Tag Archives: indie rock

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 187 (2020-35) / The Pandemic Episodes

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I hope you enjoyed your week after the thanksgiving holiday. I took the week off llast week and perhaps you noticed there was no new episode for you to listen to last week. Perhaps, not. If you did look for something, I hope you went back and gave a listen to something you might have missed. I truly believe this has been a terrific year for new music. In what could have been a truly horrible year (keep reading) the music that is coming out now is pretty freakin’ awesome. Although it would appear that we do not have much to be thankful for this year, your perspective on what has happened this past year as we approach the end of 2020 is truly important. I am truly blessed and thankful I am still here, my family is safe and we are still earning a living. These are simple graces for a difficult year. I am saddened by the horrific loss of life that truly was preventable. There is plenty of blame to go around but that is not the point of this missive.

During Thanksgiving and this Christmas season, I think it is important to reflect upon, and be thankful for, the bounty we still have, individually and as a nation. We are still moving forward making progress on both COVID and the economy will rebound once we have progress against COVID and for those of us who are still battling COVID-19 and a former President of the U.S. I truly am hopeful that we are shortly going to emerge from the tunnel of chaos and death. I am also tremendously thankful to those who fought and are continuing to fight the COVID battle on the front lines including those retail workers, nurses, doctors, scientists, and all those who must risk contracting the virus each day as they perform a variety of tasks necessary for all of us to directly and indirectly survive. My thanks giving this year is truly for them.

I’m not sure where to begin with this weeks episode of Tales From the Drop Box. I was feeling somewhat contemplative as I selected tracks this week, so there is a more mellow vibe even though several of the tracks I think are absolute bangers. A few old favorites pop up this week with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard making an appearance, along with Elvis Costello, Pale Honey, The Kooks and Seahaven.

Here is what you will find in Episode 187 (2020-35):

  1. Doghouse Rose – “Try x 3” (The Harder They Fall)
  2. Baio – “What Do You Say When I’m Not There? (Single – Digital)
  3. Pale Honey – “Bad Thing” (Some Time Alone)
  4. Bad Nerves – “Terminal Boy” (Bad Nerves)
  5. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – “I’m In Your Mind Fuzz” (Live In San Francisco ’16)
  6. The Bats – “Field Of Vision” (Foothills)
  7. BRKN Love – “I Can’t Lie” (BRKN Love)
  8. The Brummies – “Automatic World” (Automatic World)
  9. Deeper – “This Heat” (Auto-Pain)
  10. The Flat Five – “Girl Of Virginia” (Another World)
  11. The Kooks – “In Love” (Too Much Is Not Enough)
  12. Seahaven – “Lose” (Halo Of Hurt)
  13. Jam City – “They Eat The Young” (Pillowland)
  14. Elvis Costello – “Secret Service” (The Complete Armed Forces (Super Deluxe Edition))
  15. Lydia – “Back Of Your Room” (I Was Someone Else)
Tales From The Drop Box Episode 187 (2020-35)

You came in hot and I could not believe you know I’m super sensitive and eager to please it’s true I’m such a misty-eyed fool . . . black cards so cold, out of control you like it the truth, it hurts, your blood it burns you like it …

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 172 (2020-20) The Pandemic/BLM Episodes

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Blah Blah Blah was a pretty good album by Iggy Pop and the theme for this week – Blah Blah Blah. As we get closer to the only election that matters and a turning point in our country’s future, the real question is whether good will triumph over evil. That an election should decide the battle of good and evil is a truly sad thought. Why you might ask? Did you ever consider that the result of that battle is still a toss up after almost four years of misery both political and personal, and that we still are nation gripped by a pandemic and racial unrest. Good will triumph over Trump … eventually.

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 172 is just the antidote for an oppressive real world. There is hope and here is about an hour of it.

Here Is what you’ll find in Episode 172:

  1. Alexa Melo – “Digital” (Demoitis)
  2. The Thank Yous – “The Indie Pop Demon” (Good Times Killing Us)
  3. The Warlocks – “Sucking Out Your Soul Like A Son Of A Bitch” (The Chain)
  4. The Angry Agenda – “We Shall Prevail” (War EP)
  5. Catholic Action – “People Don’t Protest Enough” (Celebrated by Strangers)
  6. F.O.D. – “Wrong” (Sleepville)
  7. Left Hand Black – “Children Of The Night” (Left Hand Black)
  8. The Cowboy – “Mr. Lamppost” (The Cowboy 7”)
  9. Angel Du$t – “Lil House” (Lil House EP)
  10. Selfish Things – “Flood (Alternate Version)” (Logos (Alternate Versions))
  11. Nite Sobs – “Back On The Ride” (Do The Sob)
  12. Transit Method – “Cannibals” (The Madness)
  13. The Cavemen – “Death Row” (Various Artists – AA/VV In The Shit Records Collection N. 1)
  14. Unwritten Law – “Fight” (Here’s To The Mourning)
  15. The Dead End kids – “Hey Du” (Kommando Glitzer)

I heard you were concerned with my life I heard you had a lot to say motherfuckin’, thanks for nothin’ . . . I think I have answers the world is a cancer our blasphemous mantras of bullets and blood . . .

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 168 (2020-16) The Pandemic/BLM Episodes

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Another week, another 4300 deaths in America. Perhaps we should take a long hard look at what we are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You already have much confirmation that your government will not save you, your family or anyone else from this deadly virus. Honestly, the only effective weapons in the fight seem to be wear a mask and stay the f__ away from each other. Seems simple and practical to me. It is also readily apparent that not everyone is on board with simple and effective.

As evidenced by my first trip to a beach yesterday, Mr. Belding, not a notorious sun worshipper, attempted a foray into the wild only to observe that, for many, COVID-19 does not exist and physical distancing is a mere suggestion. Amidst all the 1st Amendment debate over the claimed right to not wear a mask in a pandemic (Freedom of Expression) and the stupid outrage over having to wear a mask as somehow a violation of this right (Karens and Kens – you know who you are), what is apparently missed by a markedly large number of covidiots is that society depends on personal accountability and wearing a mask is an expression of that personal accountability choice. That is, in order for society to function we can not reach a critical threshold of people who are just ass hats.

Mask mandates for public health reasons should not be necessary. No government wants to order people to do what should be obvious. The big picture is that we need to actually care about each other and be personally responsible and accountable for our own actions and not let our desire to be “different”, part of the “silent majority” or any other lame excuse to be a moron and actually interfere with the right of others persons to be free from stupid. Don’t be an idiot, wear a mask and as noted above, stay the f___ away from me.

As for Episode 168 of Tales From The Drop Box, I am solely responsible for the content. Yup, and in my humble and very biased opinion, I believe this episode, much like the 167 preceding this one, is it worth about an hour of your time. 15 songs by bands that you likely don’t know much about, in a variety of genres that are carefully mixed to touch your soul. I am personally responsible for making sure you enjoy your time. Give it a try.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode 168:

  1. Portland – “Lady Moon” (Your Colours Will Stain)
  2. The Rhymes – “Viral” (The Rhymes)
  3. Spacey Jane – “Wasted on Me” (Sunlight)
  4. Honest Men – “Lose My Head” (I’m Okay)
  5. The Airborne Toxic Event – “All The Children” (Hollywood Park)
  6. Custard – “Take The Skinheads Bowling” (Respect All Lifeforms)
  7. America’s Favorite Punk – “Mr. Citizen” (Life After Quarantine)
  8. Flashfires – “Circus Boy” (Flashfires)
  9. Gaffa Tape Sandy – “Meat Head” (Family Mammal EP)
  10. The Growlers – “Dream World” (Dream World)
  11. The Winter Passing – “Ghost Thing” (New Ways of Living)
  12. Loyalty To Me – “Rewrites” (Clash//Co-Exist)
  13. Matthew Sweet – “I’ve Been Waiting” (Blue Sky on Mars Tour – Live At Pleasure Island, Florida June 17, 1997)
  14. Manic Street Preachers – “Roses In The Hospital” (Filet O Gang Remix Remastered)” (Manic Street Preachers)
  15. Dream Wife – “Homesick” ( So When You Gonna …)

Lady Moon may I ask you why you comfort me? When autumn comes you’re always near . . This is the part where I lose my head breaking my fingers to make amends . . .

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box Episode 164 (2020-12) The Pandemic/BLM Episodes

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A Father’s Day edition of Tales From The Drop Box amidst continuing national unrest in the wake of a growing number of police shootings of Black Americans following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, increases in COVID-19 cases across America, and the release of the John Bolton book confirming what the nation suspected about the corrupt unhinged troll living in the White House. I wish this was a world created in a fantasy novel but, unfortunately, we are living this fantasy as reality. We must not lose the plot though. The fight for change is a daily struggle. It is much like fatherhood with some challenges scattered among the many joy filled days. When we look back on the challenges we are now facing I hope that enough time will have passed that these troubling times are but a blip on a road filled of hope and joy. For those of you are fathers, I wish you all a very happy Father’s Day as our children are truly our greatest blessing.

Episode 164 of Tales From The Drop Box is yet another banger filled with upbeat melodic music guaranteed to free you from the doldrums you might be experiencing from the past couple of months. It should be obvious at this point, but you need to turn up the volume, eh?

Here is what you’ll find in Episode 164:

  1. Impulsive Hearts – “Melody” (Cry All The Time)
  2. Je T’aime – “Fuck Me” (Je T’aime)
  3. Chemtrails – “Uncanny Valley” ( The peculiar Smell Of The Inevitable)
  4. Names Without Numbers – “Middle Ground” (Silos & Smokestacks)
  5. Kiwi Jr. – “Swimming Pool” (Football Money)
  6. Coriky – “Clean Kill” (Coriky)
  7. Spanish Love Songs – “Beach Front Property” (Brave Faces Everyone)
  8. Heavenly – “Mark Angel” (Operation Heavenly)
  9. Pixies – “Catfish Kate” (Beneath The Eyrie (Deleuxe Edition))
  10. Mush – “No Signal In The Padlock” (3D Routine)
  11. Johnossi – “Hot Thoughts: (Torch//Flame)
  12. The Animen – “From The Get-Go” (Same Sun/Different Light)
  13. Screeching Weasel – “Brain In A Jar” (Some Freaks Of Atavism)
  14. Greg Kihn Band – “Valerie” (RocKihnRoll)
  15. Amyl & The Sniffers – “Control (Live)” (Live At The Croxton)

She reached out a cup when the next she showed up replacement asking what’s been going on she says “Not very much” but she’s seen a lot of action . . . When I’m not with you, I jump in my car and drive to the place that I think that you are if you’re not there, I might just park
And dream about your face in the dark …

KFR

Tales From The Drop Box 2018-20 (Episode 121)

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This first episode of October is filled with tales by talented songwriters from a variety of perspectives. I think Tales From The Drop Box Episode 121 is a good reminder of the power of music to make you feel. From the vitriol of the Petrol Girls track “Strike” to the heartache and regret of San Cisco’s “When I Dream”, this episode is sure to trigger some emotion in you. I believe that the emotional connection is the point of this podcast i.e. my central mission is to provide you with a powerful emotional experience as a reaction to the music. Music trigger emotional response. That is, music should connect with you on both a physical and emotional level. I believe we’ve lost that connection because the mass produced music that permeates our daily lives no longer connects – it is soulless and just noise. I want this music to strike with clarity and leave you emotionally spent. I know that not every track will connect with you. My goal, each episode is merely one. One song that will lift you up, move you to cry, make you smile.

This is also a very good episode for headphones! Episode 121 is filled with late night music – the kind of music that you used to listen to when you were young – when you were lying in your bed with the lights off, just listening. I remember distinctly the excitement I felt as a kid when I discovered a new band or new song on the radio. In the later 70’s the best new music was actually played on radio and always late at night. From Rodney on the ROQ to John Peel, music was experienced with only the glow of the radio. A wave of pleasurable new sounds blasting through the headphones, all experienced eyes closed. So, if you have hesitated listening to this podcast because you don’t recognize any of the bands, take a chance. I think you’ll find that this is the rabbit hole you will want to explore, once a week, every week and re-discover the missing part of your life – when music meant something, connected, mattered and brought you . . . joy.

Here is what you’ll find in Episode #121:

  1. Massage – “Crying out Loud” (Oh Boy)
  2. Petrol Girls – “Strike” (The Future Is Dark EP)
  3. Sudakistan – “Caminos” (Swedish Cobras)
  4. The Trews – “The New Us” (Civilianaires)
  5. San Cisco – “When I Dream” (When I Dream (Single)
  6. Satellite Stories – “Sunglasses” (Cut Out The Lights)
  7. Sister Disorder – “Delayed” (Away)
  8. Joyce Manor – “Silly Games” (Million Dollars To Me)
  9. 1000 Gram – “Daydream” (By All Dreams Necessary)
  10. The Contestants – “It’s Not” (Twelve Of Your Earth Years)
  11. Damper – “Panic” (Damper EP)
  12. Laser Tusk – “Mother Iron” (Traveling Light)
  13. Blue Haze – “Bloodmagic” (Nightdive)
  14. The Stranglers – “Golden Brown” (La Folie)
  15. Slothrust – “Some Kind of Cowgirl” (The Pact)

Golden brown texture like sun lays me down with my might she runs throughout the night no need to fight . . . are you waiting to storm the winter palace, bro? picture yourself on the front page? do you want a fucking monument or are you here to make change?

KFR