Tuesday, April 19, 2011

"It's Never The Way You Imagine It" Released Today


"It's Never The Way You Imagine It" is released today! The twelve-song album is available in CD or digital download from devintait.bandcamp.com, CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon, and of course right here on this page.

Strange Season

Through an open window one day flew out
And another blew right in
It was the most surreal thing
When morning broke we awoke
To collective horror, we had all switched beds
The internet accessed our heads

And we all know how we ended up here
But the pathway out is not so clear
Listen when I tell you dear

It’s a strange season, it’s a strange season…
It’s a strange season, it’s a strange season…

If someone was watching us just imagine how embarrassing that might be
Amusing as it may seem at first
The audience, the suspense
Cameras, action, light and feigned reality
As happy as we'll ever be

All I need is you to pull me through
we will come back better than before
All I need is you to hold onto
And I will never want anything more

Track 12 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" by Devin Tait
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Guitars by Brandon Strecker
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Performed live:
Nov. 20, 2010 - Club Strapped, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
Dec. 11, 2010 - Cafe Muse, Hollywood CA
May 17, 2011 - Qore, Que Sera, Long Beach CA
Jan. 25, 2012 - Springbok, Van Nuys, CA
Feb. 8, 2012 - The Other Door, North Hollywood CA
Feb. 17, 2012 - Red Rock, West Hollywood CA
Mar. 29, 2012 - Good Hurt, West LA CA
Apr. 10, 2012 - The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA
Apr. 23, 2012 - Trip, Santa Monica CA
Nov. 7, 2012 - Lola's, West Hollywood

Original instrumental demo recorded by Devin Tait, 2002
Lyrics written 2009

Ventriloquist

When the curtain opens all you see is the spotlight
And if it weren’t there you wouldn’t feel right
Everyone hears his voice as your lips stay still
It’s hard to believe his every move is at your will

Why, why, why can’t you just let go
His life is not for you to control
And why, why, why don't you just let go
His life is not for you to hold

Ventriloquist, gonna make that dummy do
Whatever you wish (ah ah, ah ah)
Ventriloquist, you're in full control and now
Can not resist

It has taken ages for you to perfect your craft
And ages it’s been since you’ve both laughed
You look to the crowd and wait for applause
Their cheering provides your enabling clause

Why, why, why can’t you just let go
His life is not for you to control
And why, why, why don't you just let go
His life is not for you to hold

Ventriloquist, gonna make that dummy do
Whatever you wish (ah ah, ah ah)
Ventriloquist, you're in full control and now
Can not resist (he’s wrapped around your finger)

Now the curtain closes on the final act
Until the next show, you've got him neatly packed

Why, why, why can’t you just let go
His life is not for you to control
And why, why, why don't you just let go
His life is not for you to hold

Ventriloquist, gonna make that dummy do
Whatever you wish (ah ah, ah ah)
Ventriloquist, you're in full control and now
Can not resist (he’s wrapped around your finger)

He’s got his heart on his sleeve
You’ve got your hand in his mouth
He’s put his life in your hands
You’ve got it heading south
you think it's better this way
he's scared of what you might do
you tell him just what to say
he feels like he's see-through

Track 11 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" by Devin Tait
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Underwater Breathing

I've learned not to hold my breath
I take my lessons from the best
in the grave is when I'll rest
Taking secrets not confessed

Am I lucky to be here?
Deconstructing cavalier
I don't move then it stays clear
you made forever disappear

I couldn't hold you but I would have told you
This boat was rockin', before I came knockin'
but did I even reach you?
did I even reach you?

Slip through my fingers and run like the water
you're flooding over the broken levees
clean up this mess now, you've got me undressed now
it's rising around me, it's getting heavy
I can't be the only one, can't feel so lonely
I had your back now I see you leaving
Suspended in motion, arrested progression
I will remain underwater breathing

then on the other hand there's you
casual, our rendezvouz
so distracting yes it's true
like a habit, right on cue

I couldn't steal, but I saw the real
person in side of, a character I loved
but did I really read you?
did I really read you?

I try to stay within my depth
not to doubt or second guess
careful never to invest
in deals where I come out with less
the minor details you don't see
become the major things I feel
despite our similarities
we're playing in two different keys

Track 10 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" by Devin Tait
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Performed live:
Feb. 8, 2012 - The Other Door, North Hollywood CA
Mar. 29, 2012 - Good Hurt, West LA CA

A Modern Life

Messages flying into view with a mind designed to capture you
Gadgets that send our words into space, spoken broken then interlaced
Strength of will not to split in two, information stagnating in a mental queue
Recreational knockoffs of the original toys that we used to love

These are details of a modern life, oh oh oh
These are the things required by a modern life, oh oh oh
These are details of a modern life, oh oh oh
These are the things required by a modern life, oh oh oh

Wars hidden behind mirrors and smoke, too expensive to fix so discard when broke
Laughing behind your poker face, the shortcuts are trampled in the human race
Strength of will not to fall apart, trust mistakenly placed in the human heart
Slipshod reproductions cast of the original ones that were built to last

These are details of a modern life, oh oh oh
These are the things required by a modern life, oh oh oh
These are details of a modern life, oh oh oh
These are the things inspired by a modern life, oh oh oh

And we don’t think much about it
We’re all so stuck in our own heads
We’ve lowered the stakes and raised our bets
Monkey see and monkey gets

These are the details of a modern life
These are the travails of a modern life
These are things required by a modern life
These are things inspired by a modern life

Isn’t everything just automatic? Why can’t everything be automatic

And we don’t think much about it
We’re all so stuck in our own heads
We’ve lowered the stakes and raised our bets
Monkey see and monkey gets
We don’t think about it now, we don’t think about it

Track 9 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" by Devin Tait
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Original Demo produced by Devin Tait, Dec. 2008
Mixed by Devin Tait and Mary White at QP Sound, North Hollywood CA

So Dystopian

It's true, it feels so dystopian with you
You confuse
If you could cut the ties that bind me to this gloom
you'd refuse
Is it any way to spend the day not knowing what to do?
Is it any way to pass the time alone and feeling blue?
It's true, it feels so dystopian with you
You confuse
If you could cut the ties that bind me to this gloom
you'd refuse
Imaginary terror, my commentary;
fear of my intuition for you

Track 8 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" released April 19, 2011
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Sleepytown

Where is everybody?
She's always asking me
I tell her they're in bed just like she should be
Why is it so quiet?
And what would happen if I scream?
Would someone come to rescue or would they even hear me?
And I said not to worry, nothing's gonna happen here
There isn't much to favor but there's even less to fear
here in Sleepytown
No open eyes to meet tonight
here in Sleepytown
But if you listen you can hear the city far away
Doesn't anybody feel the same as I?
There's nowhere else I'd rather be than way up in the sky
I'd fly around the world and find the most beautiful place
Then I'd come back you and all our friends
and we'd live forever in a state of grace
And I said you're a dreamer and I hope you'll always be
The hardest part is believing when you're out there running free
from Sleepytown
No open eyes to meet tonight
here in Sleepytown
But if you listen close you'll hear the city far away
We walk these silent streets
you search for signs of life impatiently
I know one day you'll want to leave
Your widened eyes
Your wandering feet
Your sense of curiosity
I hope you'll never forget me
How can anybody waste so much time asleep?
The sandman's done his job here but he isn't fooling me
Sleepytown...
no open eyes to meet tonight
here in Sleepytown
but if you listen you can hear the city far away
No open eyes to meet tonight
if you listen close you can hear the city
No open eyes to meet tonight
But if you listen close you'll hear....

Track 7 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" by Devin Tait
Written, performed, produced by Devin Tait
Guitar, mixing and mastering/additional production by Brandon Strecker
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Original Demo produced Dec. 2008 by Devin Tait
Mixed by Devin Tait and Mary White at QP Sound, North Hollywood CA

Bridge To Nowhere

Nobody tells the truth anymore
It went out of style in 2004
And even the referee stopped keeping score

Hiding behind the lies we've learned
forgetting the fire; how it burns
And even the psychics don't know what's in store

Brick by brick we lay it down
no expense is spared
but I won't reach you and you won't reach me
it's a bridge to nowhere
Bit by bit we build it up
with the utmost care
but you can't get there from here
cause it's a bridge to nowhere

I'll tell you one thing I find strange
These people who're so afraid of change
and all they do is sit around and complain

Forgetting about the golden rule
and everything that they learned in school
heads full of more opinions than they can contain

Everyone wants to rule the world
to dictate how fast and when it turns
to be the object of interest and concern

You are the pilot at the helm
of your own private little realm
collide with reality on your return

Track 6 on "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" released April 19, 2010
Written and performed by Devin Tait
Additional vocals by Dolly Dagger
Guitar, mixing, mastering by Brandon Strecker
c 2011 Devin Tait and Decadrisco Records

Performed live:
Oct. 4, 2010 - Airliner Club, Lincoln Heights, CA
Oct. 9, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
Nov. 20, 2010 - Club Strapped, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
Dec. 11, 2010 - Cafe Muse, Hollywood CA
May 17, 2011 - Qore, Que Sera, Long Beach CA

Originally written as "Subculture Club" with completely different lyrics (demo recorded)

Alien Nation

You took a tumble down the rabbit hole
and woke up in the strangest of places
You recognized everybody but you
Could not recall their faces
The air there was spiked with something
It got you having palpitation
And now you can't remember the way home
The way back from Alien Nation

And you might think that you're happy there,
You might think you belong
You might think that I am delirious
But maybe you would be wrong

You're living in Alien Nation
Trapped in your neurotic vacation
you look around but you don't know anyone at all,
Can't read the writing on the wall

You began to wonder if you had been
Placed in witness protection
So you tried to stay under the radar
always avoiding detection
But time went by and now you fear
That you're lost in the twilight zone
'Cause you look around at the the place where you live
But it hardly ever feels like home

And you might think that you're happy there,
You might think you belong
You might think that I am delirious
But maybe you would be wrong

You're living in Alien Nation
Trapped in your neurotic vacation
you look around but you don't know anyone at all,
Can't read the writing on the wall

One day I thought I heard you calling out to me
Just a disembodied voice on a radio frequency

And you might think that you're happy there,
You might think you belong
You might think that you want to be a millionaire
But I think you'd be wrong

You're living in Alien Nation
Trapped in your neurotic vacation
you look around but you don't know anyone at all,
Can't read the writing on the wall
(You're) hangin' with the little green men - extraterrestrian
An accidental immigration, and now you're livin' in
Alien nation - hangin' with the little green men - extraterrestrian
An accidental immigration, semi-psychotic situation
Heard you call me, radio frequency
Heard you call me, radio frequency

Track 5 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" released April 19, 2011
Written, Performed and Produced by Devin Tait and Brandon Strecker
Guitars, Mixing and Mastering by Brandon Strecker
c 2011 Devin Strecker and Brandon Glen - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Released as a single on April 12, 2011
b/w "Man Vs. Nature" and "Imaginary Greenland"
Video directed by Shawn Sagen, www.thestrangerpage.com
Filmed at Vasquez Rocks Park, Aqua Dulce CA, Oct. 2010Starring Devin Tait, Brandon Strecker, Elene Chung and Dolly Dagger
Performed live:
Aug. 14, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA (solo acoustic)
Oct. 4, 2010 - Airliner Club, Lincoln Heights CA
Oct. 9, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
Nov. 20, 2010 - Club Strapped, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
May 17, 2011 - Qore, Que Sera, Long Beach CAJune 30, 2011 - Que Sera, Long Beach CA
July 14, 2011 - Club Voltage, Que Sera, Los Angeles CA
Oct. 8, 2011 - Pasadena Gay Pride, Pasadena CA
Dec. 11, 2011 - The Palms, West Hollywood CA
Jan. 25, 2012 - Springbok Bar & Grill, Van Nuys CA
Feb. 8, 2012 - The Other Door, North Hollywood CA
Feb. 17, 2012 - Red Rock Bar, West Hollywood CA
March 29, 2012 - Good Hurt, Los Angeles, CA
March 30, 2012 - Bull Bar, Long Beach CA
April 10, 2012 - The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA
April 23, 2012 - Trip, Santa Monica CA
June 3, 2012 - Dark Matinee, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA

Tape

Sticky on a one side, slick on another
Ripped to fucking shreds then spliced back together
With tape, ooh with tape
Rolling out from inside, hiding cracks and dividing lines
Adhering to the surface, pasting over imperfections
Like tape, ooh like tape

And there's a big, big hole like a hole in the ground
And where'e there's supposed to be a man, there's no man to be found
There's a big, big hole like a hole in his head
And if that's how it's gonna be, we'd be better of dead

Sticky on a one side but completely invisible
Forging into union that which was divisible
Tape, ooh yeah tape
Placed by many hands in the name of magic
Covering up layer upon layer of the tragic
Like tape, ooh like tape

Cause there's a big, big hole like a hole in the ground
And where'e there's supposed to be a man, there's no man to be found
There's a big, big hole like a hole in his head
And if that's how it's gonna be, we'd be better of dead
There's a big, big hole where the sky's falling down
But if noone's there to hear it, then it doesn't make a sound
There's a big, big wreck but they make a decree
And then they cover it up cause they don't want us to see

Stretch it, cut it, stick it, cover it up (x6)

Track 4 from "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" released April 19, 2011
Written and Produced by Devin Tait and Hoagie Hill
Guitar, Mixing and Mastering by Hoagie Hill
c 2011 Devin Tait & Hoagie Hill - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Performed Live:
Oct. 4, 2010 - Airliner Club, Lincoln Heights, CA
Oct. 9, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
June 30, 2011 - Que Sera, Long Beach CA
Oct. 8, 2011 - Pasadena Gay Pride, Pasadena CA
April 23, 2012 - Trip, Santa Monica CA

Not In A Million Years

I don't know why my eyes see so much beauty when my
Ears hear only noise
and I don't know how your mouth can taste so sweet
with all the dreams that it destroys
I don't know why my fingers want to touch you when they
know that you're cold as ice
and I don't know how I get all caught up in you against
everyone's advice
it's like I think I can invent a way to make you change your mind
it's like I think you're just about to come around
it's like I think that this is just another obstacle to overcome
when every other one has knocked me down
Not in a million years, could I make you happy
I'd give you the moon and stars but you'd want more
Not in a million years, would you ever love me
so what is all this sweet work worth?
I don't know when the party started ending but
I'm down here on the floor
And I don't know where this road we're on is heading but
I've seen these signs before

Track 3 from "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" released 19 April 2011
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Performed live:
Aug. 14, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA (solo acoustic)
Oct. 4, 2010 - Airliner Club, Lincoln Heights CA
Oct. 9, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
Nov. 20, 2010 - Club Strapped, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
June 30, 2011 - Que Sera, Long Beach CA
Dec. 11, 2011 - The Palms, West Hollywood CA

Winnipeg Beach

I thought that you were out of reach
but then you said something about Winnipeg Beach
and I thought to myself
there is something in the air
You turned on the charms
with wide open arms
we went for a spin
and took it all in
and when the sun came up
that smile was still there

the smell of your skin
still lingers in my mind
I want it to stay until the time
we can meet again
and if you forget
how we felt that night
like the world would be alright
just because we met

I thought my luck had run out dry
But then you appeared like a blaze in the night sky
I never felt anything so intense
I looked at you and he looked at me
Sometimes one and one makes three
So I went with the plot
And I tore down my defense

I won’t be the one to change you
And I wouldn’t want to
I think you’re perfect as you are
But I am here and I’m sincere
Here today, tomorrow gone
Somehow it doesn’t feel that far

Track 2 from "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" released 19 April 2011
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)
Released as a single on June 11, 2011
b/w "Bad Friends" and "Do You Remember"
Video filmed June 5 at Will Rogers Beach, Santa Monica CA
Directed by Dylan Tucker with Myles Matisse and Marc Loren
Assistance and Still Photography by Robert Garcia

Performed live:
Aug. 14, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA (solo acoustic)
Dec. 11, 2010 - Cafe Muse, Hollywood CA (full band acoustic)
May 17, 2010 - Qore, Que Sera, Long Beach CA
May 28, 2010 - Headphone, Moving Arts Theatre, Silverlake CA (acoustic w/ Jasten King)
June 30, 2011 - Que Sera, Long Beach CA
July 14, 2011 - Club Voltage, Jalisco Bar, Downtown Los Angeles
Jan. 25, 2012 - Springbok Bar & Grill, North Hollywood, CA
April 10, 2012 - The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA
April 23, 2012 - Trip, Santa Monica CA
June 3, 2012 - Dark Matinee, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA

Digital Representation

I remember your face and it was in 3-D
but now I only see you on the monitor screen
your every move has been digitized
and because I’m anonymous I’m mesmerized
your life is laid out for me to browse
so I get as close to you as the computer allows
sometimes I think that I’ve gone off my rocker
‘cause if I did this offline I’d be considered a stalker

I’m addicted to this sensation
making love to your digital representation
I’m completely taken with the notion
that you feel me through this electronic ocean

I remember your voice just like the sweetest song
and it gave me the impression we might get along
yeah maybe it was all just make believe
but I really thought that you were just as in to me
I’ll never get the nerve to tell you face-to-face
that what I want is for you to come over to my place
so I just sit here with the mouse in my hand
and fool myself that someday I will be your man

Track 1 from the album "It's Never The Way You Imagine It" by Devin Tait
Written, performed, produced and mixed by Devin Tait
Mastered by Brandon Strecker and Devin Tait
c 2011 Devin Tait - Raughtic Music (ASCAP)

Performed live:
Oct. 4, 2010 - Airliner Club, Lincoln Heights CA
Oct. 9, 2010 - Club Blender, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
Nov. 20, 2010 - Club Strapped, Palms Bar, West Hollywood CA
May 17, 2011 - Qore, Que Sera, Long Beach CA
February 17, 2012 - Red Rock, West Hollywood CA
March 30, 2012 - The Bull Bar, Long Beach CA
April 10, 2012 - The Viper Room, West Hollywood CA
April 23, 2012 - Trip, Santa Monica CA

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

"Alien Nation" Released


"Alien Nation" is released today! The six-song package is available in a double-CD set or digital download over at devintait.bandcamp.com.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Impending Album Launch

"It's Never The Way You Imagine It" will be released world-wide on April 19th. The album, produced primarily by Devin Tait with Brandon Strecker, contains 12 songs and is released on Decadrisco Records on iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon.com in addition to being available on www.devintait.com. The first single, "Alien Nation" will be released a week earlier in CD1 and CD2 formats including the video directed by Shawn Sagen (www.thestrangerpage.com) and exclusive b-sides, including "Man Vs. Nature," "Imaginary Greenland," "Strange Season (Live at Cafe Muse) and remixes of "Alien Nation."