The Suburbs prove something mighty is happening in Minneapolis

The Suburbs: Goggles On

[Purchase]

In September of 1980 The Minneapolis band The Suburbs released their debut album In Combo on Twin-Tone Records. Robert Christgau was one of the band's early supporters grading the debut an A- and writing:

I know it's endearing amateurism that makes middle America's new wave tick, but these Minnesotans think clockwork is fun--their music is glibly witty, even decelerating into a mournful country-rock triad to make a joke. Their scattershot, nasty-to-nutball humor is oblique or tongue-in-cheek enough to convey an undercurrent of empathy most of the time. And when they're comparing cows' feet to those of sheep, little empathy is required.

In 2015 local music critic Jon Bream put In Combo #2 on his list of favorite Minneapolis albums, writing:

Their quirky, jerky, danceable modern rock was ahead of its time. Much of the vintage ’Burbs music on this LP, such as “Cows,” still sounded fresh and current in the ’90s and ’00s.

There were more bands to come out of the Minneapolis scene thanks to Twin Tone Records, including one that was getting banned from venues in 1980. Originally called The Impediments, until they got kicked out of a halfway house for alcoholics by showing up drunk, The Replacements would release their first single in August of 1981.