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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Full Digital Discography Full Digital Discography

7

releases

Get all 7 Thoughts Detecting Machines releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Sound, Noise, & You, Sentenced For Life, Who Are You Supposed To Be?, Work the Circuits, Forget + An Introduction to, Forget, and An Introduction to. , and , .

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1.	New Day 04:18	lyrics	buy track

2.	In the Right 03:01	lyrics	buy track

3.	The Call 04:03	lyrics	buy track

4.	The City 03:29	lyrics	buy track

5.	Bully 03:54	lyrics	buy track

6.	Fine 03:43	lyrics	buy track

7.	White Lies 03:05	lyrics	buy track

8.	Shine Me On 03:45	lyrics	buy track

9.	Night for Day 04:47	lyrics	buy track

10.	Say You Will 05:38	lyrics	buy track

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

Recommendations

shows

Apr 27

The Iron Post

Urbana, IL
May 10

Phyllis' Musical Inn

Chicago, IL

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Track Name: New Day: 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
Track Name: In the Right: 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
Track Name: The Call: 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
Track Name: The City: 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
Track Name: Bully: 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
Track Name: Fine: 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
Track Name: White Lies: 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
Track Name: Shine Me On: 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
Track Name: Night for Day: 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
Track Name: Say You Will: 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