These 5 songs were recorded between October 2008 and March 2009. They all feature the lineup of Ryan, Brian, John, and Mike, joined by Brett Niederman and Susan Hsu of Exit Clov (organ and fiddle, respectively), Kate Rears (cello) and Tom Hnatow of These United States (pedal steel, banjo).
Reviews
For fans of Big Star and Teenage Fanclub . . . Songs like "Fake It" and "Elephantitis" burst out of the speakers, bright and jangly guitars at the forefront, supported by piano, horns and cascading backing vocals. "America at Night" is rooted more in classic rock than '90's alt-rock and that helps give the songs a timeless feel -- well-written, well-performed . . . extremely tuneful, and immaculately produced.

-David Malitz (The Washington Post)
A package of tightly packaged songs . . . draws upon Dylan and The Band but with the modern sensibility of Wilco . . . not the meandering experimentation of many freshman efforts.

-DC Magazine
The one-two punch of "Elephantitis", a rushing, gushing power-popper, and "Fake It", with its requisite jangle and harmonies, was the perfect antidote to midsummer malaise. Worth the wait . . . a refreshingly straightforward band.

-Graham Hough-Cornwell (DCist.com)
One of the strongest local records of the year and a great live band.

-Instrumental Analysis

Lyrics

Feeling My Way In The Dark (by Ryan Walker)

Nowhere can I go, No one can I see
I’ve worked the land, I’ve traveled over the sea
Nothing happens forever, nothing happened before
I’m stuck in the here and now wanting you more and more
 
I’ve been as patient as I’ve ever been, Can’t give up the fight that I’m in
But I’m feeling my way in the dark, need a light shining
Precipitation never seems to grow old
But I’d trade it in a second for a sun in my soul
 
Oo-ee, could be working on you and me
Oh yeay, I’m just sitting here instead
And I don’t have the patience or the day
To drive this far down the road the wrong way
So just let me know…
 
I stole you some flowers, I don’t have money so I’ll give you my hard work
I can only hope you want to do some too, you know it’s not that hard
 
I wanted to carry you over the puddle, but part of me just wanted to see you wet
And you know how some people can be, these days
Precipitation never seems to grow old
But I’d trade it in a second for a sun in my soul
 
Oo-ee, could be working on you and me
Oh yeay, I’m just sitting here instead
And I don’t have the patience or the day
To drive this far down the road the wrong way
So just let me know…if I should just go back home
 
I’ve been as patient as I’ve ever been, Can’t give up the fight that I’m in
But I’m feeling my way in the dark, need a light shining
Feeling my way in the dark, need a light
 
Could I live the rest of my life having never gotten your name
Having never played your games, would it feel the same?
It Has Made All The Difference (by Ryan Walker)

The road that longs to be trodden on, the sky that peels and rains down
You might say that they’re just asking for it, but they deserve all the help they can get
Major combat is all over, all the battles have been fought and won
You might say that it’s all just a smokescreen, but what fun would that be?
 
Hallelujah, we are marching home, you may not recognize us in the end
Hallelujah, it is all worthwhile, it is highly influential, it has made all the difference
 
Overflowing, outrageous, saturated many times over
Instinct tells you when you’re being lied to, it’s all in the way that they smile
 
Shadow pictures on the walls of the cave, urge you to be integral, urge you to be brave
But it is your life itself which cannot be saved
 
They sell you harvest when you know that it’s barren
Sounds like the devil’s got a hit on his hands
And they may say that they truly love Jesus, but believe me, he is grieving just the same
The Only Things I'll Take With Me (by Ryan Walker)

I don’t want to think about waking up anymore
I mean I don’t have anything to wake up for
When I woke up next to you, I thought this was gonna be true
Now I don’t want to think about waking up anymore
 
I don’t want to think about walking in the park
The leaves are ravishing this morning, now I can’t wait for dark
When we walked hand in hand, I thought this was gonna be grand
Now I don’t want to think about walking in the park
 
I don’t want to think about reading any books
Makes me think about the ones you loaned me and all the ones you took
I want back my Communist Manifesto, I suppose you can keep the rest, though
‘Cause I don’t want to think about reading any books
 
I don’t want to think about money anymore
Not the money in the bank and not the money in the drawer
My penniless days are gone, but I got no one to spend it on
So I don’t want to think about money anymore
 
I don’t want to think about my phone ringing
My friends, they call me, and interrupt my singing
When your sweet name came on the screen, I thought I would get away clean
Now I don’t want to think about my phone ringing
 
I don’t want to think about Washington, DC
The town I love no longer feels like home to me
You came into my city and looked impossibly pretty
Now I don’t want to think about Washington, DC
 
I don’t want to think about politics this fall
It doesn’t matter anymore who wins at all
I don’t give a shit about democracy, if you don’t give a shit about you and me
I don’t want to think about politics this fall
 
I don’t want to think about running anymore
I’m just running ‘round in circles and through revolving doors
No matter what you say and do, I got no one’s arms to run into
So I don’t want to think about running anymore
 
I don’t want to think about wine anymore
It used to warm my soul, now it just makes my throat sore
And the bottle we shared made me think that you cared
Now I don’t want to think about wine anymore
 
I don’t want to think about sleeping anymore
I got too much to do to ever touch the floor
And the bed we shared that night, made me think everything would be all right
Now I don’t want to think about sleeping anymore
 
I don’t want to think about praying anymore
It’s too hard to keep track of who I’m praying for
And I tried to get my way, but the Lord couldn’t make you stay
So I don’t want to think about praying anymore
 
I don’t want to think about you anymore
Get out of my mind if you won’t come ‘round my door
Try as I might your memory haunts me day and night
But I wish that I could let you go
 
So I’ll keep my mind on one thing
You can’t take away from me the songs that I sing
They’re the only things I’ll take with me when I cross that great eternal sea
Hope to see you one day on the other side
This Line Is Not For Me (by Brian Kent)

I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing this for you
When you don't have anything you got to start anew
You've got to find another way, pick up and leave today
I'll make this sacrifice for you, and if we make it through, please don't let it go

When I make this shady deal, I've lost more than my soul
You know you can't bring anything, cause it's worthless where we're going
When I cross this sunless land, I take my woman by the hand
And I pull my children near, my daughter whispers in my ear, please don't let me go

And on the other side, we're hunted day and night
They say we're illegal, because we're hungry and their plates are full
When I saw those flashing lights, I knew tonight would be the night
I would lay it all down, with my feet on foreign ground
I told my family to run, as I headed toward the guns
I yelled "don't ever turn around", as they held me to the ground
please
please let them go
Cry Harder (by Ryan Walker)

In my rotten city, there lived a maiden so pretty who went by the name of Miss Jenny Malone
Her brown eyes were wide but her path it was narrow, all she wanted was to feel so alive, alive-o
Jenny fell hard for a boy who had nothing, he promised her something that nothing could give
Protected her from danger, soothed her anger, and built a house on the hill where they both could live
The land spread out before them like Eden in winter, seemed there was no limit to the places they could go
He said he'd take her to the top of the Washington Monument, there she would feel so alive, alive-o

Jenny always knew that one day she'd make history, she wouldn't settle for anything less
Took her inspiration from starlets and acrobats, they'd all trade their lives for a front-page death
She'd stare out the window at the ground below at the lobbyists and the dirty war-mongering whores
And pray every night to whoever might be listening that her boy would never wash up on a foreign shore
They ruled their kingdom with songs and jubilation, the sunset was golden and everything was nice
Jenny'd wake up early with a yearning in her heart, her loyal prince would always share this piece of advice

CHORUS
Cry harder, laugh louder, scream until your guts fly out onto the floor
Let me go back to sleep, 'cause I wasn't finished, wake me up when you need me to sing to you more

The river it was icy, the parkway was a heart attack, the White House looked black if you closed your eyes
Jenny and her prince took their mission upon themselves and at the city gates met with quite a surprise
There were guards with martinis, gray hair and machine guns, and children with umbrellas even on sunny days
Jenny sang gleefully with lots of conviction, but the people all changed the station to another background haze
And her prince pledged his love, but love was no match for what the men who pulled all of the strings had in store
Jenny's dream come true was not long for this world, but he wrote this in a letter from a foreign shore

CHORUS

As the seasons rose up and the months they wore down, nobody remembered what the prince had to say
The people moved on, they loved, they lost, but Jenny couldn't allow her life to drag on that way
She hung herself from the Washington Monument, and everyone saw her on their afternoon drive, oh
Her spirit drained from her, she found it quite remarkable, she'd never felt so alive, alive-o
[Instrumental Pre-Chorus]

CHORUS 2
Cry harder, laugh louder, scream until your guts fly out onto the floor
Go back to sleep if you think you're not finished, wake up when you want to sing some more
Bleak House (by Ryan Walker)

Let's go out tonight, let's go out and start a fight
The full moon's shooting, the women are glowing and the men are looting
My stomach's hanging by a thread, you make me wish I wasn't dead
Unplug from the wall and start growing old
I'm not a gambler and I don't know when to fold

Let's go out tonight into the city and into the lights
That asked me where my soul would stumble
when protection has failed me and my body has crumbled
I surely hope I'll fly away and confident expectations stay
I'd rather spend my life apart if you can't find me in your heart

Let's get out of town, sleep together and wake up to the sound of
peace and quiet, but listen close, outside there's a riot
Why are we always on the run when we've done nothing wrong and nothing fun
We both can't help but feel bleak, but after a valley comes a peak
So let's go out tonight
Fake It (by Brian Kent)

I've been going under replaced with something better
Got to look real strong, can't say nothing wrong

I got my qualifications, I know the answers to your questions
You've surely been looking for me, I'll be who you want me to be

Can't you see that it's not me, I'm not the one that you see

Fake it man, take a stand and dress as smart as you can
Just pretend you're in a race and run as fast as you can to the end

I've been going under replaced with something better
Got to look real strong, can't say nothing wrong
I got my qualifications, I know the answers to your questions
You've surely been looking for me, I'll be what you want me to be

Can't you see that it's not me, I got this advice from someone old and wise

Fake it man, take a stand and dress as smart as you can
Just pretend you're in a race and run as fast as you can to the end

I've been going under replaced with something better
You've surely been looking for me, I'll be who you want me to be

Can't be who you want me to be, no,
Can't be who you want me to be, no...
Elephantitis (by Ryan Walker)

I'm all alone, I'm all alone, I'm all alone, yeah
Nobody's home, nobody's home, I'm all alone, yeah
Just waiting for the neighborhood to be my own, oh yeah
But instead I'm wishing that I wasn't alone
Stayed up all night drinking tea, writing songs that'll never get sung, yeah
Never saw the light of day, never even begun to
Just throwing up words on a page that'll never reach your ears, not in a million years
Don't hold your breath, just make sure that I'm not alone

Everybody's the same, they cheat at their game, don't tell you their name
I'm a man following a plan to take a new stand as best that I can

Been climbing up stairs, trying not to fall back down again
I'm far enough along to face up to where I've been
Now there's ghosts everywhere I turn my head
You don't have to let 'em in, just please make sure I don't fall back down again

Everybody's the same, they cheat at their game, don't tell you their name
I'm a man following a plan to take a new stand as best that I can

I'm all alone, I'm all alone, I'm all alone, yeah
Nobody's home, nobody's home, I'm all alone, yeah
Just waiting for the universe to be my own, oh yeah
Don't waste your breath just make sure that I'm not alone...
Without A Hitch (by Ryan Walker)

We can't believe our eyes, this don't come in our size
America at night, the heat just fills the sky
Not crying anymore, getting to be a bore
Bury me not under the place where I just hit the floor

Quiet, quiet don't make a sound, I was lost but now I'm found
Everything goes without a hitch these days

The sandy beaches white, everyone thinks they're right
Put it right out your mind, rather be out of sight
Poppin' that protein back like it was morning snack
It ain't comin' again so let's all have a crack

Quiet, quiet don't make a sound, I was lost but now I'm found
Everything goes without a hitch these days

Now that I know the things I know, I know it takes a long time
Never again will I look out for only me and mine
'Cause then pretty soon you turn around and find out everything changes
I don't know about you but I can't handle that

Quiet, quiet don't make a sound, I was lost but now I'm found
Everything goes without a hitch these days...
Female Form (by Brian Kent)

When you see me walkin', and turn my head
When you see me runnin', where'm I goin' instead?
When you see me workin', working for the cure
When I put my hand out, is that something pure?

What do you see, when you look at me?
What do you see, do you see beauty?

When I put my hair down, do you see the real me?
When I take it all off, do I still look pretty?
When I wear that smile, and I put on that flaunt
Does that make you happy, is that what you want?

What do you see, when you look at me?
What do you see, do you see beauty?

Don't, don't underestimate me
Don't, don't underestimate me...
All The World is New (by Ryan Walker)

I found out what was going on
There was no doubt in my mind
Nothing said, nothing done, it was all right
I know now what I knew before
But I know more than you
Don't mean to sound harsh, just thought that you would
like to hear it like it is
Well, all the world is gone
But all the world is new
You haven't learned a thing that's of any use to you
Wind is blowing hard
On everything you drew
You find that it's okay to not know what to do

Came to me like a dream
Fast and loud like a band that can't say no
Then the walls came down, and everybody turned around
It was completely indescribable

And now we live alone
Was it worth all the bridges we burned?
Was it worth all the days
We spent wishing for more time?
Wind is blowing hard
One of these days it's true
It's perfectly okay to not know what to do

Find another way, we know it's okay
But it's trouble on my mind
Today, today, today, there's no waiting anymore
But when I wake I will find that...

All the world is gone
Yeah, but all the world is new
You haven't learned a thing that's of any use to you
Wind is blowing hard
On everything you drew
It's perfectly okay to not know what to do
Fog Over My Mind (by Ryan Walker)

The lights all got too bright for me to look at
I suddenly knew not where I was
With sickly worried mind I took to sleeping
And when I woke the world was still a fuzz

It's no way for a man to live a lifetime
Feeling like he's slowly sinking down
One day I won't be able to fight anymore
Will it be the day I'm six feet underground?

I didn't know I had so much fear in me
I didn't know my heart could race so fast
I don't know what I did to make the sunshine go away
I don't know how much longer I can last

with this fog over my mind, with this fog over my mind

Warm feelings tease my soul almost constantly
Can't do the things I used to love to do
Go to beat this thing that holds me under the surface
'Cause I wish it wasn't such a chore loving you

So I fill my head with possibilities
Not good ones but the ones you try to avoid
Still I find myself waking up every day
Lord knows how I came to be so paranoid

I didn't know the world turns into a wall
The day I try to grab it by the reins
I'd rather smack myself flat against the pavement
You know everybody wants a shady lane

But this fog over my mind, Too full of pain, I can't explain
This fog over my mind, Too much rage, can't turn the page
This fog over my mind, Hold my hand, it's sinking sand
This fog over my mind, Mark my words, you haven't heard the last
of this fog

Every couple of days, I can see a faint light
It brightens my night, it makes me want to fight you all
Something makes me want to keep on goin', like a river flowin'
I know that I can show you all

Shine on like you know you will and when you get that thrill
Make sure you still don't lose that sight
Make the smoke clear and leave from me, 'cause I can finally see
I know it's gonna be all right
Welcome Back (by Ryan Walker)

Save your crying, it's not over yet
Save it up for when you'll need it
You need to know we're not out of time
Thanks for nothing I'll be back around
Everything is all I want
I'll need to waste some time for a while

Welcome back to the real world
Been so long since we've been here
Welcome back to the new deal
We needed this feeling so bad
Whenever we come down into fear
We are not alone
Been such a long long journey back
We're happy to be home

Pray to God I don't go back where I once was
Some people go there purposely
But i'm not one to change my mind
Something tells me not to let you go
Seek out the things that keep you here
You'll be surprised at what you'll find

Welcome back to the real world
Been so long since we've been here
Welcome back to the new deal
We needed this feeling so bad
Whenever we come down into fear
We are not alone
Been such a long long journey back
We're happy to be home...