Welcome to Quality Qontrol. The podcast where we rate never before heard songs on Spotify. Quality Qontrol is hosted by Ben and Max, two jaded New York transplants with masochistic musical sensibilities.
The Quality Qontrol podcast, hosted by Ben and Max, is a sensational duo that never fails to entertain. Their comedic banter and witty back-and-forths are enough to reel you in, but it's their goated reviews of these songs that truly keep you wanting for more. This podcast is like crack, addicting and leaving you scratching your neck in anticipation for the next episode.
What sets this podcast apart from others is its refreshing take on music and pop culture. While many podcasts follow a structured format, Ben and Max bring a lightheartedness that makes each episode feel like a casual conversation between friends. Their hot takes on everything but top hits bring a smile to your face with every listen, and their unpredictable pop culture references make each episode exciting and engaging. Moreover, they introduce listeners to new music that they may have never heard before, expanding their musical horizons in an enjoyable way.
However, like any podcast, The Quality Qontrol does have its drawbacks. Sometimes the comedic aspect of the show can overshadow the analysis of the songs being reviewed. While the banter between Ben and Max is entertaining, there are instances where I wish they would delve deeper into their thoughts on the music itself. Additionally, given that this podcast focuses on reviewing lesser-known songs rather than top hits, there may be times when listeners are unfamiliar with the tracks being discussed. This can make it difficult to fully engage with the content if you haven't listened to the songs beforehand.
In conclusion, The Quality Qontrol podcast is a delightful addition to anyone's listening lineup. It offers a break from more structured podcasts and provides an entertaining escape into the world of music and pop culture. Ben and Max's hilarious dynamic keeps you coming back for more while also introducing you to new sounds along the way. Though at times I wish there was more in-depth analysis of the songs themselves, overall this podcast is undeniably enjoyable and worth giving a shot. So sit back, relax, and let Ben and Max take you on an entertaining journey through their lighthearted and litty podcast.
The final episode covers how presidents after Ike engaged with Guatemala. Superficially idealist, practically brutal and like so many other countries in Latin America, things get exponentially worse when Reagan shows up. The civil war escalates as right wing paramilitaries roam the countryside, murdering and kidnapping supposed insurgents with impunity. The military class amasses power and status superceding the government's functions, culminating in one of the many forgotten genocides of the 20th century.
Arbenz is exiled as Guatemala backslides into facsism with the State Departments approval. But the new military government presses too far, igniting a civil war that would tear the country apart for decades to come. United Fruit faces its own obstacles as the 20th century progresses, finding itself subsumed by the twisted economic logic that rewards financial speculation instead of actually producing anything. Get it? Produce?
Where the League of Nations failed, the UN will succeed, right? Will international diplomacy and cooperation act as a bulwark for Guatemala's defense? How will the CIA organized invasion succeed with scant fighting forces and very little popular support? What fate will meet Jacobo Arbenz? Will these rhetorical questions compel you to tune into this episode? Only one of the above questions is yet to be determined.
The counterfeit liberation force finds it's frontman as the CIA plots behind the scenes to put their pawns in place while diplomatic attempts to resolve the situation stall. An analysis of the efficacy of Arbenz's reform and the ideological composition of his government is included within to answer the question; was his regime REALLY a "communist beachhead"?
What happens when United Fruit's stockholders are elected to the Senate? What happens when the legal counsel of United Fruit rises to the highest office in the State Department? What happens when the head of the CIA is personal friends with the owners of the New York Times, Time and Life Magazine? Revolutionary Guatemala gets off to a rough start.
We are first introduced to the iconic yellow fruit that changed the fates of an entire region and the fortunes of a few men, including a forgotten American titan of agriculture and industry who's personal wealth could be mentioned alongside such names as Vanderbilt or Carnegie, and a sinister monopoly known as "The Octopus" We will also briefly cover the socio-economic context that made Guatemala ripe for both bananas and revolution.
On this episode, the boys reflect on the past 4 years of doing the podcast and (barely) listen to some shitty shit crap music.
On this episode, Max and Ben announce their plan to end First Play Podcast at the end of July and listen to some shitty music.
On this episode, we reflect on childhood and the fundamental deceit of nostalgia and get very, very off track.
On this episode, Ben wants to talk about theology, an Army of Squirrel addicts takes over and the boys take a spiritual trip to South Carolina.
On this episode, we listen to a man struggle with his hard head and some abominable funk music sung by Racist Rick James.
On this episode, we're talking about Booty's. That's right. Big wet butts, bouncing in the club. We go off the rails hard, which is to be expected at this point. First Play Forever
On this episode we listen to a list of reasons why life is hard, some sickening affirmation and a treatise on resilience, and an example of when the hyper critical voices in your head are right.
On this episode, we listen to some god awful pseudo-scat music, negro spirituals for white people and some Curren$y raps if he spelled his name with a cent sign instead of a dollar sign.
On this episode, we get back to our roots with some classic dick talk and a few songs that sound just like other songs but worse. You know, that old chestnut.
First Play Podcast; We fuck around so you can find out! On this episode we listen to some overwrought crooning, and some classic adultery jams, which are our bread and butter at this point.
On this episode, we adhere to a content challenge, listen to some instruments that we're almost certain are guitars and get a blast from the past with the worst sounds of 2013 we were happy to forget all about.
On this episode. we listen to a very convincing Muse cover band, shitty rapping and the ear-piercing blaring of Max's racism alarm.
On this episode, Ben forgot to edit it on time on account of being in Las Vegas. But it's here. What songs will we listen to? I don't remember but its a good one!
On this episode, we listen to certified wife guy antics, some OK rappers, (that's a pun) and some anthems for the lads.
On this episode, we listen to criminal baby talk, racially ambiguous raps and a woman who is desperately trying to warn us of the coming spider invasion.
We're on vacation so didn't get a chance to record a new one but in celebration of our apparent 3 year Twitter Anniversary, we're going back into the vault to bring you the first ever episode we recorded in June 2018. Enjoy!
On this episode, we listen to impassioned yodels, Soljia Boy adjacent jams and stinky party anthems.
On this episode we listen to a commercial for Viagra, a stupid soundscape and some intense bay area accents.
On this episode, we talk about cars jerk eachother off for living in New York and not needing them, listen to some mediocre crooning and another trippy childrens song.
On this episode, our super fan Rex takes the reins as he picks out all of the songs including a wack rapper who just found out about homonyms, a mumbling jazz musician and quite literally the most anger inducing song about loving your parents I've ever heard.
Join us as we ring in the new year listening to a fine selection of unheard of music and talking about all sorts of nonsense. It's the first First Play of 2022
On this episode, we listen to a song called "Fuck Family" suggested by a member of Ben's family, a song about the idiotic legend of 4/20, and the mescaline version of Bowie's "Life on Mars." Hope you all have a great holiday season!
Hey, we got a new episode for you. Does anybody actually read these? Three bad songs, two funny guys. You know the drill. It's First Play
We listen to an evil homunculus who lives in the bottom of an LA recording studio drop a hook, hyper masculine emotions, and the most straightforward song we've ever heard
On this episode, we listen to a treatise on the existence of extra terrestrial life, an incredibly confusing song about going to a party and then we ruminate on what "Jingle my Bell" is a metaphor for.
It's nearly Thanksgiving, fuck your family and listen to Ben and Max riff about the most terrible music we could find on Spotify, it's First Play Podcast
On our hundredth episode, our first ever guest, David Baler, returns to talk about bad text etiquette, bad dancing and bad footwear.
On this episode of First Play, we listen to some reggae evangelism, someone who is very afraid you'll forget he's the boy and a band with a very confusing name.
On this episode we listen to a ham handed metaphor with ducks, werewolf barmitzvah's and a song that made Ben age 40 years in a minute and a half.
On this episode, we listen to a rapper sneaking mildly homo-erotic lines in between generic rap bars, some nauseating "vote blue no matter who" songs and then some baseless conversation about Smurf ethics.
On this episode, we try and game current trends to get more listeners and listen to more bad rap music. A day in the life of Ben and Max
On this episode, we listen to a woman with problems, men singing about a woman with problems and a man with problems. It's a problematic episode!
On this episode, we listen to a man who's wife has had ENOUGH, a man onstage having an identity crisis and relying upon the crowd to set him straight, and a grimey bar banger.
On this episode, Ben and Max make a discovery that could change First Play forever, along with a rap song recorded on a broken 1st Generation iPhone and....something else overshadowed by the groundbreaking discovery.
On this episode, we listen to a drunk rapper terrorize a local day care, a soul song about (figurative?) rats and Little Kim. Not the one you're thinking of.
On this episode, we listen to a CIA Psy-Op, the worst Lonely Island song in existence and an inconsolable glutton with a predilection for pussy and pasta.
On this episode, we listen to an overstimulated man in a Halloween store, someone who *totally* isn't racist, and a really stupid parody of a Tone Loc song.
We listen to Tommy Wiseau's failed 80's pop single, a treatise on how to behave like a thug and a song that causes Max physical pain.
On this episode, we listen to Young Money/Guddaville rejects, mommy issues and a pastor who's name sounds too much like a pasta sauce for us to focus on it.
Friend of the show Jackson, from No Nerds Allowed Podcast, drops by our studio (apartment) to dissect some throwback rap music and some awful, awful metal music that Jackson liked because he likes everything.
On this episode, we mostly just listen to a 9 minute long track about a guy who fundamentally doesn't understand Christianity and would like some questions answered. There are two other songs, but this one is the real meat on the bone.
On this episode, we listen to the head crack house inspector, a horny country singer with an eerie resemblance to the Disney cartoon and a guy who doesn't like Spaghetti? Or maybe he does? It's complicated.
On this episode, we listen to a horny ghost, Bane's regrettable rap debut, and listen to the worst Lonely Island track that didn't make any of their albums.
On this episode, we listen to a woman who wants to wear french fry pants, suburban rapping and someone who should be way more concerned about his hospitalized kid.
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