This was a really cool little experiment. I recorded myself playing bass for about 8 minutes, mostly just improvising, then added a couple very simple guitar parts to thicken it up. My good friend and collaborator Thomas Gumbel came over and helped me write some lyrics, then I finished them off myself, adding some words from the Bible, and out came this song.

Then, I sent it to my long-time collaborator and producer Vincent Todd, with only the instructions:  "Do something with this."

The motherfucker sends it back like this.  In his words:

 "I downloaded some of NASA's recordings from Voyager I & II from the '70s of the vibrations of the solar system.  That's what a lot of the background sound you will hear is.  I'm bringing the heavens to your song!"

Who the hell thinks of that?  Vincent Todd, that's who.  Anyways, I loved it to death, so finally, I am presenting the final version of Lamentation.

LYRICS
Lamentations 1:1-2 (KJV)
How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends are become her enemies.

Eyes sail across building tops, holding fast under blue moon sets
I bang against the glass, here's hoping it won't break

It's all for the best, it's all for the best
Writing past midnight not to feel depressed
It's all for the best, it's all for the best
If I let you go, will I still be depressed?

(1:21-22) They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

It's all for the best, it's all for the best
It's all so clear now, you were never my friend
It's all for the best, it's all for the best
I'll stay in the east, you have fun going west

(2:16) All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.

Throw a penny down the sewer, pretending it's a well
'Cuz wishing things that cost a cent is how the Romans fell

No one can hear my shouts or my cries, or the angels I invoke
Only through pain do we know we're alive

Hanging on tight 'til the end of the night
It's all for the best, it's all for the best
Writing past midnight not to feel depressed
It's all for the best, this is all for the best

I opened a vein, 'cuz they all look the same
Now tell me again, is this all for the best?

Maybe you'll find all my folded notes
And maybe they'll make you cry
Maybe my prayers will move Heaven to tears
Or maybe the Lord will put my voice in your ears
Maybe the stars will all fall out of the sky
And Heaven and Hell and the Earth will all die
Leaving only you and I

It's all for the best, it's all for the best
Only through fire can you put gold to the test
It's all for the best, since it's all for the best
I'll stay in the east while you go west.

Revelations 21
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away; and there was no more sea.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Lamentation (Ft. Vincent Todd)

This song was originally titled "Before the Night Falls" and had different lyrics.  It was performed by my old band Lian Paranoia, however since the band broke up, and since all the music was mine, I decided to write new words, so now it's Talk Until We Can't.

Drums - Caner Kurtes
Keys - Gurkan Kurtes
Bass - Tony Galvez

LYRICS
Sleep, go on and dream
I'm sorry for keeping you up this late
I just couldn't wait
I needed some peace
Some reassurance
Something to hold until tomorrow
I don't need sleep
Or promises
There's nothing you can say to make me forget
Is this too loud?
Am I too angry?
Just let me know and I'll leave you be

CHORUS
Believing in you (You got me down)
Thinkin about all the things you do (You get around)
I can't explain but you're getting on your knees (You're falling down)
An empty room makes it hard to believe (You're on the ground)
You're angry too, I get that now (damn straight)
I'd get you back if I knew how (I'll wait and wait)
There's so much we don't have time to say (But here it goes)
This is it, so let's just talk until we can't

I don't know why I left that night
Maybe something told me you wouldn't stay
We held too tight
Got lost in our minds
Our dreams became nightmares
What's next for you?
Is it something I'd know?
Or did I really miss out on everything that's new

(Chorus)

Something tells me it's not over yet
Falling asleep on the passenger side
I try to crack a joke, but it makes you cry
I'll try to find a way, another way
And if it comes down to it, I'll even pray
I'll even pray...

(Double chorus)

We'll talk until we can't...

Talk Until We Can't

This was a collaboration between myself and Vincent Todd, an absurdly talented musician who resides in Nasvhille.

LYRICS:

(Indiscernible robot voice)

I let myself fall for you, that was so long ago
Spaceships and arrows fall slowly to the past
I see you like before, but only in colors
With shiny blue rockets and warm red elastics
It's scary how time flies but nothing still changes
And if you would follow, I'll dream past your stop signs

Shaped like a heart, but encoded in Linux
Or so it seems to me with your bells and whistles
I never expected a time when we'd meet like this
Never expected a chance to rewrite my life

Always expecting, never suspecting the ways, the lies, you'll tell in due time
And the ornamental sign you send, always with me in the end
Distressed with the sounds and the company you bring around

Open your heart to me and make sure to close your mind
Once you see what the hangman has in store

I don't know what you believe
And I don't know what you'll concede

Don't lose your progress, I'll meet you towards the end
When all of your friends have gone, left you in rainbows
And If you would follow, I'll dream past your stop signs

I slammed on the breaks, but couldn't see the guy behind
The lies, the smoke, the mirrors and ties
And I won't look back, there's nothing left to see that way
And if I should slip, I'll know you're not too far away

Why can't I scream out my lungs on the pavement
I'll settle for second best if you'll be my first best
Hold it now, devil girl, I'm not quite done speaking
I'm here to stay, rain, shine, or apocalypse

Slowly fall back into my arms, I'll catch you
And if you would follow, I'll dream past your stop signs...

Stop Signs (Ft. Vincent Todd)

This was my wife's favorite song off this album.  Then she had an affair, and we're no longer together.  I still like the song, though.

Lyrics:

I'm all out of words to write you
I don't have the strength to fight you
So what'll it be, the future or me?
Or is there a chance for all three?
You can see I'm out of paper
For all the trouble that I gave her
I thought that this would all be over
That something else now would've stole her

Just let me explain, there's still something to gain

CHORUS
When I'm with you I stutter, and I wonder
Why everything feels right
If it isn't something that you're doing
Maybe you could stay the night
And someday if you let me save you
You could maybe save me too
And I don't know what I've been saying
I just wanna be with you

You don't have to promise me
I wouldn't trust you honestly
But maybe that's okay
I'm hoping you will stay
I know that you're undecided
But I hope that you'll try to fight it
I'll show you why I'm still alive
'Cuz anything is worth a try

(chorus)

I know that you're lonely
To blame you know there's only

(chorus)

I'm still hoping that you'll listen
Cuz I can give you what you're missing

Stutter

Possibly the first single from my upcoming album Better Off Alone.

I Found You

This is one of my favorite of my songs.  Recorded at Gremlen Studios in Aurora with Sam Beckley providing drums.

LYRICS

Well we drove down
Yeah, I took you when I headed south
And I didn't think anything would happen
Yeah you took me by surprise
With your questions and innocent eyes
Now despite all the lives that we've lived since
We're leaving things unresolved

When we got back you asked to stay a while
And I didn't know what to do
So I said yes
A while became the night
The night became a whole week long
And somewhere among the movies and talks and long nights
You happened to me

CHORUS
If it's the only way to be (by your side)
I'll be my worst enemy (Do or die)
Holding out till the day you come around
And I'll follow anyways
Even through these scattered days (instead of being over)
Baby can we call this unresolved?

I soon found out
With you there was no going back
So I took my time and simply let it happen
Somewhere along the way
You changed everything in me
You started a war to be a better man
A war still left unresolved

(Chorus)
Baby can we please be unresolved?

I screamed out as it hit me
I can't take this anymore
You've got a way
Make it go away
Baby it's okay
Our cover's never been so good
A house made out of only wood
Is it fun to be blinded by colors and lights
And the stars in the sky 
Shine the same on you and I
Like the wings on every butterfly
I don't need these broken nets
Or delays, just place your bets
That someday I'll stop living in my regrets

Unresolved

One of my favorites from my album Better Off Alone.  

The World You See

This is a song I wrote.  I really built this one from the ground up, fitting guitar and bass parts together almost like a puzzle, then adding the lyrics after.  It was different for me but the result is one of my favorite of my songs.

Another collaboration between myself and Vincent Todd.  

LYRICS

How long can you keep this up?
Until death takes me.

I waited for the stars to show
Midnight come, and midnight go
I fell asleep on the driver's side
When the government came to take my ride
Kicking and I'm screaming and I'm cursing you out
Wondering what all the fuss was about
But you planned it, chose it
Everybody knows it
In the end I know I'll be the one that blows it

Darkness?  What?  What did you say?
Night is darkest before the day?
I don't know about that, but I do know this
Girl, you got the devil in your kiss
And when the moon comes out and the masks go on
I'll breathe cold air and remember you're gone
And just one time I'll say "why me?"
And you'll whisper in my ear that it's gotta be

I got ringing in my head
And everyone at home is dead

Been waiting all day for the priest to show
Don't know why I called him, I should've said no
I'll dig a grave in our backyard
And hope the spirits ain't got that far
I'm living and I'm killing and I'm losing my mind
Been searching for a villain for the end of the line
And the next time, hell follows with me
I can't keep alive what you want to set free
You're sleeping right under me
Breathing right on top of me
Even in the poison you won't let me be
If I followed you down where the darkness shines
Would you promise in death that you'd still be mine?
Still can't believe what's sitting right in front of me
Talking like a man who won't come down off a hanging tree
Truth is I'm alone, but you're still right here
Whispering your jokes right in my ear

Calling me back to sleep
Dragging me under the sheets

Darkness comes
And hell follows
Even the sweetest taste becomes so hollow

A Tale Between Two Cities

Haunted (With Vincent Todd)

My take on electro-punk legend and pioneer Vincent Todd's masterpiece of a ballad from his album Sparkle and Fade.

Christian Chiakulas