Tag: Songs from 2004

One

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 5:47
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:One.mp3]
Lyrics
Take a totally rational, complex super-organism
Reduce its pure essence to a 2-dimensional box
You’re black man, you’re white man, you – we’ll need to get back to
Once we have determined
The appropriate lines around you which we must draw
Then you’ll know who you really are

We cheer “diversity” but actually champion disparity
Thin surface reveals us all, deeper inner core irrelevant
Do you know who you really are?
Once we’ve anointed you
Any further insight from you will be superfluous and ignored

Take an honest, emotional, simple, young human person kind
The kind the intelligentsia tend to love to scorn and mock
For being mad for being had or for simply being consistent
Unlike their own trend-o’-the-week,
Nuanced, metro-sexual, cultured daughters and sons
But aren’t we all the One?

If there are two then there must be 6 billion
Composed of fools, heroes, artists, dregs, and villains
Aren’t we all the One?
Once we acknowledge this
Any further false divisions will be gratuitous and absurd

We are all the One!
If there are two then it must be logical that there are infinite
Island universes, loosely coupled but self-determinate
Do we know who we really are?
Do you know who you really are?

You, who have seen years of hardship and days of easy living
Who have felt nights of warm love and spells of cold un-forgiveness
So how can I tell you who you are?
I do acknowledge the noble intent
But I must reject the method unreservedly

Composition © 2004 Ric Albano
Publication © 2005, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on August 3, 2004
Recorded starting on May 9, 2005
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Paul Smith
Mixed and Mastered in 2005
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Original Release: October 10, 2005
on Imaginary Lines I
This Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Bret Alexander
Electric Guitars
Ron Simasek
Drums and Percussion

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The vocals flirt with the extreme upper range of Albano’s early work, but the calm, jazzy music and strategic drum, percussion, and synth accents ground this song as an interesting jam.

Song Trivia
The original title of this song was “Imaginary Lines” and it was the theme around a concept album (that never materialized) was planned. When the overall project was given that title, this songs name was changed – first to “Soliquoy” and then finally to “One”.

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

Lorelei

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 6:30
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:Lorelei.mp3]
Lyrics
It’s not Rooooooski! It’s an abstract facsmile of Rooooooski!

Damned by a man who cannot stand up straight
I’ll search in vein for the guards who had abandoned the gate
Should’ve known that no good deed could ever go unpunished
In the end Lorelei had decided my fate

Cursed by the purse strings attached to my home
Must wait on line for heir justice with the greasy, black comb
He shouts; “What makes you so sure that your way of life is right?”
I then suspected Lorelei’s silent hand in my plight

You don’t want it? You’ve got to have it and I insist that you grab it!
You don’t see it? But have I chosen to reveal it?
This is the question you’ll have to deal with!

Shin deep in purple, processed, pure grape jelly
The bureau’s witch doctors demand more money
While Mr. Rooooooski charges that I’m a cheat
I won fair and square just accept your defeat!

Scorned by a wench who can’t pronounce my last name
But shattered my faith in the law to assign the right blame
“I’ll have you know mean-spirited remarks will never feed one hungry child”
This smacks of Lorelei’s crass and sinister style

You can’t feel it? Must be too heartless to deal with…
The poor, oppressed, 5th-wheel bits!
You can’t grasp it? Then you’re an ignorant, Christian have-wit!
Obsessed with preparing for the casket

Knee deep in crimson, sticky, entropic, paste gold
The bureau’s alchemists grow crusty and old
While Mr. Rooooooski is chauffered down Nicey Road
And ignores any headline underneath of the fold

Where is the buzz when you need it the most?
Drowned in black coffee, eggs, bacon, & toast

What will the bureaucrat do for Tuesday?
Something constructive, maybe scratch his toupee

Now I was bitten by the dog whose bite was bigger than his bark
Sentenced to civil servitude clearing sidewalks at dark
“You’ll surely loath the black days when your good fortune is repealed…
…To fund some grand new monument down in Lorelei Park!”

You don’t weep for it?
Must be bigoted with deep-knit, soul-less, bottom-feeding wits
You can’t show it? Then how can you be certain you know it?
You’re surely doomed yet to blow it!

Neck high in Honolulu blue river tide
The bureau’s acrobats were doomed to collide
Poor little Rooooooski took it hard when they died
New bureau despot outlawed Lorelei raves
Promoted morons and dismissed the unshaved
Soon even Rooooooski will have to learn to behave
Perhaps then I’ll be moved to re-emerge from my cave

Composition © 2004 Ric Albano
Publication © 2005, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on June 14, 2004
Recorded starting on November 3, 2004
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Paul Smith
Mixed and Mastered in 2005
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Original Release: October 10, 2005
on Imaginary Lines I

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Bass, Vocals
Bret Alexander
Electric Guitar

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: An odd song with an odd story and odd structure, this upbeat and fun tune with deep philosophical lyrics came together in an odd way. Like most songs on Imaginary Line I, a demo was brought to Saturation Acres where a new, professional recording was initiated. But unlike any other song, the demo version was ultimately included on the album as the studio version was determined to be too slow to capture the mood of this song.

Song Trivia
The original version of this song was written in 1997 and named “Episode IV” as it narrated the story of the first Star Wars film.
The alternate, studio recorded version of “Lorelei” was used for J.D. Cook’s 19th birthday tribute as he had long claimed this to be his favorite Imaginary Lines song.

To offer your own analysis of Lorelei, please leave a comment in the box below.

Perfect Light

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:26
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:PerfectLight.mp3]
Lyrics
You march down your narrow street
To the rhythmic drums that your master beats
With pretension that this tune is one that you’ve authored
Quickly shuffle past the water rats
Who gave you comfort when the Krins attacked
And deserve acknowledgement now but you just can’t be bothered

It’s alright, it’s alright, the beautiful people will all be there tonight
To toss and fish for praise that is not deserved
It’s alright, it’s alright, the burdens of fame that tend to make you uptight
Will nicely fuse into indigenous curves

Indigenous curves, with no more stress on your nerves
Bellowing out your new verbs

Your smile was painted on too thin
And has slowly dissolved into a stressed-out grin
Because deep down you know that you want and need more
Covertly detour to your private suite
Garnished with fresh orchids & fine imported meat
But all that you desire is within that cabinet drawer

It’s alright, it’s alright, the Hollywood press will provide cover tonight
And will dutifully drench you in the perfect light
It’s alright, it’s alright,
You surely won’t be bothered by the phantoms of life
So you can preach left and still be so right

Alright! (You are so correct, sir) So right
You’re so right, so right, so right, so right, so right
You can never be wrong!

Composition © 2004 Ric Albano
Publication © 2005, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on June 23, 2004
Recorded starting on May 9, 2005
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Paul Smith
Mixed and Mastered in 2005
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Original Release: October 10, 2005
on Imaginary Lines I
This Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Harpsichord, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Bret Alexander
Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Ron Simasek
Drums

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The layered soundscapes enrich this song as it migrates from section to section, in a gloomy and fatalistic creed.

Song Trivia
“Perfect Light” was written in response to a pathetic, “puff piece” version of The E True Hollywood Story on an established mainstream actor.

Please offer your own analysis of Perfect Light by leaving a comment in the box below.

The Phoenix

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:56
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:ThePhoenix.mp3]
Lyrics
It appeared you found a new direction, heading down towards the mines
Where you would pick for gold in dire perplexion
Disregarding all alternative signs
To a future wrought by burrowing down, you’d resigned

Then sometime came some eccentric stranger
Seemed quite familiar, but yet not quite
Who would harass until you’d ogre the danger
Until finally you’d step out into the light
Those derivatives of naïveté you’d now fight

Your millstone is that of one self-carved and with gaiety
But this lusus naturae must now be collapsed through rumpus mutiny
The rain falls down but there’s no comfort in the cool
The wretched heat cannot be dampened by the pool

You break down, disintegrate, and break down
Refined into diminutive shapes
Ordained reality, from this flame no escape

It appears you found a new direction, pointed towards the sky
Puissant with refreshed predilection
Black elbows, white lightning in your eyes
From the serrated, glassy desert floor you now rise!

Composition © 2004 Ric Albano
Publication © 2005, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on December 10, 2004
Recorded starting on May 9, 2005
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Paul Smith
Mixed and Mastered in 2005
at Silver Spring Subterranean
Original Release: October 10, 2005
on Imaginary Lines I
This Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Bret Alexander
Electric Guitars
Ron Simasek
Drums

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: Although this was an excellent “kick-off” song, it is probably the weakest song on Imaginary Lines I. It does nicely build tension before releasing energy during the bridge and outtro sections, but suffers from weak vocals and a muddled overall mix.

Song Trivia
This auto-biographical song was written by Ric Albano on his 36th Birthday.
The lyric “It appears you found a new direction, pointed towards the sky” is influenced by the rare dystopian song by Pink Floyd called “Point Me At the Sky”, which contains the lyric “And if you survive ’til 2005 I hope you’re exceedingly thin / For if you are stout you will have to breathe out while the people around you breathe in”.

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

Imaginary Lines 33

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Imaginary Lines 33Released on September 9, 2009

Imaginary Lines 33 is a compilation album which is actually three albums in one. It includes the entirity of two previous releases, Imaginary Lines I in 2005 and Imaginary Lines II in 2007, plus several new and previously unreleased tracks. In all, its 33 songs have a combined running time of nearly two and a half hours.

This album came together when the project’s producer, Ric Albano, decided to abandon the originally-planned “trilogy” of albums because he did not feel there was enough quality material to make an adeguate Imaginary Lines III. Instead the focus shifted to enhancing previously released material and developing the better songs of the unreleased music.

 Disc One Writer(s) Previously
 1. Crimson, White, & Indigo     Ric Albano Unreleased
 2. Sister Josephine Ric Albano Unreleased
 3. Rubicon Ric Albano Unreleased
 4. Princess of Pearl Avenue Ric Albano Unreleased
 5. 999 Escape Ric Albano Unreleased
 6. Tommy’s Got a Gun Ric Albano /
Hunter S. Thompson    		 Unreleased
 7. Can’t Get My Mojo Risin’ Ric Albano Unreleased
 8. Ashes Ric Albano Unreleased*
 9. The Phoenix Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I    
10. Good Friday Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
11. Perfect Light Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
12. Lorelei Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
13. 33 Flames for Mary Ric Albano /
Ron Simasek		 Imaginary Lines I
14. Anthem Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
15. Donovan’s Dread Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
16. Peace Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
17. One Ric Albano Imaginary Lines I
 Disc Two Writer(s) Previously
 1. The Fool’s Overture     Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 2. She Said Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 3. Keep Doing What You Do Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 4. The Last Man to Walk Alone     Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 5. You Sure Were Fun Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 6. 33 Shots at Louis Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 7. Believe Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 8. A New Religion Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
 9. The Cup Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II    
10. The Old Man In the Sea Sue Kovaleski /
Ric Albano		 Unreleased
11. Twilight of Innocence Ric Albano Unreleased
12. Here On the Beach Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
13. Naked Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II
14. Deuce Ric Albano Unreleased
15. Half Hearted Ric Albano Unreleased
16. Long Way Home Ric Albano Imaginary Lines II