Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tales From The Drop Box 2018-15 (Episode 116)

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Now that school is in session for another year, Tales From The Drop Box Episode 116 is also gearing up for fall with the latest trends and styles…. not likely. Here you will find a selection of music loved by your host, Mr. Belding, that have been released relatively recently and that you are unlikely to find on the radio or in some Spotify playlist. Someone asked me what the purpose of the show is. Purpose? WTF? I have an objective, not a purpose. The objective is to bring you the best new music while focused on the music and the musicians, not their social life, nor their Instagram worthiness. I do not care who they are dating. The only critical analysis in these podcasts is related to my enjoyment i.e. that a record connects with me on an emotional level i.e. joy, sadness, happy, anger, etc. Music is emotional and I believe that it is meant to be experienced on both physical and emotional levels. The best songs make you want to move, to sing-a-long, to think about the lyrics. That is, they connect with you on multiple levels. I know that some of these tracks may not make an instant connection. Some tracks you may never connect with because of mood, time, or the energy it takes to make that connection. Some tracks may leave you cold. I get it. However, I appreciate that you still follow along, looking for that diamond track – the one song that sparkles and shines and that you can’t help but smile when you hear it. I’m looking to bring you joy. These songs do that for me.  This podcast is simply my effort to share my experience with you. That’s it.

Also, for those of you who were not here at the beginning, sometimes these notes are a version of a public forum. That is, these notes are where I, on occasion, share my perspective on various matters. In general they concern current legal, political, or ethical issues and I and often explore their intersection looking for a fresh perspective on a topic or bringing attention to an important ( at least in my mind) issue. Sometimes these notes are simply Trump bashing. I also know that Trump is a truly easy target.The Trump bashing is simply my way of adding my voice to a permanent record of the shit show this President has created and the dangers of an uniformed electorate who vote for a pathologically and chronic lying sack of shit who is also morally bankrupt and corrupt. Feel free to fact check the last statement. The only portion that I believe, at this point in time, is purely opinion is that Trump is also corrupt. Everything else is fact. Don’t get hung up on the morally bankrupt contention – this fact is self-proving. Given this past week’s disclosure of the immunity deals for Trump’s inner circle of crooks, I’m feeling confident that the “corrupt” aspect of my statement will also prove to be a fact as well.

So, if you are sensitive, do not want to read my perspective, then skip these notes. I’m good with it if you are! I am positive that if you are listening to this podcast that you also have ideas, opinions, and thoughts of your own that are also interesting, intelligent and amusing (see how I did that?) and perhaps you can drop me a note expressing some of those thoughts.

If all you are interested in is the music, then be assured that Tales From The Drop Box is only about the music but the notes may not be about the music at all. Does it make sense now?

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #116:

  1. The Ballroom Thieves – “Almost Love” (Paper Crown EP)
  2. The Sufis – “All Knowing” (After Hours)
  3. The Shins – “Mildenhall (Flipped)” (The Worms Heart)
  4. Palace Winter – “The Ballroom” (Nowadays)
  5. Sweet Reaper – “Black Widow” (Sidekick)
  6. La Luz – “Don’t Leave Me On The Earth” (Floating Features)
  7. Poptone – “Mirror People” (Poptone)
  8. Dearist – “Shame” (Sonder)
  9. Middle Kids – “Bought It” (Lost Friends)
  10. Better Half – “Fixate” (Maybe I Was Wrong EP)
  11. Slapshot – “Make America Hate Again” (Make America Hate Again)
  12. The Coronas – “Not Sure How To Lie” (Reprise EP)
  13. Pet Symmetry – “Ends With Benefits” (Reflection)
  14. Plasmatics – “Butcher Baby” (Butcher Baby b/w Fast Food Service 7”)
  15. Gouge Away – “Only Friend” (Burnt Sugar)

Butcher baby dressed up in red, butcher baby messed in your head . . . the mirror people, know not how to cry so they scream, the mirror people scream inside

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box 2018-14 (Episode 115)

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Tales From The Drop Box Episode 115 is a foreign affair. Lately I have been somewhat fascinated with this new-ish amalgam of J-Pop and hard rock/punk and/or metal. I discovered Babymetal a few years ago, and that band’s sound and visual presence were certainly compelling as there is nothing like it on the U.S. musical landscape. Skipping forward a few years, and now that combination of a pop-singer fronting a punk rock or metal band is more developed, and represents a unique and interesting development in the rock music landscape. So, today you get a taste of two of these bands – Band-Maid (whose visual gimmick is to all dress in maid outfits), and Dizzy Sunfist, a three piece band from Osaka who perform a ferocious punk variant of this sound.

Episode 115 also catches up a bit on new music i.e. most of the tunes in this episode are from the past month or so. For those of you who are using this podcast as a buying guide for new tunes or to feed a vinyl habit, you should be able to find almost all of these albums for sale on either Bandcamp or Amazon, or at your favorite e-tailer. For those of you lucky enough to have a local record store, I recommend you go there to find new stuff. Record stores are my favorite place to spend a couple of hours searching for the next thing to listen to.  Remember, there is nothing like vinyl to make your heart sing and vinyl significantly enhances the sound as well as the listening experience. Further, with vinyl records you can’t have your security clearance revoked if you disagree with me!

Finally today, I couldn’t help note that we shouldn’t mock Rudy Giuliani with his “truth isn’t truth” remark from yesterday. This phrase has a rational meaning in only one context (also courtesy of the Trump administration) – the truth isn’t truth …. when it is based on alternate facts! I’m positive this is what Rudy meant to say before he was interrupted.

Makes sense now, doesn’t it?

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #115:

  1. Band-Maid – “I Can’t Live Without You” (World Domination)
  2. Charlion – “Disco For Losers” (Disco For Losers)
  3. The Black Delta Movement – “Hunting Ground” (Preservation)
  4. Davenports – “I Don’t Know What To Do” (Don’t Be Mad At Me)
  5. The Pretty Flowers – “Some Girls” (Why Trains Crash)
  6. Foxing – “Lich Prince” (Nearer My God)
  7. From Lambs To Lions – “All’s Well That Ends Well” (D\scord)
  8. Asylums – “When We Wake Up” (Alien human Emotions)
  9. Barely March – “Corduroy” (Marely Barch)
  10. The Hunna – “Summer” (Dare)
  11. 77:78 – “Love Said (Let’s Go)” (Jellies)
  12. Thin Lips – I Know That I’m The Asshole” (Chosen Family)
  13. New Threads – “Alcohol” (New Threads)
  14. Sad Lovers & Giants – “Alice Isn’t Playing” (Where The Light Shines Through:1981-2017)
  15. Dizzy Sunfist – “Summer Never Ends” (Dreams Never End)

In the light you can disappear without a trace in the night every shadow seems to burn your face . . . Nioi tatsu hodo no yokujo kurushiku naru hodo hoshii no? (Trans: For having such sense of lust do you painfully want it that much?)

 

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box 2018-13 (Episode 114)

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Bang. Here you have Tales From The Drop Box Episode 114 arriving a scant few days after Episode 113. What gives, you might inquire? Well, as you know there was the lengthy break in these podcasts but I was still listening to new music. So, I stockpiled a few things knowing that upon my return I had to go bigger, badder, and win you back. Episode 114 is a little more melodic than last week. Overall, the tracks are closer to the pop end of the rock spectrum, but there is a solid block of modern post-punk sounds that should keep you somewhat balanced. I know at least one of you (JB from Vancouver) is still recovering from the Pagan track a couple of episodes ago, so this should be a somewhat more pleasant listening experience for you as there is no disco/punkrock/deathmetal tracks this time. Maybe next time …

Oh, and so we are clear… The Whitehouse is not the place for Nazis. Why do we have to even say this?

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #114:

  1. Pi Ja Ma – “Ponytail” (Radio Girl EP)
  2. Waterparks – “ Blonde” (Entertainment)
  3. Shame – “Dust on Trial” (Songs of Praise)
  4. Cabbage – “Postmodernist Caligula” (Nihilistic Glamour Shots)
  5. Animal Flag – “Void Ripper” (Void Ripper)
  6. Acollective – “All Lights Up” (The Coming Of Light)
  7. Welshy Arms – “All For Us” (No Place Is Home)
  8. Blurred Out – “Ain’t It A Shame” (Blurred Out)
  9. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – “How long?” (Hope Downs)
  10. Proud Parents – “Take My Hand” (Proud parents)
  11. Night Flowers – “Unwound” (Wild Notion)
  12. Warm Thoughts – “Airport” (I Went Swimming Alone)
  13. Rise Against – “Savior” (Ghost Note Symphonies Vol. 1)
  14. The Alarm – “What Kind Of Hell (Illegal Records Demo Version)” (Eponymous 1981-1983)
  15. Remember Sports – “The 1 Bad Man” (Slow Buzz)

I’m not afraid of what I did but I’m not getting over it and I know and I know and I know that I asked you to stay I’m just a bad man today …. Your defense is crumbling slowly you cannot get a witness to stand what’s it like when millions of voices stand up and call you a cheat what kind of hell what kind of hell am I living in

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box 2018-12 (Episode 113)

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I am trying to keep the momentum going, so here is Tales From The Drop Box Episode 113 in your inbox for another episode of music and talking about the music rather than the personal lives of the musicians making the music. There is nothing too deep, musically, lyrically, or spiritually this week in this episode. Rather, in trying to figure out what theme this week’s tracks pose I’m a little stumped. There are some lengthier tracks unlike recent episodes, but this week is essentially a hodgepodge of good stuff triggering the whole emotional spectrum. It is  a sound clash happening. i.e. a juxtaposition of diverse sounds. Perhaps this episode is indicative of undiscovered uncertainty and inner turmoil in your life. Certainly not in mine….. Whatever it is, I think you’ll find some tracks you can emotionally connect with and respond to and perhaps find that gem of a track that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life.Each week that is my goal.

If you want to leave a comment, respond to something I played, or complain about how exceptionally awesome this podcast is, then you know where to find me!

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #113:

  1. Colour Me Wednesday – “Boyfriend’s Car” (Counting Pennies In The After Life)
  2. Abductees – “Warning” (Dead Friends & Old Times)
  3. Public Access T.V. – “Ain’t No Friend of Mine” (Street Safari)
  4. The Growlers – “Problems III” (Casual Acquaintances)
  5. Angry Youth Elite – “Pissed” (Ready! Set! No!)
  6. Deecracks – “All Along” (Sonic Deliveries)
  7. Runaway Brother – “All Saints Day” (New Pocket)
  8. The Defects – “Action Junkie” (Feed The Good Dog)
  9. Lawn – “Rats” (Blood On The Tracks)
  10. Dog Fashion Disco – “Primate” (Experiments In Embryos)
  11. Abay – “Lemonade” ( Love & Distortion)
  12. Berry – “Civil Disobedience” (Everything, Compromised)
  13. Ash – “True Story” (Islands)
  14. Secret Affair – “Time For Action” (Glory Boys)
  15. Shilpa Ray – “Add Value Add Time” (Door Girl)

Standing in the shadows where the in-crowd meet we’re all dressed up for the evening we hate the punk elite . . . Did you see that crazy man who wore a tree on his head? Muttering obscenities under his breath Hell, I’d be pissed off if they broke my shell and built a Whole Foods on top of it instead

 

KFR

Just For Fun Concerts EP 2018-11 (Episode 112)

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I know this may come as a surprise to some of you…Tales From The Drop Box Episode 112 is finally here. I took a break. Okay, it was a little longer than planned. But I’m back. If you missed me, then I know this show fills a gap in your playlist and in your heart. If you didn’t miss me…well… that makes me sad. You should want new music. I read an article the other day that people stop looking for new music when the reach, on average , 28 years old! Can you freaking believe it! This show aims to stop musical paralysis. So, if you are stuck in a music rut, break out. Fight for your right to be free of commercial radio which turns your appreciation into mush. Do you really give a rats ass about the following list of the top selling songs in the United States this week:

  1. Drake – In My Feelings
  2. Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – I Like It
  3. Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B – Girls Like You
  4. Drake – Nice For What
  5. Ella Mai – Boo’d Up
  6. Juice WRLD – Lucid Dreams
  7. Post Malone – Better Now
  8. Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry
  9. Post Malone Featuring Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho
  10. Drake – God’s Plan

WTF? People are actually spending real money on this crap? America is lost (but you knew that – see Donald J. Trump as Exhibit 1). I am fighting for the musical soul of the world as we are under attack by lying weasels who will try to convince us that this crap is good! By analogy, it is kind of like global warming and climate change – we all know that these climactic events are factual, present, and the science supports the factual foundation for climate change (what would NASA know) but there is always some ass hat (Go ahead – click the link you know you want to) trying to falsely claim the opposite. You know …it’s like weather….. Pop music is the same. There are numerous sycophants claiming the above radio friendly music is the best of the century because the money train evolves around the unbelievable excesses of truly mindless individuals producing disposable mindless crap. See again the above list as an exemplar. What is surprising is the true boot-licking by magazines such as Rolling Stone that try to stay relevant by pandering to this garbage. See this amazing list of pay to suck up listing “Crazy in Love,” Beyonce feat. Jay-Z as its No. 1 of the Top 100 Songs of the Century So Far. This magazine must die. Rolling Stone has sold out both its soul and its credibility. Don’t you worry Pitchfork – I noticed today that you also are going to devote entire sections to this stuff. I know it sells. That is so not the point.

Unbelievable. Fight for truth.

So, here is to starting a revolution both musically and politically – shake your ass and your mind will follow. Throw off the chains of musical paralysis, stop listening to radio, think for yourself. Choose life. Choose new music. Party your ass off…. (and don’t forget to check out the Pagan track as it will change your life!)

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #112:

  1. Boytoy – “Mary Anne” (Night Leaf)
  2. Johnnie Guilbert – “Afraid” (I Could Sleep Here, I Could Die Here)
  3. The Third Sound – “Nine Miles Below” (All Tomorrow’s Shadows)
  4. Iceage – “Hurrah” (Beyondless)
  5. King Blank – “Killer In The Rain” (The Real Dirt plus Singles A + B Sides)
  6. Little Junior – “Accolades” (Hi)
  7. Mom Jeans – “Glamorous” (Puppy Love)
  8. Parquet Courts – “Almost Had To Start A Fight/ In And Out Of Patience” (Wide Awake!)
  9. Dance Gavin Dance – “Story of my Bros” (Artificial Selection)
  10. State Champs – “Safe Haven” (Living Proof)
  11. Pagan – “Imitate Me” (Black Wash)
  12. Bodega – “How Did This Happen?” (Endless Scroll)
  13. Flasher – “Pressure” (Constant Image)
  14. Jay Reatard – “All Over Again” (Singles 06-07)
  15. Bad Waitress – “Let’s Get Fucked Up” (Party Bangers Vol. 1 EP)

It’s new world now don’t discriminate everyone is equally a master and a slave . . . It’s not as glamorous as you thought it’d be it’s not as easy as everyone made it seem . . .

KFR