In the aftermath ( and I’m not truly sure “aftermath” is the correct word to describe my feelings) of this President’s day, which was a stark reminder that better Presidents of The United States are part of our history and will hopefully be part of our country’s future, I bring you the latest installment of Tales From The Drop Box! Episode 104 is a bit louder than the norm, but still all good I can assure you. Oh, and a little more eclectic than usual as you can probably tell from the inclusion of both Wilco and The Selecter – back to back. There is still several tunes from last year mixed into this episode but I front loaded this thing with some new tunes, such as the Wombat’s latest and a catchy track from the Dead Deads. In what has turned out to be a rare move, I have also included something that might actually get played on radio i.e. a better track from the latest Nothing But Thieves record than the whiny song about being a drunk loser (you know as “Sorry”).

On a much more serious note, and in the wake (literally) of the tragedy last week in Parkland, Florida, I was reminded of the Eagles of Death Metal show at the Bataclan in Paris and the power of their return to Paris a couple of months later to play a show at the Olympia. I think you’ll also be moved by the power of this track and the moment in the middle of it which is a reminder that we must keep moving forward to escape our grief. As I have previously written at length in these notes about meaningful gun control, I believe we must keep revisiting that message even though it has repeatedly fallen on deaf ears because at some point public opinion will change and there will be action. Maybe the student movement will stimulate such call to action to prevent future tragedies. I truly hope we don’t experience the life altering sadness of another gun tragedy, but I know we will. I also know that only one thing can create positive change – voting.

Rather than leave you with a bummer, Episode 104 is designed to pick you up and move you forward…. forcefully.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #104:

1. Pale Honey – “Replace Me” (Devotion)
2. Nonsum – “Cry” (Nonsum)
3. Ought – “Disgraced In America” (Room Inside The World)
4. The Dead Deads – “Ghosts” (Sketches and Animation)
5. Wombats – “Lemon To A Knife Fight” (Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life)
6. Nothing But Thieves – “I Was Just A Kid” (Broken Machine)
7. The Darts – “Strange Days” (Me. Ow.)
8. Beachheads – “Una” (Beachheads)
9. Broadside – “Tunnel Vision” (Paradise)
10. Aviator – “I Wanna Make Movies, Heather” (Loneliness Leaves The Light on For Me)
11. Monster Treasure – “Neon Garden” (II)
12. Tomb of Nick Cage – “Vampire’s Kiss” (T.O.N.C.)
13. Eagles of Death Metal –“ I Only Want You (Live)” (I Love You All The Time – Captured Live At The Olympia Paris)
14. Wilco – “Gun (Live At The Troubadour 11/12/96)” (Being There (Deluxe Edition))
15. The Selecter – “Paved With Cold” (Daylight)

Just don’t tell me which way I oughta run or what good I could do anyone ’cause my heart it was a gun but it’s unloaded now . . . I’m not really interested in what’s in your heart I don’t want you to fall in love now so please don’t start . . .

KFR

I am pretty psyched up about Episode 103 of Tales From The Drop Box!  Episode 103 is a mix of slightly old tunes from the middle to end of last year and some fresh (like from last week fresh) new stuff. Like last week’s episode, the variety should keep you guessing as to what is coming next and leave you at the end wanting more. Melbourne’s The Bennies just released a pretty awesome record from which you get to hear a track, Toronto’s The Beaches debut LP is full of catchy punk flavored pop rock, and I have brought the fuzz with Venice Italy’s New Candy’s gloom psych pop. Lastly, I am revisiting a track from the Beat (billed in the U.S. and Canada as the English Beat) and it is my all-time favorite track from them. So, lace up your shorts and let’s get kicking!

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #103:

1. Chastity Belt – “Caught In A Lie” (I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone)
2. The Suburbs – “Hey Muse!” (Hey Muse!)
3. Sonic Death – “Diamond Cola” (Space Goth)
4. Dumptruck – “Talk” (Wrecked)
5. The Bennies – “Destination Unknown” (Natural Born Chillers)
6. The Dears – “I’m Sorry That I Wished You Dead” (Times Infinity Volume 2)
7. New Candys  “The outrageous Wedding” (Bleeding Magenta)
8. Typhoon – “Remember” (Offerings)
9. Dog Slaughter Beach – “Gold And Green” (Birdie)
10. Kelly Stoltz – “Get Over” (Que Aura)
11. Subliminal Landmines – “Numbskull” (Destination Nowhere)
12. The Beaches – Money” (Late Show)
13. Brian Fallon – “Forget Me Not” (Sleepwalkers)
14. The English Beat – “End Of The Party” (Special Beat Service)
15. Thea & The Wild – “Dark Horse” (Ikaros)

She said to leave it till the end of the party do it now, you know there’s never a next time . . . you’re caught in a lie living someone else’s dream no one takes you that seriously

KFR

That was the lengthiest lay off I have taken in a couple of years. It was a very busy time for me over the past month and a half, but you’ll be glad to know, I am back and excited about another season of Tales From the Dropbox! I have got a mix of really new stuff and some tunes from the recent past for you to discover and enjoy. All are dropbox worthy (in my humble opinion). I am particularly excited about the new albums from Dead! and DZ Deathrays, as well as my recent stumble upon Beaches, an all-female psych rock group from down under who are a female version of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Not sure why they didn’t hit my radar, but they are definitely on it now.

So, with this being the day after Super Bowl Sunday, why not start today with Episode 102 of Tales from the Dropbox?

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #102:

1. Rainer Maria  “Possession” (Rainer Maria)
2. DZ Deathrays – “Shred For Summer” (Bloody Lovely)
3. Dead! – “Petrol & Anesthetic” (The Golden Age Of Not Even Trying)
4. Yungblud – “King Charles” (Yungblud EP)
5. Remy – “Coco Pebbles” (Remy)
6. Oh Sees – “Cadaver Dog” (Orc)
7. Honey Joy  “All We Need: (Honey Joy)
8. Braggarts – “Spleen” (Exploring New Stars)
9. The Gotobeds – Annette’s Got The Hits” (Definitely Not A Red Kross EP)
10. Beaches – “Void” (Second Of Spring)
11. Surf Rock Is Dead – “Everything They Said” (We Have No Friends)
12. Fruit & Flowers – “Subway Surfer” (Drug Tax)
13. Muskets – “Could You Wait” (Chew)
14. Red Cross – “I Hate My School” (Red Cross EP)
15. Naked Naps – “Torn Corners” (Year Of The Chump)

I got a skull sits on the mantle crawl up from hell talk to the devil … I am a grenade, you are a metal grate I throw myself at you but I will not break you are the bloody boot pressed into my head you are the reason that they don’t care…

KFR