Work the Circuits, by Thoughts Detecting Machines

Work the Circuits

by Thoughts Detecting Machines

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Jim W I've been a fan of Rick's for a long time, and I'm always glad to support what he does! Looking forward to this new TDM album!

Conan Neutron Rick Valentin does it again! How does he do it folks?!?! Like a bastard cross of Gary Numan and DEVO, Buzzcocks, XTC and fugazi. Seriously great stuff and relentlessly inventive. Do it! Favorite track: New Day.

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Limited Edition of 400 pressed on 180 gram black vinyl. Ten tracks exclusively mastered for vinyl. Each cover has unique artwork drawn by a pen plotter. Includes lyric insert. Here's a short video about the cover art process: youtu.be/-kcFraPO9Nw

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Don't Be Shy b/w Lead Us to the Command Post, Summer's Come Undone b/w Octave Chanute, Heart & Hands b/w Foresight, Offline b/w Fievel, Legal High b/w Disco 13, Sound, Noise, & You, Sentenced For Life, Who Are You Supposed To Be?, and 4 more. , and , .

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1.	New Day 04:18	lyrics	buy track
Today is going to be a new day It's a new day, a new day I hit the alarm and I skip the gym I do my reps in my head and sleep in I would make breakfast but it's after eight I'd ride my bike but I'm running late Today is going to be a new day A new day, it's a new day I watch what eat and I watch what I drink I watch it go in and I watch myself cheat I set my goals and I take a break I'm gonna get started after one more game Today is going to be a new day It's a new day, a new day I've been running away instead of running in place Instead of narrowing down I've been taking up space I feel it in my heart I feel it in my gut I take a look at myself and say enough is enough I've been working it out I've got a brand new plan I've been making a list before things get out of hand I should have been checking off instead of checking out And I say to myself enough is enough Tomorrow's going to be a new day It's a new day, a new day
2.	In the Right 03:01	lyrics	buy track
It hurts to be irrelevant To see the world take a different path You can try to turn back the clock But we evolve like it or not I'm in the right And you're in the wrong Think what you like But I'm in the right Don't believe everything that you read If you ever read anything What you call your common sense Sounds to me a lot like ignorance You have the right To say what you want But that doesn't change The fact that you're wrong I was taught to be polite… but I've bit my tongue one too many times Silence is no defense Your volume fills the empty space I'm mystified by your confidence All your designs lack intelligence Blind faith is your fundamental flaw I don't see any method here at all Say what you like But I'm in the right Think what you want But you're in the wrong I'm in the right And you're in the wrong
3.	The Call 04:03	lyrics	buy track
Work the circuit do the knee jerk as you dance the party line Dying on the vine you digitized yourself out of your life Blindly trading favors for a chance to touch the savior's hand Watching from the sidelines as your golden calf is melted down Waiting for the call Marching down the primrose path Waiting for the call Fighting us instead of them Waiting for the call that never comes The power of the people is a temporary obstacle They amplify the divide cheering as we tear ourselves apart Realize you're just a number in a complicated game Democracy's a fantasy when it gets played this way Waiting for the call Hanging on his every word Waiting for the call Demanding praise we don't deserve Waiting for the call that never comes
4.	The City 03:29	lyrics	buy track
Anonymous nights Seeking the safety of strangers I'm losing myself in the crowd The city is where we used to escape to The buildings reflect Watching the rivers of life Flowing endlessly across the grid The view from forty four The glass here is completely clear Sometimes I jump out the window And fly through the sky into your arms Never look down A sliver of blue is enough To keep us up, never touching the ground The city is where we used to escape to Steeling ourselves Stealing away Meeting in between meetings For a moment or two I talk to you in my sleep But I can't remember what we have said Sometimes I look in the mirror And see you standing right beside me Walking for hours Looking for traces of you in the faces I push my way through The city is where we used to escape to
5.	Bully 03:54	lyrics	buy track
The mountain is a metaphor The eternal weight of expectations Always present but ignored By the locals living in the shadow Side by side We scrape and climb Side by side We fight the fight The ocean is a simile Like a history we keep repeating As familiar as our blood And as dangerous as our true nature Side by side We try and try Side by side We fight the fight Friction is an element Required for the proper operation Too much tension too much slack Will upset the careful calibration Bully for me And bully for you You're a bully for me I'm a bully for you The mountain is a metaphor Overused in every situation
6.	Fine 03:43	lyrics	buy track
I'm the strong and silent type Burning out inside Stealing breaths between the waves Sinking with the tide I'm doing fine I'm losing my mind But I'm doing fine I'm doing fine A mask for every occasion A face for every side Smiling for the camera But there's a dead spot in the eyes I'm doing fine I'm out of my mind But I'm doing fine I'm doing fine A bullet shot in orbit Always comes around again You can dodge but it will Find its target in the end Denial is survival Reality can never win Ride the spiral as you Suicide a perfect life I'm doing fine I'm losing my mind But I'm doing fine I'm doing fine
7.	White Lies 03:05	lyrics	buy track
You were raised to be king In this new royalty You were born with a Silver boot up your ass One percent genius And as dumb as your luck You pulled yourself up With daddy's cash The little white lies that give you away These snow blind parasites Independent as mice All the suckers are sucked As they ghost the host A blue-blooded patriot The perfect picture of wealth Who distributes abuse Disguised as love All the transparent rage The coded complaints The bitter refrains From the chorus of cranks The little white lies that give you away A self fulfilling prophecy Built on neglect and theft and greed A faith based legacy of hate Re-engineered in modern ways You've never weathered any storm Sheltered from guilt and free from harm Blessed from the cradle to the grave Your pulp-fiction god Was an atheist All the little white lies that give you away
8.	Shine Me On 03:45	lyrics	buy track
There's no need to reveal the way you feel The honesty can be a bit too real I know I know the truth is always best But why volunteer before the question's asked? Shine me on Until you can't go on I'm blind by choice my fate is in your hands Hang on to me as long as you can stand You know, you know I'll be a total wreck Lead me by the ring up to the end Shine me on Until you drop that bomb Shine me on Until you take me down
9.	Night for Day 04:47	lyrics	buy track
I live outside this sphere of light On the edge of both sound and sight Beyond the sun beyond the pale Inside behind the drawn shade You're asleep I'm awake I'll take Night for day Early to bed early to rise Makes a man ripe for compromise You think this cycle keeps you safe Believe medieval fairy tales You're afraid I'm alive I'll trade Day for night Run free beneath the lunar veil Lilith and Nyx will meet us there We roam alone in monochrome Before the lark's call brings us home Raze the sky Celebrate Take the night Over day
10.	Say You Will 05:38	lyrics	buy track
Sometimes I get lost in myself I get confused and have to stop for help I look outside and see you're still here There's no good reason to stay but say you will Every island needs a storm There's no shelter here but the fire is warm I can't promise you will never be alone But I guarantee this will always be your home What we take for granted Becomes apparent in the panic when it's gone And all that's left is a couple songs I'm half-hearted and all to blame There is no history just mistakes Please take a chance and say you will

credits

released March 16, 2015

Channeled by Rick Valentin at Studio Tedium
Mastered by Chris Goosman at Baseline Audio Labs
All songs copyright 2014, Random Hut Music (BMI)

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about

Thoughts Detecting Machines Normal, Illinois

Rick Valentin spent a good part of the past 30 years touring and recording with the indie guitar group Poster Children. He also spent the '90s playing synthesizers with the instrumental electronic combo Salaryman. Thoughts Detecting Machines is Rick armed with only a guitar and laptop, building loops into songs that are simultaneously emotional and mechanical. ... more

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