Hey everybody! Welcome to the first installment of "Singles Mixer," our new column in which we ask one of our regular contributors to review new singles from Minnesota artists.
This time around we asked TCDroogsma to give us his thoughts on the new single "Fine Print" by hip-hop group Mixed Blood Majority.
All things considered, I'm pretty psyched for this Mixed Blood Majority project. If you don't know it's a "new" group consisting of Joe Horton (of No Bird Sing), Crescent Moon (of Kill The Vultures) and Lazerbeak (Doomtree) on the beats.
"Fine Print" is the first song to be released by the group and I was left with two immediate thoughts:
1. This definitely lives up to my expectations.
2. This definitely doesn't surpass my expectations.
Let me explain what I mean by that second point. Both MC's have built their reputation as "serious" MC's who drop lines that are meant to be heard & thought about. Neither of them has the reputation for "Oh shit! This is my JAM!" type songs. To that end, both MC's bring exactly what they're known for.
The track is built around a subdued Lazerbeak beat (think more along the lines of "15 Blocks" off Lights Out Paris and less "Shux" or "Stand Up (Let's Get Murdered)." It's a great beat, though. I have no idea how Lazerbeak is able to shift from Lava-Banger-mode to introspective while still keeping a beat that knocks.
Getting back to Crescent Moon & Joe Horton though.
Crescent Moon is a legend in the Twin Cities hip-hop scene, with his Kill The Vultures making their mark on the scene well back in early 2000's. Unfortunately, it seems like they've been treading water for years. I remember seeing them at The Uptown Bar (my last show ever there) and, even in those romanticizing-The-Uptown days, the place was still only half-full. It was a great show, to be sure, it just seems like Crescent Moon needs to be seen in a new light. To that end, it seems like Mixed Blood Majority may finally bring some long overdue recognition.
Treading the same territory he covers with Kill The Vultures, Crescent Moon delivers lines about the struggle of everyday life as it relates to both financial trouble and interpersonal trouble. Since he's an indie rapper who just got through a divorce I'm going to go ahead and say he's an expert on these subjects.
The first time I heard Joe Horton's rapping with No Bird Sing my first thought was, "Well, he clearly grew up on Kill The Vultures records." Hearing the two rappers on the same track doesn't completely disprove that theory, but it does provide an interesting dynamic. Both rappers seem to be fighting the same fight, but it is still possible to hear the young-man-optimism in Horton's voice as opposed to the older-yet-still-determined growl in Crescent Moon's voice.
When Crescent drops the line, "Did you read the fine print?" it's answered by Horton with, "Nah, but I signed it." Clearly, these are two men standing at opposite ends of the same street.
As I mentioned, they're fighting the same fight. This becomes especially clear when the rappers come together in the middle with these lines:
"Silent, silent, I will be silent, speak when spoken to never be defiant... Focus, focus, I will be focused, only think positive, block out the hopeless... Patient, patient, I will be patient, take my medication, wonder where the day went... Famous, famous, one day I'll be famous, then all the pretty people will remember what my name is..."
Like I said at the beginning, this song doesn't surpass any expectations. However, context is everything, and since this is the first song to be released from the project it does answer the most basic question, "What would Crescent Moon & Joe Horton sound like over a Lazerbeak beat?" Now that we have an answer for that, let's hope the rest of the album pushes the boundaries and presents us with more questions rather than the same answer over and over.
Final Score - 3.5/5
Mixed Blood Majority will be unveiled to the world October 3rd at The Icehouse. Follow this link for more info.
For more TCDroogsma he can be found on Twitter & Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or on his own blog Flatbasset.
This blog has a Twitter account as well (@NewestIndustry1) which you should follow to stay up on the activities of all our contributors. More importantly, we have a Facebook page here. Stop by and give us a "like" if you, er... like it.
"I guess this is my dissertation, homey, this shit is basic..."
Well hello, music fans, and welcome to the inaugural episode of Flatbasset Radio!
For those of you unfamiliar with Flatbasset, it's the work of our regular contributor TCDroogsma. For years now he's been posting mixes of songs online each month under the name Flatbasset. Evidently he's decided to change things up a little bit.
(Click play on the embedded player above to listen to the podcast. Click the link below to download the podcast.) Flatbasset Radio - Episode #1
In this episode TCDroogsma claims the British government is hoarding rappers, explains the best Halloween he ever had, recaps the "Get Out The Vote" show at First Avenue, steals an idea from Sound Opinions, and laments Morrissey's ill mother.
Still, we're all new to this so, TCDroogsma, what gives?
Boy, that's a concise question. Basically, I've been making those Flatbasset mixes for a few years now and I've found that they are not very successful. I decided to change it up a little bit by turning the mixes into a podcast where I break up the songs by talking a little bit.
That was your plan? To break up a bunch of great songs with your rabbling?
Well, when you frame it that way it doesn't make much sense. More accurately, it wasn't quite fair just labeling it a "mix" as that implied that it was some chopped up party starter, which it obviously wasn't.
Plus, I realized that people weren't really reading the bits I wrote about each song. Since people hate reading I thought they might rather listen to me explain why the songs are great.
So you don't think people like to read and yet you spend nearly all of your free time blogging?
(Sigh...)
Alright, let's get to this episode then. Anything we need to know about it?
Well, this was my first go at a podcast, so you just have to bear with me. I think it turned out pretty well though. Here's what the playlist looks like:
01. Kanye West 02. Nirvana 03. JJ Doom 04. PJ Harvey 05. Big Quarters (w/Sims) 06. Ryan Adams 07. Eyedea & Abilities 08. Air 09. Mark Mallman 10. MaLLy 11. I Self Devine 12. Brother Ali 13. The Smiths
Really, just give it a listen. Even if you find my voice grating and my stories insufferable, the songs fucking kill.
Well alright then. TCDroogsma, thanks for stopping by to explain yourself.
Thanks. I plan on doing this each week, so you'll be hearing from me a lot in the near future.
Great... great... For more TCDroogsma you can give him a follow on Twitter or Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or check out his own blog Flatbasset. This blog also has a Twitter home (@NewestIndustry1) that you should follow to stay up on all the work our contributors are doing. More importantly we have a Facebook page here. Be sure to stop by and give us a "like" if you have a minute. Enough "likes" and we can get TCDroogsma a real microphone to record these things.
Hello football fans! Welcome to Ten & Six With Mike Otto: Week 8... again!
(Bengals Cheerleader Sarah Jones aka The Greatest Cheerleader There Ever Was)
As we mentioned earlier this week, the whole structure of this week's Ten & Six was turned on its head thanks to the Vikings/Buccaneers game taking place Thursday night. Scroll down to see how Mike thought that one was going to play out (hint... It could've gone better).
However, today is indeed Saturday and we know that it wouldn't be a Saturday without Mike's picks for the rest of the league.
If you include Thursday's Vikings game Mike is sporting a record of 69-54.
And so here we are, NFL. Week 8. What do ya think, Mikey?
Last week was a pretty good week for my picks, which went 10-3. I'm going to wait to recap the Vikings/Bucs game until next week due to the fact that I'm still very angry and need a week to straighten the thoughts and let the rage fade. With that said, on to this weekend's games. Miami (3-3) at New York Jets (3-4)
Lots of bad blood between these division rivals. Lots of trash talk. First, the droopy Rex Ryan telling his team to "put hot sauce" on Reggie Bush, whatever the fuck that means. Then the brutish Laron Landry said he wasn't, "gonna stop head-hunting." At least he was straight forward!
Why are these two teams so angry? Probably because accepting you're terrible isn't easy and the normal reaction is to just lash out.
The Jets somehow pissed last week's Patriots game away and they will find a way to piss this one away as well. Dolphins win 24-23
San Diego (3-3) at Cleveland (1-6)
Ever wondered how NFL players and coaches spend their bye weeks?
Well, if you're Norv Turner the majority is spent crying, filming Proactiv commercials, and throwing darts at a picture of Phillip Rivers.
Speaking of Phillip Rivers, it will be interesting to see if his bye week diet of pizza bagels and Mountain Dew: Code Red will affect his play. Can't make it worse, right?
As sad a team as the Chargers are, they will bounce back and beat the Browns 27-17
Indianapolis (3-3) at Tennessee (3-4)
Ever since the Titans got trounced by the Vikings their play has improved and they have two wins to show for it.
The Colts did their part last week in keeping cat food in my cat's mouth and out of mine.
So, here we have two slightly-below-average teams both coming off narrow victories. The intrigue! The excitement!
The Colts will be interesting again in two years when Andrew Luck starts dominating. The Titans may never be interesting again, but they win this week 26-20
New England (4-3) at St. Louis (3-4)
The Patriots were lucky to escape with a win last week. They can't seem to get out of their own way in the fourth quarter.
Last week, Tom Brady got the ball in the fourth at a point when a long drive would end the game. What happened? He went three & out! That's something nobody is used to seeing. Usually Captain America makes it look easy, drives the length of the field, and scores a touchdown with about 30 seconds left in the game. Maybe things are changing in New England.
Regardless, Pats win this week 31-24
Jacksonville (1-5) at Green Bay (4-3)
It seems the Packers have reached the "cakewalk" part of their schedule. Aaron Rodgers has hit his stride and that isn't a good sign for the hapless Jaguars.
I don't think any Jaguars team in history could win this game on Sunday. Prove me wrong! Packers win 31-17
Atlanta (6-0) at Philadelphia (3-3)
It's hard to figure out if the Falcons are contenders for a championship. To me, they seem like the same old Falcons who have a 12 win regular season and get bounced early in the playoffs.
There simply isn't any clear-cut Super Bowl frontrunner at this point in the season. Some would call it "league parity," I happen to think that there just aren't that many good teams.
This is no easy victory for the Falcons, In fact, I'm taking the Eagles to win this game in 27-26.
P.S. Michael Vick is a dog owner again. If I were that dog, I wouldn't want to go near the pool when Vick The Dick is around. Probably stay away from that dusty rape stand in the attic too.
Washington (3-4) at Pittsburgh (3-3)
Is there a more perennially-overrated cornerback than D'Angelo Hall? I gotta give him credit, all he does is get burned by the NFL's best wide receivers, yet he somehow maintains the paycheck & status of an elite cornerback. Must've sucked a lot of dick along the way.
D'Angelo Hall: The Cameron Diaz of the NFL.
If you gave me a choice between Bob III and the Rapistberger... I'm sorry Big Ben, you bring a lot to the table, but it's Bob III all the way. Too bad he can't play cornerback too. Skins win 28-24
Seattle (4-3) at Detroit (2-4)
The Lions are dead. All they needed to do was score two touchdowns last week and they couldn't get it done.
Now Megatron (1 TD this season) has a sore knee and Matt Stafford continues to do this weird sidearm throwing motion. What the fuck is that? Where did it come from? He looks like an overgrown teenager. Maybe after curling his hair one morning he was practicing his throwing motion in the mirror and said, "Yeah, this looks cool, this will get you laid Matty S."
(Editor's Note: It's a fact all teenagers refer to themselves in the third person.You can't argue with science.)
The Seahawks look tough. They are built to win on the road and in the playoffs. Feeling pretty good about picking the Seahawks as a surprise playoff team in my preseason preview. Seahawks win easy 23-13.
Carolina (1-5) at Chicago (5-1)
Man, why does everyone have to be so racist? They're only hating on Cam because he's black, we all know that. It has nothing to do with his terrible completion percentage, his poor TD/INT ration, or his inability to, y'know, win football games. Nope, it's just because he's black.
I heard it's supposed to rain on Sunday in Chicago... fucking racist jet stream. Trying to keep Cam down? Can't handle an African-American quarterback succeeding can you, jet stream? I thought we'd come to a point in American history where race didn't have to come into play unnecessarily. Shame on you, jet stream! Thank goodness smart men like Warren Moon are around to protect our African-American athletes from racial bias.
Bears win 31-20 because Jay Cutler is white and Cam Newton is black.
Oakland (2-4) at Kansas City (1-5)
What a wretched game this will be. I honestly would rather watch women's indoor volleyball than sit through this. I would rather spend three hours shoveling horse manure. I would rather watch Miley & Billy Ray Cyrus debate the meaning of life for 3 hours (if only for that really creepy father-daughter sexual tension they have). Raiders win 20-10. Yay.
New York Giants (5-2) at Dallas (3-3)
The Cowboys season-opening win against the Giants seems like a long time ago.
I will admit, I do enjoy watching the Cowboys, if only because it seems like Lil' Dezzy Bryant could freak out at any moment and start punching his mom again.
I think the Giants return the favor and win one in Jerry Jones' house, 27-21.
New Orleans (2-4) at Denver (3-3)
Drew Breezy vs. Peytie Manny!
I owe an apology to Peytie, whom I told to retire before he was upstaged by Phillip Rivers. I learned my lesson, never bet on Phillip Rivers to upstage anyone.
I'm sorry, Peytie. You shouldn't retire and I probably should. You have everything, except, of course, a normal-sized forehead.
I have yet to call a Saints game correctly, but I think that ends Sunday. Broncos win 38-28
San Francisco (5-2) at Arizona (4-3)
The Cardinals suck. I mean, really suck. Plus, let's all be mad at them for pissing away Larry Fitzgerald's prime.
Alex Smith is regressing and I think he needs a heavy dose of Moss Medicine. I know it might not always taste good, but just take your Moss Medicine and you will like the results. 49ers win, Moss gets in the end zone. Final score 23-13.
(Editor's Note: Moss Medicine has not been reviewed by the FDA. It is not suitable for seniors, children under 10, Brad Childress, the Tennessee Titans, Green Bay fans or, just to be safe, JaMarcus Russell.)
Well there you go everybody! Picks on picks on picks! What's that Michael? Your rage hasn't subsided from Thursday night's loss but you have to say something? Alright, fair play.
Mike's Vikings Note:
The only thing I will say after that debacle of a Thursday night game, where everything that could go wrong did go wrong is this:
Anyone who thinks it's time for Joe Webb to replace Christian Ponder as starter is either drunk, dumb, or has no understanding of football (probably a combo of all 3).
The Vikings weren't Super Bowl Champions when they beat the Niners and they aren't the worst team in the league after this loss to the Bucs. The Vikings are an average team that, when playing their best, are a good team. When playing their worst, they're a bad team. The sky isn't falling, it's not time to panic. It all depends on how they respond next Sunday.
You all missed it because we cut off his microphone, but Mike then went on to claim that, "Newest Industry is for the children! Fox Sports is good, but Ten & Six is the best!" We're as surprised as you.
For more Mikey Otto be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@SwervinTaters). He's America's Finest Tweeter On Sundays. Wait, AFTOS? We need to spend less time googling Sarah Jones pictures.
This blog also lives on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1). Give it a follow to stay up to date on our new posts as well as other work from our regular contributors. More importantly, this blog has a Facebook page here. Stop by and give us a "like" if you have the time. The more "likes" we get the better chance we have to get paid for this. And frankly, we need it. We're down to generic Moss Medicine. It tastes kind of like Troy Williamson. Please, give us a "like."
Melody's Echo Chamber, Benjamin Gibbard, Mark Mallman, Tilly & The Wall, and Wiping Out Thousands...
Hello again, mp3 junkies, and welcome to the 11th Edition of Songs Of The Week. For the uninitiated, this is a weekly column in which we ask two of our contributors to listen to The Current's free Song Of The Day podcast. Yet again, we've asked MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to give the tracks a go and let us know what they think.
If you'd like to play along at home, click here and download the podcast for yourself. Highly recommended.
All that being said, please keep in mind that this blog is not in any way affiliated with Minnesota Public Radio, The Current, or any of the artists. We just like writing about music. Be sure to vote in the poll on the right side of the page for which of these songs was the best Song Of The Day.
As always, MinneSarah & TCDroogsma have not seen each other's comments prior to posting.
Kids, what'd you think?
Melody's Echo Chamber - I Follow You (from the album Melody's Echo Chamber)
MinneSarah:
This song has a dissonant guitar riff
which makes it sound like a melancholy 50's song. The singer's
voice is very sweet and lithe while she sings about admitting
she was wrong. It actually is uncanny how much this song
reminds me of the later albums of the Northern Irish formed, Ash,
from the vintage pop and pulling guitars, especially at the end of
the song. This song is good for fall, due to the downtempo
ennui.
TCDroogsma:
This one really grew on me as the week wore on. The band catches the same sort of "60's pop" vibe as that Ariel Pink song from a couple weeks back, but then they filter it through some 90's feedback giving it a bit of a Mazzy Star vibe. I can definitely get behind that.
Final Score: MinneSarah -3/5 TCDroogsma -3/5 Benjamin Gibbard - Teardrop Windows (from the album Former Lives)
MinneSarah:
Brenda? Did I hear this song in
the early 2000's? No, this is Benjamin Gibbard's solo work -
although it's hard to escape that signature voice. This song is
about an old shut down hotel, which I think is a metaphor
for loneliness. I've been watching a lot of Ghost
Adventures lately, so I think the premise was rife for some
poltergeist activity. That's not how Benjamin rolls though.
The more I listened to this song, the more I realized how
catchy it is - it reminds me of the song structure of some very
popular Weezer songs. I'm sure Benjamin has a lot of practice
from Postal Service and Death Cab, writing songs that indie kids want
to play at their weddings and all...
TCDroogsma:
Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard got divorced and now Ben Gibbard is sad like a building. Pass.
Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5 TCDroogsma -2/5 Mark Mallman - Double Silhouette (from the album Double Silhouette)
MinneSarah:
Thank you, Current! Talk about
catchy songs - Mr. Mallman knows how to write little gems that can
make you nostalgic for something you've never heard before.
In the past two days, I've jammed out to this song more than
any other Current Song of the Day. The lyrics are clever, "Nobody
every dies in nightmares, so I guess I must be living the dream,"
the chorus is contagious, his vocal range is superb, and he gets away
with throwing Christmas bells into the mix. "Double Silhouette" is
the kind of song that gives you faith in pop music.
TCDroogsma:
I bet Mark Mallman feels a lot like Matthew McConaughey's character in Dazed In Confused: He keeps getting older but his fanbase remains the same. I mean, really, this is music for dorky 17 year olds. Back when I was a kid Mark Mallman was known as "Ben Folds" and I loved Ben Folds. Don't get me wrong, I genuinely enjoy Mark Mallman records. Hell, I own five of them. "Double Silhouette" is another in a long line of good-but-not-great songs. Part-ELO and part-Elton. That's not a bad thing to be at all.
Final Score: MinneSarah - 4.5/5 TCDroogsma - 3/5
Tilly & The Wall - Love Riot (from the album Heavy Mood)
MinneSarah:
Yay for rock music! This song is
grrrrrl rock at it's above average. It has high energy guitars,
a pulsing bongo beat (yeah, I didn't just make that up), crazy
tambourines, and screaming! The lyrics are pretty one
dimensional, but it's about getting your point across, not being a
poet. This song gets to the point. Kathleen Hanna is
smiling somewhere in L.A. right now.
TCDroogsma:
It's nice that someone still wants to be CSS (since CSS has little desire to). If you had told me Tilly & The Wall were going to bust out a screamy, surfy, sex-bomb of a single I would have told you to get off my lawn. And yet, here we are, you on my lawn and me thoroughly enjoying a new Tilly & The Wall single.
Final Score: MinneSarah - 4/5 TCDroogsma - 3/5 Wiping Out Thousands - Midtown Beach (from the album This Came First)
MinneSarah:
This song has a dreamy electronic
quality, with trip hop drums and barely emotional female vocals.
This song is very chill and has a lot of those slow drums and
slow transitions, with an Amon Tobin guitar breakdown at three
intervals. The lyrics are about, wait for it, relationships and
being together/apart, fine line between loving/hating - but the song
is so chill it doesn't sound as angry as the lyrics are trying to
convey. Two things I don't love - the song starts with the
vocals covered up by synth and drums - it sounds like she is talking
underwater. I also think the electronic talking part at the end
should have been left with Ladytron in 2003. Overall, this song
will put you in a chill mood.
TCDroogsma:
I was really digging this song for the first 35 or 40 seconds. It lost me a bit when the vocals kicked in. I was really hoping it was just going to be a five minute, percussion heavy, schizo beat. Still, after a week of listening to it the vocals really got to me. Not too mention the guitar, which sounds something like a handsaw. If this is the direction Minnesota music is going then I'm all in.
Final Score: MinneSarah - 4/5 TCDroogsma - 3.5/5 Well, there you have it, everybody. Another week's worth of free music heard, reviewed, and tossed by the wayside. Thanks to MinneSarah & TCDroogsma for sharing their thoughts. For more of MinneSarah, be sure to give here a follow on Twitter and/or Instagram (@MinneSarah). She makes a killer homemade butternut squash ravioli. For more of TCDroogsma, give him a follow on Twitter and/or Instagram (@TCDroogsma) or check out his own blog Flatbasset. He makes a killer scrambled tofu breakfast. Then again, so does everybody.
Of course this blog lives on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1). Give us a follow to stay up on all our new posts. We also have a Facebook page here. Stop by and give that one a 'like' if you have the chance. It would mean a lot to our future earning potential.
Hello again, football fans! Welcome
to Week 8 of Ten & Six With Mike Otto. As you can probably
guess, the Ten & Six routine has been turned on its side thanks
to the Vikings and Buccaneers playing on Thursday rather than Sunday.
To make up for this wonky schedule
we're posting Mike's thoughts on Sunday's victory over the Cardinals
as well as his Vikings/Bucs game preview today. As per usual Mike
will be back on Saturday to make his picks for the rest of the
league.
Who is Mike Otto, you ask? Well,
first of all, you should know the answer to that question already.
He's been dropping knowledge bombs all season. Regardless, Mike is
our resident football expert. He's also a devoted Minnesota Vikings
fan.
So, be sure to check back on
Saturday for Mike's take on the rest of the league. Take it away,
Michael.
Last Sunday the
Vikings played a game about as ugly as you can and still won.
Regardless, wins is wins and 5-2 feels pretty damn sweet.
Outside of a
bounce-back week by the offensive line and a standout performance by
Adrian Peterson there was nothing to be proud of offensively.
Tampa Bay
quarterback Josh Freeman put up 420 yards and 3 touchdowns in their
tough loss to the Saints while Christian Ponder put up 58 yards (only
4 in the second half), 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions against the
Cardinals. Obviously there is a slight difference in the quality of
the Saints and Cardinals defense, but those paltry passing numbers
are still alarming.
Ponder seems to be
pressing in the pocket more than he was at the beginning of the year.
He needs to relax, go through his reads, and make smart decisions
with a clear head. I wouldn't mind seeing a little more four-wide
sets with some quick slant options for the kid. All it will take to
build some confidence is 3 or 4 consecutive completions to get CP7 in
the flow of the game. Nothing major, just 7 or 8 yard gainers.
Christian has a
luxury that most young quarterbacks don't have: he played an awful
game, hopefully learned a few lessons, and his team still won. Most
young QB's have to learn their lessons the hard way, with their
shitty performances leading to defeat. The rest of the Vikings
definitely picked up the slack for CP7 last Sunday.
Let's take a look
at some positives and negatives. As always, I'll start with the
positives:
-Adrian
Peterson!: He abused the
Cardinals impressive defense all day. To put his performance in
perspective, before Sunday the Cardinals had not surrendered a single
run for more than 15 yards. AP put an end to that, tallying runs of
27, 22, and 17 yards. The scary thing is, Adrian admitted after the
game that he still doesn't have his pre-injury burst back yet.
Whatever he does have it was good enough for 23 carries and 153 yards
against what was, before Sunday, the best run defense in the league.
-Harrison Smith:
How about this rookie? I was a week early calling his first NFL
interception, but it's probably best since his touchdown turned out
to be the deciding factor in the game. I can't say enough about what
he has done for this Vikings pass defense. Harrison is tall and lean
with a long, graceful stride. Any time the adjectives used to
describe an NFL team's starting safety make him sound like a
thoroughbred in the Kentucky Derby it's a good thing. Harrison
reminded me of a young Darren Sharper on that pick-six. The only
difference between Harrison and Darren is that Harrison can actually
tackle! Keep it up, rook!
-Michael Floyd:
Made it through a weekend in Minneapolis without getting a DWI in
Dinkytown. Bravo!
-Pass Rush:
Seven sacks total, kept The Skeleton off-balance most of the game,
and got significant pressure to set up Harrison Smith's pick-six.
Just how you draw it up. Gotta love that.
And now, unfortunately, the negatives:
-Christian
Ponder: 8-17, 58 yards, 1
touchdown and 2 interceptions for a 35.7 QB rating. If I gave you
that one stat line you would say the Vikings must have lost the game.
Ponder has looked uncomfortable in the pocket the last two games and
particularly so against the Cardinals. He needs to improve and he
needs to do it fast. Another game like his last and he won't have
the same result.
-Run Defense:
For the seoncd week in a row the run defense gave up a hundred-yard
rusher. Giving up 100 to Bob III... OK, that happens. Giving up 100
to something called LaRod Stephens-Howling-Moon-River? That's
unacceptable! He's a third-stringer on a Cardinals team whose best
running back in the last decade was a 56 year old Emmitt Smith!
Troubling. Fix it!
-John Carlson:
3 catches, 8 yards, and 7 games into his $25 million contract, John
Carlson has suffered his fist concussion as a Viking. He has also
taken the title of “Softest Skull In Minnesota” from Justin
Morneau. Hell, he's even taking a run at the “Most Overpaid
Asshole” title currently held by Joe Mauer. See you in 3-7 weeks,
Johnny Boy.
TAMPA
BAY BUCCANEERS (2-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-2)
Three Keys To A Vikings Victory:
Key #1: The offense must win time of possession.
The Vikings defense was on the field a lot last Sunday, including
what seemed like the entire second half. With only 100 hours between
the end of Sunday's game and kickoff on Thursday some of The Purple's
defenders may not have a full tank. If CP7 could lead three or four
7 minute drives that end in points (preferably touchdowns), we'll all
be looking at a Vikings victory. Controlling the pace against the
Bucs = 6-2.
Key #2: Ponder needs to play hot potato.
He has been hanging on to the ball way too long the last couple
games. I've seen more five-step drops lately than there were early
in the season. Some of that may be play calling, but I think it's
mostly Christian trying to find something that isn't there when he
should just throw the ball away. I want to see three steps and throw!
Hit a few quick openers and you can set up a double move later in
the game. Just sayin...
Matchup #1: Doug Martin & LaGarette Blount vs Vikings Run
Defense.
The run defense has left a lot to be desired the last two weeks,
specifically the linebackers. After a strong start, Greenway and Co.
have been missing tackles and struggling to get off their blocks.
Doug Martin is an impressive rookie running back and LaGarette Blount
gave the Vikings trouble last year in The Dome. They form a pretty
solid two-headed rushing attack. If the Vikings can't shut these two
down it could be a long day.
Matchup #2: Josh Freeman vs. Me
So far this year, the flaming pile of car wreckage that is Josh
Freeman has done the exact opposite of anything I've predicted. I
trash him, he has a spectacular game. Then, I apologize, and he
craps the bed! So, with that being said, I am predicting “The
Tampa Culpepper” himself will have a record-breaking week! 650
yards, 7 touchdowns, and he'll save a litter of puppies from a
burning building during halftime. Only one piece of advice for “The
Tampa Culpepper:” Watch out for Chris Gamble coming in low.
Mike's All Purpose Flour Lock Of The Week:
Christian Ponder, QB, Your Minnesota Vikings
Ponder has to play better for the Vikings to win this game. I think
he answers the bell! 19-26 for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
FINAL TAKES
The passing attack has to get turned around in this game. I think
CP7 is more mature than he was last year when bad games snowballed
and negatively affected the vibe of his team week-to-week. Ponder
would really prove his growth to me if he can shake off that wretched
performance that, at kickoff, will surely be fresh in his mind.
The defense is not going to have enough energy to be on the field for
40 minutes again Thursday, so long offensive drives by your Purple
are a must.
I want to see some four-wide sets early in the game to keep the Bucs
off-balance. They will be expecting heavy doses of AP, so try to
catch them off guard.
Ponder has to make sure he's getting rid of the ball quickly. Move
those chains and take a couple chances! Show teams you can beat them
through the air AND on the ground. Big Game! Let's see it!
FINAL SCORE:
Minnesota Vikings: 24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 20
Win! SKOLLLL!
There you have it, Vikings fans! The Vikings will be sitting at
6-2 Friday morning and putting pressure on the rest of the NFC North
to keep pace. Skol, indeed.
For more of Mike Otto be sure to give him a follow on Twitter
(@SwervinTaters). At the very least be sure to give him a follow on
gameday. He's putting other Purple tweets to shame.
This blog also has a Twitter home (@NewestIndustry1) which you can
follow to keep up with all of our new posts (as well as our
contributors posts on other blogs). More importantly we also have a
Facebook page here. Stop by and give us a “like” or Greg Schiano
will bull rush our victory formation.
It's been a great year for Twin
Cities hip-hop. Brother Ali, MaLLy, I Self Devine, Big Quarters,
Mike Mictlan... So much good music came out of the cities that it's
almost unfair.
Today, though, we're here to
celebrate the impending release of P.O.S.'s We Don't Even Live
Here, which will hit the
streets this coming Monday.This
will be P.O.S.'s fourth solo album and, we're betting, will be high
on the “Best Of” lists at the end of the year.
More to the
point, to celebrate the release we asked our resident hip-hop junkie
TCDroogsma to put together a little something for us. He came back
with an hour long Flatbasset mix packed with P.O.S. jams.
As you can see,
click the download tab below to download the free mix. Of course we'd like to take a
moment to point out that, obviously, we do not own any of the music
contained in the mix. We asked TCDroogsma to put it together as a
celebration and that's just what he did. So please
don't sue us. We don't have any money anyway.
TCDroogsma, any
thoughts?
Y'know, I've been a Doomtree fans for a minute now and I thought it
would be fun to put together a nice run of tracks that P.O.S. has
been featured on rather than a typical “best of” type of thing.
If
you remember, back when Never
Better came out Fifth
Element released a couple of bonus albums called Meat
Tape and Meat
Tape 2 that featured a
bunch of harder to find stuff and stuff that, evidently, P.O.S. was
digging at the time. That was kind of my plan with this mix. Think
of it as Meat Tape 3 or P.O.S. & Friends Rappity Rap Party or I Already Know All These Songs.
It should be noted, of course, that I am not a DJ. If the fades and
blends and such aren't up to par, that's why. Don't think of this
mix as some chopped up, bangin' DJ mix (though, if someone did that
with a bunch of P.O.S. guest spots I'm sure it would kill), think of
this more like the best hour of radio that would never get played on
the radio.
Obviously all of the tracks contain some sort of P.O.S. contribution.
My apologies if I'm not giving full credit to everybody involved.
Be sure to
check out P.O.S.'s new album We Don't Even Live Here, on the
streets October 22nd. He's also playing a record release
show at First Avenue on the 26th. Best believe we're
gonna be there.
Also, if you haven't heard, P.O.S. has had some health issues come to light over the last couple days. Turns out dude needs a kidney. Tough times. To help out financially, hit up the Paypal account at stefneedsanewkidney@gmail.com.
Thanks to
TCDroogsma for putting the mix together for us. For more of
TCDroogsma be sure to follow him on Twitter and/or Instagram or you
can check out his own blog Flatbasset. He's still counting down
Morrissey songs despite our best efforts. He's got problems, though.
Problems.
Of course this
blog still lives on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1). Give us a follow to
stay up on all our new posts. Most importantly, we also have a
Facebook page here. Stop by and give that one a “like” if you
have a minute. We don't take a sec to breath, we ain't heard of
that.
Helllooooo football fans! Welcome back to Ten & Six with the one, the only, the inimitable Mike Otto. If you're new to the blog, Mike is our resident football expert. He's also a diehard Vikings fan since the day he could spell "Purple."
This week Mike will be breaking down last week's loss to the Washington Redskins and looking ahead to tomorrow's game against the Cardinals right here at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. That's right, the HHH Metrodome. Until the Mall Of America cuts Mike a check, that will stay its name on this blog.
However, before he wades neck deep into The Purple, Mike's going to give us his picks for the rest of the league. So far this season Mike's racked up a record of 58-50. It's also been determined that he controls the fate of the Saints, Chargers, and Browns. Also, based on his play, Josh Freeman's goal in life is to make Mike look like a fool.
(Editor's Note: Mike is currently 59-50 after Thursday night's 49ers victory. Scroll down to have a look at that pick.) Anyway, enough of this rabble. Michael! Talk to us!
Welcome back, football fans!
Tough week for my picks, which fell to 6-8 after two spectacular weeks
It was a tough week for The Purple as well, with their three game win streak coming to an end at FedEx Field with a 38-26 loss to the Redskins.
Ultimately, their demise came in the 1st quarter in which they were dominating, oddly enough, but failed to score touchdowns on 3 ocnsecutive trips to the red zone. Needless to say, if those three drives end in touchdowns it's a whole different game.
On the bright side, Christian Ponder again showed his 4th quarter comback potential and who knows what happens in the freak that is Robert Griffin III (Can we all just start calling him "Bob?") doesn't abuse a Vikings all-out blitz for a 76 yard dagger of a touchdown run.
I am impressed with Ponder's performance when forced to pass every down for an entire half of football. Regardless, playing from behind is not a good thing for the Vikings because they are forced to become one-dimensional. Phasing out the best running back in the NFL is not a recipe for success.
In the end, though, all of Christian Ponder's gaudy passing stats were worthless. The Vikings were daggered in the 4th by the rookie freak himself, Bob III.
There is a long history of dual-threat quarterbacks daggering the Vikings with their legs. First, it was Steve Young. Then The Dog Murderer, Michael Vick, took his turn. Finally, the freak himself Bob III did his dance last Sunday.
Which one is the best/saddest? Watch these clips and vote on the right side of the page. Yay history!
Now, on to this week's picks.
Dallas (2-3) at Carolina (1-4)
The Cowboys can't even win a game when they play better than the other team! Lil' Dezzy Bryant had a great game only to drop what would have been the game-tying two point conversion. The Cowboys are cursed. You get a great game from your QB, RB, & WR's, play better than the opposing team, and still lose.
Tony Romo, for whatever reason, cannot take this team to the promised land. Now now, not ever.
The Panthers didn't lose last week, mainly because they didn't play. I'd like to suggest an addition to Newton's Laws Of Physics. Law #4: For every positive rookie season their shall be an equal and opposite negative sophomore season to match it.
Cam Newton everybody! Re-writing the laws of the universe one turnover at a time! Cowboys win 27-17 (one of the 7 wins they will tally this year).
Tennessee (2-4) at Buffalo (3-3)
Are the Titans better than everyone thought? Naw, probably not.
Ryan Fitzpatrick must be a conservationist, as he releases quite a few ducks every Sunday! (Rim shot, please)
In what certainly will be a battle of noodle arm quarterbacks, I see Fitzpatrick noodling a little better the the old noodle himself, Matt Hasselbeck. Get out the colander, it's noodles galore! Bills win 17-16.
Cleveland (1-5) at Indianapolis (2-3)
The Weed Whacker did it! Yes, Brandon Weeden won a football game for his Cleveland Browns. All he needed was for me to believe in him!
That's right, I am officially declaring my predictions as the deciding factor in Cleveland Browns games. For every Browns game I predict incorrectly, I will eat a bite of cat food. Promise.
I think we need to ask the guys with horseshoes on their helmets what happened to Chuckstrong? You got blown out by the Jets?!? Ugly stuff! They won't lose at home to the Browns. Colts roll to victory 31-21. Chuckstrong! Don't make me take food outta Doug's mouth!
(Editor's Note: This is Mike's cat Doug. If you can't tell by his body language, he's also a lifelong Vikings fan. The only thing he loves more than The Purple, though, is his food. Keep doing what you do, Brandon Weeden.)
Green Bay (3-3) at St. Louis (3-3)
I was wrong. I wanted to be right so bad. I said the Texans would put up 42 points last week. Instead, the Packers did.
Aaron Rodgers is a big enough prick to "shhh" his "critics" in his post-game interview. News flash, dickhead, even if you sneak into the playoffs, you aren't going anywhere if you can't run the ball and play defense.
It's about time Mr. Rodgers played like the best quarterback in the NFL. He's all the residents of Green Bay have... well, him and rampant obesity. Congratu-fucking-lations you fat dumb fucks! Packers win 28-17.
Washington (3-3) at New York Giants (4-2)
What about Bob? The Third? Yes, last week the Vikings played the role of Richard Dreyfuss and RG III was Bill Murray. Bob III drove The Purple to insanity and then married their daughter at the end of the game.
OK, it wasn't exactly the same, but it was maddening nonetheless.
The Giants dismantled the Niners in their NFC Championship rematch. Eli & those Giants might be the newest "best team in the NFL," but it's going to be a tough win this week. Close game, but the Giants win 27-26.
New Orleans (1-4) at Tampa Bay (2-3)
The first four weeks of the year I picked the Saints to win and they lost. Week 5 I predicted the Saints to lose and they won! What the hell?!?
Maybe the Saints found out all the horrible things I said about their squad after the '09 NFC Championship game. More likely is the fact that, outside of Drew Brees, the Saints are just terrible and only capable of beating the most inept of teams (Enter: The San Diego Chargers).
Josh Freeman, I know we've had our differences. I know you hate me for comparing you to flaming car wreckage from time to time. But please, try not to fuck me over this weekend. Bucs win 27-20.
Baltimore (5-1) at Houston (5-1)
The Ravens not only lost starting cornerback Ladarius Webb for the year, they also lost starting Entry Dance Specialist and team captain Ray Lewis.
Some are speculating the we've seen Ray-Ray play his last down as a Raven. If that's the case, the rest of the Ravens should honor him by getting to Houston in the trunk of their buddies' cars, preferably to avoid prosecution for something they didn't actually do. It's a craazzzy world!
The Texans really let me down last week. Their failures brought back the Smug Aaron Rodgers that I hate so much. Damn you! Damn you to hell! Texans bounce back with a 31-20 win.
Jacksonville (1-4) at Oakland (1-4)
Who cares? Does anybody care? Does anybody in California or Florida even care? Didn't think so.
In the NFL's latest edition of the "Who Gives A Fuck Bowl?," the Jags travel to Oakland and let's just hope no one gets stabbed in the parking lot after the game. Oakland wins 17-13.
New York Jets (3-3) at New England (3-3)
Bill Belichick needs to break out the spyware! Rex Ryan needs to break out the Ab-Flexor!
Sources close to The Jets report that Mark Sanchez wakes up every morning, turns all the lights off in house, and whispers the words "Elite NFL Quarterback" five times in the hopes he becomes one. Hell, it's worth a shot.
Coincidentally, Tim Tebow does the same thing, except he whispers the words, "a penis that works." Sad days in New York. Pats win 35-10.
Pittsburgh ()2-3 at Cincinnati (3-3)
The Cincinnati Bungles lost the Battle For Ohio! The Browns?!? You lost to THE BROWNS!! That is just sad.
Oh, the things I would do to see A.J. Green in a purple jersey.
Pittsburgh is old and slow. Troy Polamalu can't walk to the corner store for a gallon of milk without straining his calf. James Harrison's eyes are more crossed than ever before. Big Ben Rapistberger is playing better than ever, but he just can't do it alone. Even his inspirational, "You have to grope with your heart AND mind" pre-game speech seemingly fell on deaf ears.
I'm picking the Bengals for a big upset. They triumph at home 24-21.
Detroit (2-3) at Chicago (4-1)
With a win, the Bears can maintain sole possession of first place in the NFC North. I hate living in a world where Jay Cutler is first at anything but being an asshole. Be the best asshole you can be, Jay.
It'll be fun to see if Cutler can make it through a whole game without pouting like a sixteen year old girl. I doubt he can. I've heard J-Cuts is a middle-of-the-monther.
Detroit is over-matched, but I think they can make this one close. Bears win 27-24.
Boom! Picks on picks on picks! Thanks for that, Michael. Now, on to The Purple:
The Vikings suffered a tough defeat last week, but their fast start this season makes the loss easier to accept and overcome.
This is the first "must win" game for the Vikings this season. Playoff teams bounce right back from losses, especially at home against the league's worst offense.
After this week one of these 4-2 teams will be classified as a "pretender," the other a "contender." Obviously the Vikings would rather be the latter.
Arizona's defense is as stout as their offense is anemic. Kevin Kolb won't play this weekend, but in my opinion, he and John Skelton are the same person. Let's not forget, Skelton started the Cardinals first game before he was injured. If the Cardinals quarterbacks score any 76 yard rushing touchdowns this week I'll leave town.
If the Vikings can put up TOUCHDOWNS early, they will increase their chances of winning dramtically. None of this drives-stalling-in-the-red-zone bullshit.
Hey, speaking of bullshit, let's take a look at the positives and negatives of last week As always, I'll start with the positives:
-CP7 (Second Half Version): He had a very rough 2nd quarter and single-handedly put the Vikings in a hole. When faced with playing from behind and forced to throw almost every down he got the job done and brought us to the brink of an epic comeback.
His final stat line: 35-52, 335 yards, 2 TD's, & 2 INT's. Prestty solid. Unfortunately, that's not a recipe for a Vikings victory.
-Antoine Winfield: Had a spectacular pick deep in Redskins territory (that the Vikings failed to put in the endzone). Regardless, "Winny" is defying Father Time and is on pace for 5-6 interceptions this season. Let's not waste this awesome season Antoine is giving us!
-Adrian Peterson: Left the game with both ACL's intact! Sometimes it's the small victories.
And, sadly, the negatives.
-Red Zone Efficiency: The Vikings made it to the red zone 7 times and only scored 2 touchdowns. Three 1st quarter drives to the red zone ended in field goals and, if you would have ended with touchdowns, the Vikings undoubtedly win that game. Would, shoulda, coulda...
-Interior Offensive Line: I specify "interior" because Kalil and Loadholt played a pretty good game. Right guard is the Vikings most visible weakness on the line and it showed last Sunday. Ponder faced constant pressure up the middle and you could see it heavily affecting his pocked poise (especially during the 2nd quarter). I'm not exactly sure what a "Brandon Fusco" is, but I know it isn't a decent right guard.
-Madieu Williams Got A Fucking Pick Six!: Fucking MADIEU WILLIAMS! Vikings fans know firsthand how terrible he is. That was fucking embarrassing.
-Devin Aromashadu: 'Shadu should not be allowed to run "go" routes. He is decent deep, down the middle of the field, but can't make adjustments to the ball in the air and also can't win jump balls. He was lucky to draw that pass interference call. This team needs Jerome Simpson desperately.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-2) at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-2)
Three Keys To A Vikings Victory:
Key #1: Score points. Touchdown points.
The Cardinals do not have the offense to play from behind successfully. In my perfect world the Vikings would score two 1st quarter touchdowns and never look back. That probably won't happen against a stout Cardinals defense. Regardless, The Purple must finish red zone tirps with touchdowns. A 14 point halftime lead would hold up for a victory.
Key #2: Target Jerome Simpson downfield.
The Vikings are going to see a lot of 8- and 9-man fronts unless we can burn the Cardinals once or twice deep. Jerome Simpson will have some opportunities, as I'm sure Patrick Peterson will be shadowing Percy Harvin most of the game.
Key #3: Please, please double Larry Fitzgerald all game.
Larry is the only guy the Cards have who is a threat to take it the distance at any time. I'm pretty, pretty, prettttyyy sure that if the Vikings keep Larry out of the endzone they will win the game.
Two Matchups To Watch:
Matchup #1: Percy Harvin vs. Patrick Peterson
Not only will they face off against each other on passing downs, they are both dynamic kick returners with the ability to change momentum in the game whenever they field a kick. As two of the league's premiere athletes, it's going to be fun to watch this all day.
If either one of these guys scores a touchdown in the return game, it will go a long way toward their team winning.
Matchup #2: The Ghost Of Boomer Esiason vs. Vikings players and fans
Boomer never seemed to like, or give much credit to, the Vikings when he was alive. Maybe it's because the Vikings always destroyed him when he came to The Dome.
I remember a game I went to as a young boy. Boomerand the Cards were in town to play the beloved Purple. Boomer threw four picks and the Vikings put up 40-something points in the victory. The home crowd taunted Boomer mercilessly the entire game and I, as a 5 year old, remember the pure joy I felt chanting, "Boooooooomer" over and over again.
Now that Boomer is dead, will his noodle-armed ghost come back to The Dome on Sunday to trip our players and spill our beers? Let's hope not. Rest in peace, Boomer. You gave me some good memories.
(Editor's Note: Boomer Esiason is not actually dead. He's only dead on the inside.)
Mike's All Purpose Flour Lock Of The Week:
Antoine Winfield, CB, Your Minnesota Vikings
That interception last week was sick and it was 'Toine's second straight game with a pick. The Vikings finally have the luxury of keeping Antoine fresh because Josh Robinson and Chris Cook have been playing solid football. I think 'Toine keeps his hot streak going and snatches another interception to go along with 8 tackles (2 for loss).
FINAL TAKES
The Vikings need this one like they need air in their lungs. The thing is, the Cardinals need it just as much. Win and all the mistakes from last week are forgotten. Lose and they all get magnified.
This has the makings of a physical, black & blue slugfest. The more physical the Vikings offensive line is this week the better chance they have of winning this game.
Ponder still seems to get a little flustered when under constant pressure, so it's important to keep him comfortable. I fully expect the offensive line to have a bounce-back week in pass protection.
Lots of interesting matchups to watch and I think it should be a great game. There is no reason the Vikings shouldn't win this game if they execute and finish drives with touchdowns.
FINAL SCORE:
Minnesota Vikings: 20
Arizona Cardinals: 16
Woooooooo!
There you have it folks, straight from the horse's mouth. If the Vikes get in the endzone this week they'll be looking at 5-2 and that looks pretty damn good from here.
For more of Mike's maniacal rantings, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@SwervinTaters). At the very least follow him on Sunday and cut him on Monday. He's like Twitter's version of Darren McFadden in your fantasy league.
This blog also has a Twitter home (@NewestIndustry1). Give us a follow to stay up to date on all of our blog posts. More importantly, we also have a Facebook page here. Please, stop by and give us a "like." We rarely stall in the red zone.
Well hello again, football fans! Welcome to Ten & Six: Week 7 (Special Thursday Bonus!)
For those of you who haven't been following along, Mike Otto is a diehard Vikings fan and our resident football expert. Each week, in his Saturday Ten & Six column, Mike breaks down the upcoming Vikings game. He also makes his picks for the rest of the league. Since the NFL has decided to have a Thursday game each week this season we've had to adjust our schedule accordingly.
Mike's been making his predictions for these Thursday games over on our Facebook page. However, since the column has been such a hit we decided to make a full post of his Thursday pick.
So, without further ado, here we go:
Seattle (4-2) at San Francisco (4-2)
Tonight's game should be a great one and a surprise battle for 1st place in the tightly-contested NFC West. At this point only one game separates the king of
the mountain and the cellar dweller. If you ask me about the NFC West, it seems Rams DE Chris
Long should always be kept in a cellar and fed a bucket of fish heads
each day. CAVEMAN HUNGRY, NEED FOOD, IMPRESS CAVEMAN DAD HOWIE.
Anyway, I
like Seattle's chances to keep this game close, which is a safe bet,
because they have kept every game close this year (and I'm all about taking
risks, people). Much like Alex Smith was all about taking risks in the Niners trouncing last Sunday. Terrible, terrible risks. Stop playing
the game of "Risk," Alex Smith, and stick to "Stratego," seems more your
style. Face it, you're never gonna take over the world, and if you want to
take over New Orleans come February it's time to stop sucking.
All in
all I think the Niners bounce back with a 20-16 victory.
Boom! Niners with the win and sole possession of first place for at least 10 days since the Cardinals are going to be thrashed this weekend at the Metrodome.
For more of Mr. Otto's commentary, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@SwervinTaters). Trust us, he goes off on Sundays.
Mike will be back with the rest of his predictions this Saturday along with his preview of the Vikings/Cardinals game. Be sure to check back.
This blog also lives on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) and, as mentioned, has a Facebook page. Stop by and give that one a "like" if you have the time. It would really impress our dads.
