TCDroogsma Presents: Flatbasset-September '12 (Prairie Pup Mix)

Don't mess up my bangs, I got them things perfect...

Well hello, fans of free music and/or prairie dogs.  Thanks for stopping by. If you're new to the Flatbasset Mix game, let us explain what you're looking at right now.

Flatbasset - September '12 (Prairie Pup Mix)

TCDroogsma, when he's not busy judging mp3's and judging food, likes to make these mixes for everybody.  They're typically between 10-12 songs and usually roughly 40 minutes long.  Follow the link above to download the free mix or to just give it a listen.  Do yourself a favor and check that out.  That being said, let's find out what TCDroogsma has to say about this mix.  Ay, TCDroogsma, what's good?

Not much, ominous blog voice.  How you feeling?

Blogs about to hit 1000 views.  We're feeling real good.

Good. Glad I could be a part of that.

Actually, just the other day somebody told us that, after reading your 'Songs Of The Week' column that, when it comes to music, you are a "little pissy bitch."  You cool with that?

Who would say something like that?

Not relevant.

I suppose not.  I just call 'em like I, err... hear 'em.

God, you just bleed cliches, don't you?

Now who's being the pissy bitch?

And now you're lashing.  Listen, you have anything to say about this mix or are we just going to call each other names?

If it's up to me we'll just keep arguing.  However, I fucking killed this mix, so maybe I'll say a few things about it.

Good.

Asshole.

01. Jack White - Love Interruption

One of my co-workers and I were in a heated debate the other day about whether Bob Dylan or Jakob Dylan was better.  If you know me, you know which side of this debate I was on.  As we were arguing the merits of 'One Headlight' versus 50 years of unlistenable bullshit another co-worker walked by and simply said, "Jack White."

When I asked him what the fuck he was on about he told me that he thought we were debating 'voice of a generation' types and that Jack White was going to go down as the Bob Dylan of this generation.  I was intrigued.  I've never thought of Jack White this way since so much of his music is self-mythologizing yarns that don't totally apply to modern life.  Still, I spent a good chunk of the week listening to old Jack White stuff trying to figure out if he might be right.  I feel like this song is one of the bullet points in the Power Point presentation for Jack White: Cultural Touchstone.

02. Domo Genesis & Alchemist - The Feeling

It's no secret that I'm a big, big fan of free mixtapes.  Sure, you have to slog through a lot of terrible songs to find the gems (which is typically true of fully-realized, record-label-backed hip-hop albums too), but it's totally worth it when you find gems like this. This track is from Domo Genesis & Alchemists mixtape No Idols, which you can, and should, download here.

Domo Genesis is one of the small army of Odd Future MC's.  Much like Hodgy Beats' Untitled mixtape from earlier this year, I found this album growing on me the more I listened to it.  Domo Genesis is a solid, sometimes great MC, and Alchemists vinyl-crackling beats are fucking stellar throughout.

  
03. Building Better Bombs - The Action Pact

THIS CITY IS NOT TAKING US SERIOUSLY, SO WE ARE SERIOUSLY TAKING THE CITY!

Realest talk.

04. Despot - Look Alive

Gingers of the world unite!

I've known about Despot for a while now thanks to his affiliation with the Def Jux crew, but he's got, like, zero official releases.  There's a long-standing rumour that he's putting together an album with Ratatat, but that rumour's been going on for years now.  I'll believe it when I see it.

Anyway, you might know him from his guest spot on El-P's "Tougher Colder Killer" or from his smoking hot opening verse on Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire's "The Last Huzzah!"  Here's hoping that Ratatat collaboration sees the light of day sometime.

05. Fugazi - Sweet And Low

After I threw that Eno instrumental in the middle of last month's mix I thought I'd throw on an equally enjoyable instrumental that has almost nothing in common with "Deep Blue Day."  I love that a band that's as lyrics-based as Fugazi could crush an instrumental like this.  I'll bet the guys in Mogwai cry every time they hear this song.

06. Marijuana Deathsquads - Top Down (w/Channy & Astronautalis)

Who would've thought that this is what Building Better Bombs would morph into?

"Top Down" is from the new MDS mixtape Tamper, Disable, Destroy, another freebie that you can download here.  If you don't know, Marijuana Deathsquads is essentially a collective built from the ashes of Building Better Bombs and Digitata.  Ryan Olson (who put together Gayngs), as the story goes, was having MC's & musicians over to his studio over the course of the summer recording whatever came to mind.  Eventually he cut it all up and built this mixtape out of the verses and beats.  For better or worse, this is an incredible portrait of where the Twin Cities are at in summer 2012.

07. Peter Adams - The Observatory

I know nothing about Peter Adams.  This was a Current SOTD years ago and it's one that I've been meaning to get into the mix for nearly as long.  While I can't explain exactly what I love about this song, I can tell you that I do, in fact, love this song.  Just enjoy it.

  
08. Rick Ross - 3 Kings (w/Dr. Dre & Jay-Z) / Brother Ali - 4th King

Alright, so here's the story.

Producer Jake One has a huge client base for his beats.  If you remember, he produced some G-Unit tracks a while back, provided the beats for Freeway's Rhymesayers album The Stimulus Package, put out his own awesome White Van Music with an army of guest MC's, and has been doing work with Brother Ali, among others, since.

Now, when Jake One & Brother Ali were working on Ali's new album Mourning In America, Dreaming In Colour, Jake One passed along this beat that, evidently, Brother Ali decided not to use.  Jake then brought the beat to Rick Ross, who took it and signed up Dre & Hova for his, 'these are my peers, no, really' track "3 Kings."

The parent album for this song, God Forgives, I Don't has been one of the biggest hip-hop albums of the year.  Brother Ali, who still had the beat, decided to spit his own verse and give the song away as "4th King," (hence the line, "best verse on a song I ain't even on").  I love the way Ali flips Dre's shamelessly  promotional line "You should listen to this beat through my headphones" into "You should listen to this beat while you're occupying."  Either way, adding the Ali verse makes this song a nice little snapshot of just how spread out the hip-hop world is these days.

09. Bloc Party - V.A.L.I.S.

Even though I wasn't particularly kind to Bloc Party's single "Octopus" a couple weeks ago, I did still pick up the parent album Four and make it my Album Of The Week last week (meaning I listened to it first every day).  Even though I still think it's the least exciting Bloc Party album, it's still a Bloc Party album, which is a pretty fucking good thing.

I don't completely understand what Kele Okereke's on about in this song ("he's not the real me, but I can hear him from my future"), but I'll be damned if he doesn't sing it with conviction.  Not to mention, that 'show-show-show-show-me' bit has been in my head for 10 days straight.

10. Soul Position - Keep It Hot For Daddy

"I'm just playin', but really I'm not."  Classic.

11. Big Star - September Gurls

It's a September mix!  It was either this or Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends."

This is THE classic Big Star jam.  Of course, most people from my generation learned about Big Star via The Replacements' classic "Alex Chilton."  When you hear Chilton sing lines like, "Oh, I love you... nevermind..." it's easy to feel the same way 15 year old Paul Westerberg must've felt.

So there you have it everybody, Flatbasset September mix.  I certainly hope you all enjoy it.  Try to remember that put these mixes together to sound more like an awesome 40 minute block of the radio rather than, say, a Get Cryphy DJ mix.  I'm just not that talented.  It's just a bunch of tracks I was feelin' at the time.

Well thanks for stopping by and dropping the mix off TCDroogsma.  I'm glad we were able to put that bitterness from the top of the column to rest.

For more of TCDroogsma's pissy bitchiness, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter or Instagram (TCDroogsma) or keep an eye on his personal blog Caffeine & Obscenities.

As always, this blog is on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1), which you should follow to keep up on our posts/tweets by our regular contributors.  Also, if you dig the mix, stop by our Facebook page and give us a 'like.' It's the least you can do for 40 minutes of free bangers.

Songs Of The Week #6: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

Cat Power, Stars, Bill Fay, Two Gallants, The Valdons...

 Well hello again, mp3 junkies.  Welcome to the 6th installment of Songs Of The Week, in which we ask two of our regular contributors (typically MinneSarah & TCDroogsma) to give us their thoughts on The Current's 'Song Of The Day' podcast.

As we mention each week, please head over to The Current's website and subscribe to the podcast yourself.  Free music is free music.

Also, as always, MinneSarah & TCDroogsma have not read each other's comments prior to posting.

Cat Power - Ruin (from the album Sun)


MinneSarah:

     Now, I'm not a fan of Cat Power, the singer (I'm 110% in favor of cat power, the thing), but I really did like her voice in this song.  The song starts with a latiny/samba beat and then builds with piano and guitar. I expected her to build in vocal intensity as well, but this just isn't that kind of song.  The lyrics are about traveling the world and and remembering not to bitch about your own problems when you get home.  An annoying section is when she names off countries she has visited, and as the song goes on, they change to cities.  It sounds like you don't know Belfast ain't a country, Cat Power.  This whole deal was pretty low key, I give it three stars because it was fairly catchy the more times I listened to it.

TCDroogsma:

     Holy shit!  In a year that's been filled with musical surprises, Cat Power putting out a song that is actually not terrible has to rank near the top of the list.

     Don't get me wrong, the lyrics to this song are completely fucking atrocious.  Some 'Americans don't know how good they've got it' type shit.  Frankly, coming from a performer who famously charges between $30-45 for a ticket only to get stage drunk, get stage fright, freak out, and walk away from the microphone after 6 songs, she can fuck right off with this 'holier than thou' stuff.  However, the groove that this song catches (with the looping piano and guitar stabs) is pretty fucking brilliant.  Chan Marshall's delivery is spot on as well.  The fact that she manages to make such mind-numbingly stupid lyrics into a catchy, enjoyable song is quite a surprise too.  Not to mention the fact that her new pixie haircut is foxy enough to retroactively make Kim Deal hot.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3/5
                  TCDroogsma - 3/5


Stars - Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It (from the album The North)

MinneSarah:
    

     What are our neighbors to the North up to these days?  Making inspirational songs for your favorite 80's teen movie soundtracks.  Their signature whooping vocal choruses and heavy reliance on synthesizers are actually a net plus for this song.  However, the lyrics are fairly ridiculous and sound like a prescriptive public service announcement...from the 80's.

TCDroogsma:

     Sweet fucking Christ.... From stale platitudes about geopolitics to stale cliches about romance.  Tough week, MPR.  Much like the Cat Power bit up above, Stars works up a nice groove.  Sure, it's the same groove they've been working up for 12 years, but if it ain't broke...  Plus, it's no secret that I'm a huge sucker for boy/girl singing combos. Lyrically, the title tells you everything you need to know.  Smartly, they managed to steal Peter Hook and Bernard Summer's instruments to build up hooks.  Always a good call.

     Not a bad tune, but if you had told me this was a Stars single from 1999 rather than 2012 I would've believed you.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2.5/5
                  TCDroogsma - 2.5/5


Bill Fay (w/Jeff Tweedy) - This World (from the album Life Is People)

MinneSarah:

     Okay, ever wonder what the British Bruce Springsteen sounds like?  Listen to this song.  There isn't a lot of lyrical content, maybe two verses that are about the proletariat that built this world in the factories, and much of it is repetitive "This World...this world....this world."  Wait, Bill, This World?  Oh, okay, that's a uniter.  In any case, it skews Jayhawks and (appropriately) Wilco with some violins, which is probably the worst dis I can give a song (in my opinion).  The last ten seconds are the best, I gotta give it props for a relatively epic ending, and I'm not just saying that because it was over.

TCDroogsma:

     Let's all stop kidding ourselves to two minutes: If Jeff Tweedy wasn't involved with this song nobody would be listening to it.  It wouldn't be getting any airplay on MPR and I wouldn't be sitting here struggling to write a critique of a yet another acoustic, singer/songwriter, 'the world is confusing and we're all alone' dirge.  So thanks for lending your voice to this one, Jeff Tweedy.  You owe me 10 minutes of my life back.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 1/5
                  TCDroogsma - 1/5


Two Gallants - My Love Won't Wait (from the album The Bloom And The Blight)

MinneSarah: 

     Yes!  This song is extremely guitar driven.  When it gets loud (which it does at the beginning), everything gets loud, guitars, drums, screaming lyrics.  The lyrics are a lovelorn threat, as creepy as they are romantic.  The vocal delivery is passionate and manic, matching the lyrics perfectly.  The song ends on an old timey piano interlude that sounds defeated and spooky.  Be still my beating heart - seriously - these guys might be outside my house with a pocket full of rocks this very moment.

TCDroogsma:

     Let me apologize right off the bat.  I really, really like this song and I find myself completely incapable of explaining why.  I suppose that, since the Song Of The Day tracks are typically meticulously constructed singles it's nice to hear a song in which the band turns some guitars up, hits some power chords, and actually let's go of things a bit.  This song sounds like the bastard child of Helmet & Badly Drawn Boy.  This is a compliment.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 4/5
                  TCDroogsma - 4/5


The Valdons - All Day Long (from the Twin Cities Funk And Soul compilation)

 

MinneSarah:

     I heard on The Current that they are working to uncover the funky soul hits of the 60's and 70's from the Twin Cities.  It's reassuring to know that Minnesota music in the 60's wasn't all Dylan.  For that, I commend the project.  I may be as primed as most Current listeners, as I've been seen rocking out to the new Heavy album, and any upbeat music  that can prolong my summer high is much appreciated.  However, this song ain't my scene, and while it's great for what it is, it's generic enough that we can see why the Valdons never really hit it big. 

TCDroogsma:

     Hot damn!  Taking a trip in the Way Back Machine to 1970's MPLS was a good choice!  I'd imagine this is the type of song that people who are genuine Funk and/or Soul fans would find unremarkable, but since I almost never listen to music in those genres it seems very refreshing.  Even pre-Prince Minneapolis was going fucking hard.

    
Sidenote: If someone could put together a YouTube video of Adrian Peterson clips soundtracked by this is would be, arguably, the greatest thing ever posted to the internet ever.

Final Score: MinneSarah - 2.5/5
                   TCDroogsma - 4/5

Well there you have it everybody.  Thanks for checking out this week's edition of Songs Of The Week.  Of course, neither this website nor its contributors is affiliated in any way with the artists, The Current or MPR.  They're merely judgmental music fans.

Be sure to vote in the poll at the right of the page for your favorite Songs Of The Week.

For more MinneSarah, be sure to find her on Twitter & Instagram or any place else where the 90's are celebrated as the greatest decade for pop culture ever.

For more TCDroogsma, be sure to find him on Twitter, Instagram, or on his personal blog Caffeine & Obscenities. Based on his wardrobe we suspect he may be contributing blog posts directly from the 90's.

This blog is also on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1), which you should follow to stay updated on new posts and random retweets from our contributors.  We're also on Facebook here and it would just make our Fall if you stopped by and gave us a 'like.'

Ten & Six With Mike Otto: Week 2 - Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts (Plus Picks!)

1-0! Ponder v. Luck!

Hey football fans! Welcome to Week 2 of Mike Otto's Ten & Six.  This week Mike breaks down Sunday's matchup between the pride of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Vikings and the pride (?) of Indianapolis, the Colts.  Talk to us, Mikey.

 
Well, it's Week 2 in the NFL.  I went 9-6 with my picks last week (though I didn't submit a pick for the Cowboys/Giants game, but I would have been wrong anyway).

I'm pretty satisfied with that, though my personal goal is to be at least 10-6 on picks each week.  That being said, let's jump into this week's slate of games!

(Editors Note: In case you missed it, Mike predicted a Packers victory Thursday night.  Mike posted that pick (as he will all future Thursday night picks) on our Facebook page, which you can check out here.)

Kansas City (0-1) at Buffalo (0-1)

A battle of two teams that got destroyed in their first game.  A battle of seriously overpaid QB's, especially in Ryan Fitzpatrick's case.  Who will win? Bills! 24-21 in a close game between two even-matched teams.

New Orleans (0-1) at Carolina (0-1)

Cam Newton played the worst game of his pro career last week and Drew Brees got upstaged by RG III at his home turf.  A battle of two hungry, angry elite quarterbacks.  I'm not betting against Drew Brees.  Saints win 35-21.

Cleveland (0-1) at Cincinnati (0-1)

Poor Brandon Weeden. He got caught under the flag before the game.  Then he got caught in his own body during the game.  Yup, Ol' Noodle Arm Weeden had 4 INT's, a QB rating of 5.1, and somehow performed worse than The Dog Murderer.  This week The Red Menace, Andy Dalton, bounces back & Cincy wins this easy, 27-14.

Houston (1-0) at Jacksonville (0-1)

The Jags really needed a win last week, because they certainly won't be getting one against Houston.  The Texans run game never got going last week against the Dolphins and they still won easily.  If the Texans stay healthy this year (not bloody likely), they will be scary.  42-21 Texans roll.

Oakland (0-1) at Miami (0-1)

You never miss the long snapper until he's injured.  Oakland now knows that after 2 blocked punts swung the momentum out of their favor last week against the Chargers.  Ryan Tannehill has a hot wife and a cold (throwing) shoulder.  LOL tee-hee. Raiders win 21-10.

Arizona (1-0) at New England (1-0)

As long as Tom Brady & Bill Belicheck are involved, New England will be good.  Kevin Kolb saved the day for Arizona, but if the Seahawks receivers don't drop 2 TD's it's never close.  This week the Cards Have. No. Chance. Pats win 31-14.

Tampa Bay (1-0) at New York Giants (0-1)

The Giants came out a little flat against the Cowboys and paid for it.  Tampa Bay looked ten times more disciplined in Week 1 compared to last season.  Josh Freeman turned in a pretty decent performance for being the quarterback equivalent of a flaming pile of car wreckage.  Giants win 28-17.

Baltimore (1-0) at Philadelphia (1-0)

The Dog Murderer barely pulled out a win against a crummy Cleveland defense.  Against Ray Lewis & Ed Reed he will be made to look like a rookie all over again.  Love the Ravens defense, been dynamic for the last decade.  Ravens win 28-13.

Dallas (1-0) at Seattle (0-1)

Tony Romo was at his improvisational best in Week 1 against the Giants and really carried the Cowboys with his play.  I think Seattle is a better team than how they played last week.  Marshawn Lynch's health is key, as is providing Russel Wilson time.  I think it's a close game won by Tony Romo in the 4th quarter.  27-20 Cowboys.

Washington (1-0) at St. Louis (0-1)

The RG III Show goes on the road!  I'm not sure I've ever seen another QB outshine Drew Brees like Mr. Griffin did last weekend.  The Rams put up a valiant fight against the Lions, only to be crushed in the 4th quarter under the weight of the realization that they are indeed the St. Louis Rams. Skins win 28-17.

New York Jets (1-0) at Pittsburgh (0-1)

I don't think anyone expected the Jets to put up that many points Week 1.  The Steelers may have lost, but if I had to bet, I'd say The Steel Curtain finishes the season with a better record.  If only because I truly believe Rex Ryan is fat & doomed.  Steelers take this one 24-17.

Tennessee (0-1) at San Diego (1-0)

Phillip Rivers & Norv Turner managed to get off their man-rags long enough to win a football game last Sunday.  Chris Johnson just seems to get worse & worse the farther he gets into that fat contract.  Not even San Diego can piss this game away.  Chargers win 27-13.

Detroit (1-0) at San Francisco (1-0)

Randy Moss must be getting some serious deja vu now.  First the Packers, now the Lions?  If he runs over a traffic cop this week I'm gonna start to get a little freaked out.  Moss will get in the end zone again this week and, if I was a betting man, I'd say it will be on a 30+ yard pass with Chris Houston covering him.  Chris Houston, you're gonna learn the hard way that you don't call out Moss before you play him.  Niners roll 31-20.

Denver (1-0) at Atlanta (1-0)

Could be the game of the week with two of the most complete teams in the league.  Peyton Manning is healthy and Matt Ryan looks ready to take the next step with Julio Jones.  I think the Falcons take this one at home 35-28.


On to The Purple...

First off, I want to go through a couple negatives and positives that I saw last week against the Jaguars.  First up, the positives:

-Matt Kalil: He dominated and gave up no sacks.

-Adrian Peterson: He's healthy, he's still fast, and it appears the knee injury isn't even in the back of his mind when he's carrying the ball.

-Percy Harvin: He can line up anywhere on the field and defenses have no idea how to stop him.

-CP7: Had an awful 1st half, but kept his cool, showed composure, and the game started slowing down for him.

-Erin Henderson: 8 tacks, 1 for a loss, and played every defensive snap.  No glaring mistakes from him is a very positive sign.

-Blair Walsh: 4-4 with a game-tying 55 yarder and the game winner in OT.  'Nuff said.

Now, the negatives:

-Chris Cook & Josh Robinson: Both gave up big completions that are easy INT's if they just turn around and locate the ball.  It almost cost us the game!

-Mistral Raymond: Still biting on play-action passes in the red zone.  Stop that!

-3rd Down Conversions: One of the major goals the offense set for themselves this year was to limit 3rd-and-longs and improve the 3rd down conversion rate (38% last season).  Well, we were 2/10 on 3rd down against the Jags & it was at least a long 6 yards every time.  This isn't gonna get it done against playoff teams.  I really hope to see some improvement on 3rd downs this week against the Colts.

Well, that's that.  One thing became apparent to me last week:  We have the playmakers to compete in the NFC North.  It's going to come down to play calling and execution for this team.  Now let's look forward!

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-0) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1)

The Vikings travel to Indianapolis this week to get their look at #1 overall pick Andrew Luck, who was over-matched against a crafty Bears secondary in Week 1.  The Colts run game is pretty much non-existent, so the Vikings can expect to get tested through the air early & often.

The first challenge coming off a 3-13 season is being able to beat bad teams at home.  The Vikings met this test by dispatching the Jaguars at the Metrodome in Week 1.

The next challenge is here in the game this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium.  The Vikings must beat this Colts team at home in a hostile environment.

IF the Vikings are ready to take the next step, they will beat a far less-complete team, the Colts, on Sunday.  Will they?  I think so.

Three Keys To A Vikings Victory:

Key #1: Get a turnover out of Andrew Luck early.

Doesn't matter how it comes, sack & a fumble or an interception.  Get in his head and make him think twice and the rookie's day will go downhill quickly.

Key #2: Establish the run right away.

The Colts run defense is atrocious and their pass defense isn't much better.  If Adrian gets to the 2nd level he could unleash a big run easily.  Get AP going early and CP7 will reap the benefits in the passing game before long.

Key #3: Trips to the red zone need to end in touchdowns.

We have too many freakishly athletic playmakers (Peterson, Harvin, Rudolph) to not be getting into the end zone every time we get close against this defense.  Red zone touchdowns boil down to two things:  Play calling & QB performance.

Matchups To Watch:

  
Matchup #1: Andrew Luck vs. The Vikings Secondary.

If our secondary can even fight to a draw in this match-up we should win the game.  As long as we don't get torched by the rookie our guys will have done their job.  I think crafty veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield is gonna bait Luck into an ill-advised pass that he will pick off & take to the house.  That's right, America, I'm calling a 'Toine pick six!

Matchup #2: Percy Harvin vs. Vontae Davis.

Davis is the only cornerback on the Colts team worth a damn and no doubt he'll be shadowing Harvin everywhere he goes.  He's good, but Mr. Davis is over-matched on this one.  I think Percy finds the end zone.

Mike's All Purpose Flour Lock Of The Week:

#28 Adrian Peterson

18 carries, 100 yards, 2 touchdowns.  Adrian abuses a weak Colts defense all day en route to a Vikings victory!

Final Takes:

The Vikings need this one.  I predicted 10 victories this season and this was definitely one of them (let's not forget the Vikings play the Niners next week).

The Vikings can't afford to let Andrew Luck get comfortable.  If he's feelin' it he can pick apart a defense.  Let's hit him hard and rattle his cage.  I think Jared Allen gets a couple early sacks, Antoine gets that pick six, and the Vikings jump to an early lead.

Andrew Luck will score some points against our defense, so it's going to be important to keep the pedal to the floor with Peterson, Harvin, & Rudolph.  I think two of those guys get in the end zone and the VIkings win another close, exciting game.

FINAL SCORE:

Minnesota Vikings: 28

Indianapolis Colts: 21

Enjoy the games week and LET'S GO PURPLE!

Blaow!  There you have it, football fans.  Mikey's 9-6 picking the league so far this season and 1-0 picking Vikes game.  Doubt him at your own risk.

For more of Mike's rantings about The Purple, be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@SwervinTaters)

This blog is also on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) and, as mentioned earlier, maintains a Facebook page here.  Stop by and give it a 'like' to make sure that Mike's Thursday night picks are delivered directly to your virtual doorstep.

Ryan's Record Of The Week #6: Swearin'

Ryan presents: Swearin'

Hey rock n roll fans!  After a lengthy, technology-fueled hiatus we are finally back with an all new edition of Ryan's Record Of The Week!

As mentioned before, Ryan is a proud volunteer down at Extreme Noise and has obtained a PhD in punk rock-ology from Lake Street University.  Yeah, that's a real thing.  Google it.

Anyway, we finally made our way back down to find out what the next big thing is going to be.  Ryan was kind enough to turn us on to the new, self-titled album by Swearin'.

Have a look at the video.  Ryan discusses the new album, the missed potential of the title 'Swearin', and says hello to some furry friends.  Check it:

 

Blaow!  Some good old rock n roll from Swearin'.  Check this clip for a better idea of what you're getting into with this band: 

Damn!  We can definitely get behind that.

As always, a big thanks to Ryan for taking time out of his day to have a chat and turn us on to something new.  As mentioned in the video, Tuesday is the day to stop down at Extreme Noise and say hello to Ryan.  As we're sure you're aware, Extreme Noise is an all-volunteer operation run by people who genuinely love the music and want to keep the Twin Cities punk rock scene alive.  Stopping by and picking up an album is the best way to show your support.

As always, this blog is on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) and on Facebook here. Stop by and give us a 'like' if you have the time.  It's free and it's the best way to support our efforts to keep the Twin Cities lookin' good.  Unless, of course, you just want to give us money.  We'll take money too.  But a 'like' helps for sure.

 

Songs Of The Week #5: MinneSarah & TCDroogsma

Bob Mould, Divine Fits, The Grates, and Pony Trash...

Hey everybody! Welcome to Songs Of The Week #5. Yet again we asked regular contributors MinneSarah & TCDroogsma to give us their thoughts on last week's Song Of The Day podcast from 89.3 The Current.

As we've mentioned many times, this is a free song given away each day by The Current. If you enjoy free music be sure to click here and subscribe to the podcast. It's worth every penny.

Only four songs this week thanks to Labor Day on Monday. Kids, what'd you think?

Bob Mould – The Descent (from the album Silver Age)

MinneSarah:

     Ahhh, this song reminds me of Rev105.  What's that, Bob?  You've found the secret to time travel?  Awesome.  This song is not off the beaten path, if anything it beats the path down further Mould road.  It is kicky, guitary, and even the lyrics are nostalgic.  I wouldn't want to listen to a Bob Mould that didn't sound like this.

TCDroogsma:

     It seems weird to me to describe each new Bob Mould single as the aural equivalent of putting on your favorite old sweater.  I mean, this is the same guy who wrote "Black Sheets Of Rain."  Still, Mould has reached the same point as Morrissey, Westerberg, Springsteen, etc... where you can pretty much guess exactly what his new single will sound like before you even here it.  However, just like those artists, that doesn't mean the single will be any less awesome.  Much like "The Silence Between Us" and "I'm Sorry, Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Anymore," (the lead singles from his last two albums), "The Descent" doesn't offer anything new, but if it ain't broke...

Final Score: MinneSarah - 3.5/5

                   TCDroogsma -4/5

Divine Fits – Would That Not Be Nice? (from the album A Thing Called Divine Fits)

(Editors Note: If contributors Justin Meyers & TCDroogsma somehow defied science and had a child it would look exactly like Britt Daniels.  Frreal.) 


MinneSarah:
     
     The beat of this song is pretty low key.  This is the lead singer of Spoon, right?  Well, in any case, he croons that he wishes he was in Minneapolis, so that is a good thing, I guess.  I like the bassline and the shakey percussion, it even has dreamy keyboards that fuel the transitions.  There is nothing wrong with this song, in fact, there is nothing that would not be nice about this song.  However, how to put this delicately, Spoon sucks.  So therefore, this also sucks.

TCDroogsma:

     Like just about everything in life, the main question to consider when dealing with side projects is, "What are my expectations?"  If you've followed Spoon at all over the last 15 years (and let's be real, if you're a white person between the ages of 25-40, you're at least somewhat aware of them), then you know that Britt Daniels is far too much of a perfectionist to create a side project in which he freaks the fuck out.

     
 "Would That Not Be Nice?" is essentially a really good Spoon b-side.  This is not a band thing.  They catch a real nice groove and Daniels sells the hooks as best he can.  Personally, I hate the phrase, "would that not be nice?" but that's no big thing.  Still, this one grew on me each time I listened to it.  Plus, I'm morally obligated to give any song with the phrase, "I wish I was in Minneapolis" at least a 3 of 5.

Final Score: MinneSarah -2/5

                  TCDroogsma -3.5/5

The Grates – Turn Me On (from the album Secret Rituals)

MinneSarah:

     This song has an unmistakable start with some strong vocals.  I hear this song's start on the Current, and immediately I turn the volume down.   The guitar and drums weave in and out of a 90's vibe, which is much appreciated.  They added in tambourines to take away what joy I was gleaning from the upbeat guitar and drums.  It's no secret here that I'm not a huge fan of female vocals, and apologies here, but this song really "grates" on me.  I gave it an extra half point because repeating the chorus in talking words reminds me of Placebo.  Minus the vocals, this song could be pretty good.

TCDroogsma:

     As the week went on I started liking this one more and more despite the fact that it is completely devoid of an original thought.  Musically they do a nice job of breaking up the sounds.  The dancy vibe during the verse gives way to a nice drop-out for the chorus and then a rock n roll bridge.  Whoever arranged this song deserves a hell of a lot of credit.

     Still, this one never really jumps out above background noise.  The hooks are good but not great and the lyrics are kind of vapid.  I don't mean to sound like an asshole, but I'm willing to bet this is the best song on Secret Ritual.  That's not a bad thing, I guess, but it's not a good thing either.

Final Score: MinneSarah -1.5/5

                  TCDroogsma -2/5

Pony Trash – Down To The River (from the EP Pony Trash)

(Editors Note:  Sorry for the lack of audio.  Our usual embedding site is on the fritz and this song has not found it's way to YouTube yet.)

MinneSarah:

     I love that this song could have been made in England in the early 90's. It has a dark, marauding presence, but before that has a chance to bring you down, they temper it with some chimey, upbeat guitars.  The vocals are soft spoken, which makes them sound serious and important alongside the wailing guitars and steady drumbeat.  I don't know what is at the river, but this song makes me want to check it out.  It's probably bad - or maybe this is how you get to Bob Mould's time machine.  Let's go!

TCDroogsma:

     "Down To The River" sounds like what would happen if My Bloody Valentine was impregnated by the Revvy Horton Heat. Sweet.  The twanged-out whirlwind of guitar is the perfect canvas for some reverb-filled vocals and those 'ooh-ooh-ooh's' that you all know I'm a sucker for.  Well done, Pony Trash.

Final Score: MinneSarah -3/5

                  TCDroogsma -3.5/5

So there you go everybody. Another week in the books.

Of course, this blog and its contributors are in no way affiliated with the artists, The Current, or MPR in any way, shape, or form. The views expressed here are only those of the contributors. And again, we highly recommend that you subscribe to the podcast yourself so that you know what they're on about.

For more of MinneSarah, be sure to follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@MinneSarah). When she's not reviewing songs for this blog she's probably winning trivia.

For more TCDroogsma, he can also be found on Twitter and Instagram (@TCDroogsma). You can also check out his personal blog Caffeine &Obscenities for pictures of cats and coffee mugs. Y'know, if you're into that sort of thing.

Newest Industry also has a home on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) and on here on Facebook. Stop by and give us a 'like' if you're, say, just hanging out and killing time fuckin' with Facebook.

Ten & Six With Mike Otto: Week 1 - Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings (Plus Picks!)

Well, it's Week 1 people!  Let's not wait around... and here we go!

Welcome, everybody, to Mike Otto's  Ten & Six.  If you're unfamiliar, Mike is a lifelong Vikings fan and he's agreed to give us his take each week on the Vikings upcoming games.  Be sure to scroll down the blog a little further for his breakdowns of the Vikings offense & defense, and, most importantly, his predictions for the squad this season (hint: He's optimistic).

Fortunately for all of us, Mike is also an avid fan of the rest of the league.  Sure, he could just break down the upcoming Vikings games, but why neglect the rest of the league when there are so many jokes to be made? Be sure to read on after his Vikings preview for his picks for the rest of the week.

So, without further ado, let's all stop pretending to care about baseball and jump into this baby.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The season is here!  Yours truly couldn't be more excited about what's in store for the purple this year.  The bottom line in this game:  If you are gonna be a decent team this season, you CANNOT lose to the Jaguars at home to open the season.

Maurice Jones Drew will play and probably get more carries than Adrian Peterson.  The Vikings will need to hit him HARD and hit him EARLY, remind him he missed all of camp and preseason.

Three Keys To A Vikings Victory:

 Key #1:  Secure the ball on offense, create turnovers on defense.

Neither Adrian Peterson or MJD has been hit in a loooong time.  It will be interesting to see if either of them have ball security issues.  If the Vikings can create a few turnovers and limit their own to zero, they will win the game.  High & tight, AP!

Key #2:  Tackle, Tackle, TACKLE!

Missed tackles killed The Purple last year, and I want to see drastic improvement in this first game.  The first guy to make contact needs to wrap-up strong and wait for his reinforcements to finish the play.

Key #3:  Keep CP7 upright

Christian Ponder had little to no time last year.  If our line could give him an average of 4-5 seconds in the pocket it would go a very long way towards a Vikings victory.  Young quarterbacks can get flustered quickly, so it's very important to make most of CP7's drop-backs a pleasant experience.

Matchups To Watch:

Matchup #1:  Justin Blackmon vs. Vikings Secondary

If Blackmon runs wild against our 2nd level it will be a bad omen for the rest of the season.  If this secondary has improved, the rookie shouldn't be a giant factor in the outcome.  If he goes for more than a hundred or find the end zone more than once The Purple will be flirting with a loss.

  
Matchup #2: Rookie Right End Andre Branch vs. Rookie Left Tackle Matt Kalil

Andre Branch is a tall, lanky, speed rusher coming off the end.  at 6'5" and 265 lbs., he could give Mat tKalil a little trouble.  Kalil was the 3rd pick in the draft and if he wants to validate that right out of the gate he needs to dominate.  As mentioned before, keeping CP7 upright is of the utmost importance.  That starts with protecting his blindside.

Mike's All Purpose Flour Lock Of The Week:

Tight End Kyle Rudolph

He's going to show you want kind of year it will be right away.  6 catches, 70 yards, and a touchdown from Christian Ponder.  Wooday woop!

Final Takes:

I think the Vikes come out fast in this one with 2 first half touchdowns (1 pass, 1 run) only to come out flat in the second half and fail to get in the end zone again.  Lucky for us, the Jaguars are awful and our defense is just good enough.  In the fourth quarter, with the Jaguars driving to tie the game, our defense slams the door, creating a much needed turnover, essentially ending the game.

FINAL SCORE:

Minnesota Vikings: 20
Jacksonville Jaguars 13

... in a game that shouldn't be that close.

MIKE'S WEEK 1 PICKS:

(Editor's Note:  Michael did not make a pick prior to Wednesday night's Cowboys-Giants match for three reasons.

1. He hates Tony Romo.
2. He hates Eli Manning.
3. He hates deadlines.)

On to the picks)

New England at Tennessee

CJ 1.2K says he feels, "as strong as ever" and he's back to his old self.  That's all well & good, but, unfortunately for the Titans, there are 52 other players not named "Chris Johnson" on their team.  One of them is Jake Locker, who will be overwhelmed and under-protected.  Pats roll 35-14

Philadelphia at Cleveland

Michael Vick's flack jacket producer promises he won't get hurt this year.  I wonder if that thing protects him from drownings, electrocution, rape stands, etc... I'm guessing not.  But, since the rest of the league is more humane than Mr. Vick, he won't have to worry about any of that come Sunday.  Vick makes it through this game and the Eagles win 24-9 if only because late night weed-whacker infomercial host Brandon Weeden (known formerly as "Weedin' Weeden) is the Cleveland quarterback.

Fuck you Michael Vick.

Washington at New Orleans

Continuing the trend, RG III starts this game for the Skins.  Although I think he will have a solid debut, recording more TD's than Mike Shanahan blinks, the Skins will lose.  You just can't bet against Drew Brees at home.  Saints win 31-21.

Miami at Houston

What's this? More rookie QB's?  Ryan Tannehill is the latest, greatest Miami QB to give his best Dan Marino impression.  I put his talent level somewhere between Cleo Lemon & Jay Fiedler (poor bastard).  Houston destroys Miami 42-17.

Atlanta at Kansas City

This game got me thinking... who plays for Kansas City?  Billy Buter?  No, wait, that's baseball... hmmm... oh well.  Needless to say, there will be guys in red jerseys playing football at Arrowhead Stadium come Sunday.

For the Falcons, the Matt Ryan-to-Julio Jones combo will have its coming out party while "The Falconer" himself, Michael Turner, and Jaquizz Rodgers (my personal sleeper pick of the year) will provide the 1-2 punch on the ground.  The Atlanta Michael Turners roll 28-13.

Buffalo at New York Jets

This game is gonna be ugly, mostly due to the lack of offensive talent.  I can't wait for the first time Tebow checks into the game and lofts a perfectly thrown ball directly in to an oblivious Rex Ryan's balls.  Quit lookin' at your feet, Rex!  Pay attention!  Your boys are trying to score the 17 points necessary to win this one!  Jets win 17-14


St. Louis at Detroit

The roar has been restored!  The Lions are now the best thing in Detroit (yes, it's gotten that bad).  In all honestly, I think the Lions keep the pressure on Green Bay this year.  They'll demolish the Rams this week 35-14. 

Indianapolis at Chicago

Andrew Luck will try his luck against Mike Tice and the new-look Bears offense.  I wanted tickets to this game but the only guy selling them on StubHub was a "TikeMice" and they were twice the face price.  Bears are upset this week!  Colts win 24-20.

Carolina at Tampa Bay

In terms of QB comparison, Cam Newton is a bright, shining star in the night sky while Josh Freeman is the burning remains of a Ford Pinto on the side of the Tampa highway.  Panthers win 21-6.


Seattle at Arizona

Between John "Skull & Bones" Skelton and Kevin "Can't Justify A Contract" Kolb the Cards are doomed.  Way to ruin Larry Fitzgerald's prime, assholes.  Russell Wilson scores 2 TD's and Seattle wins a clunker 20-13.

San Francisco at Green Bay

The Packers say they expect the old Randy Moss.  They better hope they are wrong.  Moss is listed as a starter but will likely see only 20-25 plays.  Randy will find the Green Bay end zone, though, as he has done 14 times in the past, but the 49ers will fall in a close game 24-20.

Pittsburgh at Denver

Peyton Manning's comeback is complete with this game.  Unfortunately, Manning will be overshadowed when, during the 3rd quarter, Ben Roethlisberger engages in some questionable sexual contact with a 6 out of 10 in the 1st row.  Broncos win 24-20.

Cincinnati at Baltimore

Ray Lewis will dance as he enters the field on Monday night and also realize his new favorite quarterback snack - Andy "Crystalized Ginger" Dalton.  Aaaannnd... Down goes the Red Menace! Ravens win 20-10.

San Diego at Oakland

How does Norv Turner still have a job?  Is Phillip Rivers the most masculine woman ever born?  Carson Palmer is the best QB in the league at throwing 1 TD and 2 INT's, but I think that will be enough in this one.  Raiders win 27-20

Enjoy The Games!

Thank you, Mr. Otto.  For more of Mike's thoughts you can find him on Twitter as @SwervinTaters, where he'll likely be ranting like a lunatic most Sundays.

Of course, this blog is still on Twitter (@NewestIndustry1) and on Facebook here.  Be sure to stop by and give us a "like" when Mike's predictions come to fruition.   

KPlow & The Fork #2: Saffron Restaurant & Lounge

Panning for gold...

Hey food fans!  KPlow & The Fork are back.  After a disappointing trip to The Amsterdam Bar & Hall, KPlow decided to stick around Minneapolis this time and check out Saffron downtown.  Be sure to check out their website here for the location, menu, and various other bits of information.  Tell us a story, KPlow...

Bad water. Joe has dysentery. You have shot 900 pounds of buffalo meat but you can only carry back 100. I think you know what I’m talking about.

Yes, folks…the one, the only, the Oregon Trail.

Well, fast forward a few years, add better graphics and you have the Yukon Trail. See here:

A computer game where you play poker, wait for the ice to thaw…oh yes, and pan for gold.

The panning for gold is immediately what sprung to mind after dining at the swanky Saffron. Riding home, I nostalgiated back to my gaming days on the Yukon Trail, where you would stake a gold claim—based primarily upon speculation from other gold seekers, and then, hope you’d strike it rich.

Well, guess what? I listened to the speculators hoping for nuggets of gold at Saffron, but instead found only flakes. Soon Twin Cities, I’ll find a winner.

For now, munch on this but, heed my advice: just because it’s in the top ten does not make it a tasty chew! :

Enter Saffron:

Vacant tables stare at us as, from giant high glass windows as the Fork and I pull up in our two wheelers around 6:30 on a Tuesday evening. We enter to find about four tables filled. The windows weren’t lying!

The hostess greets us and immediately asks if we have reservations. Ahem…we did, but I haven’t the faintest idea why we would have needed them!

After confirming we were indeed booked for 6:30, we were swiftly escorted to a decent table off to the side near the kitchen. Before our biking butts had time to hit the chairs, someone was already pouring us water. A few minutes later our waiter arrived and gave us a nervous, but thorough rundown of the menu. Things seemed to be going well!

We studied up on the menu, made some decisions and that’s when the flakes…not nuggets appeared.

First, things first, I order a Syrah…

”Ah….” Says the waiter, “unfortunately we do not have that available tonight.” Geez whiz!? You only have 5 glasses of red available and you don’t have the most expensive one in stock? With great misfortune, I got a zinfandel, tasty but not a syrah. Sheez folks, wouldn’t you think you’d have your regular wines, especially the spendy ones, in house?

Next, two appetizers were delivered. One was a squid “a la plancha,” which is a quickly grilled squid marinated in saffron, oil and butter.

The other was Bastirma, a cured beef that is seasoned and found throughout the middle east.

What went wrong? The squid was chewy and tender with the sauce tasting quite lovely. However, the squid was not crisp…or “a la plancha.” Even though “a la plancha” means quickly seared, there should have been some crunch going on. Instead, chew, chew, chew. One of the extremely stingy-sized portions, perhaps $2 of the $8 dish, was at the crisped, crunchy desiredness. No winner here.

The bastirma, the second app, was well seasoned with a paprika flair, and paired with a lovely Palestinian olive oil. The meat, unfortunately, was swimming in the oil! Yes, the backstroke, breast, and I think it was even doing freestyle.

Marcona almonds additionally adorned the plate, which were a nice touch, but the pickled ramps that accompanied it were less than to be desired. Pickled anything, especially ramps, should be delicious, but these were definitely lack luster.

The main meal was a lamb tagine, that arrived in a fanciful tagine pot, like the one seen below.

The main protein of the tagine was boneless lamb shoulder, and boy could you tell. Not an ounce of fat was in the juices. Laden with artichokes, potatoes and olives that surrounded the meat, the shoulder was flavorless and fatless! The broth was liquidy and watery and not luscious and velvety, which is what happens when fat is present. Bummer. The potatoes were a heirloom variety of the fingerling family, but the artichokes sadly were without question, from a can and very metallic. Ish!

I ordered a salad as well, but requested they leave off the dairy, which was inevitably a mistake. Entire dish ruined…darn my lactose intolerance. In all fairness, I will refrain from commenting on the salad, but again, I felt it was lacked luster.

Dessert, surprisingly was a high point. Mango curry sorbet anyone? I think yes! It definitely needed some tweaking but this was such a fantastic idea I couldn’t help but like the crazy concoction!

Like I said, work needed, but the foundation was there. A few bananas added into the mix and maybe some cinnamon, cardamom, and coriander and that sorbet would be in business.

So there you have it folks. Wahwah, another negative review. I’ll find a winner soon!

Next time nuggets, I swear!

Bad times, KPlow.  Bad times, The Fork.  Thanks for stopping by and checking it out for the rest of us.

For more KPlow, she can typically be found banging out posts for her food blog Nettlefetter.  There's also a rumour going around that she maintains a Twitter account.  More on this story as it develops.

This blog not-so-secretly maintains a Twitter account (@NewestIndustry1), be sure to check that for updates.  We're also active on Facebook here.  Be sure to give us a 'like' and we'll try to keep you up to date with all the doin's and transpirin's of our contributors.