Photo by Alexa Jones

“I think Stook pulled off a songwriting clinic on this record,” Garn adds. “I'm serious.” In truth, one of the strongest aspects of both this year's When the Needle and last year's Soundtrack to My Minneapolis is the fact that Stook switches easily between upbeat folk rock and sad, slow Americana ballads, and his newest effort expands even more with songs like “Hennepin Avenue,” a growling, gritty rock and roll tribute to Minneapolis.

“My job's easy,” says Garn, who mans the controls during recording sessions. “Stook delivers great tunes. Any asshole with a microphone and a computer can pull something off with it.”

“See he's all sweet right now when the tapes are rolling,” Stook laughs. “But in the rehearsal space when he's chucking blank CDs at me like ninja stars, it doesn't really come across.”

Though Garn is being modest, one of the most impressive elements of both of Stook's albums is that they sound like they were recorded in professional studios; in fact, the first was recorded in the basement of their old duplex, while the new album was cut in their crowded, noisy rehearsal space. Despite their cramped quarters and challenging work environment, Stook and Garn are able to work harmoniously.

“We're both very level-headed guys, and we're both very honest with each other,” Garn says. “Always have been. So our ability to be really truthful and say things that other people might not in that same setting—”

“—We save a lot of time not having to smooth talk,” interjects Stook. “Sometimes we get angry at each other, but we 're pretty good at walking out the door and just forgetting about it. Moving forward and forgetting about it.”

Photo by Alexa Jones