Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #12

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

A special holiday only for me...

Hello again, music fans! Welcome to Episode #12 of our Flatbasset Radio podcast!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the podcast, here's the scoop. Each week TCDroogsma participates in our Songs Of The Week column in which he reviews The Current's Song Of The Day tracks. Since he's usually pretty negative we ask him to record a podcast each week to show us that he does indeed enjoy music and is worthy of the position we've given him here at the blog. The podcast is always free to listen to here on the blog and free to download for on-the-go listening.

This week TCDroogsma discusses which Radiohead album hold up the best, explains the benefit of being a Minnesotan who lived in New York, laments a dead Minneapolis band, celebrates an underrated British band, gets very skeptical about Killa Cam's upcoming concert, tells us what makes Bob Stinson's ghost happy, revisits a mid-90's classic, and keeps the flame of optimism burning for Morrissey.

Flatbasset Radio – Episode #12

1. Beastie Boys – Super Disco Breakin'
2. H20 – Everready
3. Child Actor – Want It All
4. Radiohead – Where I End And You Begin
5. The Verve – I See Houses
6. Cam'ron (w/Kanye West) – Down & Out
7. Nallo – Different
8. Mel Gibson & The Pants – Reagan's Dead
9. Butthole Surfers – Pepper
10. Morrissey – I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday
11. J Dilla – Two Can Win
12. The Vandals – Happy Birthday To Me
13. Aimee Mann – 31 Today 
    
    

For more TCDroogsma, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma) or over on his personal blog Flatbasset.

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

Songs Of The Week #25: TCDroogsma

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

Parquet Courts, Dan Deacon, Indians, Nightlands, & The Ericksons...

Well hello again, MP3 junkies!  Welcome to Songs Of The Week #25!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Songs Of The Week, here's the story.  Each week we ask two of our regular contributors to download the songs given away each week via The Current's Song Of The Day podcast.  They listen to them and give them a review of 1-5.  As always, we highly suggest that you the reader click here and subscribe to the podcast.  It's free music, people!

As you can see, we always post a poll on the right hand side of the page.  Be sure to vote for your favorite song of the week.  The winner receives the self-validation that comes with winning an anonymous internet poll.

Sadly, we have some bad news this week.  As you can see, we were only able to have one of our contributors (TCDroogsma) review the songs.  Unfortunately, MinneSarah has resigned her post as a Songs Of The Week reviewer.  We know, bad times.

So, until we find somebody else to review songs each week, it'll be TCDroogsma flying solo.  Sorry in advance.

Now that all of that's out of the way, on to the songs!  Droogsy, thoughts?

01. Parquet Courts - Borrowed Time (from the album Light Up Gold)

TCDroogsma:

     Much like any white guy in his 30's, the words "Parquet Courts" conjure up one image: The Boston Garden floor.  Much like any white guy in his 30's who inherently dislikes basketball, the Boston Celtics will always be associated with their mid-80's heydays of Bird, McHale, & Parish.

     Why am I bringing up a basketball team from the 80's?  Because "Borrowed Time" sounds like it came straight out of 1985.  Parquet Courts manages to work up a sweet, no-wave type of groove (complete with noodley guitars and halting stop/start action).  The first band that came to mind when I heard this song was The Minutemen.  Don't be put off by the wretched Brooklyn-ites in the video above.  This song will make you want to pogo around your room until you're a sweaty mess.

Final Score: 4/5

02. Dan Deacon - Guilford Avenue Bridge (Live at The Current)

 
TCDroogsma:    

     It seems like Dan Deacon is maturing at exactly the same rate I am.  I was 25 when I first heard Spiderman Of The Rings and it's "everything all the time" aesthetic appealed to me.

     As I've gotten older, I've become a much bigger fan of Deacon's work since Spiderman.  Rather than the hyperactivity of those early works, he's begun to let songs breathe a little bit.  "Guilford Avenue Bridge" is still a busy song, but the song is best in its first and final third when the percussion is thinned and the song becomes infected with a deep, fuzzed out bass groove.  Sometimes it's best to just slow things down.  Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.


Final Score:  3.5/5

03. Indians - I Am Haunted (from the album Somewhere Else)

TCDroogsma:

     We're now living in a post-Vernon world.  It's a strange, atmospheric place inhabited by acoustic guitars, reverb, and falsetto vocals.  The inhabitants of this world walk a very, very fine line between enjoyable & insufferable.

     Fortunately for us, Indians falls on the enjoyable side of the line.  "I Am Haunted" is not the most original thing you'll hear all year, but they manage to borrow all the right elements of Bon Iver & Ariel Pink to create a sneakily catchy acoustic jam.  Under normal circumstances I'm vehemently opposed to warbly vocals lingering in the background, but somehow they manage to make that work.  Throw in a chorus that is beautifully anti-climactic and you've got a song that takes a lot of high-risk pieces and turns out a high-reward product.

Final Score: 4/5

04. Nightlands - So Far So Long (from the album Oak Island)

 

TCDroogsma:

     Boy, you know it's been a solid week of songs when I can get behind two songs that rely on atmosphere & reverb for a big chunk of their appeal.  Much like Indians, however, Nightlands makes some moves that could easily backfire and manages to make them work.

    "So Far So Long" doesn't change tempo at all.  In fact, the drums and bass rarely drop out at all.  Somehow Nightlands still manages to give the song a distinctly different feel at each turn with an added guitar strum and a flute (?) turning up during the chorus.  There's something enjoyably hypnotic about "So Far So Long."  I can't quite put my finger on what makes this song so enjoyable, and that's a good thing.

Final Score:  3.5/5

05. The Ericksons - Gone Blind (from the album The Wild)

TCDroogsma:

     Picked guitar lines, assertive female vocals, reflective yet resolved lyrics.  The Ericksons stand poised to be Minnesota's answer to... Tracy Chapman?  I guess that's something.

     "Gone Blind" is not a bad song, merely a dull one.  I'm certainly happy that this woman has been able to make her peace with whatever was troubling her and look forward, but a chorus of "I count the seconds in the days..." leaves a lot to be desired.  This is more Facebook status post than pop song (though the piano that comes in at the end was a nice touch).

Final Score: 2.5/5

There you have it, folks!  Another week's worth of songs downloaded, reviewed, and filed away.

As always, please note that neither Newest Industry nor its contributors are in any way affiliated with these artists, The Current, or MPR.  We're just music fans with keyboards and too much time on our hands.

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

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.  We also have a home on Facebook.  Trivial as it seems, stopping by and giving us a "Like" is a free & legitimate way to support the blog.

Songs Of The Week #24: TCDroogsma

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

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Low, Yo La Tengo, Bleeding Rainbow, & Thomas Kivi & The Immigrants...

Well hello again, mp3 junkies! Welcome to Songs Of The Week #24!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Songs Of The Week column, here's the deal. Each week we ask two of our regular contributors to download the songs given away via The Current's Song Of The Day podcast. After giving the songs a good listen, we ask them to review the songs and give them a score 1-5.

Unfortunately, MinneSarah's computer went south on her this week, so, much to the chagrin of everybody involved, we're left with TCDroogsma flying solo this week.

For those of you who would like to play along at home, be sure to click here and subscribe to thepodcast yourself. Download the songs (or give them a listen here) and vote in the poll to the right side of the page for which was your favorite. The artist with the most votes wins the credibility of anonymous internet opinions, the most valuable resource this country has to offer.

Now, on to the songs! TCDroogsma, thoughts?

01. Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside – Party Kids (from the album Untamed Beast)

TCDroogsma:

     I've been struggling for three days trying to form and opinion on this song and, I'm sorry, nothing's coming to me.  I mean, the band works up a nice 'Tilly & The Wall' type of groove, I suppose.  The lyrics, as far as I can tell, are an anthem for feminists partying as hard as frat boys?  Is that a fight worth fighting?  It should be noted, it's possible that I'm missing the entire point and that's not what they're about at all.  Seems that Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside set out to write a hip-shaking, good-time-party-time, indie rock jam.  Mission accomplished.  It's all the mindless fun of "Talk Dirty To Me" updated for the indie set.

Final Score: 2.5/5

02. Low – Plastic Cup (from the album The Invisible Way)

TCDroogsma:

     You know the old saying, "It's always the dumbest person in the room that wants to talk politics?"  What's that?  That's not an old saying, it's just something Facebook reminds me of every day? Oh, regardless...

     
     "Plastic Cup" finds my beloved Low taking aim at the widest possible target: privileged, upper-middle class Americans who have no real concept of the struggles going on around the world.  All this set to a pretty straightforward acoustic strum and the lovely Sparhawk/Parker harmonies that we all know and love.  Now, if "Plastic Cup" is meant to be heard as some sort of larger critique on the role of America in 2013, I'm sorry for missing the point.  Based on the condescension in Alan Sparhawk's voice, though, I don't get that sense at all.  Frankly, he comes off like Chan Marshall in that awful "Ruin" single.  "You can always count on your friends to get you high, you could always count on the 'rents to get you by..."  That doesn't sound like a "universal" critique to me at all.

     I wrote about this earlier when I reviewed "Just Make It Stop," but one of Low's best traits is their ability to speak in broad, nearly cliche terms and somehow make them feel both universal and brutally personal.  Evidently that kind of approach works much better when it comes to human emotion and not geopolitics.  My expectations for "The Invisible Way" keep dropping with each new song that's released.  I blame Jeff Tweedy. 

Final Score: 1.5/5

03. Yo La Tengo – I'll Be Around (from the album Fade)

TCDroogsma:

     I should note two things before I start reviewing this song:  First, I'm not a Yo La Tengo fan.  I mean, I'm not anti-Yo La Tengo, I just mean that I don't really know them very well.  They have a pretty good-sized cult following and any one of those people would probably be able to give a better perspective on this song.

     Second, I never totally got over my initial disappointment that this was not a cover of The Spinners.  That would have probably been awesome. (Update: Yup. Awesome.)

     So, what I'm left with a slow burning song whose first half consists of Nick Drake stoner poetry and a second half that builds with some acoustic guitars and keyboards to a climax that is ultimately kind of anti-climactic.  Now, that may sound like I don't like the song.  That's not the case at all.  In the right place and in the right mood it's possible that this is one of the best songs I've heard this year.  When neither of those criteria is in place, however, this is background music.

Final Score: 3/5

04. Bleeding Rainbow – Waking Dream (from the album Yeah Right)

TCDroogsma:

     After somehow resisting my initial inclination to savage a band that calls itself "Bleeding Rainbow," I was able to embrace the awesomeness that is "Walking Dream."  This song drips so much 90's that I wouldn't be surprised if it was written by Juliana Hatfield (note, that is a wholehearted compliment).  It always makes me happy to hear a band write some good hooks, go loud/quite/loud, and let the feedback fill in the blanks.  Somewhere Levar Burton & Courtney Love are smiling (and barely aware of each other's existence).

Final Score: 3.5/5

05. Thomas Kivi & The Immigrants – Cops & Crims (from the EP Thomas Kivi & The Immigrants)

TCDroogsma:

    Thomas Kivi & The Immigrants almost had me.  Despite the fact that we've all heard this song 100 times in some form or another actually made me like it more.  Call it the comfort of familiarity (act like you didn't know exactly how the guitars were going to come out of the chorus.  Or what the vocal melody was going to be 15 seconds into this one).  This would make a great Nada Surf b-side.

     In fact, I was pretty much all in on this one until the same mindless political cliches that sunk Low popped up.  "So you see, ain't nothing new, this whole wide world is red & blue, it was made in China, man, and Afghanistan's drowning in the Bible..."  I cringed more typing it than I did hearing it the first time.  That ham-fisted adding of "man" to make the lines rhyme is even worse than using the term "Crims" to make the chorus work.

Final Score: 2/5

Well there you have it, everybody! Another week's worth of songs downloaded, listened to, reviewed, and filed away never to be heard from again.

As always, we'd like to take a moment to point out that neither this blog nor its contributors is in any way affiliated with the artists above, The Current, or Minnesota Public Radio. We're just music fans with keyboards and little bit too much time on our hands.

For more TCDroogsma, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He can also be found hosting our weekly podcast Flatbasset Radio. Frankly, between those two things, that should be enough TCDroogsma.

Of course Newest Industry also has a Twitter home (@NewestIndustry1). Give us a follow to stay up on the work being done by all of our regular contributors. More importantly, we have a Facebook page here. Stopping by and giving us a “Like” is a free & legitimate way to support the blog. Every little bit helps, ya heard?

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #11

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

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

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

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

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

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #11

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

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

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

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

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

Songs Of The Week #23: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

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

Free Energy, Kate Nash, The Growlers, The Ruby Suns, Jim Ruiz Set...

Well hello again, mp3 junkies! Welcome to Songs Of The Week #23!

For those of you who don't know the Songs Of The Week format, here's the story. Each week we ask two of our contributors to download and listen to The Current's Song Of The Day podcast. Once they've had time to give the songs a good, thorough listen, give us their thoughts, and score the songs on a 1-5 scale.

As always, we highly suggest you swing by The Current's website and subscribe to the podcast yourself. Playing along at home is fun for the whole family!

Each week we post a poll to the right side of the page. We encourage you to vote for whichever song was your personal favorite for the week. The winner of the poll will receive a prize just as soon as this blog turns a profit.

As usual, we asked our regular contributors MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to have a go at the songs.
 

So, let's get into this week's songs. MinneSarah?  TCDroogsy? thoughts?

01. Free Energy – Hangin' On (from the album Love Sign)

MinneSarah:

     This song is a pretty darn good Third Eye Blind cover.  Wait, it's not? Stephan Jenkins had no part in this?  Well, it sure does sound like it, and I mean that as a true compliment.  If my life were a teen movie, I'd want this to be on my soundtrack.  Although, we all know my life would be a B-list movie, and who am I kidding, this song is a B-list version of a poppy 90's ballad. The lyrics are far more blatantly desperate than any 90's song - but the guitar sure does deliver.  I'll bet Rachel Lee Cook is available to play me - look me up, honey.  Thanks, Free Energy. 

TCDroogsma:

     Quick disclaimer before getting into this song:  I'm always torn about Free Energy.  On the one hand, a few of the band members are from my hometown (Whattup, Red Wing!), so bonus points there.  On the other hand, they used to be Hockey Night, a far, far superior band.  So minus points there.  So I guess we're at square one and I've just wasted your time. Sorry.

    "Hangin' On" is not, I suppose, a bad song.  It's certainly catchy.  Sadly, it's only catchy.  It's also disturbingly bland and it's clear that Free Energy came up with the hook and then scribbled out a song around it.  I mean, there's nothing inherently wrong with mindless, bubble-gum pop-rock, it's just that there's nothing inherently interesting about it either.  At least with bands like Weezer or Electric-Light Orchestra you got the sense that, to some extent, they were in on the joke.  It seems like Free Energy can't remember if they're being ironic or not.

Final Score:  MinneSarah - 3/5

                     TCDroogsma - 1.5/5

02. Kate Nash – Death Proof (from the EP Death Proof)

MinneSarah:

     The bass is pretty bad ass in this song - it makes you think, this is going to be a badass chick song.  But, I can't really take Kate Nash seriously after her big hit about how much her boyfriend sucked.  Yes, MinneSarah is a feminist, but Kate Nash is not among my favorite British nor British-sounding artists.  I'm impressed by her relatively deadpan delivery and the retro surfer rock vibe.

     The refrain of "I don't have time to die," reminds me of one of my favorite Kids in the Hall skits, where Kevin McDonald doesn't have time to get kidnapped - but that good memory aside, I'm not sure I really follow the lyrics.  Unless death is a metaphor for a shitty boyfriend, in which case - Oh Kate. 

TCDroogsma:

     Even though I love all things British and am certainly partial to women, this is my first knowing exposure to the work of Kate Nash.  I'm sure instantly discredits my opinion to some people, but honestly, for a column like this, maybe it's a good thing.

     Anyway, to the best of my knowledge this song has nothing to do with the actual film Death Proof.  Regardless, it's obvious that it was inspired by the film, as Kate Nash rides a dark, surf rock riff while cooing, "burn, burn, burn my heart, baby.... take a piece, 'cause I don't need all of it" in a mildly menacing, oppressively sexy British accent.  Sold.  I'm sure I've never seen the film Death Proof, but I guarantee this song is better.

Final Score:  MinneSarah - 3/5

                     TCDroogsma - 4/5

03. The Growlers – One Million Lovers (from the album Hung At Heart)

MinneSarah:

     My mom and I could agree on how much we'd like this song.  It has the funky true old school country vibe that she loves, with all the modern keyboard movement that makes me swoon.  I hear The Growlers play a mean live show, and I'd love to see them float through several genres seamlessly as they do in this song.  The whole vibe is upbeat with a dose of nostalgic guitar.  All in all, it is a fun song and gets better the more listens you give it. 

TCDroogsma:

    Maybe it's just a product of listening to the songs one after the other all week, but I can't help but hear this song as a companion piece to the Kate Nash song.  I realize that's a connection I've constructed in my head, but that's not really the point.  In fact, for The Growlers' sake, it may be a good break.

     Listening to the lead singer of The Growlers pine over a lost lover, it seems like he's lamenting the loss of a woman like the character played by Nash.  "One million lovers to choose from, but none of them like her..." is a sentiment we've all felt (fuck that "plenty more fish in the sea" shit... Mike Skinner).  The song has a nice upbeat melody that implies that having called this woman "lover" and then losing her is better than never loving at all.  And that having he takes more joy in telling (singing) the story than he feels heartbreak for having lived it.  You can almost hear him grinning through the track.

     Now, if you'll excuse me, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit over that last sentence.  Solid jam, though.

Final Score:  MinneSarah - 4/5

                     TCDroogsma - 4/5

04. The Ruby Suns – Kingfisher Call Me (from the album Christopher)

MinneSarah:

     I like anything with prominent electronics and a pressing tempo.  When I lived in Vancouver, I felt like the whole city was a J-Pop meets Eurotrash village.  That wasn't a bad thing at all! The cascading keyboards would have fit in well with my experience of the city.  As it stands, this is more of Hot Chip lite with a Steely Dan influence. Plus, the lyrics are inspirational and expound the virtues of self reliance! 

TCDroogsma:

     I just heard the term "PBR & B" the other day.  Is this that?  Or am I just old and losing it?

     Regardless, this is a nice enough jam in the sense that most Yeasayer b-sides are nice enough jams.  It's got some white boy soul, an "everything's going to be OK if you just believe in yourself" message, and some sythy noodling that definitely makes it sound like it was created in 2012.  Personally, I think it would just be more fun to play Yeasayer's "Ambling Alp" and R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" at the same time, but I kind of always feel that way.

Final Score:  MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                     TCDroogsma - 2/5

05. Jim Ruiz Set – Allison (from the album Mount Curve Avenue)

MinneSarah:

     Mellow jazzy resort sounding music ain't half bad.  Do you remember Beck's contribution to the Life Less Ordinary soundtrack, "Deadweight?"

     “Allison” seems like a lounge-y duet, with a little punch.  I like it enough to ask, where are my white pants and big sunglasses?  I want to roll down to the cabana and wax optimistic with the guys from Jim Ruiz Set.  While I'm sure it would get old fast, it's novel enough and different from the run of the mill singer songwriter songs that are usually featured by The Current's Song of the Day.

TCDroogsma:

    Holy shit!  What am I listening to here?!?  A Minnesota artist who's not drenched in synthesizers or distortion?  Who's not straining against his own better judgement to sing with some ridiculous hipster affectation?  A lyricist who's not trying to construct some sort of mythology around being a cabin-bound folky or a rapping iconoclast or coke-sniffing, dancefloor vampire?  It's just a guy singing a bouncy, horn-inflected song that's rich on hooks, genuine lyrics, singing in his natural singing voice?  Delivering plain-spoken lyrics on happiness and peace of mind and banking on his personal feelings somehow transcending bullshit posturing and connecting with the listener?

     Who would want to listen to that?

Final Score:  MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                     TCDroogsma - 4.5/5

There you have it, everybody! Another week's worth of songs downloaded, ranked, and filed away.

As always, we'd like to remind anybody reading that neither Newest Industry nor its contributors are in any way affiliated with any of the artists reviewed, The Current, or Minnesota Public Radio. We're just music fans with keyboards and too much time on our hands.

For more of the always charming MinneSarah, be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah).  She doesn't tweet often, so when she does, it seems especially profound and/or charming.

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

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 legitimate way to support the blog. We swear to god, we'll turn a profit someday.

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. 

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #10

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

L, M, N, O, bitches...

Well hello again, podcast fans! Welcome to Flatbasset Radio: Episode #10!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Flatbasset Podcast, here's the story. TCDroogsma is one of our regular contributors. Specifically, he regularly contributes to our Songs Of The Week column. Since he's typically very negative regarding those tracks, we put him to work recording a weekly podcast that shows that yes, he does actually like music.

This week TCDroogsma's celebrates the episode's complete lack of structure, compares naval officers to cocaine pushers, lashes out at James Brown, names his favorite rapper/convicted sexual criminal, goes on a pretty epic rant about his hatred for David Bowie, becomes the first person in history to find comfort in Lou Barlow's voice, explains how to turn your apartment into The Herkimer, and drops a new (old) Flatbasset Flatclassic!

Click the player above to give the podcast a listen. Click the title below to download the podcast for yourself. Always free. Always, errr... tolerable.

Flatbasset Radio: Episode #10

1. Silversun Pickups – There's No Secrets This Year
2. Mystikal – Hit Me
3. The Clash – Lost In The Supermarket
4. Clipse – Virginia
5. Paul Westerberg – My Road Now
6. Built To Spill – Temporarily Blind
7. Central Services – Work For The Government
8. David Bowie – Where Are We Now?
9. Sebadoh – Soul And Fire
10. Kool A.D. (w/Kassa) – Arrested Development
11. Nick Cave – Disco 2000
12. Black Star (w/Common) – Respiration
    
    

If you somehow need more TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He can also be found rambling away on his personal Flatbasset blog. Just to reiterate, he believes Mystikal is better than James Brown and Lou Barlow is better than David Bowie. And somehow he's still one of our contributors.

For more Newest Industry, we can be found 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 Facebookpage here. Trivial as it may seem, stopping by and giving us a “Like” is a free & legitimate way to support the blog. Enough “Likes” and TCDroogsma promised to listen to “Heroes” all the way through without complaining.

Songs Of The Week #22: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

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

The 1975, Cub Scouts, Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, & Hums...

Well hello again, MP3 junkies! Welcome to Songs Of The Week #22!

For those of you who are still new to the Songs Of The Week column, here's the story. Each week we ask two of our regular contributors to listen to the tracks given away via The Current's Song Of The Day podcast. They give them a listen and give us a review of each of the songs. As always, please clickhere and subscribe to the podcast yourself. Start 2013 out right, by signing up for free music.

Feel free to vote for your favorite track in the poll to the write of the page. The winner wins the prize of dignity via anonymous internet election. Every vote counts, people!

This week we asked MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to give us their thoughts on the four songs. As always, they have not seen each other's comments prior to posting.

So, 1982 babies, what'd ya think?

The 1975 – Sex (from the EP Sex)

MinneSarah: 

     Normally anything from England turns me into an obsequious Anglophile.  This song starts out good enough with some distorted guitars, upbeat drums, and full sounding vocals.  However, the lyrics are unbearably emo and every time the singer whines his defeatist chorus, "she's got a boyfriend anyway," I wanted to press stop.

     But I persevered for the sake of this blog.  What I learned was that the singer is incredibly jealous of said girl's boyfriend for standing in the way of the title of this song, and this is a healthy outlet for him to express his hatred of anyone who wears skinny jeans and dates this girl (himself excluded).  What girl wouldn't fall for this level of desperation and jealousy and just give in and put out?  

TCDroogsma:

     Honestly, when I saw that I was going to be reviewing a song called “Sex” by something called The 1975 I had pretty high expectations. If a band is going to call a song "Sex" they're going to bring the 'A' game.

     After several listens, I'm going to go ahead and admit that I was wrong. The songs tells a story about fooling around with a girl, but never actually having sex because, as we're reminded ad nauseum, “she 's got a boyfriend anyway.” Listen, The 1975, I'm not a psychoanalyst (yet), but the only reason this girl's interested in fooling around is because she has a boyfriend. Sorry, doe. Life is never kind.

     I'm pretty much incapable of hating any song that's British, hooky, and filled with guitars. I'm eminently capable of hating a song with lyrics like, “We've got one thing in common, it's this tongue of mine.” Sorry, but that's just unacceptable.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 1.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2/5

Cub Scouts – Evie (from the EP Told You So)

MinneSarah: 

     Ever wonder what Of Montreal would sound like if they weren't as off the wall?  This group of youngsters from Australia does not disappoint.  This song is really pleasant and listenable, bordering on the edge of every other pop song on the Current right now, but somehow still asserting it's uniqueness.

     Much like the first track this week, the song's about a girl, but The 1975, this is how it's done.  Make it about her, say nice things, and embrace her flaws. The chorus is jubilant and makes me want to dance around.  During winter, I could sure use more of this unbridled happiness and acceptance.

TCDroogsma:

     This song aims straight for the pleasure center of my brain. Great hooks, a charmingly dancy riff, and a smooth delivery all add up to a thoroughly enjoyable single. Sadly, my opinion of this song hinges on the lyrical content and these Cub Scouts are making a case for having a “Cliche” badge sewn on their shirts.

     “I know a girl, she's a puzzle of a thousand pieces.” Jesus Christ. Was Ben Gibbard the scout leader of this troupe? This “Evie” doesn't sound like a unique and precious woman, she sounds like every woman ever. The song ends with a lamentable plea to, “Her name forever on her lips, you'll be whipped, don't close the door, just let it in.” That, my friends, is the sound of settling.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 4/5

                   TCDroogsma – 2.5/5

Lady Lamb The Beekeeper – Rooftop (from the album Ripley Pine)

 
MinneSarah:

 
     The guitar that starts this song sounds like everything right from every 90's song I've tapped my foot to.  Lady Lamb's vocals are powerful yet whimsical, which is quite refreshing.  This song is full of unpredictable sound elements, like when she sings about a table, they actually add in sounds like they are throwing flatware. However, it's actually fun.  Try and get me to say that about most folky acts.  Plus these guys are from Portland – no, the other Portland.

TCDroogsma:

     Evidently 2013 is going to be yet another year of jangle-pop. Fortunately Lady Lamb The Beekeeper (really?) puts the pieces together pretty well. This one has a sneaky contagious quality that gives it some redeeming value. “If I'm the cop then you're the robber” is a pretty terrible opening line, but it does a great job of calibrating the expectations for the song.

     I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not great, but it's not awful, which is a win when it comes to these Song Of The Day tracks.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2/5

Hums – Digital Winter (from the album Deep In Swim)

 
MinneSarah:

 
     This song is a sweet little love song, it's very focused on the beginning of a relationship and how simple they seem to start out. The vocals are extremely Feist-like (yeah, that's an adjective now in 2013).  There are a lot of building strings in the background of this song, which gives it a lot of depth and keep it from sounding too simple. It's nice in an ephemeral sense that mirrors however long the start of a relationship could stay that pure and sweet.

TCDroogsma:

     “Digital Winter” makes me regret making all those “Land Of 10,000 Synth-Pop Bands” jokes. I didn't realize that the other option was whimsical indie folk songs with wonky vocals (cough... Southwire... cough).

     Hums sounds like they're doing their best to fill the “flawed-but-endearing singer backed by a bunch of non-threatening folkies” niche left behind by Roma Di Luna. I suppose someone has to do it. I'm sure they'll put on a hell o f a show when they play Music & Movies In The Park before a screening of The Royal Tenenbaums.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2.5/5

                   TCDroogsma – 2/5

Well there you have it, everybody, another week of songs downloaded, reviewed, and filed away!

As always, we'd like to remind everyone that neither Newest Industry nor our contributors are in any way affiliated with the artists above, The Current, or Minnesota Public Radio. We're just music fans with laptops and too much time on our hands.

For more of the always charming MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah). She's big on cupcakes and maintaining practical safety standards.

For more of the seldom charming TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He can also be found hosting our weekly podcast Flatbasset Radio. He's big on brandy and maintains a loose understanding of safety standards.

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. Trivial as it may seem, stopping by and giving us a “Like” is a cheap and legitimate way to support the blog. We're a bastion of safety standards in the community.

Newest Industry Presents: Flatbasset Radio - Episode #9 (Best Of 2012 Countdown!)

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

(ALSO, I FIXED THE LINKS.  YOU CAN ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW.) 

Threat Level: Orange Juice...

Well hello again, music fans! Welcome to Episode #9 of our weekly Flatbasset Podcast!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the podcast, here's the story. Each week TCDroogsma participates in our Songs Of The Week column. Since he's typically kind of a jerk in that column we asked him if he'd like to put together a weekly podcast to prove that he actually does like music and, on occasion, has interesting things to say about it. Foolishly, we also asked him to wish our readers a Happy New Year. So now this exists:

Since this is the first week of the New Year we asked TCDroogsma to put together a Top 10 list of his favorite 2012 albums. Not only did he do that, but he also scolds children, explains a theory about British discographies, explains why Chris Martin put Coldplay on hiatus, actually says, “Nobody does Bloc Party quite like Bloc Party,” (which is arguably the dumbest sentence this blog has been affiliated with), and wishes everybody a happy new year!

Click the player above to listen to the podcast. Click the title below to download it for your very own.  Here's how the show breaks down:

Flatbasset Radio – Episode #9 (Best Of 2012 Countdown!)

10. Why? - Thirteen On High (from the album Mumps, Etc.)

09. Illogic & Blockhead – Heartless (from the album Preparing For Capture 2)

08. The Vaccines - Teenage Icon (from the album The Vaccines Come Of Age)

07. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music (from the album R.A.P. Music)

06. Bloc Party - Real Talk (from the album Four)

05. P.O.S. - All Of It (from the album We Don't Even Live Here)

04. Aesop Rock – Leisureforce (from the album Skelethon)

03. The Cribs - Jaded Youth (from the album In The Belly Of The Brazen Bell) 

02. El-P - The Full Retard (from the album Cancer 4 Cure) 

01. Blur - Under The Westway (from the single Under The Westway)

So there you have it, everybody. That's the last 2012 list we'll be publishing here on Newest Industry. Bye by, 2012. Thanks for everything.

For more TCDroogmsa he can be found on Twitter (@TCDroogsma) or rambling away on his personal Flatbasset blog. Don't be surprised if that yellow hat makes its way into his day to day wardrobe.

 





For more Newest Industry be sure to give us a follow on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) to stay up on the work being done by all of our contributors. More importantly, we have a Facebook page here. Trivial as it seems, stopping by and giving us a “Like” is a legitimate way to support the blog. Start 2013 off right by supporting your local neighborhood bloggers.

Songs Of The Week #21: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

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

Tracey Thorn, Mogwai, Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down, & Greg Grease...

Happy New Year, mp3 junkies! Welcome to the 21^st edition of Songs Of The Week!

For those of you who are still unfamiliar with SOTW, here's what you're looking at: Each week we ask two of our regular contributors to download the Current's Song Of The Day podcast, listen to the tracks, and give us their thoughts on the song. This week we asked MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to do the honors.

Three quick things about this week's (and every week's) Songs Of The Week Post:

01. You can subscribe to the podcast yourself here. It's new, free music. What could be better?

02. MinneSarah & TCDroogsma have not seen each other's reviews prior to posting.

03. There's a poll to the right side of the page. Be sure to vote for whichever of these songs was your favorite.

And that's that. Kids, what'd you think?

Tracey Thorn – The Joy (from the album from the album Tinsel And Lights)

MinneSarah:

     Now you will read this after Christmas is over - so I'm guessing your tolerance for Christmas songs is about as low as it can get.  How about just one more from Everything But The Girl's Tracey Thorn?

     This song is pretty barebones, with Tracey's vocals, piano, and acoustic guitar.  The lyrics talk about fear driving you back to the sense of comfort that you got from Christmas and that bringing out a sense of joy, even in the now soulless facades of most adults.  If you can find meaning in any of that sentiment, then you should check this song.  Plus, I'm sure she still misses you like the deserts miss the rain, so check it out.

TCDroogsma:

     This is a Christmas song, right?  I sure hope so, because the bar for Christmas songs is set comfortably at "tolerable," which is right where Tracy Thorn lands with "The Joy."

     It's an agreeable enough song.  The melody is charmingly childlike.  The lyrics are pretty damn stupid, but, again, if it's a Christmas song then that's pretty much to be expected.  It's nice that Thorn is transported back to her youth each time the holidays arrive, but her focus solely on herself leaves me wondering why I'm listening to this?  These lyrics would be better served as a diary entry or a Christmas card.  Thoroughly inessential for anybody who's not part of Tracey Thorn's immediate family.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2/5

Mogwai – George Square Thatcher Death Party (Justin K. Broadrick Reshape) (from the album A Wrenched Virile Lore)

MinneSarah:

     I know I've said it before about other songs, but this is surely in my top five song titles of the year.  George Square is located in Scotland and hosted the original Black Friday worker's protest in 1919.  I can only imagine that everyone in Scotland hates Margaret Thatcher like hardcore kids hated Reagan, so the imagination is rife with death party antics.  However, this song is way too mellow for a death party - unless we are talking about winter.

     It is extremely meta having a DJ remix a band like Mogwai, which is already pretty electronic, but we all know it can be done.  I listened to the original for reference, and Justin cut all the post-rock guitars and drums out. The vocals sound very computerized and the guitars are distorted beyond recognition.  After listening to a few times, it does sound like it all comes together, a trait that I can appreciate in Mogwai and that continues with this remix. 

TCDroogsma:

     I would say that I've been a serious music fan since about 1998.  In that time I've come to hate things I used to love.  I've come to love things I used to hate.  I've learned to keep a very open mind about music and realized that my opinion of a song sometimes has absolutely nothing to do with the song.

     You'd think, at some point over those 15 years, I would have had a phase where I thought Mogwai was great.  At the very least you'd think I would have formed some opinion on them other than, "Mogwai, eh?"  This "reshape" of "George Thatcher Death Party" does nothing to move the needle of my opinion one way or the other.  It's broad and sweeping.  The drums are pretty great, I guess.  It's kind of atmospheric.  In short, it's every Mogwai song ever.  Maybe if I knew the original version I'd feel different, but this is nothing special.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 2.5/5

Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down – Holy Roller (from the album We The Common)

MinneSarah:

     Is that a mandolin?  This song is perfectly cute and adorable, as signified by Thao's perky vocals.  I'm not sure about the lyrics, she's not exactly selling this holy roller, but we all know that love hurts.  However, the tone of the song is upbeat and fun and I don't even mind the hipster twang that much!  If you're contemplating 2013, the lyrics, "I've got words to keep and lies to make true," will help you set those pesky resolutions. 

TCDroogsma:

     Have you ever been so thoroughly attracted to an artist that you're opinion of their relentlessly average music is clouded by lust?  (Cut to every David Bowie fan nodding).  This is the cross I bear when it comes to Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down.  Watch this and you'll understand.

     Now, if I trick myself into thinking that this song is coming from an artist without a hint of sex appeal (say, St. Vincent), I can admit that this isn't anything special.  A little bit of banjo, an OK hook... rabble, rabble, rabble...  Still, knowing that it's Thao who just wants "love in the aftermath..." sigh... I get all fuzzy inside.  Thao, I'm here for you, honey.  We'll get through this.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5

                   TCDroogsma - 3.5/5

Greg Grease (w/Lizzo) – I Still Love H.E.R. (from the album Cornbread, Pearl and G)

MinneSarah:

     These streets have been hard, but at least we've got music now, right?  Greg Grease shares the old-school hip hop lyrical credo, with just about every production tool at his disposal in 2012.   Despite playing around with some cool electronic toys on this track, the background is quite simple, with a guitar hook and slow drums. It's a very pleasant sounding jam.  I love Lizzo's Kanye-esque "hayyyh?" Plus I heard that she is vegan - Minneapolis represent! 

TCDroogsma:

     Damn, you know you're getting old when you're reviewing a song where I rapper reminisces about his dad listening to Busta Rhymes.

     I didn't know much about Greg Grease until I reviewed "C.R.E.A.M. Dreams" for our Singles Mixer column.  I thoroughly enjoyed the laid back vibe and modest ambition of that song.  "I Still Love H.E.R." brings that same type of energy.  The beat is the perfect soundtrack for sifting through 12" vinyl  in a record store.  Grease, in the tradition of every rapper since about 1992, looks back on where hip-hop is and where it brought him.  With his album Cornbread, Pearl And G, Greg has positioned himself to take the baton from the last generation of Twin Cities rappers.  "I Still Love H.E.R." stakes his claim that he's aware exactly where hip-hop's been and where he'd like to take it.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                   TCDroogsma - 4/5

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

As always, let us remind you that Newest Industry and its contributors are in no way affiliated with any of the artists, The Current, or Minnesota Public Radio. We're just music fans with keyboards and too much time on our hands.

For more the always charming MinneSarah, be sure to give her a follow Twitter (@MinneSarah). 2013 is going to be a big year for her.

For more of the seldom charming TCDroogsma be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@TCDroogsma). He can also be found here on Newest Industry hosting our weekly podcast or prattling away on his personal blog Flatbasset. He's still hungover from New Year's Eve.

Of course Newest Industry has a home on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1), which you should 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 seems, stopping by and giving us a “Like” is the legitimate, free way to support the blog. You'd be fulfilling your New Year's resolution of supporting local businesses.