about
‘How To Tell If Your Ribs Are Broken’ was originally written and recorded to be a part of our album Malaga. During the process of tracking vocals Mac decided he didn’t like the way his voice sounded in that key. This led to some heated debates and some property damage to our house. We contacted the engineer who we had set to mix the album and told him our dilemma. He told us to re-record the piano track and have Mac sing the song in the key he wanted. As for the bass and guitar tracks, they would be able to be shifted into the right key during post production. Or so we thought. When we arrived at this song during mixing, we quickly found out that shifting the bass and guitar would not be possible. The song was dead and would not be on the record.
This came as hefty blow for many reasons. This was not some b-side that just didn’t make the cut. Out of the all songs on the album, this is the one we worked the hardest on. To me, this song represented what our band was all about and the sound we tried for years to figure out.
Everything happens for a reason though. If it wasn’t for Mac freaking out about the vocals and leaving the song unfinished, we would have probably never gotten back together to hang out and work on music again. It was a much needed ‘reunion’ and it felt great to finally the finish the album we worked so tirelessly on.
You can see unedited footage of us recording the song at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGNtRyMFZTw&feature=youtu.be lyrics
Look at the victims on the street. Selling their whole lives work to barely make ends meet. Look at the track marks on his sleeves. Each one can tell you just exactly where he’s been. It’s all who you know, who runs the show. Who can get the most exposure while we fool ourselves in thinking we deserve. It’s so hard. I walk these streets, I got money smoke, but not enough to eat. My clothes are dirty now. I’m trying to figure out just what I need, but its hard when you can’t remember your own dreams. I was happy once before. I can’t remember when, drink a beer and smoke a cigarette, and try to go to sleep. A natural remedy, I’ll try I will, to have the best dreams. But it’s so hard living with myself. Jump through the hoops, do as they say. You’ve taken it too far this time, they’re probably right anyway, I’ll try I will, to make this better, than I ever could have dreamt. Does anyone know as well as I do, nothing’s going to change. I don’t need this and I didn’t ask for this. Everyone is getting me down, nothings going to change. I don’t need them, and I didn’t ask for friends.
credits
from
Malaga,
released January 17, 2006
license
all rights reserved
