Monthly Archives: April 2020

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 156 (2020-04) The Pandemic Episodes

Posted on by
Reply

And the pandemic continues … . I never thought I’d ever have to use the word “pandemic” in a sentence. As some areas of the country begin to open up their businesses and try to gain some economic activity, I find it somewhat distressing to discover that I am curious about how willing our politicians are to engage in a potential lethal social experiment.  Certainly some citizens will lose their lives as we move forward, the unaddressed question being – “How many?” Hopefully the death rate from this latest virus declines and the country, which has been largely cast adrift by the staggering incompetence of the White House, somehow finds not only relief from the deadly virus but also rediscovers its soul. I’m not so confident about the last statement. COVID-19 deaths have converted individuals into mere numbers uprooted from the tragedy of each individual’s death.

Hopefully, you’ll find some joy in this episode – Episode 156 of Tales From the Drop Box. Take care my friends. Stay safe.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode 156:

  1. The Tuts – “Always Hear the Same Shit” (Update Your Brain)
  2. Ultimate Fakebook – “Manhattan Kansas” (The Preserving Machine)
  3. The Candy Coat Hook (Andy Partridge) – “Cavegirl” (Various Artists – 12 The Flavors of Hercules)
  4. Canine 10 – “On/Off” (Nonsense!)
  5. The Smith Street Band – “Big Smoke” (Don’t Waste Your Anger)
  6. Love Fame Tragedy – “My Cheating Heart” (I Don’t Want To Play The Victim, But I’m Really Good At It)
  7. Savak – “Exposure” (Rotting Teeth in the Horse’s Mouth)
  8. Bloodwitch – “Hey Little Girl” (I Am Not Okay With This (Music from the Netflix Original Series)
  9. Naked Six – “Lost Art of Conversation” (Lost Art of Conversation)
  10. Twisted Wheel – “Black and Blue” (Satisfying the Ritual)
  11. Butterfingers – “Dancing (To The Beat Of My Own Drum)” (Bad News)
  12. Dry Cleaning – “Magic of Meghan” (Sweet Princess EP)
  13. The Subways – “ I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say” (Young for Eternity (Deluxe Edition))
  14. Fine Young Cannibals – “Don’t Look Back” (The Raw & the Cooked)
  15. Leslie Mendelson – “If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…” (If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…)

Never had a holiday in the tropical sun, good times look like they’re never gonna come . . . My mind is all made up I’m doing all I can I’m trying hard to think but I can’t understand why every time I see you, you just walk away…

 

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 155 (2020-03) The Pandemic Episodes

Posted on by
1

Now we are just Zoom-bombing along! Tales From The Drop Box Episode 155 is truly an embarrassment of musical riches. I have had some time i.e. several months to gear things up during the long cold winter and there is simply a glut of very good music being released during the time I was away. Unfortunately, for a number of musical acts, the COVID-19 pandemic is going to wipe out any commercial opportunity from the release of their music. This lack of commercial opportunity is just one of a myriad of consequences caused by the pandemic and the resultant 22 million people applying for unemployment benefits in the U.S. in just the past 30 days. As this episode of Tales From The Drop Box amply demonstrates – there is some really good music out in the world right now. I am bringing these episodes to you with the hope that you actually buy the music. Most of these acts and their labels have Bandcamp websites or stream through Spotify. If your curious, reach out and find out how you can support them to create more music.

Taking the slim silver-lining position amidst this unusual and very tragic period, can you imagine the explosion of music that is going to be released post-pandemic? However, I am a more than a little worried about the artists and bands that will not recover from the economic consequences caused by this pandemic. In essence, musicians are small businesses and they need your help. So, if you are so inclined, seek out and buy something from any one of these bands in this episode – large act or small, national, regional or local act. It doesn’t matter what stage the act is in because they all could use the cash.

Oh, turn it up and PLAY LOUD!

Here is what you’ll find in Episode 155:

  1. The Bombpops – “Notre Dame” (Death in Venice Beach)
  2. Born Ruffians – “Breathe” (Juice)
  3. The Lovely Eggs – “I Am Moron” (You’ve Got The Balls)
  4. All Time Low – “Some Kind of Disaster” (Wake Up Sunshine)
  5. The Decibels – “Million Ways” (Big Sounds Again)
  6. High Hi – “Firepool” (Firepool)
  7. Parsonsfield – “River Town” (Happy Hour on the Floor)
  8. Beach Bunny – “Ms. California” (Honeymoon)
  9. Chubby and The Gang – “Speed Kills” (Speed Kills)
  10. Part Time Killer – “Insane and Free” (The Fight)
  11. The Special Bombs – “Not Too Old” (Eruptions)
  12. No No No – “Hypocrites” (Live Fast)
  13. Kingswood – “Cigarettes in Bed” (Juveniles)
  14. Pete Yorn – For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is)” (Musicforthemorningafter)
  15. Brix & The Extricated – “Wolves” (Super Blood Wolf Moon)

Like the flames to Notre Dame, nothing sacred here is safe I’ve exhausted all my prayers here on these pews . . . And when you said I could not stay with you that’s not the way you would have wanted to be convince yourself that everything is alright

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 154 (2020-02) The Pandemic Episodes

Posted on by
1

Happy Easter to you all! A new episode from my bunker. I am immediately following up last week’s episode with this new and improved version of the Pandemic Episodes of Tales From the Drop Box. Okay, it is not an improved version as Tales From the Drop Box was already perfect and this episode is perfect as well! Trust me this episode is going to kick some Covid-19 ass and if you are feeling a little blue from being involuntarily self-isolated this episode will bring a little sunshine into your room. This episode is new – most of these tracks are from this year, still available on Bandcamp, from various internet retail outlets in physical format, and various streaming services. If you like something I play on this podcast – go buy a record from these fine acts. They all could use your money. Also, there is nothing like the first time you pick up a vinyl LP, crank up the volume on your receiver and dance around your room holding that record sleeve and singing away to the lyrics printed on the inner sleeve. You can do the same with this episode, but it is not quite the same.

In any event – crank this mother up!

Here is what you’ll find in Episode 154:

  1. Yumi Zouma – “Lonely After” (Truth or Consequences)
  2. Mike Mains & The Branches – “Walking Backwards”) (When We Were in Love)
  3. Maximo Park – “Books from Boxes” (Our Earthly Pleasures)
  4. The Chats – “Identity Theft” (High Risk Behavior)
  5. Slowly Slowly – “Creature of Habit” (Race Car Blues)
  6. Brkn Love – “I See Red” (Brkn Love)
  7. Slift – “Ummon” (Ummon)
  8. Anti-Flag – “Hate Conquers All” (20/20 Vision)
  9. The Drowns – “Them Rats” (Under Tension)
  10. Eyelids – “Starlight (Limelight Machine)” (Accidental Falls)
  11. Boyo – “Wake Up” (You Don’t See Me)
  12. Average Sex – “Come Over” (Come Over EP)
  13. Violent Soho – “Pick It Up Again” (Everything is A-OK)
  14. Blue Oyster Cult – “Burnin’ For You” (Cult Classic)
  15. Juniore – “La Verite’ Nue” (Un, Deux, Trois)

Hate is a bloody word for love It can’t erase me from a world where I feel numb . . . Hey / Give me some space and let me … And would you let me sneak inside of your room just to see what you are up to?

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 153 (2020-01) The Pandemic Episodes

Posted on by
1

I honestly didn’t think that it would take a real pandemic for me to restart production of these broadcasts albeit from an underground bunker where I am now holed up. But it did and I did. I am back for now and bringing you the usual oddball assortment covering all the good musical genres. That last statement confirms that I am acknowledging that there exists a few genre of music that are just un-freakin-listenable.  This episode follows my traditional rules for musical selection: If it’s catchy – I’m playing it. If it’s not catchy – I’m not. See simplicity is good during a pandemic. “Wear a mask,” wash your hands”, “stay the F away from me” are also other fine examples of the guidance we need to hear now in order to survive. And I assure you that you will survive the Covid-19 pandemic – if you keep downloading and listening to Tales From the Drop Box. The music in this edition would have been the tracks comprising the next episode I would have released in 2019. I know its way late but the music is still excellent! We’ll start fresh next episode, okay?

A note for those of you who are actually surprised to find another episode hitting your notifications. I tried several times to release a new podcast to tide you over since my last one in July of last year. It obviously didn’t happen. I am committed to the release of a couple more of these for now because you shouldn’t make critical decisions amidst a pandemic. Really. short term thinking is better. However, we need to look forward as well, because to look in the near view mirror makes me a little angry. All this needless and avoidable death. I could go on but I won’t. This podcast is for you to escape your reality. It should make you happy. It makes me happy. I believe we need to be happy, now.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode 153:

  1. Abjects – “Sad Song” (Never Give Up)
  2. Muncie Girls – “Car Crash” (Sleepless)
  3. Mobina Galore – “Back To The Beginning” (Don’t Worry)
  4. Jaded Truth – “Social Viro” (Rx)
  5. Have Mercy – Heartbeat (The Love Life)
  6. Lazy Susans – “R U Ok” (Now That the Party’s Over)
  7. Flash Forward – “Dancing In The Dark” (Golden Rust)
  8. Circa Waves – “Movies” (What’s It Like Over There?)
  9. Blisses B – “Six Plus One” (Tell Your Friends You Love Them And Why)
  10. Found Items – “Still The Same” (All Bets Are Off)
  11. The Bronx – “Into The Black” (Dead Tracks, Vol. 1)
  12. The Briefs – ‘She’s The Rat”(Platinum Rats)
  13. Satan Takes a Holiday – “I Believe What I See (If I See In My Feed)” (A New Sensation)
  14. Viagra Boys – “Shrimp Shack” (Street Worms)
  15. Material Issue – “Satellite (Demo)” (Issues Vol. 3)
  16. Gloo – “I’m Not Gonna Change” (Stop and Stare)

I’ll kick liquor and cigarettes if it’ll help you remember me like the way that I used to be . . . I put a towel in a bag with formaldehyde I put that shit up to my mouth and get really high

KFR