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White Noise Machines

by The Ethyl Mermen

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1.
Flesh Avalanche 03:47
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You told me your name but I already forgot it My mind wanders from subject to subject I’ve got a short attention span. Lost track of where I’m at again. I’ve got a short attention span. Lost track of where I’m at again. Background chatter becomes a distraction My thoughts ramble in all directions (ooh) I’ve got a short attention span. Lost track of where I’m at again. I’ve got a short attention span. Lost track of where I’m at again. I spend all day juggling obligations I get off track in mid-conversation (ooh) I’ve got a short attention span. Lost track of where I’m at again. I’ve got a short attention span. Lost track of where I’m at again. There are times when I get the answer I’d do something if I wasn’t so lazy
2.
The Zipper 05:07
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When you take that ride you float over everyone Neon lights the night just like the sun And they're playing "Stone Free" at the carnival But the sign in the line says you got to be this high Strapped in a cage with a girl and you're drunk and you're underage Words tumble as you spin but they come out all wrong You're nervous, not sure if all the bolts are there Like a carnie felling for his teeth, he knows they're gone That's what it's like to ride The Zipper That's what it's like to ride The Zipper Your muscles start to tighten as you make your ascent So you close your eyes and hold on tight Your heart is in your throat when you begin to roll But gravity won't keep you down tonight That's what it's like to ride The Zipper That's what it's like to ride The Zipper Hanging upside down, you feel your blood flowing The sensation rushes straight to your head But just when it really starts to get going It's always over before you want it to end That's what it's like to ride The Zipper That's what it's like to ride The Zipper
3.
Make It Snappy 03:30
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They cut the strings that were holding you down Now you’re off to another town Fourteen years walking the same footsteps There was comfort in routine Hit the snooze, take a shower, grab a cup off coffee and get to work by 8:30 Now the time is right; better make it snappy The window closes quickly Take a chance; whatever makes you happy The window closes quickly Fourteen years working at the same place There was comfort in routine You were the golden boy; everybody loved you Now you’re well past 30 And the company is changing direction You became expendable The middle manager calls you to his office and then they walk you out the door Now the time is right; better make it snappy The window closes quickly Take a chance; whatever makes you happy The window closes quickly And the company is not the company you keep anymore
4.
Olives 04:42
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Brittle tears. Savois fear Lips quiver. Your time is near Quiet man easy chair Pretty soon you’ll disappear And now you wonder what it all means when life turns out so different from your dreams The droning of white noise machines helps take your mind off the silence The glossy pages of magazines emit the latest celebrity fragrance And now you wonder what it all means when life turns out so different from your dreams A bitter harvest is what you reap when you sow the seeds of hate And in the end what do you get? Isolation and regret One fine day you'll wind up in the ground And you won't ever make another sound Yeah, one fine day you'll wind up in the ground And you won't ever make another sound
5.
Speeding Hearse 02:51
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Summer's gone Where have you gone? Summer's gone Where have you gone? Summer's gone Where have you gone? Summer's gone Where have you gone? The smell of dead leaves on the grass Feel nostalgic about the past Yes, I knew it couldn't last In a speeding hearse you can't look back
6.
Mallethead 05:23
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Inky shadows work the angles Separate causes leave awkward pauses Tension simmers below the surface Boiling over without a purpose Contents under pressure Ready to go off Careful what you wish for When the Genie leaves the bottle out comes a world of trouble and you can’t undo what has been done Man-size man, fun-size funds Thinks he’s brighter than everyone Parked in front of the glowing box He’s the rabbit not the fox Contents under pressure Ready to go off Careful what you wish for When the Genie leaves the bottle out comes a world of trouble and you can’t undo what has been done The endless sameness of every day Save the small talk for commercial breaks The smell of coffee and cheap cologne Can’t mask the feeling he’s all alone
7.
Fanfare for the Kung Fu Villain 03:45
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We come from a happy town Home of the indoor mall Now every farmer sits on a gold mine Mud under our nails and soiled knees The hum of the feedback sowed the seeds And we came rising out of the dirt Dust off our amps and breathe in the mold We watch the tubes begin to glow The roar with the sound of a 5.0 Ford And we can turn the world on with a smile We can turn the world on with a smile We can turn the world on with a smile We can turn the world on with a smile By mid-July the corn’s knee-high A bumper crop from the magic sky It took some time to ripen on the vine Homemade chili and cornbread These days everyone’s got a band The standards are lower for the Renaissance man Who can turn the world on with a smile? Who can turn the world on with a smile? We can turn the world on with a smile We can turn the world on with a smile Fanfare for the kung fu villain Like us, no one’s heard of him Why be a star? It’s all been done before This ain’t no cowtown any more We don’t get plowed on your front porch No one here can ride the bull
8.
All Talk 03:28
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Wait for the moment In the blink of it passes you by We're all searching for some kind of meaning Don't you know you're soaking in it? How come people stop and look at the scene of an accident? Gapers block. Rubber necking You stew and curse the idiots Spinning wheels going no where ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh Take a picture it will last longer ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh You're all talk You're all talk and no action You're all talk You're all talk and no action You're all talk You're all talk and no action You're all talk You're all talk and no action

about

White Noise Machines was recorded and mixed by Brett Mohr at Gravity Studios, except for "Speeding Hearse," which was recorded and mixed by David Douglas at Trouser Sock Studio. It was mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service.

credits

released March 9, 2010

David "Honeyboy" Douglas: lead guitar, Eric "Honeybunny" Lathrop: lead drums, Tom "Honey Balls of Joy" Long: lead bass, lead mouth

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The Ethyl Mermen Chicago

The Ethyl Mermen is a Chicago trio that writes songs using guitars, bass, drums and words. Some have hooks.
The band is an estimated combined weight of 535 pounds (242.67 kg) and measures 17 feet, 11 inches (5.461 m). It takes the form of solids, liquids and gases and produces hydrocarbons. ... more

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