52 Week Song Cycle #34
Knives Out (c) 2010 Mattroi Berger
Melissa and I saw Scott Pilgrim last night and had a blast - great movie. The best parts by far were the band scenes and the music - really punky, 90s alt stuff for a three piece band; most penned by Beck. Every time one of the songs started up, I felt that charge of playing in a sloppy, fun garage band, and wanted to feel that again. Walking home, we talked about being in a punk band together - Melissa getting a chance to yell, me getting a chance to play distorted bass and sing back up.
Sitting down on Sunday, I thought about how back when I’d just started writing music I’d speed through writing a song so that I could record it or play it for other people sooner - that being the best part. Writing quickly mostly meant writing sloppy, but it also meant writing easy - taking what first came to the ear rather than honing it in to anything for the sake of craft or style. I think that led to some of my favorite music to play - the kind of buzzy, hooky, dumb stuff. Suits me. I kinda hope we get this punk band idea together - this would be a lot of fun to play.
Music and lyrics by Mattroi
Vox by Melissa Lusk
***
It’s hard to fake it when you’re already wasted
It’s hard to take back what you already said
I need a rough up like a bat in a basement
I need a tussle like a hole in the head
You got a reason for a sudden engagement
You got a reason that is perfectly sound
You got a reason for the current arrangement
I gotta reason up a cleaner way out
Knives out, but I’m optimistic!
It’s hard to reach you when you’re already wasted
It’s hard to teach you when you’re already dead
It’s hard to think when you’re laid out on the pavement
It’s hard to concentrate, hands sticky and wet
And in another place
And in another time
You got a different face
I got a cleaner night
You got your blood inside
Knives out, but I’m optimistic!
