LOUDconquersall

The fourth album is another collection of 15 songs, even though there are only fourteen listed on the jacket. Call it a "bonus track" if you want, but it was really just bad proofreading. 2 covers, including a rockabilly version of Elastica and Led Zep on the banjo.

Lots more vocalharmony on tis release, once I finally learned how to do comping.

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Back Cover

Liner Notes

Major Minor - A mix if major and minor chords. Also musically inspired by the song of the same name by Scrawl, and lyrically by Theodore Roethke, Dr. Seuss, and Shel Silverstein.
Listening to REM - Got a baritone guitar and this was the song that came with it. Amazing how a really simple progression can sound so different when it's down a 5th. A poignant song that's pretty because it's real and hopeful.
Rounds - This song came about by knitting together 4 favorite riffs that I could never make into their own song. Once I did, it was obviously a song about relatioships...how hard they are, why they are worth fighting for...but not so much as it's worth fighting to preserve yourself.
Connection - A group of musicians I know gets together (virtually) to talk about songwriting, and sometimes we challenge each other to try things. Like doing a song in a completely different style. Don't know why I picked this song by elastica, but it just WORKS.
Strung Out - Pretty literal song, written on the Nashville-tuned Hello Kitty guitar. How many more years until I get to retire? Yeesh.
She's Got a Power - A kind of weird narrative about a guy who falls in love with a coworker and their improbably relationship...which might all just be a fantasy of his. Fantasies are OK.
Adulting - How nice it would be to re-write the rules of adulting to be a little more humane. Makes one wonder if senility is just a more evolved state of being.
Zen - The "bong" sound is a sample I made of my metal trash can. The lyrics are little pastiches of all the ways there are to fall in love. Mixed together into a kind of meditation.
Hot Dog - This whole 'making music' thing started when I got a banjo, which I hardly ever play anymore. So I decided I would play it on the album, and heard this song o the radio, and there you have it. Led Zeppelin for hillbillies. Had to slow it down to about 80% because HOT DOG is it fast.
Half of We - The accidentally "hidden track". Wrote this when the smoke from wildfires in Canada literally turned the sky red. The first all-acoustic recording ever done, no virtual instruments (and therefore no drums). A mellow, happy, hopeful love song. For a change.
Eliot - This song is about the loss you feel when a friend transitions to another gender and puts the previous years of their life at the bottom of a deep, deep well. Also about how we all struggle with meaning and the will to live. The title refers to Eliot Page, formerly Ellen Page. Another all-acoutstic recording, with a lot of mandolin on it even though I have no idea how to play it.
Mad City - Had to plug back in for this song about O'Cayz Corral (Madison, Wsiconsin) and all the great punk, grunge, and indie bands that played there. Had been watching a lot of documentaries about indie bands and life on the road as research for a book, and this song was inspired by that. Also written on the Hello Kitty guitar.
Beat Down - The "bong" trash can sample strikes again! Inspired by the industrial/techno of Ministry and Meat Beat Manifesto.
The Facts - Stitched together a smorgasbord of platitudes, aphorisms, and metaphors into a kind of military march towards self-motivation. For the vocals used a drone harmony, which I heard was used by Simon and Garfunkel. Somehow it doesn't souind quite the same when I do it.
And - Sometimes our lives feel like a run-on sentence that has no clear starting point and no apparent end and what happens in the middle can be interpreted in a million different ways, all of which are both right and wrong, but somehow it doesn't seem to matter because it makes sense but also doesn't and then here we are back at the beginning again and all we have is each other and ourselves, but where does one begin and the other end, or is it all just one thing?

Lyrics

Major Minor When you get to the party Leave your hat by the door Kiss the wrist of the hostess Explore Castaway Cabaret Matinee Double play In the forest with a florist listening to a guitarist Hauling chairs up flights of stairs and drawing circles into squares Feeling tired and uninspired I guess it's just the way I'm wired Wondering about a thing that noone is remembering When the natives are restless What are you gonna do Turn and bow to a statue Or two Marinate Aggravate Educate Enervate When it comes to playing drums it's not a secret I'm all thumbs I'm still standing on the landing with a look that's most demanding You can't win unless you spin around and round it goes again In my head I'm baking bread and haven't heard a word you've said Parasol Waterfall Alcohol One and all And before it gets crazy There's the tiniest chance It can all be worked out now Let's dance Fashioning a wedding ring from lots of old discarded things When you're late for a big date you better rush to compensate Keep in mind that misaligned will keep you from what you must find Got the call to build the wall we better have it done by fall

Listening to REM I've got a notion in my mind About the way we are aligned On the train again Listening to REM And when you're feeling down and blue I know just what to do To bring a smile to you And as the sun sets on the day Why did you worry anyway On the train again Listening to REM And when we sometimes disagree It takes a century To get it through to me And when I finally see the light It's like we didn't even fight On the train again Listening to REM On the train again Listening to REM We're on a rollercoaster now It turns us upside down It spins us all around And when it ends will we recall If we enjoyed the ride at all On the train again Listening to REM I've got a notion in my mind

Rounds Comes a time Everyone Draws a line Goes beyond Clear your mind Be reborn What you find Artifacts and evidence And none of it makes any sense Can you tell me what she's thinking Tell me all the songs she's singing Gotta know what's on her mind now Doesn't matter what I find out Compromised Mesmerized Paralyzed And I Feel Like I Can't face another day Why did you go away Please Stay and Explain the hurt away Tell me what did she say Where am I Close my eyes Can I try Stand up on my own two feet and Then jump right back in the deep end Can you tell me what she's thinking Tell me all the songs she's singing Gotta know what's on her mind now Doesn't matter what I find out Rectified Deep inside Justified And I Feel Like I Can't face another day Why did you go away Please Stay and Explain the hurt away Tell me what did she say Every time Ends this way Sun will set On this day It will all Be okay Confident When the morning comes to greet me There's no way this will defeat me Doesn't matter what she's thinking I don't care what songs she's singing Nothing left for me to find out Gonna leave it all behind now On my own All alone Going home

Strung Out Just another day Can't get too stressed about it Do all the work on my plate then Try something that's more creative I'll find a way To get along without it Someday I'll be my own master Wish that it would happen faster What can I say 'Cause even if I doubt it Need something that I can aim for Until I find what I came for I'll be okay So confident I'll shout it To anyone who'll listen Make LOUD, that is the mission So strung out Feeling more dead than alive and Not sure I'm gonna survive this How will I make it 'til five I'm So strung out How can it only be Monday Can't even make it through one day Another under the gun day So strung out Feels like I'm stuck in the deep end The hill I'm climbing is steep and How much longer until the weekend So strung out That's it let's get in the car now I need to grab my guitar and I'll see you all at the bar I can't be late I've got to get to rehearsal Time to put behind all the talking Focus instead on the rocking This is my fate A truth that is universal Won't let obligation divide me Gotta liberate what's inside me I just can't wait Won't tolerate a reversal Move forward no hesitation Gotta share the latest creation Call it a date Maybe that's too controversial Holding it close like a secret But it's too important to keep it So strung out Feeling more dead than alive and Not sure I'm gonna survive this How will I make it 'til five I'm So strung out How can it only be Monday Can't even make it through one day Another under the gun day So strung out Feels like I'm stuck in the deep end The hill I'm climbing is steep and How much longer until the weekend So strung out That's it let's get in the car now I need to grab my guitar and I'll see you all at the bar Album release No longer pulling my neck in Let's see who gives it a listen Really put my heart into this one A masterpiece? Maybe in context I reckon Experience is a deep pool And I'm still writing 'bout high school Playbacks decrease Don't think the Grammy's will beckon But that is not what's important To me this means so much more and Finally at peace Even if just for a second Unleash the songs I've been hoarding Get right back into recording So strung out

She's Got a Power I can see What will be Just for me Headlines Deadlines Copy room Young man Trash can Mop and broom Work late Past eight Cast in gloom Just like A dream She's kinda sour But it tastes sweet to me She's got a flower That only I can see She's got an hour She gives it all to me She's got a power That takes control of me I can see What will be Just for me Fitness Witness Drug arrest Weekend South Bend Music Fest Hey Miss Try this It's the best You can Trust me She's kinda sour But it tastes sweet to me She's got a flower That only I can see She's got an hour She gives it all to me She's got a power That takes control of me Big time Special News report Coming Righ up After sports Something About Southern ports Over My head I can see What will be Just for me She's kinda sour But it tastes sweet to me She's got a flower That only I can see She's got an hour She gives it all to me She's got a power That takes control of me This time It's mine Got a hunch She'll say Okay Meet for lunch Must sit I'm hit Like a punch Never A doubt I can see What will be Just for me She's kinda sour But it tastes sweet to me She's got a flower That only I can see She's got an hour She gives it all to me She's got a power That takes control of me

Adulting Can you see what I'm going through See my guage in the red Now I know what I have to do But it's all in my head Tell me what can I live without What will I leave behind All the people I care about Sometimes it feels just like I'm losing my mind Breaking away I'm on my own As of this day this bird has flown There is no way I'm going home Yes it's OK to be alone Don't want to be an adult It's worse than joining a cult Who thought that this was a good idea? Don't want to be an adult It's worse than joining a cult Who thought that this was a good idea? Don't want to be an adult It's worse than joining a cult Who thought that this was a good idea? Don't want to be an adult It's worse than joining a cult Who thought that this was a good idea? Breaking away I'm on my own As of this day this bird has flown There is no way I'm going home Yes it's OK to be alone So this is what it is like When it's me at the wheel Is this what I expected Still don't know how to feel Gotta say it's much harder Than I thought it would be Maybe if I was smarter Then there wouldn't be quite so much pressure on me Breaking away I'm on my own As of this day this bird has flown There is no way I'm going home Yes it's OK to be alone Breaking away I'm on my own Don't want to be an adult It's worse than joining a cult As of this day this bird has flown Who thought that this was a good idea? There is no way I'm going home Don't want to be an adult It's worse than joining a cult Yes it's OK to be alone Who thought that this was a good idea? Don't want to be an adult It's worse than joining a cult Who thought that this was a good idea?

Zen Took you picture at the mall When you call LOUD conquers all Now it's hanging on the wall When you call LOUD conquers all Played it cool, a three day stall When you call LOUD conquers all Almost couldn't read your scrawl When you call LOUD conquers all Taken by your Southern drawl When you call LOUD conquers all Who could know how hard I'd fall When you call LOUD conquers all Tell me now do you recall When you call LOUD conquers all When the universe was small When you call LOUD conquers all Felt like we could do it all When you call LOUD conquers all You can't run until you crawl When you call LOUD conquers all I've got a feeling When you call LOUD conquers all I can't explain When you call LOUD conquers all I'm on the ceiling When you call LOUD conquers all I'm outside dancing in the rain It's something crazy When you call LOUD conquers all It's something wild When you call LOUD conquers all My mind is hazy When you call LOUD conquers all But somehow I can see for miles

Half of We Lying here in bed Sky is turning red What else can be said Just can't get ahead What you see Isn't me It will be Half of we Some day You'll say Okay I'll be waiting Doing what I can Being who I am Need a better plan Got to try again What you see Isn't me It will be Half of we Some day You'll say Okay I'll be waiting How will I endure I just can't be sure Get up off the floor Got to do some more Caught up in A whirlpool I'm driving In circles Need some time Need some space Need to get Back in the race Standing tall again Tapped in to the zen Turned it up to ten It's not if but when What you see Isn't me It will be Half of we Some day You'll say Let's play I'll be waiting Now I see the sign All the stars align It's my time to shine I am on cloud nine What you see Isn't me It will be Half of we Some day You'll say Today I'll be ready Gone from A to Z It's reality One and one is three You and me are we

Eliot Lying in the darkness Eyes open wide Listen to the drumbeat Inside Where have you gone? Eliot Where have you gone Sitting by the ocean Watching the tide Let it pull me under I can't decide Where have you gone? Eliot Where have you gone Always and forever It's a lie Nex time take me with you When you die Where have you gone? Eliot Where have you gone

Mad City Dead Milkmen Bad Brains Hole and Helmet and Half Japanese Killdozer Old Skull Sleater-Kinney and the Screaming Trees Go park the van Unload the gear Look for the sound guy He isn't here Check out the back line The lighting cage Quick run through sound check Then head backstage Mad City Wisconsin O'Cayz Corral Mad City Wisconsin O'Cayz Corral 7 Seconds Afghan Wigs At the Drive In with the Chesterfield Kings Die Kreuzen The Dwarves Superchunk with Southern Culture on the Skids Walk on the stage Time to begin Grab our guitars And count it in Start with the clean tone Stomp that Big Muff Now the Tube Screamer Can't get enough Mad City Wisconsin O'Cayz Corral Mad City Wisconsin O'Cayz Corral White Zombie Big Black The Replacements and Plasticland Soundgarden Firehose Steel Pole Bath Tub and The Rollins Band Mad City Wisconsin O'Cayz Corral Mad City Wisconsin O'Cayz Corral Impaler Husker Du Johnathan Richman and Governemtn Issue Nirvana Fetchin' Bones Mudhoney and Nomeansno

Beat Down Take me for a little ride Where the shadows go to hide See you on the other side Of light Close your eyes and grab the reins Trust your gut and not your brains Find out what the dark contains At night Waiting for What's in store I can't take it Anymore When you get there you will see Thirty different clones of me Can you guess which one will be Okay Searching for the missing link Try to reason, try to think Find your way back to the brink Of day In a bind Left behind What I seek I'll never find Waiting for What's in store I can't take it Anymore Wake up at dawn All scruples gone Get your boots one Everyone report for training Wake up at dawn All scruples gone Get your boots one Measure all the skills you're gaining Wake up at dawn All scruples gone Get your boots one Leave behind the doubts remaining Wake up at dawn All scruples gone Get your boots one There's no point in me explaining Get off the farm Called up to arms Sound the alarm Everyone report for training Get off the farm Called up to arms Sound the alarm Measure all the skills you're gaining Get off the farm Called up to arms Sound the alarm Leave behind the doubts remaining Get off the farm Called up to arms Sound the alarm There's no point in me explaining Waiting for What's in store I can't take it Anymore Checking the list Nothing is missed Can not resist Forces that are so demanding Checking the list Nothing is missed Can not resist Feel the universe expanding

The Facts It's all the same to my ears It's like I've heard it before It's not the sum of all fears It's not the wolf at my door I know I'll be alright now Nothing is holding me down I've got the strength that I need I'm gonna turn it around It sounds a little crazy Gotta do what it takes You know you can't be lazy You can't stand on the brakes You gotta hit the gas now You gotta lay some tracks There's not time for discussion Those are the facts Not gonna keep me up at night Won't put my back against the wall I know I'm strong enough to fight Nothing to worry about at all It's time to make my own way Get out and sign my own name I know I've got things to say Just have to get in the game Can't wait for my big chance Chase it down, no matter how far It won't be circumstance I'm gonna work for my star It sounds a little crazy Gotta do what it takes You know you can't be lazy You can't stand on the brakes You gotta hit the gas now You gotta lay some tracks There's not time for discussion Those are the facts Don't let it keep you up at night I'll get up every time I fall It's all alright, it's all alright Don't even worry about it at all

And A gesture A glimmer A picture A whisper And then I first catch your eye And then my mind runs along And then I'm up in the sky And then I've got it all wrong A gesture A glimmer A picture A whisper And we’re standing side by side And my hand runs through your hair And our mouths are open wide And we're breathing the same air A gesture A glimmer A picture A whisper And our bodies intertwine And your eyes begin to gleam And it was all in my mind And it was all just a dream A gesture A glimmer A picture A whisper

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