Flatbasset-January '10

Sorry I'm a couple of days late. I've been busy the last week catching Heiruspecs, drinking white russians, hugging Dessa, dancing, watching Phil split his pants trying to hail a cab, pulling over said cab on Franklin so Buckley could puke, having a Kanye West singalong, putting down Fog Cutters while Phil made it clear he was the only Bears fan in the Dragon, stepping all over Phil's game at the CC Club because these girls wouldn't quit poking me with vegan questions, closing down the CC Club, closing down Caffery's, having a Taking Back Sunday singalong, more white russians, being one half of the worst Cranium team in recorded history (can ya guess the other half), being one half of the most intoxicated Cranium team in recorded history, an Aesop Rock singalong, getting tackled in the snow and kicked in the kidney, convincing a cabbie not to kick us out at 4 a.m. because Phil had his feet on the window (think about that), watching Phil try to fight Garfield Ave. with his nose (guess who won), and getting punched in the head... 2010, you got a lot to live up to.

Flatbasset - January '10


01. The Cribs - We Were Aborted

As you all know, I love The Cribs. This is the first song off their new Ignore The Ignorant album. Like I’ve mentioned before, their last two albums (The New Fellas & Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever) are perfect, sloppy Brit-punk albums. All drunken singalongs and middle fingers. However, for this new one they enlisted Johnny Marr and decided they were going to write a “grown-up” album. Sadly, this song is the only song on the album that maintains the old thrill. I love Johnny Marr as much as every skinny, white, middle-class 20-something, but c’mon man! Why ruin a good thing?

02. Doomtree - Coup For The King

Before Doomtree Blowout VI the crew decided to put together a new False Hopes so they would have something to new to sell at the show. What makes a song like “Coup For The King” amazing is that this is something they just tossed off. Right now DTR is like The Mats or Smiths in their prime, where even the casual stuff is great.

Plus, as if P.O.S. doesn’t get enough love on this blog, he gets more points for that line about Mario and “King Koopa spit…”

03. The Magnetic Fields - Too Drunk To Dream

God bless ya, Stephen Merritt. Sometimes getting drunk and going to bed is the best way to handle life.

04. Built To Spill - Twin Falls

For a band that’s known to toe the line between indie rock and jam band, it’s a tribute to Doug Martsch’s songwriting ability that he can cram such a vivid little portrait of growing up in a small town into a mere 1:50.

05. The-Dream - Take U Home 2 My Mama

Sometimes you just gotta go fucking Top 40 crazy. I’ve been listening to this song like crazy for the last month and I’m still nowhere near sick of it. I love the line, “I’m tryin’ to get her gone, because I’m already gone…” and the backing voice just goes, “I’m already (nrrrmmmm…)” You should see me and basset dancing to this one in the studio. Good times.

06. Crossing Guards - 51 Weeks Ago

Crossing Guards is Martin Devaney’s good time, old-fashioned rock ‘n roll band. Frankly, I’ve been to a lot of shows since I’ve been back and sometime between 2000 and 2010 this turned into a city full of art rock bands (Alpha Centauri, Colder In Mosow, I‘m looking in your direction). God bless these guys for throwing back a few Tall Boys and turning their guitars up. So what if they’re not breaking new ground? That’s part of the charm. This is a guitar-n-whiskey town.

07. Beulah - Popular Mechanics For Lovers

What a heartbreaker! I do like the sly Magnetic Fields reference.

08. At The Drive-In - Rolodex Propaganda

How far away from the turn of the century do we need to get before Relationship Of Command stops sounding like it came from the future?

I really like this one because it’s the only song where they seem to actually make light of how ridiculous their lyrics are, with Cedric Bixler-Zavala warbling “manuscript replica!” throughout the chorus.

Who’s taking bets on when the ATDI reunion takes place? Sparta broke up, The Mars Volta seems to have stalled out. I mean, if Pavement is back on the road then these guys have to be next. I’m betting on a summer 2012 Coachella headlining slot.

09. Serengeti - Dennehey

As you’re all aware, I love songs that big up hometowns. Even though Chicago is Minneapolis’ nemesis (Copyright: Chuck Klosterman), I can’t help but feel the love for the Windy City on this one.

Vacation Place: Sconsin! I can get behind that.

10. Art Brut - DC Comics And Chocolate Milkshake

This song is a great example of how Art Brut is so much more than just Eddie Argos. I mean, he’s great, but note the pauses, that descending chorus riff, and that killer lead guitar line. No one should be surprised that these guys are still going strong after 3 albums.

11. Portishead - The Rip

This is one of my favorite “put in the earbuds and close your eyes” songs. I love the way that little electronic blip blossoms in the second half of the song, as if Beth Gibbons has given into the morbid curiosity that haunts the first half of the song.

12. T. Rex - Metal Guru

There’s a famous story of Johnny Marr calling up John Porter and telling him that he had a new sketch for a Smiths song and he was going to send him a copy via mail. A week later Porter received a package. He expected it to be a demo of something Marr had put together, but opened it to find the “Metal Guru“ single. Then The Smiths came down and banged out “Panic.” Score one for Johnny Marr’s sense of humour.

13. Jay-Z (w/Rihanna & Kanye West) - Run This Town

Alright, so I went top 40 crazy again. It’s not my fault Jigga’s so good that everyone has to listen.

I’ll even give it up for Rihanna. When I saw her on the “Glow In The Dark” tour, she killed it, even though “Umbrella” was the only song I knew.

14. Pictures Of Then - When It Stings

The winner of my favorite Minnesota song this month. Something about this song has a late 90’s alt-pop vibe. It would have fit nicely between Tonic & Better Than Ezra back on Rev 105.

15. Madonna - Till Death Do Us Part

My friend Inga made me a mix CD and it had this song on it. I’ll be honest, I was confused by how good it was. All those dancey-blippy-Hot Chip-Brazilian Girls bands of the last 5 years can’t touch this shit. Is it possible I’ve been wrong about Madonna all along?

16. Freeway & Jake One - Know What I Mean

Like Slug & Murs, Eyedea & Abilities, St. Paul & Minneapolis, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Coffee & Coconut Creamer, Freeway & Jake One is just a fucking perfect combination. They’re actually playing that RSE Haiti Benefit show in a week and I can’t wait. Freeway’s post-mainstream hip-hop career is going to be killer.

17. Los Campesinos! - There Are Listed Buildings

My favorite Current song of the month, the energy on this track is just too infectious. I never get sick of sharp hooks.

18. Kid Cudi - Up Up And Away

This is my 2010 theme song. I don’t know if you know, but my friends and I are taking MPLS this year. We’ll be up up and away. Just you watch.

I highly recommend that everybody track down a copy of Kids Cudi’s Man On The Moon album. That shit is gold.