Tag: Ric Albano on Electric Bass

I Think I’m Losing My Brain

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Track 01  On  The Evolution of Noise  By  Wahray and Soul

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:02
Listen to the Song:
[audio:WAS/01-IThinkI’mLosingMyBrain.mp3]		 1987
Lyrics
I think I’m losing my brain, going insane
I think I’m losing my brain

Don’t stop but turn around, look who’s back in town
It’s me again
Scream but don’t make a sound, laugh but don’t play the clown
Or you’ll see your end

Next time we’ll wonder if the world is really round
And how some of its creatures
Claim they can scream but not make a sound, it’s very strange

Live for the right to stop, aim for the very top
But never try to reach it
Act like your life’s the best, ready for the final test
But don’t ever preach it

Some people laugh at me and say I’m kind of strange
That’s ’cause I live my dreams while they let theirs slip away

And when your soul grows tired, flee from the shots they fire
But don’t look away – don’t look away!
‘Cause if you flee the show, all your secrets they will know
And then you well pay, oh yeah, uh huh

Composition © 1987, 1990 Ric Albano
Publication © 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Composed on April 10, 1987
Recorded Spring 1990
at Rathole Studios, Hazleton, PA
Mixed in 2003 & Mastered in 2011
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Electric Guitars, Bass Guitar, Drums, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: One of the first songs written during the very first, experimental sessions in April 1987. Even in its earliest form, the song was written with a free-style lead guitar above a simple, repetitive bass line, but this 1990 recording really brought out the best of that formula. The lyrics point out the contradictions of life.

Please offer your own analysis of I Think I’m Losing My Brain by leaving a comment in the box below.

The Evolution of Noise

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The Evolution of Noise by Wahray and SoulThe analog recording process has all gone the way of the horse and buggy, so it may be a good time to reflect back on this recently past age. With this realization, producer Ric Albano has decided to finally release the many semi-professional, analog recordings he made close to a quarter century ago with The Evolution of Noise, 1987-1995 by Wahray and Soul.

These recordings of original songs were all made in an attic “studio”, on a Fostex 4-track cassette recorder. There is a lot of trial and error, experimentation, and development of technical proficiency along the way.

Part I: The 1980s Written   Recorded
 1.   I Think I’m Losing My Brain     04/10/87 Spring 1990
 2.   Can’t Get Back 06/19/87 Spring 1990
 3.   A Lot of These Things 07/21/88 July 1988
 4.   Speak to Me 11/18/88 November 1988
 5.   The Deer With the Golden Eye 11/20/88 Nov 1988/Spring 1990
 6.   Free 12/13/88 December 1988
 7.   Someday     12/16/88 Dec 1988/Spring 1990
 8.   Springtime 01/07/89 Jan 1989/Spring 1990
 9.   Dark Side Suite 02/11/89 Feb-March 1989
10.   Loneliness 02/13/89 February 1989
11.   Discouragement 02/22/89 Feb-March 1989
12.   Diamond Ships 05/24/89 May 1989
13.   Blue Flowers & Beige Towers     06/04/89 June-July 1989
14.   Dry Water 08/05/89 August 1989
15.   Get Together 08/20/89 August 1989
16.   The Telephone 10/11/89 October 1989
17.   I Need Her Bad 10/12/89 October 1989
18.   Disagree 10/13/89 October 1989
19.   You’ve Got to Abide By the Rules…
     …if You Want to Play    		 11/02/89 November 1989
Part II: The 1990s Written   Recorded
 1.   Wilderness 05/25/90 May 1990
 2.   Best Shot 05/27/90 May-June 1990
 3.   It’s Hip To Live In Disgrace 08/06/90 August-September 1990
 4.   What Comes Around, Goes Around 09/22/90 September-October 1990
 5.   Pressure 12/05/90 December 1990
 6.   Ballad of a Big Breasted Bimbo 04/06/91 Apr 1991/Nov 1993
 7.   You Drive Me Mad 07/25/91 July-August 1991
 8.   King Of the Hill 09/27/91 September-October 1991
 9.   Mixed Signals 10/02/91 October 1991
10.   Wild Child 10/05/91 October 1991
11.   A Shock To the System 10/09/91 October 1991
12.   Everything I Forgot 12/26/91 December 1991
13.   Run 01/06/92 January 1992/November 1993
14.   Don’t Look Back 02/22/93 February-March 1993
15.   The Difference Between 03/09/95 March-April 1995
16.   Whenever I’m Near You 04/14/95 April-May 1995
17.   Used To Be 05/06/95 August 1991/May 1995
18.   The French Toast Affair 06/24/95 June-July 1995
19.   Take It As It Comes 07/07/95 July 1995

Change You Can Believe In

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Track 10  On  Animal Society I  By  Animal Society

Written by Matt Roy & Animal Society Song Length: 4:50
Listen to the Song:
[audio:AS/10-ChangeYouCanBelieveIn.mp3]		 2009
Lyrics

That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got is just the one you got

Yesterday we went out and got caught in the rain
The man got you so freaked out
That you just called him deranged
He turned up his palm and said,
“Mam, can you spare some change?”
You retracted your mission, you forgot your refrain

That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got is just the one you got

The man stood there preaching in his portable booth
Claiming all of his teachings paradoxical-proof
Points to words up on the wall as signs of arrogant youth
Placed his hand on your forearm and then recited this truth

Nothing never ever, lasts forever-ever
Nothing ever ever, lasts forever-ever

That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got now is not the one you used to
That dog that you got is just one you got

On the way back home you threw a shoe at my head
Kicked the dog and groin who dared to lay where you tread
Swore that I would not again feel the pleasure of you bed
Placed my hands on my forehead and this is all that I said

Nothing never ever, lasts forever-ever
Nothing ever ever, lasts forever-ever

Don’t fall all about now, walk tall like you used to
Don’t fall all about now, walk tall like you used to
Don’t fall all about now, walk tall like you used to
Don’t fall all about now, walk tall

Please Man, can you now spare some,
Can you spare some change to believe in?
Please Mam, can you now spare some,
Can you spare some change to believe in?

Composition © 2009 Matt Roy & Animal Society
Publication © 2010 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Composed November 2009
Recorded March 20, 2010
at Saturation Acres, DuPont, PA
Mixed & Mastered in 2010
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Bass Guitar, Vocals
Erik Trabert
Electric Guitars, Synths
Matt Roy
Drums

Please offer your own analysis of Change You Can Believe In by leaving a comment in the box below.

Matt’s Hat

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Track 9 On  Animal Society I  By  Animal Society

Written by Matt Roy, Erik Trabert, & Ric Albano Length: 3:09
Listen to the Song:
[audio:AS/09-Matt’sHat.mp3]		 2010

Instrumental

Composition © 2010 Matt Roy, Erik Trabert & Ric Albano
Publication © 2010 Cygnus Wave Music

Live Version of “Matt’s Hat”

 Song Info
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Composed January 2010
Recorded March 20, 2010
at Saturation Acres, DuPont, PA
Mixed & Mastered in 2010
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performer
Matt Roy
Drums & Percussion
Erik Trabert
Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Ric Albano
Bass Guitar

Please offer your own analysis of Matt’s Hat by leaving a comment in the box below.

The Lion

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Track 8  On  Animal Society I  By  Animal Society

Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 5:21
Listen to the Song:
[audio:AS/08-TheLion.mp3]		 2009
Lyrics

I am on fire, an inferno down below
Disconnecting all I know, I didn’t know
How could I know that there was a demon under my tires?
Improvised and finely split
Synchronized through flying spit
Out in the dark, I was the mark
This day feels tragic, I need some magic
Ancient remedy book, it’s all I took
From the libraries of yesterday

I am half my height with desperation in my sight
Drudging up my every might, I didn’t see
How could it be that there is this flip side, to the fight
When all the comrades melt away
With isolation every day
Too much to drink, too much to think

The world feels colder, I feel much older
Should I give up trying?
Heart of the lion, please help and get me through this day

And there she was, she looked so fresh
So cool but yet so hot
She gave me the courage to drink from this bitter cup
Should happiness pursuit even be sought?
I will see it soon, I will come back soon
I will come back around
Can’t keep me down, I will stand up again

And I will run, yes I will run
I will get back on my feet
And I will run, yes I will run
I will get back on my feet

Composition © 2009 Ric Albano
Publication © 2010 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Composed December 2009
Recorded March 20, 2010
at Saturation Acres, DuPont, PA
Mixed & Mastered in 2010
at Cygnus Wave Studios

Performers
Ric Albano
Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Erik Trabert
Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Matt Roy
Drums

Please offer your own analysis of The Lion by leaving a comment in the box below.