Singles Mixer #5: "Just Make It Stop" by Low

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

You see I'm close to the edge, I'm at the end of my rope...

Hello again, music fans!  Welcome to Singles Mixer #5!

For those of you unfamiliar with the Singles Mixer columns, here's the scoop.  Whenever we find new singles from Minnesota bands we task one of our regular contributors with reviewing them.  As is Newest Industry policy, all singles are given a score of 1-5 (whereas albums are rated 1-10).

This time around we asked TCDroogsma to give us his thoughts on Low's new single "Just Make It Stop" from their upcoming album The Invisible Way.

TCDroogsy, thoughts?

How you feel about “Just Make It Stop” likely depends on how you feel about the recipe that Low has perfected over 20 years.

There are typically three things that define Low:

01. Instrumentation that makes as much use of the empty space as it does of the instruments.

02. Alan Sparhawk's distinctive, fragile vocals (often times complimented by Mimi Parker).

03. Lyrics that are somehow universal & personal, allowing the listener to find themselves in nearly every song.

“Just Make It Stop” only hits on one of these three ingredients. Lyrically, this song fits nicely into the Sparhawk/Parker canon. The lyrics are vague enough, with many of the couplets addressed to the “you” that always seems to be saying and doing things to fuck with people. Hell, even the titular “it” is never really addressed. The world? Time? The omnipotent, overbearing “you” (or, maybe, “them?”).

Regardless, when you sign up for the music of Low you sign up for that sort of lyrical content. There's something to be said for a band that can write songs that everybody can relate to in their own way.

Now, on to those other two ingredients.

I fully realize that Alan Sparhawk is not the “lead singer” of Low in the traditional sense. Still, when releasing the first single from a new album, it's a bold move to shelve the singer who is, to the casual fan, the voice of the band. I'm not complaining here, it's just a surprising left turn. I think Parker has a great voice and absolutely carries the song. Whether it's years of sharing the microphone with Sparhawk or my inability to separate new Low songs from my expectations, Parker manages the same aggressive fragility as her sometimes co-singer.

Which brings us to the instrumentation.

What's the one thing that casual indie rock fans know about Low? That they're slow and quiet. Obviously “Just Make It Stop” is neither of those things. It's actually a pretty rollicking affair considering who's playing the instruments.

Much has been made about the fact that The Invisible Way was produced by Jeff Tweedy. Admittedly, I didn't put a whole lot of stock into his involvement (though, as a Wilco & Low fan it did breed some curiosity). I was hoping that the lessons learned about spacing and silence during A Ghost Is Born and Summer Teeth would translate to “Low with a Wilco twist.” Rather, if this single is any example, we're being treated to “Low plays Wilco.” Rather than an experiment in organic, live silence (I feel so pretentious just typing that), “Just Make It Stop” has much more in common with the country-tinged feel of Being There.

I realize that this all makes me sound like a curmudgeon who wants his Low to sound like Low. There's a grain of truth to that, as I really do love the band's work. More accurately, I'm a bit disappointed that rather than pushing toward the sound explored on Drums & Guns (a masterpiece in my book), Low seems to be pushing toward sounding like everybody else. For a band that spent twenty years carving out a niche that was theirs and theirs alone, “Just Make It Stop” sounds more like compromise than evolution.

Final Score – 2.5/5

There you have it, folks!  TCDroogsma puts Low's new single "Just Make It Stop" square in the middle of the rankings.

For more information on Low's new album The Invisible Way and their upcoming tour, be sure to visit their website here.  They can also be found on Twitter (@LowTheBand).

For more TCDroogsma, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He can also be found here on Newest Industry hosting our weekly podcast Flatbasset Radio.  Be sure to tune in each week, as winter's slowly causing him to lose his mind.

Of course Newest Industry also has a home 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 a free and highly effective way to support the blog. 

My Most Played Albums Of 2012

Via Last.fm:

Songs Of The Week #19: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

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

Clinic, Lord Huron, Sera Cahoone, Purity Ring & Still Pacific...

Hello again, MP3 junkies! Welcome to the 19^th installment of Songs Of The Week!

If this is your first time checking in, let us explain exactly what you're looking at.

Each week we ask two of our regular contributors to download and review the tracks given away via The Current's Song Of The Week podcast. For those of you interested in playing along at home, the podcast is available here. It's free and it's delicious.

As always, we encourage you to vote for your favorite Song Of The Day in the poll to the right side of the page. The winner will receive, well.. not much. The dignity of being crowned the winner is pretty much all we have to offer.

This week we asked MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to take a break from wrapping Christmas presents (in MinneSarah's case) and trying to find the proper balance between rum and egg nog (in TCDroogsma's case) and tell us what they think.

Kids, what'd you think?

01. Clinic – Miss You (from the album Free Reign)

MinneSarah: 

     Usually I find Clinic a little boring.  This song sounds like many a Clinic song, but it is pretty chill and has enough elements to keep me engaged.  The signature guitar is as present as it is in any Clinic tune, and the psychedelic electronics are at their peak.  The voice distortion at the chorus works well with the rest of the noises (at times it sounds like wasps were in the studio) and it flows pretty nicely together.  The rudimentary keyboard background is a little like the SNL "I Wish It Was Christmas Today," sketch, but then again, maybe I just wish it was Christmas today?  I like this song because it is chill and I'm a sucker for British accents.

TCDroogsma:

     I don't know a whole lot about Clinic, but the couple of tracks I've found over the years lead me to believe this is the kind of band I could really dork the fuck out over.  They remind me a bit of a less-eccentric Of Montreal.  They pack a pile of ideas into each song, but manage to wrap it all up in as a whole much better than those scattershot Of Montreal records.

     
     "Miss You" is definitely packed with ideas.  From "Blue Monday" drums kicking off the proceedings to the simple-yet-highly-effective guitar work to the slow burn vocal hooks, there is a lot to to take in, but nearly all of it is enjoyable.  When the track ends with a voice just saying, "Turquoise" over and over it somehow makes perfect sense.  Definitely a track that will sound better and better each time I hear it.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 3.5/5

02. Lord Huron – Time To Run (from the album Lonesome Dreams)

MinneSarah: 

     Well, we've seen a lot of indie musicians these days try and class it up by using  superfluous names and titles.  Unfortunately, friends, this bold move does not always equate to better music.  In fact, you could go ahead and use it as a measure of the pretentious scale.  

     I've really been trying to be open to this kind of alt-indie drivel that The Current has been throwing my way, but this 5 and a half minute song sort of pushed me over the edge as a prime example of what is wrong with music these days. Yes, it's catchy.  Yes, I do want everybody in the world to know that I am the girl for you.  And yes, Lord Huron is able to squeeze every alt-indie trend into one song and still make it listenable.  But I'm at my limit and my five minute chunks are valuable.  Plus, he stops the song for a wind chime solo.  Watch out for 2013, this is going to be big. 

TCDroogsma:

     As you've probably noticed over the previous 18 SOTW posts, I have very little patience for these shuffling, Americana type songs.  To be totally honest, part of me really dislikes this song.  The lyrics leave quite a bit to be desired (we've all heard this, "I love you so much you don't even know" bit a hundred times) and the hook is serviceable enough.

     I don't know if it's just residue from the Clinic track or the way the empty spaces in "Time To Run" being filled with piano and reverb, but the song has just enough left-of-center, kind of futuristic electronics to keep it from being bogged down in the same rut as so many of these SOTD tracks.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend Lord Huron, but it's definitely one of those tracks that will come up on shuffle that'll make me pull my iPod out and say "Who the fuck IS this?"  Trust me, that's a compliment.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 1.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2.5/5

03. Sera Cahoone – Naked (from the album Deer Creek Canyon)

MinneSarah: 

     Hey, you spelled your name wrong, Sera Cahoone.  I know, because my name is also Sarah - don't worry, it happens all the time.  

     This song  is a little too country for me (surprise, everyone!), but as stated above, my patience for alt-indie is remarkably low this week.  I think there is some sad ukulele, some heart wrenching vocals, and some background posse violin.

     On the subject of the lyrics, get thee to the thrift store, Sera.  Believe me, getting some new clothes will make you 1.) feel less naked, 2.) make you forget about that loser who makes you feel bad 3.) get you a new attitude on those violins and ukulele.

TCDroogsma:

     A lovely track.  The slide guitar is a nice touch.  The vocals are performed passionately enough to make you believe Sera-with-an-E's heartbreak is genuine.  A fine song with a video that's could be described as, "intensely vaginal" (copyright: Georgia O'Keeffe via Julianne Moore).

    
     You know what idea became inescapable the more I listened to this song?  It's a perfect Rihanna song!  Just listen to it!  Try to imagine the sound being just a bit cleaner and the vocals a bit more over the top.  Place the lyrics in the context of Rihanna & Chris Brown's inevitable second breakup.  The psuedo-sexuality of being "naked" being emotional rather than physical (though could certainly be co-opted in one of those tastefully done videos where Rihanna would be classy-naked instead of insane-whore-naked.  It would fit right in with her double-entendre baiting style.  I mean, it all adds up, doesn't it?  Critics would lose their shit over Rihanna finally showing her true self instead of the sex-bot she presents to the public.  It would serve as a "mature" track that would help Rihanna make the move from pop star to adult star.... Sera Cahoone, you're a genius.  There's no shame in making money.  When Ri-Ri's team comes calling, please make my cut of the check out to "Cash."

Final Score: MinneSarah - 1.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - (Sera Cahoone version) 2.5/5 (Hypothetical Rihanna version) 5/5

04. Purity Ring – Lofticries (from the album Shrines)

MinneSarah: 

     This song is so electronic and trip-hoppy, it transports me back to 1997.  

     I love just about everything about this song.  It progresses nicely, keyboards sound like rain inside a pagoda rave, the vocals are perfectly real vs. surreal.  Also there is a part where the music slows down and goes backwards that actually hurts my brain. This part is what I imagine robo-tripping is like - and you can experience that just by listening to this song.  Plus, the rest of the time where your brain doesn't hurt, you can pretend you are in beautiful Sneaker Pimps video that never happened.

TCDroogsma:

     This seems like a fine way to close out 2012.  For the past couple years we've all heard a few too many of these giltchy-electro-pop songs.  Nearly all of them have been enjoyable and "Lofticries" is no exception.  The melody lingers in just the right way, the beats are consistently interesting... It just seems to me that we've pretty much covered every base their is to cover in the genre.  Take this as a compliment, Purity Ring: "Lofticries" should be the last of these songs we here until Portishead finally re-emerges.  It's been a fun ride and we're going out on a high note.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 4/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2.5/5

05. Still Pacific – Speeding To My Death (from the EP Cage Heart Hammer)

MinneSarah: 

     I'm amazed at this West Coast sounding phenomenon that is taking the Twin Cities by storm.  Well, this makes sense, we are New Portland.  I like the energy in this song - the vocals are a mix between the British group Lush and Kathleen Hanna.  The guitars are fast, poppy, and really make you feel as though you are speeding to your death.  This band seems like they would be a blast to see live, and sometimes all you want is some happy, fast, & well distilled music to brighten your day.

TCDroogsma:

     Maybe it's just me, but this song sounds like an unearthed early Tegan & Sarah track (like they were still trying to balance a love of hooks with a love of Bikini Kill).  I'll let you decide if that's a compliment or not.  To me that comparison kind of sounds like "meh."

    Still, the song has hooks by the bucketful and is delivered with enough energy to make me think of spring.  I suppose that's a win.  Not great, kinda disposable, certainly enjoyable.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 4/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2.5/5

There you have it, music fans! Another week of songs downloaded, listened to, reviewed, and filed away.

As always we'd like to remind everybody that Newest Industry & its contributors are in no way affiliated with any of the artists reviewed, MPR, or The Current. We're just music fans with keyboards and too much time on our hands.

For more of MinneSarah's unique brand of Christmas cheer be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah). She may not tweet frequently, but she makes some mean Christmas cookies.

For more of TCDroogsma's unique brand of Christmas cheer, be sure to follow him on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). We stress the word “unique.” TCDroogsma is also the host of our weekly Flatbasset podcast and can be found prattling on over on his personal blog Flatbasset. He seriously needs to think up a new brand name.

For more Newest Industry, we also live on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1). Give us a follow to stay up on the work being done by all of our contributors. More importanly, we have a Facebook page here. Trivial as it may seem, stopping by and giving us a “like” is a legitimate, free way to support the blog. All new “likes” will be forwarded to Santa's “Nice” list.

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #5

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

This was my dream... playing a rockin' routine...

Well hello again, music fans!  TCDroogsma is back with Flatbasset Radio - Episode #5!

For those of you stopping by for the first time, TCDroogsma is one of our regular contributors.  He typically sticks to the twin indulgences of food and music.  Each week we have him put together a podcast of roughly an hour's worth of music broken up sporadically by his nasally banter.

As you can see, Tuesday night is now going to be the new home of the podcast.  We realize that this puts Flatbasset Radio up against Tuesdays With Lazerbeak and Tuesday Morning Quarterback.  We're hoping that you'll soon consider Flatbasset Radio in the same breath as those two internet institutions.  Call it the Tuesday Hat Trick.

Anyway, this week found TCDroogsma in a rather sour mood.  Fortunately he managed to talk himself back into a better place by leaning on loud guitars, hometown jams, asian women, Twin Cities ex-pats, yet another stroll back to the 90's, and a Minneapolis icon.  Click the embedded player to have a listen or click the title to download the podcast and take it on the go.



Flatbasset Radio - Episode #5

Here's how the podcast breaks down:

01. Deerhoof - Milk Man
02. Kudzu Wish - We've Got Big Hands
03. DJ Abilities - Kastdaddy 4 President
04. BNLX - 1929
05. The Hold Steady - Magazines
06. Yak Ballz - Gas Galaxy
07. Menahan Street Band - The Crossing
08. Superdrag - Sucked Out
09. Murs - Eazy-E
10. Longwave - No Direction
11. Depeche Mode - Waiting For The Night
12. Paul Westerberg - All That I Had

There you have it, everybody!  Give it a listen!  Download it!  Free music!  Tweet it!  Tell a friend!

For more of the kind of emo TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  He also maintains his own Flatbasset blog, though it mainly consists of the work he does here.  If you ever meet him in person don't let his beard throw you off, he's not a handsome man.

Of course Newest Industry also lives on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1).  Give that a follow to stay up on all the work being done by our contributors.  More importantly we also have a Facebook page. Stopping by and giving us a "like" is the best way to support this blog without any sort of financial obligation.  If we get to 50 likes we're going to make TCDroogsma shave his beard.

Meal Time! #4 With TCDroogsma: The Bad Waitress Diner & Coffeeshop

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

Nice game... bitches...

Hey food fans!

TCDroogsma's been spending too much time holed up writing and talking about music lately, so we cleaned him up and sent him out into the world to find a nice hot meal.  He managed to walk a whole six blocks from Planet New Basset to The Bad Waitress on the corner of 26th and Nicollet.

TCDroogsma, thoughts?

Alright, let me say right off the bat that I was already plenty clean when I was sent out to find this meal.  Admittedly, though, it was nice to eat warm food.  Variety's the spice of life, they say...

Now, this wasn't my first time going to The Bad Waitress.  It was my second.  However, it was my first time going their without nursing a pretty solid hangover.  Sobriety's the spice of life... wait, nobody's ever said that.

Annnyyyway, as you all hopefully remember, I stay all vegan everything.  As far as breakfast in the Uptown area goes, their are only a few decent options.  On my first trip to The Bad Waitress I indulged in something called "The Heavy Pedal," which was essentially scrambled tofu, hashbrowns, and vegan sausage.  Since I've already done two tofu-based reviews I thought I'd have a go at some other breakfast food.  But what else would make for a good vegan breakfast on a kind of frigid November morning?

Well, the place wasn't too busy, so, out of habit, I pulled up a seat at the bar and had a look at the menu.

(Pro Tip #1: Be careful sitting on this side of the restaurant early in the day.  The sun comes pounding through the storefront at just the right angle to incubate the bar.  Add in the hot coffee and I found myself sweating like Michael Beasley during a routine traffic stop.)

Now, on to breakfast.

Pancakes. Mufuckin' pancakes.

Boom!  I'm in.  For those who've never been to The Bad Waitress before, the name is actually a bit of a misnomer.  You don't even really have a waitress.  You write down your order on a piece of paper from the ordering pad, bring it up to the counter, and pay all at once.

Essentially, you're the waitress.  And, as noted, the expectations are low.  Just something to ponder as you wait for your food.  Notice that the top of my card reads "Black Panther."  Each seat has an accompanying card with the picture of a superhero or monster on it.  Obviously, it's important to note which superhero or monster represents you so that an actual waitress knows where to bring your food.

I have no idea who or what the Black Panther is.  Is he a superhero?  Is he a monster?  An outdated relic from a more racially-charged era in American history?  More importantly, does he represent me as a hungry patron?

After a quick Wikipedia search I've determined that The Black Panther was, "the first black superhero in American comics" and got his power from a meteorite made of the fictional material 'viabranium' that crashed into his home country, the island of Wakanda.  As the leader of the Wakandans he is, "entitled to eat a special heart-shaped herb which, in addition to his mystical connection with the Wakandan Panther god, grants him superhumanly acute senses and increases his strength, speed, stamina, and agility to the peak of human development."

So, yes, he is a superhero and not a monster.  And yes, this is arguably the most accurate portrayal of me as a hungry patron.  Fuck that Batman shit.

Now that we've established that I am the ginger-bearded, blogger equivalent of a righteous black superhero, let's get down to business.

(Cue the horns)

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, The Bad Waitress's Vegan Cake!

So here's the story so far: 

Location: The Bad Waitress Diner & Coffeehouse on the corner of 26th & Nicollet 
Time Of Day: 'Bout noon on a Tuesday 
Level Of Sobriety: Romney 
Racial Status: Conflicted  
Meal: Vegan Cake 
To The Side: Sizzurp 
Beverage: Coffee 
Menu Price: Pancake: $5.25, Coffee:  $2.00 
Total Price (w/Tip): $10.00

Admittedly, I was a little put off by the sheer quantity of pancake in front of me.  I mean, look at that damn thing!  It's bigger than the plate!  I even made a point of getting the sizzurp and coffee in the shot for scale.  I'm as hungry as the next Vibranium-addled, island nation-leading, mainstream-averse guy, but how could I eat so much damn pancake?

My only hope for eating such a quantity of pancake was that the cake would be light and fluffy.  Hopefully as much air as actual cake.  Unfortunately, this was not the case.

I gave it the old college try, but I found the pancake to be too, too doughy, and too chewy.  Like a high-quality sponge, a good pancake has enough airy-ness to be able to absorb the syrup.  Again, this was not the case with the vegan cake.  The syrup never melded with the cake, but rather just sat on top of it.  Each bite became an exercise in balancing fluid on solid rather than the sticky, sweet explosion in my mouth that I was hoping for.

Wait, what?

Double entendres aside, this was a lackluster pancake.  It was filling, but by the time I was halfway through it I had definitely taken on the mindset that I was eating it out of obligation.

(Pro tip #2: For an extra $1.75 you can add blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, bananas or chocolate chips.  Now, you all know that I'm the last person who would ever advocate eating fruit.  However, in this case, it's probably a good choice.  It would at least break up the monotony.)

So, that was the meal.  Let's break this thing down:

Flavor: 3/10 - Bland and doughy.  The only flavor involved came from the syrup.  It would have gotten a 1, but the coffee was excellent.

Filling: 8/10 - Under threat of physical violence I could have maybe finished this whole thing.  Fortunately, it didn't come to that.

Price: 6/10 - $5.25 is a very reasonable price for pancakes bigger than dinner plates.  When you factor in the fact that, one, it's not delicious, and two, you'll probably only eat 3/4 of it... well, it doesn't seem so reasonable.  Add in the (delicious) coffee and the tip though, and I would say that this is not the best way you could spend $10.

Ambiance: 7/10 - As mentioned, it was a little warm on the bar side.  They do have a jukebox that plays standard 30 year old hipster standards ("Song 2," "Hungry Heart," "Here Comes Your Man..."), which, as a 30 year old hipster, I can definitely get behind.

(Quick jukebox sidenote: At one point the jukebox played "Where Is My Mind?," after which one of the waitresses turned to the other and asked, "Who was that?" It was both adorable and heartbreaking.)

Service: 8/10 - Since I took on half of the waitressing duties I'm going to go ahead and say that I was awesome.  I was prompt, polite, and flirty (but not overtly so).  I would have given myself a 10 if I wasn't so shabbily dressed.  Still, a pretty great job.

If This Meal Was A Guest Rapper On A Kanye West Track It Would Be: 2 Chainz.  For some reason people really seem to love The Bad Waitress, and I guess I wouldn't say it was bad, but it was really just kind of... meh.

How Many Times Would I Eat This Meal Per Month If I Could Afford To: Sadly, probably never.  If I'm fucking with vegan pancakes I'm going to head down to French Meadow for their far superior corncakes.  And if I'm returning to The Bad Waitress I'm definitely going with the aformentioned Heavy Pedal.

Final Score: 5/10.  I don't mean for this review to reflect negatively on The Bad Waitress in its entirety.  I actually dig the place.  I do mean for this review to reflect negatively on the vegan pancake, though.  Doughy, chewy, non-absorbent... that's that shit I don't like.  If you find yourself at The Bad Waitress, stick with the omlette-tofu-sausage options.

Well there you have it, food fans.  An unsatisfactory experience chronicled and filed away.

For and look at the menu & more information on The Bad Waitress be sure to stop by their website here.  Or just swing by 26th & Nicollet.  Vegan & non-vegan options abound.  And they have booze.

For more TCDroogsma you can give him a follow on Twitter and/or Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or stop by his personal blog Flatbasset. He was lying up above.  His flirting was forced and clumsy.

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 also have a Facebook page here.  If we get enough "likes" we'll pick up some less shabby clothes for TCDroogsma.

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #2

(THIS PODCAST ORIGINALLY APPEARS ON THE TWIN CITIES BLOG NEWEST INDUSTRY.  CLICK ON THAT LINK NOW.  LIKE, RIGHT NOW.)

I don't wear rubbers and I don't wear sunscreen...

Well hello again, music fans!  Welcome to the second episode of Flatbasset Radio!

For those who are unfamiliar, Flatbasset Radio is a podcast put together by our regular contributor TCDroogsma.  Typically they're about and hour long and feature TCDroogsma playing songs and prattling on like a lunatic.  True to form, he does not disappoint in Episode #2.

This week on Flatbasset Radio TCDroogsma gets all bro-mantic about one of his friends, puts Cat Power on blast, propositions a pop icon, and goes on a lo-fi bender. 


As you can see, you can click the embedded player to give the podcast a listen or you can click the title below to download it for your very own.

Flatbasset Radio - Episode #2

Here's how the mix breaks down:

01. Big Cats!
02. Why?
03. Handsome Boy Modeling School (w/Cat Power)
04. Taking Back Sunday
05. Sixo
06. Madonna
07. Meat Puppets
08. Buck 65
09. Husker Du
10. Sage Francis vs. Dashboard Confessional

If, somehow, this isn't enough TCDroogsma he can always be found on Twitter and Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or on his own blog Flatbasset.

Of course this blog also maintains a Twitter account (@NewestIndustry1) which you should follow to stay up on all the work being done by our contributors.  More importantly, we also have a Facebook page here.  If you have the time please stop by and give us a "like."  We'd really appreciate it.

Songs Of The Week #9: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

NOTE: I CONTRIBUTED MY HALF OF THIS POST TO THE BLOG NEWEST INDUSTRY, WHERE IT ORIGINALLY APPEARED.  PLEASE CHECK OUT NEWEST INDUSTRY WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE.  ALL TWIN CITIES EVERYTHING!

Sondre Lerche, Ben Folds Five, Poor Moon, Beth Orton, & Toussaint Morrison

Well hello again, mp3 junkies.  How ya been?  Staying warm?  Good, you know we worry about you.

Welcome to the Ninth Edition of Songs Of The Week.  Yet again we've asked MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to give us their thoughts on last week's Song Of The Day podcast from MPR's The Current.  As always, click on this link to subscribe to the podcast and play along at home.

Also, as always, MinneSarah & TCDroogsma have note read each other's comments before this post.

Take it away kids!

01. Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue (from the album Bootlegs)



MinneSarah:

     Is Sondre Lerche still beautiful?  If he is, I'd liken this track to Matthew McConoughey's drunken naked bongo session.  Oh, he's still going?  I'm partial, because this song is my favorite! Okay, it's the only Sondre Lerche song that I know.  What could make this song better Sondre?  Why don't you release it in lower sound quality, add another three minutes of guitar noodling, and some screaming fans to show you are still relevant.  If I could rename this track, I'd call it, "Live Guitar Monologue." 

TCDroogsma:

     Back in the mid-aughties I fell real hard for the studio version of this song. Everything about it appealed to the person I was back then (take that for what you will).  Unfortunately, when I started digging into the Sondre Lerche catalog I found that he was prone to genre-hopping in the worst way.  His baroque album with The Faces Down Quartet is one of the worst albums in my collection.

     This live version of such a perfect song is disheartening.  Basically it's all the worst things about Sondre Lerche rolled into one.  Instead of riding the perfectly constructed hooks of the original we're subjected to stupid guitar breakdowns and extended musical wandering.  Maybe this was fun at the actual show, but who thought putting this out on an album was a good idea?  Christ, dude, just stick to what you're good at - hooks on hooks on hooks.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 1/5
                   TCDroogsma - 2/5

02. Ben Folds Five - Do It Anyway (from the album The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind)



MinneSarah:

     Well, Ben Folds sure does play piano.  I prefer screaming, loud guitar, saloon piano, fast tempo Ben Folds to any of their slower tracks, and this song takes me back a couple decades.  However, instead of being just one of the guys, the chorus makes Ben Folds sound down right like he's yelling at his kids.  I felt guilty, like, I really don't want to review this song.  Okay, dad, I'm doing it..anyway.  If I could rename this song, it would be, "Because I Said So." 

TCDroogsma:

     I'm excited for Ben Folds Five reunion in the same way I'm excited for a Dishwalla reunion.  I mean, c'mon, who was sitting at home thinking to themselves, "Damn! You know who I really miss?  Those guys who sang that song about abortion!"

     In all honesty, I consider myself a Ben Folds fan.  The first couple BFF albums were great and I really liked his solo debut Rockin' The Suburbs.  But why bring the career back this way?  Seems to me that the logical career arc for Ben Folds would've been, "Kinda-interesting-piano-band" to "Kinda-serious-adult-contemporary" to "Late-night-talk-show-band-leader."  I mean, he ain't The Roots, but why look backwards.

     That said, Robert Sledge's bass still sounds fantastic.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2/5
                   TCDroogsma - 2.5/5

03. Poor Moon - Birds (from the album Poor Moon)

 

MinneSarah:

     This is one of those beachy hippie songs.  It sounds like some kids got together in the band room at UC Irvine and used the xylophone and timpani to tell the story of what they did last summer.  The vocals are mellow and have a dreamy quality to them.  If I could rename this song, I'd call it, "I Got Some Underneath That Creepy Oak Tree." 

TCDroogsma:

     Great, some guys from Fleet Foxes have a side project that sounds exactly like Fleet Foxes.  Oh, and it's about a tree  Wait, not a tree, but the memory of the time they were at a tree.  Just shoot me in the fucking head.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2/5
                   TCDroogsma - 0/5

04. Beth Orton - Magpie (from the album Sugaring Season)

 

MinneSarah:

     Beth Orton's signature vocals have not changed since "Stolen Car" and I appreciate that consistency. There is something fairly epic about how her singing works with the piano and violin, and that's coming from a gal whose never been nor would ever go to Lilith Fair.  She does a good job pulling together usually annoying musical elements and creating something that could easily showcase a strong female lead in a movie soundtrack.  If I renamed this song, I'd call it, "I Won't Turn Back For Anyone And Not Just Because You're A Liar!" 

TCDroogsma:

     Is this what Beth Orton always sounded like or am I just not remembering her old stuff correctly?  Didn't it used to be kind of understated with some electro-blips?  This squawky-singing-and-fiddle-combination sounds like Tori Amos if she'd downed a bottle of gin.  I can't believe Ryan Adams wrote a song about this woman.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3.5/5
                   TCDroogsma - 1/5

05. Toussaint Morrison - Can't Relive The Party (from the album Toussaint Morrison Is Not My Boyfriend)


MinneSarah:
 
     This song is a compilation of everything that is trendy in the Motown revival meets Michael Franti world (it's now a real place). This kid has lots of style, so I can forgive the trendiness.  The keyboards are very Mates of State, which is a nice touch.  He ends the song by rapping about picking up college girls, likely at the U of M.  I'll bet he doesn't have much trouble. If I could rename this song, I'd call it,"Mayer Hawthorne Told Me Switch The Style Up And If They Hate Then Let Them Hate And Watch The Money Pile Up." 


TCDroogsma:

     If Cee-Lo and The Weeknd had a kid it would be this song.  Morrison gets real upbeat over the instrumental from Generationals "When They Fight, They Fight," which isn't a bad move at all.  On paper, combining those three things seems like a good idea.  Turns out the actual sum of the equation "Cee-Lo + The Weeknd + Indie Pop" is "Bruno Mars!"  And, frankly, we need another Bruno Mars like we need more Fleet Foxes side projects.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2.5/5
                   TCDroogsma - 1/5

Well there you have it everybody, another week of songs downloaded, processed, and judged harshly.  Thank to MinneSarah & TCDroogsma for giving us their thoughts.

Of course Newest Industry is in no way affiliated with any of these artists, their labels, The Current or Minnesota Public Radio.  We just like to judge things.

Be sure to vote for which of these songs stood the tallest in our poll to the right.

For more of the ever-charming MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter and/or Instagram (@MinneSarah).  She's in the midst of a pretty epic Rocktober right now.

For more of TCDroogsma you can give him a follow on Twitter and/or Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or check out his personal blog Flatbasset.  Despite our best efforts he's still writing blog posts about Morrissey songs.

And, lastly, this blog is on the Twitter (@NewestIndustry1), which you should follow to stay up on new material.  We're also on Facebook here.  Stop by and give us a 'like.'  We don't ask for much.

Songs Of The Week #8: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

Everybody! This post originally appears on the Newest Industry blog.  I contribute to Newest Industry relatively frequently.  Please check it out if you get the chance.

Patterson Hood, Azure Ray, The Helio Sequence, The David Wax Museum, & Meme

Hello, MP3 junkies and welcome to the eighth installment of Songs Of The Week.  For those of you who are new to the post, we've asked a couple of our regular contributors to review the 5 songs given away via The Current's free Song Of The Day Podcast.  As always, we recommend that you download the podcast for yourself here and play along at home.

Fortunately for both us here at the blog and you loyal readers, MinneSarah is back after a week-long absence.  To the chagrin of fans of thoughtful commentary and the English language in general, TCDroogsma proved yet again to very available.  Like every week, they have not read what the other has written about the tracks beforehand.

So, take it away, kids...

01. Patterson Hood - Disappear (from the album Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance)

MinneSarah:

     Everything about this sounds like a hipster Dave Matthews Band song.  The tempo, the strings, the piano, the lyrics.  I like the guy from Drive By Trucker's voice at times, but there is no saving it in this song.  The lyrics are either about fighting with your girl and withdrawing into yourself, or a literal metamorphosis about turning into a mouse.  I loved the 90's and am somewhat nostalgic for a DMB revival. However, honeys, this ain't the Clinton era.

TCDroogsma:

     I've never totally understood why singers or songwriters leave bands in which they are a lead singer and songwriter to record solo albums that sound exactly like the band they just left.  I didn't understand it when Jason Isbell left The Drive-By Truckers to go solo and I don't understand it now that Patterson Hood has, at least temporarily left The Drive-By Truckers.  Maybe this band is a bunch of assholes.

     Anyway, if you're familiar with The Drive-By Truckers version of Southern indie rock you can probably hear this song in your head before you even click play.  The lyrics are actually pretty touching, with the "disappear" of the title referencing his ability to go inside his own head during trouble (evidently with his parents?).  The songs clinching line, "sometimes I hear words spoken underneath the song and I
associate completely," is a killer.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 1/5
                  TCDroogsma - 3/5

02. Azure Ray - Red Balloon (from the EP As Above So Below)

 

MinneSarah:

     The stilted electronic backdrop and lulling vocal verses are intriguing.   However, the chorus is so boring and predictable.  I'm giving Azure Ray the benefit of being one of the few Saddle Creek bands that does not whine on all their songs.  However, this song is pleasant and not much else. 

TCDroogsma:

     It took me a half a dozen listens to figure out exactly why I like this song.  It's a semi-endearing love song, but the production is what really makes it.  The cavernous drums of the verses sound exactly like a pounding heart when someone's eyes take you, "by surprise like a summer rain."  When the those drums drop out for the first chorus, the synthesizers envelope's the song with the same warmth as the realization of the connection made.  The rest of the song, in which the drums and warm-blanket synths combine, paints a fully-realized picture of hipsters in love.  I'd bet even money that this song will be played as a first dance at the most tattooed-up wedding you've ever been to.

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

03. The Helio Sequence - October (from the album Negotiations)

 

MinneSarah:

     Helio Sequence are a good band for epic poppy ballads.  This song is not as epic as I would have hoped.  The guitar is nice, but the lyrics are hackeneyed relationship advice and have nothing to do with the month of October.  Still, expect the intricate guitar build ups which are always a treat. 

TCDroogsma:

     Is it weird that, even though I've never owned a Helio Sequence album, I knew exactly what this song would be like before I even heard it?  Kinda indie, kinda dynamic, lot's of echo-ey "whoa's."  I suppose this isn't a bad thing, just a predictable thing.  If you've liked previous Helio Sequence songs than you will like this one.

     The vague, "keep in mind" statements that start of each verse are kind of annoying.  That's the type of shit you say when you want to make a point to your girlfriend but don't want to seem petty by bluntly pointing out some trivial slight from a previous fight.  Or am I the only one that does that?  Wait, that actually explains a few things...

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5
                  TCDroogsma - 2.5/5

04. The David Wax Museum - Will You Be Sleeping (from the album Knock Knock Get Up)

MinneSarah:

     This is an uber-catchy song with a lot of distinct elements.  Usually this is a bad thing, but horns sort of speak to each other and it works.  The lyrics are realistic yet lighthearted about couples' insecurities yet are not that annoying.  There is a boy/girl chorus, which actually works together and mirrors the lyrics in a way that symbolizes the duality of the lyrics.  A little too hipster for my tastes, points off for the tambourine. 

TCDroogsma:

     Wait a minute, dude's girlfriend sleeps all day while he's out doing stuff and wakes up just long enough to wrap herself in a sheet and wait by the window for him?  C'mon, girl.  At least get dressed.  Maybe fix up some toast and have some orange juice.

     I can't say I blame her though.  I mean, he's enabling this type of behavior.  Dude's careful not to wake her up when he kisses her as he leaves.  He even asks that she leave the bed unmade!  If my significant other spent their days writing reggae-tinged, cliche-ridden "love" songs I'd stay in bed all day too.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5
                  TCDroogsma - 1/5

05. Meme - Young (from the album Young)

 

MinneSarah:

      This song is electronic-y and mellow, but with acoustic-y sounding guitar. It sounds surprisingly sophisticated.  The vocals really carry the song, and carries through the lulling background. The lyrics are about being young, but maybe because I'm old, they capture a nice mix of action and nostalgia.  I love the barking "oh, oh, oh's," Damon Albarn would be proud. 

TCDroogsma:

     I miss Digitata.

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

There you have it, everybody.  Another week of free music judged and discarded.  Please remember that this neither this blog nor its contributors or is any way affiliated with the artists, The Current, or Minnesota Public Radio.

Be sure to cast your vote in our poll for which song was your favorite of the past week.

For more MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter and Instagram (@MinneSarah).  She's currently coming to grips with the difference between alarm clocks and cats.

For more TCDroogsma you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or check out his personal blog Flatbasset where he's currently counting down Morrissey songs.  We've been searching for the right psychiatrist do deal with this development.

Of course this blog can be found on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) and on Facebook here.  Be sure to stop by and give it a 'like' if you have a chance.