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Modern Plagues

by The Whistles and The Bells

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    New album on 150 gram, 12", black vinyl.

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1.
Harry Potter 03:04
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la You haven’t heard a single word I’ve said You’re not even listening That shit’s gonna rot your brain I can be a better girlfriend I can be a better girlfriend Than the ones in your video games The ones in your video games La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la I wish the Black Panthers were still around All lives matter yeah but a White girl in the Black Panthers That would have been so bad ass God, I so miss high school Free rent, free food, and a swimming pool Does anything really last Does anything really last anymore La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la I still love Harry Potter Ya think I’m too old to read Harry Potter? When I’s a kid I had a better brain When I’s a kid I had a better brain You ever think about the afterlife? Of course you don’t, all you think about’s getting high Being dead is gonna be so strange Being dead is gonna be so strange So strange, so strange There’s this guy who plays tuba in the subway Between the A-train and the E-train He makes homeless look so good He makes homeless look so good Is this all we’re really gonna do Smoke some ape berry And make our parents’ nightmares come true Our parents’ nightmares come true You’re not even listening La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
2.
We were greasy little monkeys skinny and hungry Doing back alley deals all day Jumping old ladies for that handbag honey Hopping fences to get away Now we’re bitching about models and being quixotic Crown grabbing little thieves Can’t find God in a rich man's pocket The devil’s always up their sleeve The devil’s always up their sleeve We were anything but original Crooks and small time criminals Neighborhood flunkies Lowlifes in high tops Now we’re pharisees and gentlemen Taking that high dollar medicine Champagne problems gonna kill us all off Traded hubcaps for cases full of greenbacks Now we’re in the land of the lost We were blackhearted sleestacks now we got that Penthouse George Jefferson walk Now we got that George Jefferson walk Now don’t get me wrong ain’t knocking nice things I like the view better from the top But black ice ballerinas never see it coming Till it’s too late to stop Till it’s too late to stop We were anything but original Crooks and small time criminals Neighborhood flunkies Lowlifes in high tops Now we’re pharisees and gentlemen Taking that high dollar medicine Champagne problems gonna kill us all off
3.
Playing God 03:25
Foolishness, Mindlessness Foolishness, Mindlessness You’re either at my throat or at my feet You’re either at my throat or at my feet Spoiled child, spoiled child You’re either bitching or begging or gonna make me bleed You’re either bitching or begging or empty-threatening me Spoiled child, spoiled child It’s a thankless job, it’s a thankless job If you want it you can have it But I bet you’ll want to give it back The universe is quite heavy When you’re flatlining you ain’t gonna want some kind of hack Slow and unsteady Backbone like spaghetti We’re always strangers till the danger reaches code red Then you find that Holy Ghost in the hospital bed You’re always sowing what you don’t wanna reap Hot for Hell till you get the cold feet It’s a thankless job, it’s a thankless job If you want it you can have it But I bet you’ll want to give it back The universe is quite heavy When you’re flatlining you ain’t gonna want some kind of hack Slow and unsteady Backbone like spaghetti Foolishness, Mindlessness Nonsense is the devil’s anesthetic It’s a thankless job, it’s a thankless job When you start playing God, when you start playing God
4.
Every time a pop star is born a distant planet dies Science finally points to God and He rolls His eyes A sex carnival this Sunday in the church parking lot It’s another snooze fest for them Abercrombie zombie hearts (Come on now) Our brains are losing their shape staring into rectangles Hand over your heart pledge allegiance to America the cubicle Sidewalks paved with puppy spas and homeless vets Packed house tonight at the plants have rights protest (Get there early, get a seat) Analog ash to ash, digital dust to dust We calling for God in them foxholes but in Google we trust Crying foul at the comedy shows laughing at funerals Mommy what’s that ah honey that’s a heterosexual (I’ll tell ya ‘bout em later, they used to be everywhere..so boring, so uncouth) Another socialite dies by the hand of an algorithm And the peace prize goes to the hard drive that cured racism Worries about me, me, me, me, me look at all the damage we do The robot’s gonna put us in a people zoo (Monkey see monkey do) (Legion of love or the legion of doom) (Ratty tat tat tat) every new normal started out as odd Caitlin or Bruce any name you choose still one of God's Jesus had nowhere to lay his head but C-Dollar need a private plane Them televangelists like Chris Isaak playing a wicked game (Who’s Chris Isaak) We’re poisoning the king so we can sit on the throne We keep on sawing off the limb that we are sitting on We cannibalize our leaders and worship dead presidents The Devil's army is a bunch of old white men We're building our own prison and we can't afford the bail When love don’t work don't try anything else Fallacies are in fashion but truth will never be a trend Hope and Faith will rule the day can I get an amen Hope and Faith will rule the day can I get an amen Hope and Faith will rule the day can I get an amen
5.
His cartoon muscles are dripping off the bone He’s a halftime shot or two of cortisone His knees crunch Monday like styrofoam Tells his agent he’s done chasing end zones He sees the face painted kids wearing their love Their parents buying up his memorabilia He knows they don’t love him but the image of He looks into the on-field camera And says Hear the masses praise My iron will and silver strength I quit a thousand times a day But all you ever see, ever see Is my highlight reel, my highlight reel They call her First Bitch as much as Mrs. President It's still a good ole boys club there in Washington Can't be too Barbie nah nah can't be too lesbian Steel eyed, steel toed, still feminine Be the lady trinity Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth and Mother Mary It ain't easy being King Hear the masses praise My iron will and silver strength I quit a thousand times a day But all you ever see, ever see, ever see Is my highlight reel, my highlight reel Exclusive interview at six o’clock with Jesus Christ Place digital doves in his blue eyes If there was wrong to do He even did that right King of the Jews what is your secret spice? He said it might’ve looked easy but it was more like war You never heard the harlot knocking at my hotel door Never saw the bloody flowers on Gethsemane’s floor Never heard my belly screaming Cut the sheep act, lion roar Lion roar, lion roar Hear the masses praise My iron will and silver strength I quit a thousand times a day But all you ever see, ever see, ever see Is my highlight reel, my highlight reel
6.
Glossy eyed from the scarlet harlot The Via Dolorosa of her kiss Staring down the spiral staircase Still gives me fits Why do I Do these things I don’t know why I do these things Why do I do these things I do When I don’t want to When I don’t want to Glossy eyed from the scarlet harlot Carpet blood red from her kiss Tears decorate the spiral staircase Triumph my fear Death becomes you my dear Why do I Do these things I don’t know why I do these things Why do I do these things I do When I don’t want to When I don’t want to Extravagant the hem of her gilded garment Forfeit my soul One more time no One more time no One more time no
7.
It’s the year of the freak out (The year of the freak out) Can’t carry on and calm down (Can’t carry on and calm down) This is the year of the freak out (The year of the freak out) Bout to get a little mental Turning tables over in the temple Marvin Gaye's what's going on Blasting on them headphones Pretty much the same nonsense man Different verse same song Etch it on our headstone We had the best of intentions But had to get our beauty sleep in Stay caught up on the Mad Men Now we’re caught up in that madness Hold on playa the answer’s blowing in the breeze Chill out it’s only a catastrophe All this drama got ya sounding like a fool The world’s on fire but everything’s cool It’s the year of the freak out (The year of the freak out) Can’t carry on and calm down Too much at stake now Putting kids in bodybags Chalk outlines on the sidewalk A little yoga gonna clear ya head Have a good jog down by the graveyard In a jumpsuit made by “Brain-Washed” Devil got his style trademarked Selling bulletproof hoodies at Walmart Guns by the dozen at Walmart Hold on playa the answer’s blowing in the breeze Chill out it’s only a catastrophe All this drama got ya sounding like a fool The world’s on fire but everything’s cool People don’t trust the police don’t trust their priest Don’t trust the living, don’t trust the deceased, don’t trust the future or history? Fear is God among the great beast x2 I don’t know about you, and you don’t know about me But I know the biggest problem with the world is me It’s the year of the freak out The year of the freak out Turning tables over in the church house, in the court house, in the white house, maybe even in my own house By God maybe even in my own house
8.
Good Drugs 03:22
The sky is falling, I’m screaming for help Don’t know how long I can keep it above my head My heroes all keep turning ghostly pale And my king size bed won’t give me any rest Most days I can keep the world at bay On them bad days, I got them good drugs To sweep the pain under the rug And when the straw breaks I say a little prayer To the God of Abraham and anybody who cares And hope they’re listening, listening, listening You say the bright side’s the only place to be And I wonder if you're too simple to be depressed What superhuman color do you bleed To swim this aquarium and not get wet When that bone break needs more than a band aid On them bad days, I got them good drugs To sweep the pain up under the rug And when the straw breaks I say a little prayer To the God of Abraham and anybody who cares And hope they’re listening, listening, listening Diet coke and year-old Percocet Blind your eyes by the light of the TV set Why slay the monster there inside your head When you can medicate it, medicate it, medicate it
9.
Went to a psychic to get my hair dyed My barista said “Ahh, she’s the future” Said there’s a doctor you really gotta try She can heal up your sense of humor Went to college for an education If reality bites I want some truth with some teeth Professor in a Star Wars t-shirt Said only a fool thinks he can know anything I put my head in the sand looking for the light Head in the sand looking for the light Head in the sand looking for the light But I had nothing to show for it I said I’m hungry to the man in the moon He said my shaman will feed your soul Note on his door said I took a little trip Up to Heaven or Hell I don’t know I left a message with the secretary of the governor He said you’ll get an answer soon I sent it to your senator A week later got a letter from Mr. President Said my query’s got him all discombobulated I put my head in the sand looking for the light Head in the sand looking for the light I put my head in the sand looking for the light But I had nothing to show for it I put my head in the sand looking for the light I put my head in the sand looking for the light I put my head in the sand looking for the light But I had nothing to show for it I did a left footed dance in a fist fight Found me a friend to tell me sweet lies But I ended up empty handed yeah I did I put my head in the sand looking for the light Head in the sand looking for the light Head in the sand looking for the light But I had nothing to show for it
10.
Supadope 02:55
Holy Moses, holy Toledo There is power in the blood And it ain’t no hocus pocus Houdini kind of mojo, no, no It’s a rearrange your heart’s DNA kind of love Can’t say it enough He’s so supadope, supadope, supadope I’ve been to the Vatican and Notre Dame’s cathedral I’ve seen the pomp and the glittery gold Then I hear Greg Porter singing “Take Me to the Alley” Then I’m like ah yeah, that’s the friend that I know The friend to the Low He’s so supadope, supadope, supadope He’s so supadope, supadope, supadope Used to wear that homemade halo Tried to hide my hellish heart But He called me up out of the shadows Said child you’re a work of art Sometimes He tears the roof off so I can see the sun rise Sometimes He buries me so I can remember my roots Call me crazy but I’m here to testify my friend Nobody’s ever loved me so true He’s so supadope, supadope, supadope He’s so supadope, supadope, supadope Used to wear that homemade halo Tried to hide my hellish heart But He called me up out of the shadows Said child you’re a work of art
11.
40 Years 02:27
Birthday boy with a birthday cake How many pieces will it take Before you get a belly ache We’ve all run that scenario Hypothesized how it would go If we had just one day to go before we were gonna die I’d rock that 24 hour bubble Tom Cruise that “bleep,” be my own stunt double Dare that dream get seen from the Hubble Star man burning bright What if we had forty years What if we had forty years left to live Forty summers Forty Christmas' What if we had forty years left to live What if we had forty years You could slave all day at the factory Abandon your kids crushing candy So you and your zombie wife can dream that American nightmare Then ship my bones to Florida For eighteen holes of pain killers Wait for your grave to be dug Then ease in that ditch my friend Staring up at the coffin lid Wondering if this Was the life that you wanted to live What if we had forty years left to live What if we had forty years Forty summers Forty Christmas' What if we had forty years left to live What if we had forty years Brothers and sisters I'm convinced Being bored is the greatest sin Not living just stealing oxygen After we are born You were born for more You were born for more You were born for more You were born for more You were born for more You were born for more You were born for more

credits

released April 28, 2017

All songs written by Bryan Simpson
Songs of Soul Pilgrim (BMI)

except

Harry Potter / Small Time Criminals / Zombie Heartz
(Bryan Simpson / Brendan Benson)
Songs of Soul Pilgrim (BMI) / BMG Gladsad Music (ASCAP)

Year of the Freak Out
(Bryan Simpson / Matt Menefee)
Songs of Soul Pilgrim (BMI) / Gaamom Music (ASCAP)

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Musicians

Bryan Simpson - vocals, guitar, mandolin
Matt Menefee - banjo, electric guitar, synth, piano, mandocello
Brooke Waggoner - piano, organ, synth
Royal Masat - electric and upright bass
Adam Stockdale - electric guitar
Dave Jackson - drums
Chris Powell - drums on "Spiral Staircase”
Eddie Spear - hookah on “Harry Potter,” tambourine and animal drums on “Zombie Heartz”
Jon Estes - electric bass on "Year of the Freak Out" and "40 Years”
John Painter - horns!!
Timbre Cierpke - harp
Eli Bishop & Tyler Andal - fiddles
Emily Nelson - cello
Tyler Summers - flute

“Small Time Criminals Super-Sized Band”: Taylor Jones - drums, Tyler Summers - clarinet, Eli Bishop - fiddle, Emily Nelson - cello, Royal Masat - upright bass

Phoebe Cryar - featured lead on “Supadope”
Background Vocals - Phoebe Cryar, Callie Cryar Pittman, Doberman Region Act 2 on “Head in the Sand", Uncle Buffalo

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Produced by Eddie Spear and Bryan Simpson
Recorded by Eddie Spear at Sound Emporium - Nashville, TN; “Spiral Staircase” recorded at Omni Studios - Nashville, TN
Assistant Engineer: Zach Pancoast, Jordan Harrell, Logan Yandell
Mixed by Eddie Spear
Mastered by Chris Athens at Chris Athens Mastering - Austin, TX

Management: Santo Pullella at Head West Management
Package Design: Ed Sherman
Photography: Alysse Gafkjen

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Big love to all my co-conspirators ..deep and wide is the ocean of inspiration I get to swim in daily.
special thx: to all the folks at New West..4 yo blood sweat and tears..blood, not yet, but surely soon...
My A team Matt and Eddie, a man’s blessed to have one unicorn in his life..I have two.
My manager and friend Santo Pullella…Glad to be pushing this boulder uphill w/ ya.
My wife..Lady Kristi, Patron Saint of Perpetual Unselfishness.
Supadope.

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The Whistles and The Bells Nashville, Tennessee

The Whistles & The Bells is the nome de song of Nashville-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bryan Simpson. His debut full-length album (New West Records, 2015) is an accomplished effort that threads together rousing indie rock, southern folk, gritty alt-country and gospel to create a rich musical tapestry that matches the intense soul searching of his evocative and poetic lyrics. ... more

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