Slow States Podcast #26: Bowl Previews And Our Albums Of The Year

Podcasts this big only come around but once a year. We touch on all the Big Ten bowl games (the first of which kicks off tonight at 10:00 pm Eastern) and then switch gears and hit all of our favorite albums of 2010.

Can anyone from the Slow States reasonably expect to win their bowl game? Is the Kanye West album really as good it sounded the first time through? What is the best variety in the Robitussin Christmas Variety Pack? (Spoiler: all of them.)

Slow States Podcast #25: We Is Legend

Another potential bowl preview turned into a discussion of the happenings. Namely and most obviously: Big Ten logos (your EDSBS deconstruction), division names and annual trophies (of which this one is my favorite).

We also play out what Al Golden to Miami means for the KOK’s chances at Pitt, and who else is keeping a drug house in Iowa, anyway?

Slow States Podcast #24: When The Walls Come Tumbling Down

Perhaps this won't be another boring off-season, after all. We planned on blasting through the various Big Ten bowl matchups -- only Ohio State is favored by the oddsmakers, by the way -- but decided to postpone that discussion due to a variety of breaking news stories. Indiana made a stunningly good hire for their football program. Minnesota's Athletic Director went Full Frontal Dipshit in an interview with a local newspaper. Dave Wannstedt was fired yesterday in Pittsburgh (although his iconic mustache will receive a dandy golden parachute package), and about 10 minutes before we recorded, the DJK story filtered out of Iowa.

How to cope? If you're Patrick, it's Templeton Rye every time.

Slow States Podcast #23: Dadgummed

As we were kicking around ideas for off-season (yes, it's kind of here) podcasts, Kevin came up with the bright idea to talk with the Bud Elliott, founder of SBNation's incredibly popular Florida State blog, Tomahawk Nation. We talk about -- what else? -- life with an 80+ year old coach in a young coach's world. Could the scenario in Happy Valley play out the same was as it did in Tallahassee? Yeah, probably not, but we look at the situation from all angles -- recruiting, political power plays, manipulation of the press, and much more.

Slow States Podcast #22: Cause And Effect

Well, this one got a little out of hand. We recap the last week of Big Ten action, and find our Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions crawling to the finish line with identical 7-5 (4-4) records. We also take a look at the Rich Rodriguez situation, Bill Lynch’s firing, the apparent joy of playing for Jeff Horton, bowl projections, and the recently released All Big Ten teams.

And there’s music and beer, of course. No matter the failure on the field, there’s music and beer.

Right-click and download or search for “Slow States” in the iTunes Store to subscribe.

Listening Links: Nada Surf, Bingo Trappers, and get the Ryan Adams show over at Captains Dead.

Brew: Terrapin Brewing, Troegs Mad Elf Ale, Crooked Tree IPA.

Slow States Podcast #21: We Have No Intentions Of Going Anywhere

It’s been a rough year for your humble podcasters but we’re still dangerously close to the end of it. Luckily for you this site is young and we have no intentions of doing one damn thing differently. It’s Patrick in poor health, Kevin explaining his Farve comment and Chris impatiently waiting to hear a soul Wilco cover.

Slow States Podcast #20: The Great Sell Out

Two neutral-site conference games this week. First, there's the END ZONE OF DOOM at Wrigley.

Then there is Indiana's home game in Washington D.C. against Penn State, which netted the Hoosiers a tidy $3,000,000 -- essentially equal to a full home slate at Indiana's Memorial Stadium. Get paid, Hoosiers. Get paid.

Slow States Podcast #19: The Smoking Crater

We've had our good Saturdays here at Slow States Consolidated Industries -- this was not one of them. Kevin and Patrick bring their tales of road misery from Columbus and Evanston, and we cover the rest of an extremely odd week of Big Ten action. That includes whatever that thing was in Madison, football-like activity between Purdue and Michigan, and Minnesota picking up their first win since September 2.

Music Links: The new, free Girl Talk album, Delta Spirit on MySpace and a link to that new EP as soon as I find one.

Slow States Podcast #18: Lawya Up

Kevin was unavoidably detained, so we welcomed our very first guest to the Slow States Podcast: Graham Filler from Big Ten superblog Off Tackle Empire. He talks about what it's like to live as a Michigan fan in these turbulent, high-scoring times, and we collective span the conference with the depth of knowledge you've come to expect from Slow States. Oh, and Chris may have forgotten who Penn State played five days ago.

Slow States Podcast #17: Where The Goal Posts Keep Moving

And Wolverine games keep getting weirder. Michigan and Illinois combined for 49 points in one quarter, Penn State overcame a 21-point deficit, and Iowa flirted with Death By Hoosier all afternoon before having a miracle dropped into their hands. Fun weekend. Oh, and Michigan State and Wisconsin won games, we guess.

Hype Machine Links: Deerhunter, Damien Jurado, The Pack A.D.

Beer: Troegs’ Mad Elf Ale, 5 Day IPA, and Flying Dog Raging Youknowwhat complete with your Virginia-approved label.

Slow States Podcast #16: Minnesota Aims High, Shoots Self In Foot

So, Minnesota thinks they should go after Chris Petersen, Jim Harbaugh, and Gary Patterson? Free advice: start with Rich Kotite and work upward.

All your friends are here to preview a pretty awful slate of Big Ten games, and none of us can figure out how Michigan is favored by a field goal. Gambling conspiracies, dead-coach cloning, and much more, right now on your friendly, neighborhood Slow States podcast.

Check out tour and more from Justin Townes Earle, who I saw at a side tent in Bonnaroo, playing a full set in a full suit in the 90-something Tennessee heat. You can also check out this YouTube search for our outro: Adam Haworth. Podcast can be right-click'd and owned here and of course iTunes iTunes iTunes.

Slow States Podcast #15: We Have This iTunes "Explicit" Tag, Might As Well Use It

There’s no sadness, no consternation. No demands to FIRE EVERYBODY, no cries of “UNACCEPTABLE.” No poorly spelled message board posts, no kicking of dogs. It’s Super Happy Fun Time at Slow States, with Iowa’s crushing of Michigan State, and Penn State’s dong-punching of Michigan. And other things happened, we guess. Like answering the eternal question, “Does Black Heart Gold Pants run on the blood of douchebags?”

Parts of the podcast aren’t, how you say, work positive. Headphones, people.

Slow States Podcast #14: Me, Myself and I

What's a man to do when he's spending his very last night in a strange town and the rest of the Slow States crew has bailed? SOLO PODCAST, BABY. Is it any good? Probably not, but it's a (thankfully) short spin through this week's Big Ten games and the scissor lift tragedy at Notre Dame.

And yes, that closing song combines Kanye West, Wilco, and the Superbowl Shuffle. You're welcome. Kevin will be back with tales from the Rally To Restore Sanity / Rally To Keep Fear Alive event in D.C, and Patrick will be back with...well, a victory hangover if my prediction is correct.

Slow States Podcast #13: We're All Waterskiing Tea Cup Riders Now

What kind of world are we living in when Illinois has a totally legitimate shot at 9-3? Well, it's a world in which Ohio State goes Cobra Kai on Purdue, and Penn State forgets the coveted Governors' Victory Bell on the sideline after beating Minnesota. Or maybe it's a world in which Michigan State is an unstoppable force, and Iowa can't execute a special teams play without utter disaster.

Yeah. None of it makes sense anymore. Thankfully, the full Slow States team is here to break down Saturday's games, and throws in a few music and beer suggestions for good measure.

Slow States Podcast #12: We Are Living In The Future

Technology continues to plague our master plan to spread out and dominate the central part of the country, but adversity made us stronger on this occasion. Some decisive die will be cast with Penn State on the ropes, Ohio State off their pedestal, and Iowa is either in this Big Ten race or not after their bout with Wisconsin this week. We’ve got a lot to talk about.

Music: Intro from Jupiter One, and more from our interlude from the Hey Marseilles on NPR.

Slow States Podcast #11: GO FIGHT PODCAST WIN

A great Big Ten slate, Michigan State rolls, Wisconsin with the upset, and Penn State is saved by the bye.

Brewster went down early and, sadly, for the last time as a member of our beloved money-grabbing brotherhood. We're (temporarily) a man down but marching on after one of the best weeks of Big Ten football in years.

Podcast 10: Double Digit Yammering, Because It's Good For You

The gang does their best to chart where exactly this apparent Paterno disaster fits on the Bowden-Bear scale, and is Patrick really more worried about losing Kirk Ferentz in 2011 than losing to Michigan in 2010? You'll probably be surprised.

Music picks: The Walkmen have most of their new tracks on YouTube, and NPR has your 1962-1964 Bob Dylan right here.

Super Late Podcast Madness

With Patrick off plotting his hatred for Iowa's dastardly rival Purdue, Kevin and I finally got around to discussing Penn State's debacle in Iowa City, the continued scorched earth campaign of Denard Robinson, and we debate who's dumber: Joe Paterno or Ron Zook. Seriously. It's come to this.

Podcast Seven: When The Grain Belt Gives You Lemons, Drink Grain Belt

Our wrap of last week's Big Ten contests with some venting from the inconsolable Patrick. Never has a fan base worked so hard to watch something so disappointing.

We skimp on the preview if only because this is the worst Big Ten slate of our lifetime. You can thank us later, for that and the (as always) beverage and music picks before the wrap-up.

Music: The Black Crowes on last.fm, A second link for the new Neil Young and yes this Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings stuff is pretty good. Right-click here to download the podcast.

Podcast Six: The Week The Internet Became Nothing More Than A Couch In Morgantown

It was billed as a Week 2 for the ages, and although most of the games turned out to be less competitive than everyone hoped, we certainly learned a lot. At least we hope we did. And yes, a strong set of games calls for a strong set of extremes. Does Penn State's defense, a top 15 unit for years now, needs to tear the house down? Denard for Heisman? Anything is possible.

And a bonus for you early subscribers: With Patrick temporarily Interwebless, there was nothing to keep Chris and I from spending a lot of time on the pretty outrageous online reaction to an absolutely practical event: Penn State losing to #1 ranked Alabama on the road. Chris even turns on David Jones. Briefly, but we here at Slow States know garbage when we see it.

We hope to double dip in a couple of days when we take a look at Go Ahead And Sleep In Saturday, I mean it doesn't get any better than this, does it? We'll throw our musical picks at you then.

Podcast Five: It’s All A Relative Mess

Data! We've got it, kind of. Your friends at Slow States take a look at what stood out during week one, discuss how to evaluate Michigan and Notre Dame when their week one adversaries are somewhat unknown, and note what we're looking for on MONSTER SATURDAY. SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY!

As always, stick around for the music suggestions, with a Texas beer pick to boot.

Listening Links: Stream the new The Walkmen album from NPR or pick it up Lisbon at Amazon. You know how to find Johnny Cougar, but here's a start. Check out King Khan & the Shrines on MySpace.

Podcast Four: Where Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad

We somehow managed to not make a single Meat Loaf reference during the entire half-hour podcast. Come for the sane discussion about Information Overload Wednesday, and as always, stay for the parting music suggestions.

Speaking of parting music: Get all seven minutes of Adirondack Amish Holler, off the Frontier Ruckus album The Orion Songbook. Outro tune part of Pomplamoose's "Another Day," live from the "basement" studio. One of their older albums if you're inclined: Pomplamoose Videosongs. The new Aqualung album, Magnetic North, which Patrick assures you doesn't suck.

Podcast Three: Splintered Rays Of Infallible Knowledge In All Directions

Well, perhaps that's slightly overstating things, but we assembled the full Slow States team and blitzed our way through a full Big Ten preview. And by "blitzed", I mean we lazily sauntered through all eleven Big Ten teams and an extended discussion of the ongoing saga of Michigan, tOSU, and tGame.

It's the only Big Ten preview you'll need, assuming you don't need anything factually accurate, entertaining, or informative.

Slow States Podcast 2: Prison Letters And The Agony Of Defeat

Ethics! What should you do with a letter that's meant for an imprisoned Florida sex offender? How should you handle the delicate process of booting a student-athlete from your football program because of oversigning? We attempt to provide sound counsel, and masochistically revive the memories of two Penn State tragedies in honor of ESPN's House Of Pain series. And would you really drink a Beer Bloody Mary?

Slow States Podcast #1

Beer, music and Big Ten football: let's give it a shot.

Big Ten Media Days strays off topic, but we don’t. Delany sheds some light on how exactly the divisional process will work out. And why you should never, ever let your guard down between sets.