Preliminary mixes for the forthcoming Perfectible Recordings release NO ONE DOES IT SOLO ONLY by Layers of Meta.

No One Does It Solo Only (preliminary mixes)

Society Glue

This song started out as a way to explore modes of communication from the long past to now and think about what has changed but also remained the same and the impact that may have had on humanity. Looking in the mirror for humans has been a tool to gauge reality, although not always accurately, going back 8,000 years. 

 

As the thousands of years have gone by, that search for truth has constantly changed, some might say it’s more complicated today than ever before. We started out being able to talk to each other with grunts and eventually words, then our technology evolved and we could communicate over time and distance. That distance shrunk again when that ability became instant and virtual too. 

 

As all of our ability to communicate grows because of our technology, it becomes more glaringly clear and sometimes dangerous where we lack it. Which sources can we trust? It becomes less clear as more sources need to be questioned and can be hard to vet. Where do we get our news, how do we know it’s true? The details matter but it’s harder to discern what’s correct. It could be something our life depends on or a silly piece of misinformation that simply inconveniences us. 

In this confusion, our instincts guide us to rely on what we can see. Even though it has been proven that eyewitness testimony is utterly unreliable, it still feels solid because that’s how we work. Ironically when we look at ourselves in the mirror, we see the most intimate and distorted reality. That’s why it’s important that no matter what we do in that moment, we calm ourselves and say, it’s ok to not be ok.

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Hanging On OK

Winter (demo)

Demos 2016 - 2018

Hills

His demons were well known. Maybe much more than they should be.
But that’s the price of fame, so they say.
And sure, you can focus on the would be’s and the could be’s, 
But that’s never gonna change a thing.
You must admit, he sure could sing.

If Chrissy had lived, if Cass had survived,
But that’s the price of death, so they say.
And sure, you can think about just how he could have done better
But that’s never gonna change a thing.
You must admit, he sure could sing.

CHORUS
Stephen took the melody, and Graham was soaring high.
He would find the middle ground and  fit in perfectly.
If life was a song, he might have been the king 
You must admit, he sure could sing.

He never found his true place, unless out on the water.
But that’s the price of fame, so they say.
And sure, you can speculate ‘bout lines he drew on the table.
But that’s never gonna change a thing.
You must admit, he sure could sing.

CHORUS
Stephen took the melody, and Graham was soaring high.
He would find the middle ground and  fit in perfectly.
If life was a song, he might have been the king 
You must admit, he sure could sing.

He Sure Could Sing

Preliminary mix produced by David Gans and Jeremy Goody. Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Jeremy Goody at Goody Sound.

Personnel:
Christian Crumlish on ukulele, lead vocals
Robert Wade on lead and bass guitars, vocals
Dan Brodnitz on piano, vocals
Joshua Raoul Brody on pipe organ, harpsichord
John Hanes on drums
David Gans on vocals

Saint Lucifer
© 2022 At Swim-Two-Birds Music

verse 1
I dreamed I saw Saint Lucifer, alive as you and me
He offered me a 2x4, sweetened naturally
He handed out some anagrams then left without a word
A deep sharp silence followed him
The loudest ever heard.

verse 2
Now, I don’t care for Lucifer. You know that to be true
But I don’t care for anyone ’cept me and sometimes you
I wish that I had never met that wretched holy man
‘Cause now I’m stuck here in between
The good and righteous plan.

chorus 1
Oh, Saint Lucifer! Time for you to go
Oh, St. Lucifer! We’re canceling your show
Oh, St. Lucifer! You done it this time, man
Oh, St. Lucifer!
Don't come ’round again!

verse 3
I dreamed I saw Saint Lucifer along the shoreline drive
I offered him a 2x4. He didn’t look alive
I handed out some alibis then left without a word
A deep loud silence followed me
The saddest ever heard

chorus 2
Oh, Saint Lucifer! It’s time for you to go
Oh, St. Lucifer! Let’s wrap up the show
Oh, St. Lucifer! It’s bigger than you, man
Oh, St. Lucifer!
Never come again!

chorus 3
Oh, Saint Lucifer! Time for you to go
Oh, St. Lucifer! Finish up your show
Oh, St. Lucifer! It’s not about you, man
Oh, St. Lucifer…
We all doin’ what we can…
Don’t come ’round again

Words and music by Christian Crumlish

No One Does It Solo Only

Saint Lucifer

Saint Lucifer (preliminary mix)

Preliminary mix produced by David Gans, co-produced and engineered by Jeremy Goody at Goody Sound.

Personnel:
David Gans on guitars and vocals
Dan Brodnitz on keyboards
John Hanes on drums
Jeremy Goody on bass
Lorna Kollmeyer on vocals
Christian Crumlish on vocals and ukulele


Carnegie Hill
© 2020 At Swim-Two-Birds

Ice cream scoop burgers at the Jackson Hole
“We will rock you,” cigarettes and Skoal
Snuck out of school to Blacker & Kooby
Then we went to Burger King to buy a trey-bag doobie

Bricks in the planters made you fall on your ass
Yes I knew Robert Chambers (he was not in our class)
Huddled on a bench in the park after dinner
Up on Carnegie Hill to smoke the trey-bag pinner

Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, up on Carnegie Hill
Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, up on Carnegie Hill

Walking home up Madison, daydreams in the air
Suddenly Ty Sullivan and Randy standing there
When you’re not feeling safe, duck into Blacker & Kooby
Or pack up your troubles in a dirt-weed doobie, on

Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, on Carnegie Hill
Carnegie Hill-o-o, Carnegie Hill-o-o, up on Carnegie Hill-o
Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, nobody called it Carnegie Hill
Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, but I still miss Carnegie Hill

Hurricanes from Pedro’s where they never carded
They didn’t care if you were a minor
“The head of our complaint department’s Helen Waite”
And “Tipping’s not a city in China”

Shoestring fries at the Jackson Hole
PLJ playing… Billy Joel
They moved that old store. It wasn’t the point
And I never felt a thing from that pre-rolled joint, on

Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, on Carnegie Hill
Carnegie Hill-o-o, Carnegie Hill-o-o, up on Carnegie Hill-o
Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill, nobody called it Carnegie Hill
Carnegie Hill, Carnegie Hill but I still miss Carnegie Hill
Carnegie Hill-heyey, Carnegie Hill-heyey, Carnegie Hill-heyey, Carnegie Hill hey
Nobody called it Carnegie Hill but I really miss Carnegie Hill

Words by Christian Crumlish
Music by Christian Crumlish

Carnegie Hill (preliminary mix)

Preliminary mix produced by David Gans and Jeremy Goody, engineered and mixed by Goody, at Goody Sound.

Personnel:
Christian Crumlish: vocals and electric ukulele
David Gans: acoustic guitar
Robert Wade: acoustic guitar
Myles Boisen: pedal steel guitar
Joe Kyle, Jr.: upright bass
Joe Craven: percussion

The Ghost Door
© 2023 At Swim-Two-Birds

I’ll go ahead and close the ghost door
I’ll go ahead and close the ghost door
You didn’t get it from the wind
He didn’t get it from the wind

I’ll go along and play the game more
I’ll go along and play the game some more
You didn’t hear it from me
You still don’t get it, you see

I’ll have the time in life I asked for
I’ll have the time and life I asked for
They didn’t hand it to me
I didn’t get all this for free

You’ll know it’s time to close the ghost door
You’ll know when it’s time to close the ghost door
And when it opens up again
Uh, that’s just me a-coming in

Words and music by Christian Crumlish.

The Ghost Door (preliminary mix)

Preliminary mix produced by David Gans and Jeremy Goody, engineered by Jeremy at Goody Sound Studio.

Personnel:
David Gans on guitar
Robert Wade on bass
Joe Craven on mandolin
Lorna Kollmeyer on vocals
Christian Crumlish on vocals and electric and acoustic ukuleles

Sham Song (Chanson)
© 2020 At Swim-Two-Birds Music

Well, I found a shamrock
But I was looking for a real rock
And I got shampoo
Because I couldn’t find real poo

So I wrote a sham song
Before I ever wrote a real song
And you can sing along
Because it doesn’t go real long

Yes, I drink champagne
Because I never feel real pain
And I use a chamois
Because I couldn’t find the real me

Now I need a shanty
’Cause I’ve run out of real tea
Won’t you sing one to me?
(And now I’m talking ’bout the real me)

So I wrote a sham song
Before I ever wrote a real song
And you can all sing along
Because it doesn’t go real long

Words and music by Christian Crumlish

Sham Song (preliminary mix)

21 minutes of de-construction, eclectic, avant-jazz? who knows, but there is a whole lot happening here and it's beautiful.

Douglas Wilkerson composition, drum set and other percussion, vocal reprise / Michael Grimes, composition, synths, piano / Paul Richards, composition, guitars /Michael Billings, vocal reprise / Kyle Fraser modular analog synth magic / Colt Kraft, vocal reprise

Mixed and Produced by Doug Wilkerson and Michael Grimes (Dh8R's)

Flipping the Script

Preliminary mix produced by David Gans and Jeremy Goody & engineered by Jeremy Goody at Goody Sound.

Personnel:
David Gans - guitars
Robert Wade - bass
Javier Navarrette - percussion
Lorna Kollmeyer - vocals
Christian Crumlish - electric ukulele and vocals

All I Know
© 2021 At Swim-Two-Birds

If I were a magician
I’ll tell you what I’d do.
I’d conjure up your future
And show it all to you.

My magic’s all illusion:
Water bottle, plastic flower.
All the things that you will make
Will unfold in their own hour.

All I know is you should know
I’m out here looking out for you.
Everything you’ve ever wanted
Soon will come your way.

No one does it solo only.
Everyone gets sad and lonely.
Don’t forget that out here someone
Loves you every day.

If I were a time traveler
I know just when I’d go.
Back to the place I first met you.
I’d tell you all I know.

But when I built my time machine
It turned out to be fake
And left me with a craving
For your famous pirate cake.

If we could both be pirates
My eye patch would be cool
We’d go right through the book and challenge
Each and every rule

But I’m no jolly roger
Never sailed the seven seas
I never went to Narnia
Nor met the Pevensies

If I were a mixer,
You know that I would be
A stand mixer, fully charged
With electricity.

’Cause you deserve a mixer
That’s magical and fine,
Sent to you in a time machine
From 1959.

Words and music by Christian Crumlish.

All I Know (Song for Finn)

All I Know (preliminary mix)

Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot

Preliminary mix produced by David Gans and Jeremy Goody, engineered by Jeremy Goody at Goody Sound studio.

Personnel:
Christian Crumlish on ukulele and vocals
David Gans on guitar and vocals
Robert Wade on bass
Javier Navarrette on congas and shaker


Giving Zoo Wolves Lessons in Music
© 2022 At Swim-Two-Birds Music

Phonograph emits melodies at night
Some of the howlers imitate it

Giving zoo wolves lessons in music

The lions and the tigers, and perhaps the camel
May be taught to change their vocal methods

(Three notes in a scale)
(A scientist's dream)

The first wolves howled a certain way
The call of the wolf is little changed to-day


Words and music by Christian Crumlish

The Ghost Door (preliminary mix)

Layers of Meta

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