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The Misanthrope Family Album

by Modern Mal

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1.
Wild Heart 04:26
Hello dream-catcher, catching all of my dreams. All of my foolish prayers, and all my memories. You put them in a bottle, and send the right out to sea. And you give them to the girl who has got a heart beating wild and free. She’s got a wild heart, born in June. Ten days under a Gemini moon. And she’s got scars, but how she wears her wounds. Oh would you love me if I had a wild heart too? There’s a horseshoe hanging over my head. And it’s the reason, you chose me instead. But each time you say you love me, and I look deep in your eye I can see a memory of a girl of the wild heart kind. She’s got a wild heart, born in June. Ten days under a Gemini moon. And on her arms, she’s got a circus tattoo. Oh would you love me if I had a wild heart too? She’s got a wild heart, born in June. Ten days under a Gemini moon. And on her legs, a different color shoe. Oh would you love me if I had a wild heart too?
2.
S.O.S. 02:24
Were they lies, or inaccuracies? It’s awful sometimes feelings are so fleeting. But don’t you worry about that sad old stuff. I’ve taken my tears and sewn them up from you. Don’t you worry about that sad old stuff. I’ve taken my tears and sewn them up for good. But you despise what we used to be. It’s awful sometimes love is so fleeting. But don’t you worry about that sad old stuff. I’ve taken my tears and sewn them up from you. Don’t you worry about that sad old stuff. I’ve taken my tears and sewn them up for good.
3.
Carl 03:41
Been watching like a freak all summer No one can sing quite like you I’d bet my last buck that Veronica hates me. But mama I won’t bet my boots I’m drawing the shades on my window now No reason to watch anymore I hope that you come back next spring my friend If not then I’m moving up north Been freezing and anxious all winter At least now the days aren’t so long I’ll lay by the fire, and sip on cold ethyl All I need now is a song There’s only one thing that’s still keeping us here The hope that one day you’ll come back I don’t want to wear those old ear- muffs and scarves I’d hate you to see me like that
4.
There are so many places where death may us take There’s no way to know where those may be We can think with our chest Or take an educated guess Yet death remains a mystery to all but those who’ve died Oh death death death Where do you take us next I want to know, what I really want to know is Death death death, where do you take us next I wont waste your time now death, because I know you wont waste mine Did we come from chance, or circumstance I hope there’s more than that to where we go in death Oh death death death, where do you take us next I want to know, what I really want to know is Death death death, where do you take us next If we really truly are the salt of the earth I hope I come back as a mighty river Or at least no more birth, just let me exist Now that’s what I call eternity, I would suggest it Where do you take us next I want to know, what I really want to know is Death death death, where do you take us next I wont waste your time now death, because I know you wont waste mine Did we come from chance, or circumstance I hope there’s more than that to where we go in death Oh death death death, where do you take us next I want to know, what I really want to know is Death death death, where do you take us next
5.
Mary Ann don’t care about some poor cat named Dan Dan picked up a piece of beach wood , wrote their names in sand but then A mean old wave came crashing down, and ruined all Dan’s plans Mary Ann don’t care about some poor cat named Dan Dan wrote down some cursive lines with every word spelled right but then The stamp fell off in Indiana it never got to Mary Ann She never came to understand that Dan, loves Mary Ann Then Dan picked up a phonebook to find his Mary Ann He wrote her address on some paper, and took off like The Flash but then Her home was burned down to the ground, her bones were charred up black and brown He never made not one sad frown, then Dan He took her bones home, and lived out the rest of his days as happy as a clam Because Dan loves Mary Ann
6.
Clean 01:22
Bathtime is my favorite time. The water runs and wets this hair of mine. It’s ok to say I like it. It’s ok to say I care to be clean. Wash away the day’s mistakes.
7.
Ooh she’s just a satellite. She’s just a satellite We used to think she could be Jupiter or Mars But now they’re saying, she aint even a dying star. She’s just a satellite. But she keeps spinning around the world. And she’ll keep spinning until the stars have gone. She’ll never stop flying. She’ll never start dying. She’ll always be a rusty memory of an endless light. Ooh she’s just a satellite. She’s just a satellite We used to think she could be Jupiter or Mars But now they’re saying, she aint even a dying star. She’s just a satellite.
8.
Peel back your skin for I long to slither in My venom would be so sweet on your lips Hang your hair down I don’t need to be your crown Just wrap me beneath your dress around your hips I know you love my silver tongue and I’m driven insane by your porcelain frame Whisper my name as I boil through your veins You could never resist my rattle or my hiss Take off your old cross so I can lay my body long You always will be a burrow to me I know you love my silver tongue and I’m driven insane by your porcelain frame
9.
You don’t hear me cryin I’m tired of all your lies I’m tired of all your letters that say you want to die You don’t hear me crying all night boo-hoo boo-hoo You don’t hear me crying all night boo-hoo boo-hoo As much as I’ve been trying, I’m giving up this time I’m sick of all your rambling, it’s time you realized You don’t hear me crying all night boo-hoo boo-hoo You don’t hear me crying all night boo-hoo boo-hoo
10.
Space Debris 05:08
You can see them in the air, but the don’t look like space debris to me They don’t look like space debris to me You can even bring your surf board You wont do much more than float Those of you who came from heaven You’ll want to follow me for sure I know I need to find a way, I’ve seen them in their pictures A great lake swimmer is what I need to be
11.
Good evening, and how did I end up here again I wrote a song, you wrote a song, we all write songs I don’t care about the stories of every person that I meet With a face like mine it’s often times quite hard to be discreet Lonely creatures are outside and they are calling me by name They say you ain’t no human being Tell me something I don’t know Like where I am today, where I have to go tomorrow Then I see it in the crowd the very reason why I’m here Then it’s goodnight, and farewell to you all I’m going back to my hole in the wall Until next time

about

Like an oasis appearing to the lone, wearied cowboy, rebel-psych Americana group Modern Mal’s The Misanthrope Family Album dropping May 12th 2017, is the meeting of traditional country with a mirage of tropical beach-psych. In the writing process, it seems the band’s northern Michigan songwriting pair of Rachel Brooke and Brooks Robbins, had a specific recluse in mind—a close family friend they recently took care of on his deathbed. A misanthrope with a unique way of looking at life; it’s his eerie polaroid portrait that adorns the cover of The Misanthrope Family Album, and his peaceful passage into the afterlife guides the spirit of the album. Though rife with quirky melancholia and the grief inherent in loss, this album also celebrates their friend’s magic, and the magic of family. That is Modern Mal’s genius: the dark and the light balance each other out. Rachel’s high, floating vocals and Brooks’ dark, foreboding harmonies make The Misanthrope Family Album some twisted lovechild of Brian Wilson and Lou Reed, and the use of slide, surf guitar, ukulele, and 1950s doo-op influences make the album as sunny and intricately produced as it is dark and gritty.

The heavy subject matter is meshed with jangly harmonies and washed-out psychedelia—both Rachel and Brooks cite The Beach Boys as a major early influence—but with an eerie sci-fi element that underscores their collective fascination with the unknown. As Brooks so aptly said, “If we are the product of purposeful design, hopefully death will be a celebration,” and with The Misanthrope Family Album Modern Mal have indulged all the magical, quirky mystery inherent in death, and life.

Rachel and Brooks met playing shows together in Detroit. At the time, Brooks was a loner songwriter writing pretty, dark lullabies, and Rachel had been releasing her own gothic Americana—infused with punked-out murder ballads, rockabilly and early jazz. Hailed as an underground country queen, Rachel found her match with Brooks Robbins—who’s dark baritone voice and preoccupation with the mysterious complemented her artistic vision. In the meeting of their twisted, talented minds, Modern Mal was born.

The Misanthrope Family Album was recorded at Halohorn Studios in Traverse City, Michigan, with some of the people who are closest to Rachel and Brooks. For instance, Rachel’s brother Andy Van Guilder played drums, their best friend Nick Carnes and his cousin Mike Cullen played guitar on the album, and Rachel’s childhood friend TJ Rankin (bass, percussion) also made an appearance. Throughout the process of recording, Rachel and Brooks were careful to include the creative perspectives of all involved, which accounts for everyone’s disparate quirks and makes the new release feel authentic and alive.

credits

released May 12, 2017

Copyright Modern Mal, and MAL Records 2017

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