Singleton

Back when I was 14 years old or so, my cousin and I wrote our first song together, which was essentially an attempt to sound just like blink-182’s Enema of the State. Weezer’s blue album had also had a big influence on us 4 or 5 years prior, but I didn’t appreciate Pinkerton until much later on. Still, those albums stuck with me even as my tastes wandered more towards the complicated and heavier styles of music. “Singleton” is basically an amalgam of all that and more with some ska punk influence added in for a little extra spice.

Note that this song took 7 months to finish, whereas “Exclusive Orangery” took 8, and “Cliff Walker” about 19. Hopefully that acceleration continues.

My friend, drummer, and fellow weird music creator and enthusiast Travis Orbin is back yet again bringin’ them drums. I threw a lot on his plate and he nailed it as usual. Be sure to check out his session video to see what a feat the drumming truly was! Special thanks to Jake Howsam Lowe (The Helix Nebula, Plini, Scoredatura) and Ro Stevenson (i built the sky) for their feedback on preliminary mixes.

In case you missed it, check out the video series documenting the writing process, “Slapping Together Selected Sections of ‘Singleton’ from Synchronized Seasoning”. There might be more than meets the… ear?

1. Part 1
2. Part 2
3. Part 3
4. Part 4
5. Part 5

Per usual, this song is available via most major music outlets, e.g., bandcamp, Google Play Music, iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

Gear

• Guitar: Heavily modified Agile Sentinel 7 (7-string Strat)
• Amps: Neural DSP Fortin NTS Suite and Archetype: Plini
• Vocal microphone: Shure SM-7b
• DAW: Reaper
• Drums: Travis Orbin’s

Lyrics

If only I could get this stupid song done
Finally, would be happy
Uh
Function with its own rate of change
Yeah!
Or complex imaginary

I’ve slid down
That slippery slope be-four
Five-got to kiss
I will not fail until I fail the next time
And it’s coming back to

This cliché ‘bout quantity of fish in the sea
Got me
No arm floaties
Ow hey
That old rod bent off awkwardly
But!
It’s baited masterfully

And the memories assaulting sleep
And dreams
The cringe in heaps
Stacked on my Zs
They’re terrifying me
Eternally

I always thought that I would miss you
But now it’s in a different way
Count down the times I would not try
To fall on my face
And now it’s coming back to you

I see you like your fucking punk songs
I’d sit and play them all day long
Then lay all night
On a pull-out couch
Sad like a miniature ice cube tray
I’d say anything to make you feel

No use ‘round pretty girls
Now I’m down on my knees
Like a nut that fell from a tree
A fallen seed
No most won’t succeed
Bumblin’ all the way
Left that sheltered path where some say
Let’s get married

[Whoa hold on now baby]
[You want to know my password?]
[I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment]

[Perhaps I can interest you in a guitar solo instead]
[Oh yeah, just wait until you hear this next part]

Obsession’s got you hamstrung
Treadmill hedonic
Forget the ‘s’ that’s in the front
Oh I’m creepin’ up on ya
I’m creepin’

I see you like your fucking prog songs
I’d sit and play them all night long
Then lay all day next to Lentil Soup
One evil dragon that I can’t slay
My curse of nothing good to say

I simply shouldn’t care
Be a part of the weird
Undeclare any air of self
Awareness it ain’t fair
This Pinkerton pop pulled pork parade
Struggling all the way
It must be your last time in love
So get married