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The Basement Tapes

by The Pyros

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1.
Yellow and Dark Blue [demo] 04:15
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When will I let it all go and be the love I desire?  The drywall never seems to dry.  I thought I fixed all the flickering lights. I sweep the stairs I am falling through.  It’s hard to be so yellow  and dark blue.  I try to fly aeroplanes yet the turbulence remains.  I know there’s more than meets the eye yet I act like the one moon in the sky.  When the glitter's gone on a nothing afternoon,  It’s hard to be so yellow  and dark blue.  Yeah I give. Give me a chance. I will give love all I can. I'll cover up drywall with a frame Of all my lovers laughing in the rain Singing like a crazy group of loons One thousand hearts and zero greasy spoons My darkest sky has been my newest moon, It’s hard to be so yellow And dark blue. It’s been hard to be so yellow And dark blue.
2.
King of The Internet [basement mix] 04:07
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I wanna be king of the internet Filter my thoughts til I look perfect Scrolling the feed til I'm stomach sick Feeling afraid posting heavy shit You know it makes me depressed. But look at my gorgeousness. Look at my big package. Never see my palace on fire. Never see my palace on fire. Cause I’m king of the internet Look at my cooking I'm not a mess Try to look hot but I got cowlicks Will you go to my show or just interested?
3.
Zombie [basement mix] 03:07
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I’m staggerwalking through a graveyard.  I thought I put that man to sleep.  I’m hunting people like they are junk food.  I’m a zombie eyes of plywood.  zombie zombie don’t eat my brains zombie I thought I was living but I was dead.  The zombie virus is contagious.  A hollow stomach. Give me a human.  I’m a zombie.  Better run, kid.  zombie zombie don’t eat my brains zombie Traded my colors for a mute gray.  Now I walk with skin hanging off my face.  zombie zombie don’t eat my brains zombie
4.
Dogwalker 03:50
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Rolling out of bed like a car that just won't start The northern air is cold and the tired sky is dark My head is just pounding as I blow down the road Yet the morning bird is singing Dogwalker says hello Oh this feeling Just won’t go Just won’t leave me alone Like a wind from all directions a’blowing I try to reach the other side but the telephone’s on hold I’m in a mouth of a lion whose jaws just wanna close Jumping like a trapeze artist whose nets are getting old In a crumbling colosseum whose patrons come and go Now it is a new morning and my motor's running fine Though the roads are coarse with salt And the days are long with night Though the circus never leaves and the black dog only hikes I can drink a cup of sunshine and use imperfect rhymes
5.
Validate Me [basement mix] 01:57
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Validate me (4X) I got kung fu flower  I got kung fu flower I don’t need no shower I got kung fu power Validate me (4X) Eat my cocktail power I got eisenhower I don’t need no shower I got kung fu power Validate me (4X) Solooooooooo Validate me (4X)
6.
MY MIND IS RACING 01:19
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MY MIND IS RACING 4X INSOMNIA MY WALLS ON FIRE MY SKIN OF WAX KNIVES IN MY BACK MY MIND IS RACING 4X MY INK JUST BLEEDS MY THOUGHTS HAYWIRE BROKEN AC BED OF BARBWIRE MY MIND IS RACING 4X
7.
Please Go Away 02:22
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Please go away from me baby Please go away Please go away from me baby Please go away With a jaw full of fire Nothing comes to light Please go away from me Before the flood of night   With a jaw full of fire Nothing comes to light Please go away from me Before the flood of night   Please go away Please go away Please go away Please go away
8.
Hydroplaning [instrumental] 03:17
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9.
Hydroplaning [90.1] 03:36
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Rain is tailspinning while lights pepper the streets I’m hydroplaning like a wild taxi hijacking.  All the reds smear into greens.  And there I was just knee steering.  Hydroplaning.  Let it slide. The reds smear into greens.  Zigzagging into beams.  Hydroplaning.  The raining lights, the growling stars, I’ll face the wild.  I thought I walked the walk, but I’m just sleeptalking in brain butt dial.  I had the skivvies, stars, house parties and bars, music and memoirs.  Oh sayonara when all is smearing like the rain on city boulevards.  Hydroplaning.  Let it slide. The reds smear into greens.  Zigzagging into beams.  Hydroplaning. 
10.
Just Call It [90.1] 04:15
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You're the one you wanted And baby, I got mine That's just the way it plays out Put your guns down girl It's fine I won't spill your secrets And when it gets insane I think we both know It's time to pack up the suitcase Just call it baby Once and for all You know I care about you I would never want to hurt you I guess in a few months We can drink at Jack's saloon But for now, I must forget you And all our summer days I guess the future Takes time to erase
11.
Blister in the Sun [90.1] 02:45
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12.
Khakis On Fire 03:55
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Should I set my khakis on fire? Should I set my khakis on fire? On fire On fire Holy Moly, I hate khakis. I feel like Judas; give me back my ratty jeans. What a crony they want me to be. I rather where ass-less chaps than cut my hair for accounting. I got an English degree. Myth busted: coffee shops aren't hiring. These classifieds burn my eyes 3rd degree cause I don’t know optometry. I just want be free but money money money. Can’t even sell my soul! Not even Hell is hiring. Should I set my khakis on fire? Should I set my khakis on fire? Khakis on fire On fire Does poetry pay dental and 401k? If I write a cool haiku, will I get paid holidays? I want tequila shots and rants about the puppeteers, but I don’t know, my future employers might be here. I just want to be free but money money money. Can’t even sell my soul! Not even Hell is hiring. Should I set my khakis on fire? Should I set my khakis on fire? Khakis on fire Khakis on fire On fire On fire On fire On fire

about

By 2021 when this double record was released, The Pyros had not played a show in nine months. Liz Stafford moved to NY and we were bludgeoned by the pandemic. We talked about finding another bass player as Evan and I still dreamed of playing music full-time, but we had experienced many setbacks. As magical as it was, it did feel like slogging to reach our goal. With a new reality emerging from the virus, we decided to take a break. In the fall of 2020, I began revisiting our songs in my small practice space on North Ave, cataloguing, remixing, recording, mastering and finishing the project. We wanted to go out on a good note. The project was an incredible time in our lives and we were all friends. We wanted to do the songs justice by releasing them. We also wanted to capture what it was like to experience our one of our shows with its sloppiness, high-energy and explorations. I sent tracks off to NY and Liz recorded her vocals. I had Evan back in the studio. I tracked new drums, guitar and bass lines. I polished off lyrics sheets. I found moth-eaten tracks from our times prating at Gnarnia. I spliced and mastered our WRUV 90.1 show. Our final result was two records where every musician in The Pyros during it's two year career was featured. We released it on the same day anniversary that Evan and I started the band in 2018. It was a peaceful breath in a very turbulent time. To this day, I am happy we took this direction and brought this music into the light of day.

credits

released January 3, 2021

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Steven Yardley Burlington, Vermont

I enjoy rock music in all its forms, recording technology, and instruments.

This is a present profile, and an archive of all my musical projects.

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