Songs Of The Week #20: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

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

Sun Airway, Kopecky Family Band, Ra Ra Riot, Paul Banks, & Southwire...

Hello again, music fans! Welcome to Songs Of The Week #20!

That's right, everybody. SOTW turns the big 2-0 today! One more week and we won't have to ask our older brother to buy us beer anymore!

But that's for next week. This week we're putting the holidays behind us and getting back to the grind: downloading and judging other people's hard work just because we can!

As always, we encourage you to hit up The Current's website here and subscribe to the podcast yourself. Free music is a hell of a gift.

Also, as you probably know by now, there is a poll to the right side of the page. Please give the tracks a listen and vote for your favorite. The winner receives an amount of encouragement wholly related to their opinion of stranger's opinions. So, y'know, every vote counts.

This week we asked MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to take a break from Christmas drinking and give us their thoughts on this week's tracks. They have not seen each other's reviews prior to posting.

Hungover kids, thoughts?

01. Sun Airway – Black Noise (from the album Soft Fall)

MinneSarah:

     I had the hardest time reviewing this song.  It's catchy enough, the lyrics are convincingly nostalgic, and I'd love this to be in the background as I do some of my favorite things ( likethrift store shopping). This song may be the definition of "black noise." If this song itself is black noise, then mission accomplished.  I'm not a fan of the gaunt vocals that are so popular now, but I'm a sucker for keyboard breakdowns.  Mostly win.

TCDroogsma:

     This one really grew on me as the week went on.  Sun Airway is certainly synthy and dancy, with just enough drunky slurred vocals to make me forget that this could easily be a new Stars single.  I'm not totally sure why this guy is so obsessed with hearing this woman's voice, but if all he wants is her voice and "black noise" it must really be something special.  Let's hope this woman wants to hear his voice on the radio as much as he'd like to hear hers, because this track is catchy and non-threatening enough to live on The Current until spring.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5

                   TCDroogsma - 3/5

02. Kopecky Family Band – Hope (from the album Kids Raising Kids)

MinneSarah:

     While I was not expecting to like this song as much as I do - the band is from Nashville, they have a lot of members, they are described as folk disciples.  

     However, this song is well constructed, with dissonants thrown in to showcase the upbeat nature of the rest of the song.  The lyrics are equally on the scale of the title - when someone hopes, it is overall optimistic but also peppered with doubt.  I don't even mind that there are probably ten people playing at once.  I'm tapping my foot and hoping that the rest of their songs sound like this one.

TCDroogsma:

     Thank god those drums that start and end the song are merely hipster affectations.  I'm not sure I have the patience to sit through another "afro-beat influenced" indie jam.  I mean, I'm just one man.

     That being said, the rest of the song is pretty straight-forward indie pop.  Charming, but incredibly disposable.  If I didn't know any better I'd swear this was Stars covering Sun Airway.  Sorry, but it's getting real incestual on the radio.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 3/5

03. Ra Ra Riot – Beta Love (from the album Beta Love)

MinneSarah:

     There are many dangers in writing a song about the hypothetical phenomenon of robots falling in love.  Even using robot love as an analogy to describe human love can be a tenuous, or at least make us all feel bad - if unfeeling robots can find love, what's my excuse?  

     First of all, the name of the song:

01. Beta can mean "almost ready" in software terms - "Hey girl, this is almost the real deal" - not romantic.

02. Beta is a type of fighting fish that would never hang out with a robot - way less likely, still not romantic.

  But the singer pronounces the chorus "Betta" which makes the song sound as carefree as if two robots were in a park in Paris during the spring.  Maybe we are all robots, and Ra Ra Riot, in their infinite Ivy League wisdom, already knows this.  Assuming the rest of us androids are clueless - they'd still like to sell this song to an overseas cell phone company.  Win.

TCDroogsma:

     I saw Ra Ra Riot open for The Cribs once.  I also spent a bunch of time listening to their song "Dying Is Fine" when it was a SOTD a few years ago.  Taking those two things and adding "Beta Love" to the equation I'm left with only one conclusion: Ra Ra Riot is relentlessly average.

     Honestly, they're the Aughtie's answer to Better Than Ezra.  When I saw them (on on "Dying Is Fine") they were more of an upbeat chamber-pop outfit (lots of emphasis on hooks and violin work).  Evidently they've decided to embrace a bit more of an electro-pop sound for "Beta Love."  It's catchy enough, but Jason Lytle could sue them over the lyrics.  Clearly there's talent here, but "Beta Love" is desperately wanting.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2/5

04. Paul Banks – The Base (from the album Banks)

MinneSarah:

     Awww...  MinneSarah loves Interpol.  But does this translate to loving Paul Banks's solo album?

     Well, yeah, it does - it's like still liking an actor in a different series or with a different director.  Granted, this song is not as catchy as anything on any of Interpol's last four albums.  (Carlos, why did you have to leave?)  The breakdown is a weird electronic remix, but the same deadpan delivery of random lyrics are still there, forcing me to listen and bob my head a little.  While I approve, this song does not make me want to go see what else Paul has been working on during post-breakup Interpol.

TCDroogsma:

     I'll try to keep this brief, since I feel like I could spent 1,000 words trying to figure out Paul Banks.

     "The Base" features all the things you love about Paul Banks.  Sneaky good, monotone hooks.  Tense, angular guitar work. Baffling lyrics.  It's all there.  But that's kind of the problem.  Everything he's done since Antics (either as Interpol, Julian Plenti, or himself) keeps returning to this recipe to more and more diminishing returns.  If you're already on board with the Paul Banks show you'll really like this song (I include myself in this group)

     Still, why did this have to be a solo song?  I mean, it sounds exactly like everything Interpol's done for the last 6 years.  It even seems to get better the more I listen to it, with it's disparate parts coming together more fluidly every time.  Still, whatever wilderness the success of those first two Interpol record pushed Mr. Banks towards, he's still trying to find his way out by walking the same path.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5

                   TCDroogsma - 3.5/5

05. Southwire – God (from the album Southwire)

MinneSarah:

     They can't all be winners, but sometimes a song excels at being bad that we can actually use the word bad in the 90's sense - as good!?!  Okay, no.

     This song relies on layering - tambourine, drums, extraordinarily intoxicated Patti Smith sounding vocals (the female singer sounds as if she just got done with an exorcism, she is completely unintelligible), and a guy talking/praying over the top.  Now, I'm no theologian, so the lyrics that are intelligible may be lost on me by how clever they are in their meaning.  I just have to say, clean it up in post-exorcism.  Slurred vocals are only okay at karaoke.

TCDroogsma:

     Over the last couple weeks Southwire started to get a bit of buzz on the old Twitter feed, so I was excited to hear what all the fuss was about.

     What I got is a bluegrass-leaning song about God with biblical lyrics sung by, as far as I can tell, a muppet.  And the muppet's a big Wesley Willis fan.

Seriously, Sota?  This is what you're excited about?  I'm really trying to restrain the vitriol here, but I don't ever want to here this song again.  The mumbled delivery (by both singers), the old testament lyrics, the refrain "gonna get a little god..."  I can definitely see a bunch of hipsters at a Southwire show eating this shit up, clapping in unison as some sort of communal, stoner grounding experience, but it does absolutely nothing for me.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 0/5

                   TCDroogsma - 0/5

There you have it, music fans. Another week's worth of free music downloaded, listened to, judged, and filed away.

As always, let us take a moment to remind everybody that neither Newest Industry nor its contributors is in any way affiliated with the artists, Minnesota Public Radio, or The Current. We're just music fans with keyboards and a little too much soy nog in our bellies.

For more of the always charming MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah). Her cat impersonates beer. Just think about that for a second.

For more of the seldom charming TCDroogsma he can also be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He can also be found rambling on his personal blog Flatbasset or rambling here on our weekly podcast. He's eaten enough ginger snaps in the last three days to kill a weaker man.

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. Trivial as it may seem, stopping by and giving us a “Like” is a great way to support the blog. It would make our Christmas.

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #8 (Christmas Spectacular!)

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

If God came down on Christmas day, I know exactly what he'd say...

Well hello again, music fans! Welcome to Flatbasset Radio – Episode #8 (Christmas Spectacular!)

For those who are new to the podcast, here's the story. TCDroogsma is one of our regular contributors. Specifically, he can be found being unnecessarily harsh in our Songs Of The Week column. So, each week we ask him to play us some songs that he actually likes.

Click the player below to listen to TCDroogsma's podcast.

This week TCDroogsma brings us a round of Christmas cheer! In between playing Christmas songs he debates the serving size of egg nog, tries to justify playing Zooey Deschanel & Tom Waits, lets us Americans in on a Boxing Day secret, invites listeners to debate nature of the fabric of his pants, and gives a big thanks to all our readers!

Here's how this week's episode breaks down (Click the title to download the show):

Flatbasset Radio – Episode #8 (Christmas Spectacular!)

01. Glam Chops - Countdown To Christmas

02. Mos Def - May-December

03. She & Him - The Christmas Waltz

04. The Vandals - Oi! To The World

05. No Use For A Name - Fairytale Of New York

06. Destiny's Child - 8 Days Of Christmas

07. Broken Social Scene - Handjobs For The Holidays

08. Atmosphere - If I Was Santa Claus

09. Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy

10. Pixies - Holiday Song

11. Donny Hathaway - This Christmas

12. Descendents - Christmas Vacation

13. Robbers On High Street - Season's Greetings

14. Tom Waits - Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis 

There you have it everybody! Happy Holidays from the Newest Industry family to yours!

If you somehow want even more TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He can also be found rambling over on his personal blog Flatbasset. No truth to the rumor that he spends his free time casing Whoville.

Newest Industry has a home on Twitter as well (@NewestIndustry1). Give us a follow to stay up on the work being done by our contributors. As TCDroogsma mentions in the podcast, we have a Facebook page here. Trivial as it seems, stopping by and giving us a “like” goes a long way to supporting the blog. It's all we want for Christmas.

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.

Sounds Of Sota #2: "Plays Nice Places" by Low

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

"All you guys out there gonna wish you were Al Green..."

Hello again, music fans! Welcome to Sounds Of Sota #2!

For those who are unfamiliar with Sounds Of Sota, it's a running column in which we ask one of our contributors to review new albums & EP's from Minnesota artists. In sticking with our desire to rank and rate everything the albums are given a score of 1-10 at the end of the column.

This time around we asked TCDroogsma to give us his thoughts on Minnesota institution Low's new live EP “Plays Nice Places.”

TCDroogsma, thoughts?

When I first heard about Plays Nice Places I was intrigued for two reasons.

First, for nearly 20 years Low has perfected the art of getting just as much out of silence as they have out of sound. I was curious to see how that would translate to a live album. Would the crowd appreciate the silence with reverence or would the constant hum of a live album threaten the balance upon which the songs are built?

Second (and more personally), I've seen Low twice. The first time was an absolutely transcendent performance opening for Wilco on the banks of Lake Superior. Despite the presence of rain and temps that couldn't have been above 60, that show made me a Low fan for life. The second time I saw them was at the Mainroom as part of a packed bill for a Radio K benefit. Honestly, I could barely keep my eyes open during the set.

Now, what I've come to realize about both of those shows is that the band's performance likely wasn't dramatically different and that my experience at each one was driven almost entirely by surroundings and circumstance. With that in mind, Plays Nice Places had the potential to settle (at least in my mind) just what kind of live entity Low really is.

What we get with Plays Nice Places is a band at the peak of their powers, for better or worse.

Opening with the classic “Words,” Plays Nice Places starts on its highest note. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I've built something of a cottage industry in our Songs Of The Week column by taking shots at Ben Gibbard. Here, however, his voice provides a warmth that is almost non-existent in Alan Sparhawk & Mimi Parker's song-to-song existence. Despite the presence of some insufferable giggling, Gibbard's cameo gives the album some sorely needed color. It's just a shame that, as the opener, you don't realize just what a treat his presence turns out to be.

The rest of Plays Nice Places is certainly enjoyable (if risk-averse). While it's hard to believe that a band with the longevity of Low could be distilled to six songs, they manage to pull it off by pulling the 6 songs from 5 albums ("Waiting" stands as the only new track on the EP). Sadly, the songs, while very good in their own right, are rarely the highlight's from their parent albums. This EP is just dying for an elongated, fuzzed-out version of “Broadway” or perhaps a more fragile take on something like “Dust On The Window.”

Still, a sheen of professionalism hangs over the proceedings. With the exception of a joke introducing Gibbard and a brief introduction to “Murderer,” we're given precious little personality from the band. Whether it's the aforementioned reverence or editing, there is almost no existence of crowd noise during the songs. The band's harmonies are more calculated than inviting, and Sparhawk's singing stays between the lines so consistently that it's jarring to hear him channel a bit of Westerberg for a sneer at the end of “Witches.”

Depending on your expectations of Plays Nice Places, it's either an enjoyable (if somewhat disposable) portrait of a band (if you're one of the converted) or “...another Low record, eh?” (if you're not). Frankly, with 19 years in the bank, most people have formed an opinion of Low already.

Still, it would be foolish to complain about a free, live EP. As an unabashed fan of the band, I'm certainly thankful that this document exists. To the uninitiated, it's unlikely to be the skeleton key to fandom (The Great Destroyer is still their most important album from that perspective), but in an indie-rock world that currently celebrates a genre-hopping, bigger is better, more is not enough attitude, it's good to remember that Low, whether live or on record, commands a niche that belongs only to them.

Final Score: 7/10

There you have it, everybody. The new Low EP reviewed by a Low fan. As mentioned, “Plays New Places” is free. Click here to visit Low's page to download the album for yourself (right-hand side of the page).

For more TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He also maintains a personal blog Flatbasset and hosts Newest Industry's weekly Flatbasset podcast. And no, he's never adequately explained to us what “Flatbasset” means.

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. Trivial as it may seem, stopping by and giving us a “Like” is a valuable way to support the blog. And it's free. Stop by, eh?

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #7 (2012 Song Of The Day Countdown!)

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

There's no way to forget it all...

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

December is list making time and we're no exception. This week's podcast is a special one as TCDroogsma counts down his 15 favorite tracks given away by The Current via their Song Of The Day podcast!

As well as running ten minutes longer than he was allowed, TCDroogsma struggles to title his own podcast, loses all credibility with the youth of the Twin Cities, bases his top choice on his own unique life situation, and explains exactly why it is that he's obsessed with the Song Of The Day podcast even though he kind of hates it.

Click the embedded player above to listen to the podcast. Click the title below to download it for your very own.

Flatbasset Radio – Episode #7

15. Craig Finn - Honolulu Blues

14. I Self Devine - Exist To Remain

13. Bob Mould - The Descent

12. Of Montreal - Dour Percentage

11. P.O.S. - Where We Land (w/Justin Vernon)

10. Soul Asylum - Gravity

09.Twin Shadow - Five Seconds

08. MaLLy - Good One (w/ K.Raydio)

07. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Only In My Dreams

06. Bobby Womack - Please Forgive My Heart

05. Dark Dark Dark - Tell Me

04. Bloc Party - Octopus

03. Aesop Rock - ZZZ Top

02. The Cribs - Come On, Be A No-One

01. Communist Daughter - Speed Of Sound (EP Remix) 

There you have it, everybody! Episode #7 and a snapshot of 2012 through the eyes of TCDroogsma.

If you somehow want even more TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma) or rambling on and on over at Flatbasset, his personal blog. We're currently taking bets as to how deeply into 2013 he can make it without shaving.

 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. Trivial as it may seem, stopping by and giving us a “like” is a very helpful way to support the blog short of just giving us a hot sandwich. Though it is cold, and we haven't had a hot sandwich in a minute...

Songs Of The Week #18: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

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

Souljazz Orchestra, People Get Ready, The Amazing, Cody ChesnuTT, & The Sunny Era...

Well hello again, mp3 junkies! Welcome to Songs Of The Week #18!

For those of you who are still somehow unfamiliar with the format of SOTW, here's the scoop. Each week we ask two of our contributors to download, listen to, and review the 5 songs given away via The Current's Song Of The Day Podcast. They rate them 1-5. Everybody wins.

If you're interested in playing along at home, you can download the tracks for yourself here. It's free. It's music. Free music.

If you're interested in playing along online, have a look at the poll to the right of the screen and vote for your favorite of the songs. The winner will... well... win. That's all we have to offer.

This week we asked MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to take a break from shoveling snow and have a go at the tracks.

Kids, you look tired. What'd you think of this batch?

01. Souljazz Orchestra – Cartao Postal (from the album Solidarity)

MinneSarah:

     This song is jumping, jazzy bit of latin worldbeat. Wait, these guys are from Canada? While I lived in Canada this style of spicy worldbeat music was very in vogue. You couldn't cross the street in some neighborhoods in Vancouver without hearing Manu Chao, but I really thought that was just a pot thing.

     Anyway, the high energy, collaborative vocals, horns, & well-timed guitar really can transport you to a warmer climate or at least a more carefree mood. I'm going to give it up for Canada here and say, yeah, not bad. 

TCDroogsma:

     After religiously listening to the Song Of The Day podcast for years I've been exposed to a good amount of this afro-beat type stuff (despite the fact that I would never, ever, seek it out on my own).  The more of it I hear the less I'm convinced that these bands are any different at all.  If you told me this was Antibalas or Femi Kuti I wouldn't have even blinked. 

     "Cartao Postal" is just another in a long line of songs that would probably be kind of compelling live but are in no way exciting in my headphones.  Each one of these songs sounds like it could be background music in a commercial for food.  Souljazz Orchestra: When You're Here, You're Family

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2/5

02. The Amazing – Flashlight (from the album Gentle Stream)
 

MinneSarah:

     What group in this day and age starts off with a flute?  Swedish darlings, The Amazing, that's who.  This song is straight from a folksy 60's soundtrack, which is amazing to me that a modern group from Sweden could embrace and actually replicate the sound of an American era.  The only redeeming factor I can find in folk music is that the musicians thought it was revolutionary at the time.  Replicating that sound just because you like it makes absolutely no sense to me.

 
TCDroogsma:

     If you're brazen enough to call your band "The Amazing" you best back it up with something that, err... amazes.

    
     I can't speak for everybody, but some old Nick Drake set to shuffling percussion and, like, a flute?  That doesn't sound too amazing to me.  All together they work up a kinda OK groove, but that's just not enoug.  I'm sorry, but I'm just very, very tired of any song that begins lines with, "Forgive me..." and "Look for me if you lose me..."  Grow some balls, indie rock.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2/5

                   TCDroogsma - 1.5/5

03. People Get Ready – Windy City (from the album People Get Ready)

MinneSarah:

     Poppy pop indie.  Melodic high pitched guitars, falsetto lamb vocals, and fast drums - this song has it all.  While all these elements are fairly derivative at this point in time, this song does them justice, and the result is fun. Like, "I want to walk into an Urban Outfitters an buy pink sunglasses" fun.  The way the last line of each verse is delivered, is tres rock star, each final word is emphasized in a way that would make Jarvis Cocker proud. 

TCDroogsma:

     A Brooklyn band singing about Chicago... I almost checked out right there.

     
     I stuck it out over the weekend and, while this song wasn't a total waste of time, it turned out to be discouragingly average.  A little bit country, a little bit rock n roll... I don't know, I'm bleeding indifference towards this one.  Thoroughly inoffensive indie-rock.  If you wished Rhett Miller hit more falsetto in Old 97's this is definitely your jam.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2/5 

04. Cody ChesnuTT – That's Still Mama (from the album Landing On A Hundred)

MinneSarah:

     This song starts out pretty groovalicious, with a funky Shaft beat.  However the lyrics are grating and diminish the badassedness of the horns and the beat.  Now, I'm going to be the killjoy that criticizes a song that is a love song to a mama.  Let's just get this on the record - Minnesarah loves her mom.  Check my cell phone records - I'm a grown woman and I talk to my mom every morning for at least half an hour.

     Now, on to Cody ChesnuTT.  This is the man that wrote The Roots' hit single, "Seed 2.0" which, besides the catchiness, confuses my feminist sensibilities.  Now this?  I mean, I know he had kids and all, but there are far more eloquent odes to mothers than, "had to clean your backside" and "that's still mama" - I mean, is that a compliment? 

TCDroogsma:

     As a 30 year old white guy, my knowledge of Cody ChesnuTT pretty much starts and ends with "The Seed 2.0."  That song was a metaphor for impregnating the world with music.  Or literally impregnating a woman with his seed.  I'm not that bright.

     
     If the latter was the case, then hearing him sing this song something like 10 years on seems appropriate.  Basically it's a super-funked up ode to the mother's of the world.  Ain't nothin' wrong with that (even if it is about 90 seconds too long). Kids, appreciate your moms.  They're the best.  Shout out to my mom.  Shout out to MinneSarah's mom.  Thanks for having such attractive, snarky children.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2/5

                   TCDroogsma - 3/5

05. The Sunny Era – Up All Night (from the album The Sea Of Ghosts)

 

MinneSarah:

     This song sounds like a dream sequence, there is plenty of electronic gurgling which changes to piano gurgling as the song progresses. The female singer sounds sweet and angelic during the chorus.  Every element has a bright quality to it, especially for a song about night.  The lyrics flirt closer to darkness than the rest of the song sounds, but the end result is a modern lullaby with an enormous breadth and width.

TCDroogsma:

     The only thing I really know about The Sunny Era is that they are the most relentless flier band in Minneapolis.  Seriously, try walking 3 blocks in any direction around Uptown without seeing a poster for one of their upcoming shows.

    
     "Up All Night" is a fine track... in this context.  It's synthesizers are unrelentingly hypnotic.  The harmonies are nice, but not at all attention grabbing.  It almost sounds like the guys from Solid Gold drank a bunch of codeine and banged the girls from School Of Seven Bells.  Is that a good thing?  Kind of.... I'm not sure I could take a whole album of this, but as a stand alone track is kind of lovely.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 3/5

Boom! There you have it, everybody. Another week of songs listened to, reviewed, and filed away.

As always we'd like to note that neither Newest Industry nor its contributors is in any way affiliated with MPR, The Current, or the artists reviewed. We're just regular folks with keyboards and a bit too much time on our hands.

For more of the always charming MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah).  Though be warned, she may be too busy shoveling snow in pink sunglasses to tweet back at you.

 
For more of the seldom charming TCDroogsma he can also be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  He can also be found pretending he knows how to review movies and rambling on over at his personal Flatbasset blog.  He doesn't own a snow shovel and has more than enough free time to tweet back at you.

 Of course Newest Industry also lives on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) and you should 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.  Trivial as it may seem, stopping by and giving us a "like" goes a long way toward supporting the blog.  Plus, it's a tax write off.

Singles Mixer #4: "C.R.E.A.M. Dreams" by Greg Grease

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

"Pretenders get Dikembe, slapped up in the facial..."

Hello again, Twin Cities!  Welcome to the fourth edition of Singles Mixer!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Singles Mixer format, we ask one of our regular contributors to give a listen to a new single from a Minnesota artist and give us their thoughts.

This time around we asked TCDroogsma to give us his thoughts on the new single "C.R.E.A.M. Dreams" by Greg Grease from his upcoming album Cornbread, Pearl & G.

TCDroogsy, what'd you think?

I'll put it out there right away, I'm not super-familiar with Greg Grease.  In fact, my best knowledge of his work is his stellar collaboration with Mike Mictlan on the SNAXXX's highlight "WZRD SCIENCE."  However, after hearing that one, I was certainly intrigued and vowed to make a concerted effort to check out Grease's work.

Well, as luck would have it, he has a new album on deck (December 11th, to be exact).  "C.R.E.A.M. Dreams" is the debut single from that album and it's a breath of fresh air.

C.R.E.A.M Dreams by Greg Grease

Lyrically, Grease isn't telling a new story, just putting his twist on tried-and-true hip-hop grindin' song.  It's actually really refreshing to hear somebody look at the hustle to break even from a "Man, I'm tryin' my best..." standpoint rather than the "All I do, all day, every day, is hustle..."  When he drops the couplet, "Escape to lakes & vacant West, blazin' eighths and playing chess, penny loafer, sweater vests, Miles Davis spins and reps..." it's clear that, just like the rest of us, Grease is just trying to make enough to get buy and find a little peace in mind.

The beat for the track (and I sincerely apologize for not knowing who's responsible for the beat) lends the track an almost Disney-ish level of fantasy.  It knocks in its own way, but the looped flutes and strings definitely add a different perspective to the lyrics.  Rather than presenting this day-to-day grind as a hard knock struggle, the beat lends the song a "journey is its own reward" type of vibe.  And really, with 2013 on deck, an enjoyable journey and peace of mind is the new "Rich Forever."

Final Score - 4/5

There you have it, everybody.  Four out of Five for "C.R.E.A.M. Dreams."  Again, Cornbread, Pearl & G is out this coming Tuesday (Dec. 11th).

 


For more TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma) and on his personal blog Flatbasset.  Evidently he thinks he can review movies now.  Sure buddy, why not?

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 also have a Facebook page here.  Trivial as it seems, stopping by and giving us "like" is the best way to support what we do.  We'd like to get some new sweater vests someday too.

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #6

(IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, THIS POST ORIGINALLY APPEARS ON THE TWIN CITIES BLOG NEWEST INDUSTRY.  HENCE THE TITLE.  PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD...)

Ain't got no milk, no mothafuckin' cereal...

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

As you may or may not know by now, Flatbasset Radio is a weekly podcast put together by regular contributor TCDroogsma.  He spends so much time on this blog being a snarky asshole that we almost feel obligated to have him put together a podcast to prove that yes, he does actually like music.

This week TCDroogsma reveals his personal theme song, reluctantly plays Neil Young, coldly uses his friends heartache for his own selfish means, laments the breakup of the internet's favorite rap group, ponders a world in which Interpol died in a tire fire, and celebrates Phatnumber's birthday!



Click the embedded player above to give it a listen or click the title below to download the podcast for your very own.

Flatbasset Radio - Episode #6

01. Pavement - Summer Babe (Winter Version)
02. Wu-Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'
03. Fiona Apple - Hot Knife (Blockhead Remix)
04. Eels - Last Stop: This Town
05. Das Racist - Puerto Rican Cousins
06. The Damned - Fan Club
07. Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin
08. Suga Free - Let Me Pimp Or Let Me Die
09. Phatnumber - The Fastest Cowboy Out There
10. Neil Young - Harvest Moon
11. Jay-Z - 99 Problems (El-P Remix)
12. Down By Law - Radio Ragga
13. Interpol - The New

Boom!  Free music!  Tell a friend!  Tell two friends!

If, for some reason, this is not enough TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma).  Give him a follow if you like inside jokes between him and his idiot friends.  He can also be found rambling away on his own Flatbasset blog.  You were warned.

Of course Newest Industry also maintains a Twitter home (@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.  Though it seems trivial, stopping by and giving us a "like" is actually the best way to support Newest Industry short of buying us each a new pair of gloves.