(THIS POST ORIGINALLY APPEARS ON THE TWIN CITIES BLOG NEWEST INDUSTRY)
T. Hardy Morris & The Outfit, Blitzen Trapper, Saint Rich, Those Darlins, & Holographic Sands...
Well hello again, MP3 junkies! Welcome to Songs Of The Week #60!
For those of you who are new to the SOTW column, here's the story: TCDroogsma and MinneSarah are both fans of The Current's Song Of The Day podcast. They're also both opinionated and have access to computers. Seeing an opportunity to let them indulge in their MP3 habit and put them to work writing reviews we created the Songs Of The Week column. Over a year later later and here we are.
As always, we strongly suggest that you follow this link and subscribe to the podcast yourself. It's free and it's fun for the whole family!
To that end, once you've given each song a spin or two, feel free to cast a vote for your favorite song of the week in the poll to the right side of the page. The artist who accrues the most votes wins the validation that comes from winning an anonymous internet poll, arguably the loftiest height to which a modern musician can aspire.
As per tradition TCDroogsma and MinneSarah have not read each other's reviews prior to posting
So... Droogsy, Sarah... thoughts?
01. T. Hardy Morris & The Oufit - Disaster Proof (from the album Audition Tapes)
TCDroogsma:
T. Hardy Morris & The Outfit turn up armed with a southern pop vibe that's less Kings Of Leon and more Fastball. The band does a nice job of taking a pretty average song and squeezing every last drop out of its basic elements. The bass buzz, the guitar effect, the slight reverb on the vocals... all of these things are used in a desperate attempt to elevate "Disaster Proof" into something memorable. It just doesn't quite get there.
MinneSarah:
While T. Hardy Morris And The Outfit takes a page from the Country Blues Revival handbook, "Disaster Proof" sounds vintage enough to bypass plagiarism. Slightly distorted guitars and an upbeat fuzzy bass push this song forward satisfactorily. The vocals have a bit of twang, but could easily translate to another genre.
"Disaster Proof's" lyrics are about the futility of worrying about the next possible disaster. The advice - build your own house (possibly with full Y2K basement) and watch a black and white cartoon rather than the news - are tongue in cheek - laying in on anyone who has more concerns than what T. Hardy Morris And The Outfit are doing next. When disaster strikes, this song will be there, but don't expect it to offer any comfort.
Final Score: TCDroogsma - 2.5/5
MinneSarah - 3/5
02. Blitzen Trapper - Shine On (from the album VII)
TCDroogsma:
Honestly, when I saw that I'd be tasked with reviewing Blitzen Trapper this week I was something less than thrilled. My previous experiences with the band consisted of little more than excursions in the value of nature and white hipster blues.
To my surprise, "Shine On" came on with a little more funk than I was expecting, but by the end of the first verse (or, well, the first two couplets repeated three times), I was left with with the line, "A light that burns with an endless shine, I see it myself walkin' through the pines" and a blast of harmonica. Throw in a few handclaps, a twanged out guitar solo, & some credibility-seeking gospel vocals & the embarrassment of expecting something new & exciting from Blitzen Trapper became palpable. The more things change...
MinneSarah:
I'm not a connoisseur in Portland blues music, but I'm actually surprised there isn't more of this genre. First of all, hipsters love Portland - didn't quite fit in in Louisville? Get on the Amtrak and start a new life! Secondly, nothing I've experienced in my lifetime is more soul crushing than 8 months of straight up grey clouds and cold rain - I wouldn't be surprised if this distinctly American genre was actually started by Lewis and Clark. Lastly, it's an easy genre to fake if needed - harmonica is an easy instrument to learn and throwing some double negatives starting with "ain't" grits up that degree from Evergreen nicely.
"Shine On" sounds right on the mark - harmonica, gravely drawled vocals, sassy female backing vocals, and a funky country e-lectric gui-tar. For a professional specimen of the elusive Northwestern blues genre, look no further.
Final Score: TCDroogsma - 1.5/5
MinneSarah - 3/5
03. Saint Rich - Crying From The Home (from the album Beyond The Drone)
TCDroogsma:
When I was reading up about Saint Rich before this review I was surprised by two things: First, they're signed to usually excellent Merge Records. Second, Saint Rich began as a side project of the two guitarists of the unfortunately named band Delicate Steve.
Now, take a look at these pieces: The band is signed to Merge Records. They're based out of New Jersey. They're a side project consisting of two guitarists. Their album is titled Beyond The Drone. Sadly, the whole is nowhere near the epic, loud, soundcaped monster one would expect to be the sum of these parts. Instead we're treated to the one son that Mumford put up for adoption. Maybe this would play out better in June, but this isn't October music.
MinneSarah:
"Crying From The Home" is such a vanilla 2013 song that I would not have been surprised if I had been introduced to this song from an insurance commercial. The whoaaoooaa of the chorus has mass market appeal - as if I weren't already convinced that indie folk country has reached the ranks of mainstream.
The guitars are cheery, the vocals seem buoyant, and the subject matter is suitably depressing. Being young and not yet having a life plan has plagued every generation, but as far as I can tell from Songs Of The Day, nobody has quite made it as acceptable as the current generation. While I'm debating either selling my possessions and traveling through Europe or buying homeowner's insurance and joining a gym, this song will likely be in the background.
Final Score: TCDroogsma - 1.5/5
MinneSarah - 2.5/5
04. Those Darlins - In The Wilderness (from the album Blur The Line)
TCDroogsma:
Ever wonder what would happen if Sleater-Kinney seduced The Donnas? Here's your answer.
"In The Wilderness" has the same "don't even look at me" vibe that I'm more that familiar with thanks to every woman I pass walking on Franklin Ave. Those Darlins pull off that attitude with an aggressively intriguing sexuality that neither Sleater-Kinney nor The Donnas could pull off. After watching poor Kathleen Hanna try to continue to carry the Riot Grrrl torch for the last few years (more like "LOLe Tigre," amirite?) it's encouraging to hear bands like Those Darlins and Savages (their British, post-punk couterparts) finally make their way to the front of the crowd.
MinneSarah:
I've checked out Those Darlins before, just based on the band's name and I don't remember the sound being the same as this song. "In The Wilderness" does an excellent job of pulling out the exciting elements of female punk from the 70's. This song reminds me of both Blondie and Joan Jett, while still pulling from more modern influences. The vocals are a perfect balance of sarcastic apathy, which is perfect when coupled with a forceful but unwavering delivery. The lyrics are about how life's a jungle - look no further than the mean streets of your city. Those Darlins suggest putting on some blush, walking out in your heels, and sending a sarcastic smile to anyone audacious enough to engage you in conversation - now that's a battle cry I can get behind.
Final Score: TCDroogsma - 3.5/5
MinneSarah - 3.5/5
05. Holographic Sands - Take Off (from the EP Water Bodies)
TCDroogsma:
I'm not totally what Holographic Sands is aiming for here. Like other local artists Crankshaft & The Gear Grinders & Cadillac Kostad they recall the innocent, caricatured version of early rock n rollers like Jerry Lee Lewis or Buddy Holly that's peddled mercilessly by the good folks at Time Life. Of course, those acts gave way to the likes of The Monks, who gave way to punk rock, who gave way to me enjoying 31 years of musical evolution. This sort of good, clean fun doesn't do anything for me.
MinneSarah:
"Take Off" blends elements of the sixties garage rock and country pop that influenced the whole of American pop for years to come - it's time to get back to our collective roots! It seems apropos to grab a tambourine, a cowbell, and a woodblock, and highlight that era of Americana. The vocals are both staid and unexpected, which contrast against the upbeat guitars to add an interesting element. "Take Off" is extremely happy go lucky - so if there are any nice fall days in the forecast, take a cue from the song's title, call into work, and play this song at your last bonfire at Minnehaha Falls.
Final Score: TCDroogsma - 2/5
MinneSarah - 3/5
Well there you have it, MP3 junkies! Another week's worth of songs downloaded, reviewed, & filed away!
As always, please keep in mind that neither Newest Industry nor our contributors are in any way affiliated with the artists above, The Current, or MPR. We're just music fans with laptops and a 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 right here on Newest Industry hosting our free weekly podcast Flatbasset Radio
For more MinneSarah be sure to give her a follow on Twitter (@MinneSarah). She can also be found right here on Newest Industry filing reports out of St. Paul for our Big Day Out column
For more Newest Industry be sure to give us a follow on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) to stay up on the work being done by all of our contributors. More importantly, we have a Facebook page here. Trivial as it seems, stopping by and giving us a "Like" is a free & legitimate way to support the blog. 
