KISS THE CRYSTAL FLAKE
MISSION IN VAIN
written by Tim Bluhm ©2007 Little Sur (ASCAP)
The purpose of my mission was to see the ocean.
I have not seen the ocean, I have not tasted the rain.
And if you will not let me land this airplane,
trust my intuition then my mission’s in vain.
Why does time keep moving on so quickly?
Why can’t I distinguish dusk from dawn?
Why does time keep moving on so quickly?
Why does time keep moving on?
Captain, I have come a great long distance
at my protector’s insistence and I will not be detained.
Handcuffs cannot restrain my choices.
If we don’t listen to our voices then our mission’s in vain.
Why does time keep moving on so quickly?
Why can’t I distinguish dusk from dawn?
Why does time keep moving on so quickly?
Why does time keep moving on?
WICKED TREE
written by Greg Loiacono ©2007 Poncen Music (ASCAP)
Wicked Tree is standing tall. All alone and there for all
to hang their woes upon its limbs, to hang their woes upon its limbs.
The child that grows within its bark can’t contemplate this time scarred mark;
with velvet gloves and iron fist, velvet gloves and iron fist
I can’t feel it any more. Its leaves don’t even shine.
It wasn’t just a waste of time.
Exploring faces from the past. Always change but still they last;
echoes from a canyon deep, echoes from a canyon deep
In a garden of blue fog, our love is tested in this bog.
Changing upward still we grow, changing upward will we grow.
It was more than I could take, my memories cruel flow.
I drained it down into the lake and there I let it go.
If you see me looking mean, trust that I’ve just seen
ghost of wicked, wicked tree.
It was more than I could take, my memories cruel flow.
I just kissed the crystal flake and then I let it go.
If you see me looking mean, trust that I’ve just seen
ghost of wicked, wicked tree.
TIME WE HAD
written by Tim Bluhm ©2007 Little Sur (ASCAP)
On the way, on the way home
I saw a rainbow beneath my feet,
flowing over the filthy street.
It’s a long, it’s a long way
back to the place where we used to sit
when you and I were just little kids.
The time we had is not gone.
The way we chose was the long one.
The time we had is not gone.
The stone that fell is still falling.
So let that stone be the wondrous thing
that comes to pass when our voices sing.
On the way, on the way home
I heard some ghosts laughing in the trees,
moving inside the midnight breeze.
The time we had is not gone.
The way we chose was the long one.
The time we had is not gone.
Way out here the voice and the mind are clear.
NO-NAME DARRELL
written by Greg Loiacono ©2007 Poncen Music (ASCAP)
Running full speed forward every single day
I light a match stick just to see if I can find my way.
Every time I run the wind just wants to blow it out.
I can’t blame the wind; it’s just my running, running, running.
It’s such a shame to waste the moment right in front of you.
I try not to but panicking is all I do.
All we do all day is bring ourselves back and forth.
Like a ferryman bringing his load shore to shore.
Give yourself up to the current sliding silently.
The past can never stay.
The future’s in my way.
When will be the day that I realize?
The only time we have is now.
I wish that I could find a way to make the running end.
To be like no-name Darrel standing with his wind chime friends.
Up ahead of me is Neiman-Marcus Day-Glo.
Right behind me the ancestors of the buffalo.
Now’s the time, the time is now, the now is here the here is how.
Why can’t I concentrate?
Trying harder, hardly trying, try again, again, again.
Use your body wisdom, use your secret math.
Running through the grass,
I’m almost out of cash.
I was taking out the trash when I realized
the only time have is now.
LET SOMEBODY
written by Tim Bluhm ©2007 Little Sur (ASCAP)
Say what you want to.
I’m not gonna go.
Hurt me by laughing
but I’ll know that you know.
Everybody wants you to be what they think you should be.
I don’t want to be the one to have to set you free.
And on that day you took my name
you said in the dark I’d be your flame.
I don’t want to let our love break down.
It’s the realest feeling I have found.
If you want to get touched you got to let somebody.
Pride is the answer.
Pain is the clue.
We are the question.
This doesn’t have to be true.
And on that day I took your name
you said in the dark I’d be your flame.
I don’t want to let our love break down.
It’s the realest feeling I have found.
If you want to get touched you got to let somebody.
CONFIRMATION OF LOVE
written by Greg Loiacono ©2007 Poncen Music (ASCAP)
Got a call from Montreal.
It was a confirmation of love, that’s all.
She sprayed my name on the back of her shoe.
What else would you want a woman to do for you?
Quit my job two weeks ago.
The pay was weak and the hours were low.
But I got to make money, going to see my honey
in the city; old Saint-Henri.
I got a confirmation of love.
She sprayed our names on the back of a bus.
What else could I want the woman to do for us?
She’s the one; she’s the one for me.
I know when you meet her you will agree with me.
I‘ve got to buy a new coat and in the fall,
I’m going to take a plane to Montreal.
Got to make art, got to make out, got to make art
on the rooftops of the city.
She came down to California to meet my friends.
When it comes to loving me, I know, she won’t pretend.
(Mother Hips Records 1998)
TGIM
written by Tim Bluhm ©2007 Little Sur (ASCAP)
In my life I want to feel like I’m doing it right.
In my eyes I want you to see only delight.
We could take a ride on the Great Highway,
taking it easy, it’s a weekday.
All that’s said and done is said and done and gone
into the ocean like the sun going down.
Evening time; the beach fires are burning all in a line.
Human kindness will wash all the bad vibes out of my mind.
We could take a ride on the Great Highway,
taking it easy, it’s a weekday.
All that’s said and done is said and done and gone
into the ocean like the sun going down.
WHITE HILLS
written by Greg Loiacono ©2007 Poncen Music (ASCAP)
The end of autumn and I don’t know what to do
‘cause my pretty red heart is broken in two.
I’m not going to fix it. I’ll just let it freeze.
It can stay for a while in a cryogenic peace.
And then when it melts I’ll go get my glue.
I’ll know what to do. Yeah! I’ll know what to do.
We can make it through the white hills.
We can make it through the night.
The snows of Tyrol and I just want to sleep.
Everybody wants truth. Everybody goes deep.
But I came here to hide in the snow.
I don’t want to know. No! I don’t want to know.
We can make it through the white hills.
We can make it through the night.
NOT SO INDEPENDENT
written by Tim Bluhm ©2007 Little Sur (ASCAP)
We sat in darkness while bombs burst in the air.
Cheers of amazement could not get us to care.
The PCH parties spilled onto the sand.
Pretty young patrons were waving their hands.
Energy is leaving me all weekend.
Monday came and I feel lame and weakened;
not so independent today.
The Army of Darkness had control of the Cove.
A few Gothic Dolphins, in unison, dove.
The Canyon Of Flowers winds down to the sea;
a gulf of destruction between you and me.
Energy is leaving me all weekend.
Monday’s come, and I feel dumb and weakened;
not so independent.
WHITE HEADPHONES
written by Greg Loiacono ©2007 Poncen Music (ASCAP)
Here she comes, she’s walking down the Judah line.
Look how’s she’s walking, she’s got nowhere to be, she’s just taking her time.
She’s making me move, I’m a man who never did.
Now I got to learn how to dance pretty soon or get left behind by the kid.
Here she comes, white headphones in her ears.
Look how’s she walking, you can tell she’s liking what she hears.
She’s making me move, I’m a man who never does.
She’s making me prove that I love her, what else would I be thinking of?
Here she comes, she’s walking down the N line.
Look how’s she’s walking, she’s got nowhere to be, she’s just taking her time.
She’s making me move, I’m a man who never does.
She’s making me prove that I love her, what else would I be thinking of?
TIME-SICK SON OF A GRIZZLY BEAR
written by Tim Bluhm ©2007 Little Sur (ASCAP)
Did you see the grizzly bear
roving over the floodplain?
Richard Henry Dana did.
I read about it and it stuck in my brain.
Did you see the river flow
clear down to Baja Mexico?
John Wesley Powell most certainly did.
I read about it when I was a kid.
Time-sick son of a grizzly bear.
I can’t fit in anywhere.
I’m a time-sick son of a grizzly bear.
Were you at old Monterey
in Joaquin Murrieta’s day?
Adobe huts in the cypress grove
is where the rich men now build their homes.
Time-sick son of a grizzly bear.
Can’t seem to find myself anywhere.
I’m a time-sick son of a grizzly bear.
IN THIS BLISS
written by Greg Loiacono ©2007 Poncen Music (ASCAP)
Darling don’t you cry. The world is waiting over your shoulder.
Maybe it’s not mine, to understand the meaning of your wonder.
All games and fears will not conquer this.
Stay for a while, in this bliss.
All the times you cry, they’re only soft expressions of your needing.
What do I know of needs? Teach me how to know them from my wanting.
In your beginner’s mind you’ll see.
Stay for a while, in this free.
Little coos and chirps are the grandest ideas you do give me.
Tiny hands and feet, could anything in life be more lovely?
TRACK LISTING:
1) Mission In Vain
2) Wicked Tree
3) Time We Had
4) No-Name Darrell
5) Let Somebody
6) Confirmation of Love
7) TGIM
8) White Hills
9) Not So Independent
10) White Headphones
11) Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear
12) In This Bliss
Bonus DVD provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the recording process while also shedding light on the individual personalities of band members and producer Dylan Magierek. Included in the DVD are interviews, videos of six full songs being recorded in the studio and montages of the band working thru song arrangements. Also caught on tape are band injuries and comedic tabloidal portrayals uncovering secrets of each band member.
TRACKS FEATURED ON THE DVD:
Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear
Not So Independent
Confirmation Of Love
No-Name Darrell
TGIM
White Headphones
Mother Hips:
Tim Bluhm – Vocals & Guitars
Greg Loiacono – Vocals & Guitars
Paul Hoaglin – Basses & Vocals
John Hofer – Drums & Percussion
Kiss the Crystal Flake was recorded in San Francisco, CA between February and November, 2006.
Produced by The Mother Hips with Dylan Magierek / Engineered by Dylan Magierek at Closer Recordings and Rick Perez at Different Fur Studios / Mixed by The Mother Hips, Dylan Magierek, and Rick Perez at Different Fur Studios / Additional mixing by Justin Phelps at Hyde Street Studios
Mastered by Mike Wells
Additional Players:
Jackie Greene courtesy Verve Forecast and played
Hammond B3 on tracks # 1 and 5, and piano on # 10. Dan Lebowitz
courtesy Brushfire Records and played bongos on track # 5.
Charlie Gurke played baritone saxophone, Eric Oberthaler played
trumpet, and Scott Kinipplemeir played trombone on track # 12.
Tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11 written by Tim Bluhm (c) 2007 Little Sur (ASCAP)
Tracks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 written by Greg Loiacono (c) 2007 Poncen Music (ASCAP)
A&R by Jon Salter
Design by Erik Bluhm / Layout by Robin C. Hendrickson
Bonus DVD directed, edited, filmed, and authored by Dave Schwartz for Fast Atmosphere