe put him in charge of producing and recording a podcast each week to play us some jams that he actually likes. Of course the podcast is free to listen to and download.

This week TCDroogsma plays a batch of cold weather jams, explains the virtue of the cold, laments a lost search engine, makes a play for Meg White, puts Canada on blast for excessive punctuation, puts together a Mixed Blood Majority showcase, finds the common ground between Kill The Vultures & Guided By Voices, promises a Songs Of The Week bloodbath, explains a joyous moment when hockey & hip-hop intersected, and explains power-pop's missing link between Big Star & Fountains Of Wayne!

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #11

Click above to download the podcast or click the player below to give it a listen:

 
01. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
02. Atmosphere - 66th Street
03. The White Stripes - In The Cold Cold Night
04. The Streets - Let's Push Things Forward
05. No Bird Sing - Devil Trombones
06. Lazerbeak - Legend Recognize Legend
07. Kill The Vultures - Vermillion
08. Mixed Blood Majority - The Runaround
09. Low - Just Make It Stop
10. Jay-Z - Interlude (Public Service Announcement)
11. Kate Nash - Death Proof
12. The Growlers - One Million Lovers
13. Gin Blossoms - 'Til I Hear It From You
 

There you have it, folks! Another week of jams & banter! Thanks for listening!

For more of TCDroogsma's banter, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma) or on his personal Flatbasset blog. If this whole Meg White thing works out we're sure his Twitter will be a hell of a follow.

Newest Industry also has a home on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) which you can follow to stay up on the work being done by all of our contributors. More importantly we have a Facebook page here. Giving us a “Like” is a free & legitimate way to support the blog. Plus, the “likes” will make TCDroogsma feel better when Meg White inevitably leaves him.

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #4 (Thanksgiving Special!)

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

"Fruits, veggies, rice, beans, fryin' the tofu..."

Well hello again, free music fans!

Our old friend TCDroogsma is back with his Flatbasset podcast.  This week TCDroogsma puts together a whole episode with a Thanksgiving theme!  Or at least, he tries to, and that's really the best we can hope for the young man.

Click on the embedded player below to listen to the podcast.  You'll get to hear TCDroogsma struggle to find a common thread between Jeff Tweedy, Kanye West, John Lennon, & Milo Aukerman.  You'll also get to hear reason #530 why Minnesota is better than everything.  He also calls out the Ying Yang Twins & Kendrick Lamar, places football above family, and lusts over the way things were back in 1996.  Good times all around.



Of course you can click the below to download the podcast so you'll have something to listen to while making the long drive to your parents' house for the holiday.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #4

Here's how the podcast breaks down this week:

01. The Shins - Young Pilgrims
02. Dosh - The Indian Bells
03. Brother Ali - Sweet (Potato Pie)
04. Kanye West - Family Business
05. Descendents - I Like Food
06. MF Doom - Fillet-O-Rapper
07. John Lennon - Cold Turkey
08. Golden Smog - Pecan Pie
09. Alanis Morissette - ThankYou
10. Pixies - Levitate Me
11. Antony & The Johnsons - Thank You For Your Love
12. Guided By Voices - Redmen And Their Wives
13. F. Stokes & Lazerbeak (w/Mike Mictlan) - Blessings
14. Descendents - Thank You

There you have it.  Give it a play.  Give it a download.  Tell a friend.  Tell two friends...

If, for some reason, that's not enough TCDroogsma he can be followed on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  He can also be found rambling on over at Flatbasset, his personal blog.  There's a 45% chance that he's already holiday drunk, so don't take any of his ramblings TOO seriously.

Of course Newest Industry also lives on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1).  Give us a follow to stay up on the work being done by all of our contributors.  More importantly, we have a Facebook page here. Stopping by and giving us a "like" is honestly the best way to support the blog short of just throwing money at us.  We'd all be awfully THANKFUL if you gave us a "like." (See what we did there?  Pertinent, right?)

Singles Mixer #1: TCDroogsma on "Fine Print" by Mixed Blood Majority

(THIS POST ORIGINALLY APPEARS ON THE TWIN CITIES BLOG NEWEST INDUSTRY.  WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST CHECK THAT BLOG OUT ALREADY? I MEAN, C'MON!)

Hey everybody!  Welcome to the first installment of "Singles Mixer," our new column in which we ask one of our regular contributors to review new singles from Minnesota artists.

This time around we asked TCDroogsma to give us his thoughts on the new single "Fine Print" by hip-hop group Mixed Blood Majority.

All things considered, I'm pretty psyched for this Mixed Blood Majority project.  If you don't know it's a "new" group consisting of Joe Horton (of No Bird Sing), Crescent Moon (of Kill The Vultures) and Lazerbeak (Doomtree) on the beats.

"Fine Print" is the first song to be released by the group and I was left with two immediate thoughts:

1. This definitely lives up to my expectations.
2. This definitely doesn't surpass my expectations.

Let me explain what I mean by that second point.  Both MC's have built their reputation as "serious" MC's who drop lines that are meant to be heard & thought about.  Neither of them has the reputation for "Oh shit! This is my JAM!" type songs.  To that end, both MC's bring exactly what they're known for.


The track is built around a subdued Lazerbeak beat (think more along the lines of "15 Blocks" off Lights Out Paris and less "Shux" or "Stand Up (Let's Get Murdered)."  It's a great beat, though.  I have no idea how Lazerbeak is able to shift from Lava-Banger-mode to introspective while still keeping a beat that knocks.


Getting back to Crescent Moon & Joe Horton though.

Crescent Moon is a legend in the Twin Cities hip-hop scene, with his Kill The Vultures making their mark on the scene well back in early 2000's.  Unfortunately, it seems like they've been treading water for years.  I remember seeing them at The Uptown Bar (my last show ever there) and, even in those romanticizing-The-Uptown days, the place was still only half-full.  It was a great show, to be sure, it just seems like Crescent Moon needs to be seen in a new light.  To that end, it seems like Mixed Blood Majority may finally bring some long overdue recognition.

Treading the same territory he covers with Kill The Vultures, Crescent Moon delivers lines about the struggle of everyday life as it relates to both financial trouble and interpersonal trouble.  Since he's an indie rapper who just got through a divorce I'm going to go ahead and say he's an expert on these subjects.

The first time I heard Joe Horton's rapping with No Bird Sing my first thought was, "Well, he clearly grew up on Kill The Vultures records."  Hearing the two rappers on the same track doesn't completely disprove that theory, but it does provide an interesting dynamic.  Both rappers seem to be fighting the same fight, but it is still possible to hear the young-man-optimism in Horton's voice as opposed to the older-yet-still-determined growl in Crescent Moon's voice.

When Crescent drops the line, "Did you read the fine print?" it's answered by Horton with, "Nah, but I signed it."  Clearly, these are two men standing at opposite ends of the same street.

As I mentioned, they're fighting the same fight.  This becomes especially clear when the rappers come together in the middle with these lines:

"Silent, silent, I will be silent, speak when spoken to never be defiant...
Focus, focus, I will be focused, only think positive, block out the hopeless...
Patient, patient, I will be patient, take my medication, wonder where the day went...
Famous, famous, one day I'll be famous, then all the pretty people will remember what my name is..."

Like I said at the beginning, this song doesn't surpass any expectations.  However, context is everything, and since this is the first song to be released from the project it does answer the most basic question, "What would Crescent Moon & Joe Horton sound like over a Lazerbeak beat?"  Now that we have an answer for that, let's hope the rest of the album pushes the boundaries and presents us with more questions rather than the same answer over and over.

Final Score - 3.5/5

Mixed Blood Majority will be unveiled to the world October 3rd at The Icehouse.  Follow this link for more info.

For more TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter & Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or on his own blog Flatbasset.

This blog has a Twitter account as well (@NewestIndustry1) which you should follow to stay up on the activities of all our contributors.  More importantly, we have a Facebook page here. Stop by and give us a "like" if you, er... like it.