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Swansongs

Chocolate Genius Inc.

NØF.16 — 2010

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In a town on top of a town.

That’s sun and steel and brown.

Where everythings upside down.

Till she smiles.

I’m a light year from my home.

Like a king on a dusty thrown.

I never felt so all alone.

Till she smiles.

And stars and bars and children and cars and sidewalks and old ideas.

The old man and the sea.

They both once were  me.

Now nobody wants to see us.

There’s a bird singing at my front door.

I wish that he’d sleep a little more. Because there’s nothing to wake up for.

Till she smiles.

 

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I bought you a great big house at the top of the ocean.

You said you felt those walls a little blue.

I swallowed seven seas to keep you happy.

But I still didn’t do enough for you.

Now we’re on dry land and you miss the seaside.

You said you want another point of view..

When we make love you wake up still hungry.

I wish that I had enough for you.

 

Enough for you enough of you…

 

I wish I could do the things you want me to. 

 

I’m half the man that you suggested.

But, I’m twice the man you signed on to.

When all of these troubles get accepted.

I hope that you find enough for you.

 

 

 

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Veins are popping in your head. 

Your jaw’s about to burst.

Now all your neighbors know my will has lost to this thirst. 

And your father he would kill me and for once he’s right.

And I don’t know where he is, but he’s not here tonight.

Now you say it’s the first time but you’re stretched beyond convincing.

We’ve been lathered now we repeat and it’s almost time for rinsing. 

Sugar Slim said let the cat in let the dog out I won’t hurt you.

And we wonder where the yellow went. 

And will you wash your hands.

And to think I almost made dinner plans.

Every time you say my name it’s like a mouthful.

Put the rope in the can.

Tina Turner must have been ninety five years old when we brought the ship to church.

She seemed so absent minded as she dug broken nails through her purse. 

Oh how I’d love to hear you sing but do this for me first.

Leak into this paper cup and hold me like a nurse.

Hold me like a nurse.

 

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Every night’s a feast 

And I’m preying like a beast 

Your’e last but never least I hope you know

I blew you like a wish

I stole you like a kiss 

There was too much on my dish I don’t think so

This silence it ain’t gold 

My plate is getting cold 

And next to you I’m old and I like it

When you purr at my touch 

You know a good master he won’t blush 

Your flesh my crush I can’t fight it

 

And memories will fade 

And new lists will be made

And sweet like lemonade

I speak things I can’t say

 

Anyway just kiss me

 

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You fucking communist

You fucking thrift store shopper

You fucking record owner

You fucking cock cock blocker

You fucking yellow eyes

You fucking dirty skirt

You man hater 

You never put in work 

Hard times on easy street

You short midget 

You ain’t got no feet

 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday it’s all the same

Thursday Friday Saturday I curse you name

 

You fucking lump

You fucking irie upsetter

You fucked my pants up

You fucked my coat

You fucked my brand new sweater 

You ain’t fucking Babe Ruth

Chopping down the trees 

You ain’t fucking Babe Ruth

Serving justice with French fries

 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday it’s all the same

Thursday Friday Saturday

Monday Monday Monday..

 

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I’m getting on a plane

I ain’t coming back

Just like Roman 

[????]

 

I don’t matter anymore anyway

 

Tell my one friend 

To keep my one thing

And tell my wife 

To sell my ring 

 

We don’t matter anymore anyway

 

Praise your lord 

But not for me

I’ve been living 

With the devil’s niece

 

We ain’t speaking anymore anyway

 

Millionaires

They can make my bed

And wash my sheets 

As they stroke my head

Cause green is king of everything anyway

 

It just don’t matter anymore anyway

 

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Hey you useless stranger

Can you see the shape that I am in

High up on your golden fence

I watch you sit & spin

 

I don’t want to lose you

I can’t make you want to win

Come down from your golden fence 

So we can sit & spin

 

Flesh and blood will find us 

In tears of blue and green 

I’ll stay here to remind us

Of all these things we’ve seen

 

So come on ancient soldier 

Let our past begin

Open up your golden gate 

So we can sit & spin

 

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Rest your tired senses and shut your lazy eyes 

Spread your world around and kiss it goodbye

There’ll be no troubled shooters no pens in plastic bags

Everywhere I go the tempo drags

Engine engine number fat old number nine

Say that you got no other and that you’ll be mine

 

When I lay you down…

 

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Swans are singing in my yard

I’m ready now

 

It’s been so cold it’s been so hard

I’m ready now

 

I said all that I’m fit to say

I’ve got nothing left to give away

I’m ready now

I’m so ready now

 

I built a house on your last nerve

I’m ready now

 

There’s nobody that I’m fit to serve

I’m ready now

 

It’s to late the damage is done

I am too tired to run

I’m ready now

I’m so ready now

 

When I leave here don’t you cry

I’m ready now

 

Scared to live but not afraid to die

I’m ready now

 

There must be some peace up above

Because right down here I can’t find no love

I’m so ready now

 

 

Produced By Chocolate Genius Inc. With Seth Atkins Horan

Engineered & Mixed By Seth Atkins Horan

Assisted By Bb Vaughn

Additional Engineering By Cg Inc* & François Lardeau**

Recorded At Phantom Vox Studios / Los Angeles

Whisper Factory / Hobart+ Hotel Ritz/Madrid++ Dakar Hilton+++

Mastered By Greg Calbi At Sterling Sound Nyc

 

All Songs Written By Chocolate Genius Inc

Except "How I Write My Songs" Written With Andrew Hale/ Sagat Guirey/ Donald Barthelme

Published By Nø Førmat! / Universal Music Publishing

 

---

The Players

 

She Smiles

David Piltch - Bass And Loops

Chris Bruce - Acoustic/Electric Guitars

Zsela Thompson & Thomas Bartlett - Sweet Vocals

Your Humble Narrator - Guitar Sax Piano

 

**Enough For You

John Wicks - Drums

Hector Espinosa - Congas

David Piltch - Bass

Chris Bruce - Guitar

Jamie Muhoberac - Keyboards

Marc Ribot - Guitar

Yhn - Guitar Vocals

 

+*Like A Nurse

Yhn - Closet Piano Vocals

 

Kiss Me

John Wicks

David Piltch - Bass

Chris Bruce - Elec/Acoustic Guitars

Chris Pierce - Choir Harmonica

Doug Pettibone - Lap Steel

Jamie Muhoberac - Piano/Keyboards

Yhn - Acoustic Guitar Sax Vocals

 

++Lump

Yhn

Dedicated To Lmt

 

Polanski

John Wicks - Drums/Percussion

Chris Bruce - Elec Guitar

Doug Pettibone - Pedal Steel

Yhn - Piano Keys Vocal

 

How I Write My Songs

John Wicks - Drums

David Piltch - Bass

Chris Bruce - Guitar

Jamie Muhoberac - Keyboards

Yhn - Guitar Vocals

 

*+++Mr. Wonderful

Yhn - Field Recording Crap Shoot Keys

 

Sit & Spin

Yhn - Rodney Strong

 

When I Lay You Down

John Wicks - Drums Percussion

Seth Atkins Horan - Additional Beats

David Piltch - Bass

Chris Bruce - Guitar

Jamie Muhoberac - Keyboards

Chris Pierce - Vocals

Yhn - Guitar Vocals

 

Ready Now

John Wicks - Drums

David Piltch - Bass

Chris Bruce - Guitar

Jamie Muhoberac -Piano Dying Organ

Yhn - Vocal

 

----

 

The Muses


  Abe Bradshaw
  Abe Laboriel Jr.
  Adam Clayton Powell
  Age
  Ahmir Thompson
  Alex Chilton
  Allaire Studios
  Alleged Gallery
  Amoeba Records
  Amy Linden
  Anthony Burgess
  Anthony Coleman
  Art Baron
  Liquors
  Brad Jones
  Brandi Shearer
  Brandon Ross
  Brandt Abner
  Brett Simons
  Brian Ojalvo
  Brian Tate
  Brooklyn Academy of Music
  Bruce Springsteen
  Buddy Miller
  Bumcello
  Calvin Weston
  Canal Plus
  Carl Hancock Rux
  Carnegie Hall
  Carol Christian Poell
  Catherine Russell
  Chambers Hotel
  Champ Davenport
  Chan Marshall
  Chelsea Sykes
  Chicken
  Chris Bruce & Family
  Chris Hartford
  Chris Thomas
  Ciannait the Bartender
  Clark Gayton
  Claude Coleman
  Craig Street
  Curt Bisquera
  Curtis Folkes
  Dan Bora
  Darcy the Bartender
  Dave Eggers
  David & Judy Horan
  David Calderley
  David Schneerman
  David Spelman
  David Steele
  Dean Chamberlain
  Dean the Bartender
  Deborah Holland
  Dev Hynes
  Dietrich Bonhoeffer
  Don Van Vliet
  Doug Weisenthal
  Doveman
  Draco Rosa
  Dubtee
  DW Drums
  Earl Harvin
  Ed Viesturs
  EJ Rodrigues
  Fat Actresses
  Felix Chamberlain & Family
  Francois Lardeau
  Frank Riley
  Frank Zappa
  Fred Cash
  Fred Girello
  Gaby Moreno
  Gary Clare
  Gary Topp
  Gene Lake
  George Javori
  George Travis
  Glenn Patscha
  Gnarly Head
  Greg Arreguin
  Greg Cohen
  Greg Tate
  Gregg Lewis
  Gross the Gross
  Guiness Stout
  Gunter Grass
  Hal Wilner
  Hannah the Bartender
  Harlem Yacht Club
  Hector Castillo
  Heidi Herman
  Herschel Dwellingham
  High Road Touring
  Hody Van Holme
  Hog Island Oysters
  Hotel Real Santander
  Husky Hoskulds
  Hyman / Salem
  Ichiho
  ICI
  Jamaladeen Tacuma
  Jane Scarpantoni
  Janine Small
  Jared Diamond
  Jason DeMatteo
  Jay Bellerose
  Jennifer Charles
  Jesse the Chef
  Jez Graham
  Jill Marshall
  Jim Keltner
  Jim McKay & Family
  JJ
  Joe Henry
  Joe's Pub
  Joel Landson
  John Constantine
  John Powers
  Johnny Hartman
  Jon Caramonica
  Justin Townsend
  Justine the Bartender
  Kake
  Kara Bilof
  Kary Antholis
  Keefus Cianca & Family
  Kevin Breit
  Kiki Smith
  King Pleasure
  Kristine the Bartender
  Largo
  Lisa Brenneis
  Looking Glass Studio
  Lou Vito
  Lucy the Bartender
  Ludlow
  Luminato
  Lydia Cavanaugh
  Maria Goyanes
  Maria McGrath
  Marie the Bartender
  Mark Brown
  Mark Kurlansky
  Mark Linkous
  Mark Ruffalo
  Martha Wainwright
  Martin Pradler
  Marty Bernstein
  Mathew Sterlin & Family
  Max Fish
  Max Green
  Mayla
  Melissa & John
  Melvin Gibbs
  Meshell & Alison
  Micheal Stewart
  Miho Hatori
  Milk & Honey
  MMW
  Morgan the Bartender
  Mos Def
  Myke Weiskopf
  Nancy Jeffries
  Neil Simpkins
  Neither Do I
  Nelson George
  New Jersey Griot
  Nico Muhly
  Nina Ritter
  Noel Arnold
  Olli & Rachel Chanoff
  One Step Bailbonds
  Oren Bloedow
  Oscar on Saville Row
  Pamela Laws
  Patrick Warren
  Patti Scialfa
  Patti Smith
  Patty Wynne
  Paul Hepker
  Paul Zukowsky
  Phantom Vox Studios
  Philip Roth
  Phillip Glass
  Q Tip
  Radcliffe Bailey
  Ray Davies
  Rebecca Meek
  Rebecca Sherman
  Redbone
  Reut Regev
  Rhino Records
  Rich Nichols
  Richard Bransen
  Rick Field
  Rip Torn
  Robbie Purcell
  Robert Burke
  Rocio
  Roger Cramer
  Roger Guenveur Smith
  Roy Nathanson
  Ryan Spahn
  Sam Amidon
  Sam Bardfield
  Sanctuary
  Sandy Sawotka
  Sarah Dixon
  Sarah the Bartender
  Saul Williams
  Seb Martel
  Sessions Band
  Shane Gregory
  Sharief
  Shirley Chisolm
  Simeon Cain
  Sphere One
  Spiros Stathoulopoulos
  St. Mark's Church
  Stephanie McKay
  Sterling Studios
  Steve Bernstein
  Steve Weisberg
  Steven Trivelpiece & Family
  Strand Books
  Stuart Matthewman & Family
  Sunset Sound Factory
  Suzee Tyrell
  Sweetback
  Sylvester Stewart
  Thackery Wines
  The Alibi
  The Blockers
  The Brazilian Girls
  The City of Ghent
  The Firefly
  The Glory Hole
  The Hobart Living Trust
  The National
  The Public Theater
  The Relievers
  The Sidewalk Café
  Thomas Erber
  Thomas Golubic
  Thomas Truax
  Thrill Hill
  Tina the Bartender
  Tipatina's
  TMF Recording
  Tommy Jordan
  Tony the Bartender
  Tony Williams
  Toshi Reagon
  Tracy McKnight
  Trixie Whitley
  Troy the Bartender
  US Embassy Madrid
  US Embassy Rome
  Vernon Reid
  Vic Chestnutt
  Vic the Bartender
  Vinia Mojica
  Wade the Bartender
  Walter Yetnikov
  Wayne LeBeaux
  Ween
  Wide & Yellow
  Young Douglas Bowne
  Yuka Honda
  Zeidler & Zeidler
  Zoe the Bartender                

                                                                                         

 

      

 

Here's a musician whose career, spanning over twenty years, is a series of dazzling strokes of brilliance alternating with periods of silence. His talent as an un-containable musician, too in love with his freedom to join the ranks of rock, soul, folk or jazz have inspired his peers' admiration. From Marc Ribot and David Byrne to Philip Glass and Oren Bloedow (Elysian Fields), in other words the crème de la crème of the New York music scene, all have an unconditional respect for him, whilst in Europe, artists such as Vincent Segal or Seb Martel are equally as full of praise. And yet, when it comes to the influent medias or the crowds, it seems that Marc Anthony Thompson, a.k.a. Chocolate Genius Inc. remains misunderstood. Five long years of silence have come and gone, resulting in Swansongs, his fourth album, and the stakes have been raised. Culminating all the talents of its author in a singularly harmonious form, it seems to prophesise the American’s inevitable projection into the limelight, finally granting him the recognition he merits.   

 

Filled with the musings of a man reaching the middle of his years, Swansongs probes the troubled waters of remembrance, introspection and mourning. Chocolate Genius delivers a sonic and poetic piece of work whose clear beauty is as pure as an outline. It's a sublimate summary of all the writing, playing and singing abilities unveiled since his first album. 

 

Chocolate Genius came to light as a completely free and unfettered singer-songwriter with Black Music in 1998. Born in Panama and raised in California, it was New York, a metropolis swarming with open-minded and unbiased musicians such as mavericks Marc Ribot, Meshell Ndegeocello, Cibo Matto, John Medeski or Chris Wood, which enabled him to become a supreme creator. Like Terry Callier or Arthur Lee (Love) back in the day or his contemporaries Joe Henry or Mark Eitzel, he's worked out the secret formula for a subtly universal songwriting, neither white, nor black, born far from the folklore mire and the illusions of every current trend; the kind of songwriting which could collect the multiple constituents of the American identity in its very fibre. Chocolate Genius then attempted to develop this approach in his next records, Godmusic (2001) and Black Yankee Rock (2005), taking the liberty of appropriating Van Dyke Parks' clever mind or Sly Stone feverish prophecies, the dry rage of ancestral blues or the rebellious exultation of New York jazz, the raw energy of indie rock and soul's sensuous growls. 

 

After the exuberant Black Yankee Rock, Chocolate Genius brings back today his wide-spanning art to the proportions of an intimate whisper. Essentially made of ballads, Swansongs is for him the logic follow-up and conclusion of a highly personal triptych started with Black Music and Godmusic. The overall theme of the album – a vibrant farewell to dearly departed beings, places and things that marked the first half of his life – has naturally led him to wring out the essence of his writing. Nine days in a Los Angeles studio were enough for him to record these eleven songs tinged with a serene and pained wisdom, based on the acknowledgement that every life is built on loss, absence and the company of ghosts. Far from Manhattan and his usual sparring partners (Marc Ribot only shows up on Enough For/Of You), Thompson, supported by temporary partners fully in tune with him, reaches a form of weightless gravity, which ideally benefits his intentions. Rid of the scoria that sometimes altered a little the elegance of his previous records, his writing and singing glide from one marvel to another.

 

From the reverberating blues of Enough For/Of You to the piano-and-voice embrace of Like a Nurse and Sit & Spin; from the twisting ramblings of Lump to the salutary surges of When I Lay You Down and Ready Now; from the carnal confessions of Kiss Me to the ghostly lyrics of Mr. Wonderful (where the voice of a dead father disappears in an electronic halo), everything here hangs onto the thread of an inspiration freed from all style and genre limitations. For the last few years, Chocolate Genius has made a name for himself in sound design and original soundtracks for movies or plays; he's also lived an intense experience when he joined Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions Tour in 2006. It's surely there, between these apparently opposite poles, between sonic adventure and traditional writing, pure plastic research and exploration of the depths of the human soul that the singular beauty of Swansongs can be found. And we have the feeling that, for Marc Anthony Thompson, this balance doesn't only show a beautiful completion, but also a rebirth, full of promises. 

 






NØF.35 — Truth VS Beauty

Swansongs