Monthly Archives: February 2019

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 140 (2019-07)

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Dropping in with another episode of Tales from the Drop Box. This episode celebrates a few more established artists from the long past in some cases. However, I found it very difficult to not be excited by the inclusion of musicians I grew up listening to as a youngster. A couple of these artists had not released tracks for a long while (decades!) but are back with new records that are vital, intelligent and honest. While Tales From The Drop Box Episode 140 shares new tracks from The Specials, and The Beat feat. Ranking Roger, The Dandy Warhols, and the Lemonheads this episode also features several brand spanking new artists who are making some well-deserved hipster noise including Queen Zee, Fontaines D.C. and International Teachers of Pop. So, tune in, turn up and tell your friends that there is still very interesting new music being released that is beyond the clutches of insipid commercial radio. I note also that the irrelevant movie award are on this evening – don’t waste your time – instead listen to this!

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #140:

  1. International Teachers of Pop – “The Ballard of Remedy Nilsson” ( International Teachers of Pop)
  2. Fontaines D.C. – “Too Real” (Dogrel)
  3. AM Taxi – “Movie About Your Life” (Shiver By Me)
  4. The Beat feat. Ranking Roger – “Maniac” (Public Confidential)
  5. The Dandy Warhols – “Terraform” (Why You So Crazy?)
  6. Bring Me The Horizon – “Mantra” (Amo)
  7. Ian Brown – “Black Roses” (Ripples)
  8. Crocodiles – “Heart like A Gun” (Love Is Here)
  9. Dangerface – “Let It Burn” (Get loud)
  10. The Lemonheads – “Things” (Varshons 2)
  11. Queen Zee – “Loner” (Queen Zee)
  12. Small Talks – “Nicotine & Tangerines” (A Conversation Between Us)
  13. Yak – “White Male Carnivore” (Pursuit of Momentary Happiness)
  14. The Cure – “Fire In Cairo (Demo)” (Three Imaginary Boys)
  15. The Specials – “10 Commandments” (Encore)

Slowly fading blue the eastern hollows catch the dying sun night-time follows silence and black mirror pool mirrors … in matters of my own conduct you may call me a feminazi or a femoid and then see if I give a stinking shit pseudo-intellectuals on the internet hey tell me I’m unhappy because I’m not feminine.

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 139 (2019-06)

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We celebrate President’s Day in the USA. I guess we do so in order to remind us of the times when we actually had capable, honest, intelligent leadership as President. That was then, it is not now. Tales From The Drop Box Episode 139 is one of those too infrequent all female vocal episodes. I try to play a good selection of female artists in these podcasts, but I acknowledge that sometimes I fall short. I’d like to think that I have a bias in favor of woman, but given the sheer volume of indie-alternative-punk rock acts lead by males, it is not surprising if the bias appears the other way. Hopefully this small effort leads to a recognition that both female and male artists produce amazing records and labeling them as “female” adds nothing to the conversation. I could go down a tortured philosophical path here, but I’d be digressing. All you really need to know is that this episode is full of the great stuff. That is, this shit rocks.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #139:

  1. Pi Ja Ma – “Radio Girl” (Nice to Meet U)
  2. Lucy & The Rats – “Night Comes” (Lucy & the Rats)
  3. Moody Beaches – “Wahoo” (Weird Friends)
  4. Campdoggz – “Bat Shit” (In Rounds)
  5. The Estrons – “Body” (You Say I’m Too Much, I Say Your Not Enough)
  6. It’s For Us – “The Bottle The Bomb” (Stay)
  7. Deep Cut – “ The Last Goodbye” (Different Planet)
  8. Stand Atlantic – “Cigarette Kiss” (Skinny Dipping)
  9. Bloods – “Talk” (Feelings)
  10. Brix & The Extricated – “Alaska” (Breaking State)
  11. The Delines – “Cheer Up Charlie” (The Imperial)
  12. Elle King – “Shame” (Shake The Spirit)
  13. Exploded View – “Come On Honey” (Obey)
  14. Essential Logic – “Fanfare In The Garden” (NME Rough Trade C81)
  15. I Am The Polish Army – “You Don’t Know” (My Old Man)

You ain’t always been this big a mess sittin’ outside the slims daytime drinkin’ and feelin’ sorry for yourself . . . I’m alone out here, total blackout in Alaska, the sum of all my fears.

 

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 138 (2019-05)

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Tales From The Drop Box Episode 138 is filled with slightly off kilter lunacy. Working with no plan, this episode arrives at your inbox as a mix tape of sonic goodness. There is still several tracks released last year in this episode because these tracks are just too good to not be heard by you. There are also several new tracks I think you are going to love, because they are so darned catchy you can’t ignore them. Among these new tracks are offerings from Makhaverskan, the Spielbergs and the inimitable Cocaine Piss. As this podcast has evolved over the past couple of years one thing hasn’t changed – the unknown should be familiar to you by now.  For example, I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard of New Zealand punk rock act the Dum Dum Boys before. They are the creators of this week’s throwback track and illustrate the impact of the initial punk rock explosion of 1976-1977 in NYC and London on the colonies.

Somehow I think it all works.

Music has the power to heal. However, it can’t fix radio.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #138:

  1. Makhaverskan – “Demands” (Demands b/w Onkel 7’’)
  2. Wallflower – “I Wish Spring Would Last Forever” (Ever After)
  3. The Paper Kites – “On The Corner Where You Live” (On The Corner Where You Live)
  4. Swampmeat Family Band – “Suzie Stop Saucin’” (Too Many Things To Hide)
  5. Human People – “Jenny” ( Butterflies Drink Turtle Tears)
  6. Sloppy Jane – King Mitis” (Willow)
  7. Mike Kroll – “Power Chords” (Power Chords)
  8. Lovelytheband – “Coachella” (Finding It Hard To Smile)
  9. Silverstein – “The Afterglow” ( The Afterglow/Aquamarine EP)
  10. Garbage feat John Doe & Exene Cervenka – “Destroying Angels” ( Destroying Angels b/w Starman 7’’)
  11. Arndales – “Prestige Pricing” ( Shops)
  12. Hello Atlantic – “Night Life” ( Night Life EP)
  13. Spielbergs – “We’re All Coming To Die” ( This Is Not The End)
  14. The Dum Dum Boys – “Escape From Hell” (Let There Be Noise)
  15. Cocaine Piss – “Pretty Pissed” (My Cake EP)

The day was nearly over they were hosing down the house they caught sight of her poor body in the rushes and the mud . . . I’ve been stuck for some time been chasing lies most of my life ’cause I’m a daydreamer stuck in a nightmare

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 137 (2019-04)

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Another week and another new episode of Tales From The Drop Box. Episode 137 continues the trend of the past couple of episodes as it contains a couple of brand new tracks and a couple from last year. Of course, there is always one classic track. This week that track is from the Buzzcocks recently remastered version of their 1978 debut LP Another Music In A Different Kitchen. With Pete Shelley passing away a couple of weeks ago, the aging punk community lost a pioneer. The Buzzcocks much more than the Sex Pistols, produced the archetype sound for modern punk rock. If you are a young band looking for a “sound” then “Moving Away From The Pulsebeat” could be the blueprint for developing your own variant of punk rock. If you want to hear some more music from the Buzzcocks, then check out Tales From The Drop Box Episode 69 which is an episode dedicated to the Buzzcocks and what makes them special!

Lastly, someone recently asked me what the nonsense is at the end of these notes. Go ahead, scroll down, take a look and then come back. That “nonsense” is the result of the combination of the lyrics from two tracks played in each episode. I enjoy the happenstance of changing the meaning of both songs into something new. That’s it. No deeper meaning or rationale.

As you are aware, music is best enjoyed using all of your senses. You should not only hear it, but you should feel it. So, as always, play loud…. really loud.

NB: If you are in the presence of sensitive ears, then maybe turn down the first track a little bit. Terri Gender Bender uses the mother_ker word, eh? There might be other sensitive words along the way, but not frequent. Forewarned is forearmed.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #137:

  1. Le Butcherettes – “little/Mouse” (bi/Mental)
  2. Dot Dash – “Sun + Moon = Disguise” (Proto Retro)
  3. Exbats – “2027” (E is for Exbats)
  4. Alkaline Trio – “Throw Me To The Lions” (Is This Thing Cursed?)
  5. Brogues – “1982” (Metropolitan Blues)
  6. Smallpools – “Social” (So Social)
  7. Unloved – “Heartbreak” (Heartbreak)
  8. The Living End – “Otherside” (Wunderbar)
  9. Calva Louise – “Cruel Girl” (Rhinoceros)
  10. Northern Labour Party – “No Escape” (We Will Meet In Another Life)
  11. Get Out – “States of America” (We Were Here First)
  12. Spiritual Cramp – “Wrecking Machine” (Television)
  13. The Moth & The Flame – “Only Just Begun” (Ruthless)
  14. Buzzcocks – “Moving Away From The Pulsebeat” (Another Music In A Different Kitchen)
  15. Cherry Pickles – “Elvis Exorcist” (Cherry Pickles Will Harden Your Nipples)

You said the things you did in the past were all because you’re living too fast but now I’m here you’re taking it slow . . . I’m having trouble keeping focused, craving nothing too low from the god of hocus pocus to the goddesses of fun

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 136 (2019-03)

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Thought I would tee up a fresh episode as I have stockpiled some tracks over the past several weeks to give you a winter lift (particularly if you live in the midsection of the US). You are getting this episode before the Super Bowl and a mere 1 day after Episode 135 so you will have two new episodes to listen to this weekend! Tales From The Drop Box Episode 136 is still a mix of new and old tracks and has a couple of familiar artists thrown in for fun. One of those artists is Bob Mould who, as the leader of Husker Du and Sugar, was amazing in those bands, and still is rocking on his latest and 13th solo LP, Sunshine Rock. What is completely unexpected is that this new record is filled with . . . sunny songs . . you know, happy even. Sunshine Rock is a different music experience if you are a Bob Mould fan. Although the album is released next week (February 8) you get to hear some of it early! Also of interest in this episode is the new FIDLAR album. You will not believe where this band’s sound is now. It looks like they discovered the Beastie Boys records and found out how great that band was. The new record is leaps and bounds different, unexpected, and completely lovable. Tales From The Drop Box Episode 136 also has a few more surprises in store for you….

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #136:

  1. T-Rextasy – “Girl, Friend” (Prehysteria)
  2. Bob Mould – “I Fought” (Sunshine Rock)
  3. FIDLAR – “Alcohol” (Almost Free)
  4. Axis: Sova – “New Disguise” (Shampoo You)
  5. The High Divers – “Making Me Want You” (Chicora)
  6. Papercuts – “How To Quit Smoking” (Parallel Universe Blues)
  7. Singing Lungs – “Flow” (Groan)
  8. Makari – “No Longer” (Hyperreal)
  9. Lusts – “True Romance” (Call Of The Void)
  10. Matt Nathanson – “Gimme Your Love” (Sings His Sad Heart)
  11. Buttertones – “Stray Dog Strut” (Stray Dog Strut 8”)
  12. 3upfront – “Heritage” (Puppets and Psychiatrists)
  13. Press Club – “My Body’s Changing” (Late Teens)
  14. The Specials – “It’s You” (Guilty ‘til Proved Innocent)
  15. Dani Bell and the Tarantists – “Driving Me Crazy” (Wide Eyed)

Shakin’ your tail raisin’ some hell rollin’ with the pack on the wrong track into the sail . . . I’ve been swimming in shallow water trying to forget it all I’ve been staring at walls for hours trying to be better off gimme your love

 

KFR