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.
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.
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.
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
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..
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
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
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…
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
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
Mark Anthony Thompson, alias Chocolate Genius Inc., n’appartient pas franchement au commun des songwriters. Son parcours, depuis plus de vingt ans, alterne fulgurants coups d’éclat et longues périodes d’éclipse. Ses talents de musicien passe-murailles, trop épris de liberté pour intégrer les rangs du rock, de la soul, du folk ou du jazz, suscitent l’admiration de ses pairs. De Marc Ribot à David Byrne en passant par Philip Glass et Oren Bloedow (Elysian Fields), la crème de la communauté musicale new-yorkaise lui voue ainsi un respect inconditionnel, tandis que quelques fameux électrons libres français comme Vincent Segal ou Seb Martel ne tarissent pas d’éloges à son sujet… Et pourtant : dans les médias influents et le grand public, il n’est pas encore reconnu à sa juste valeur. Après cinq années de silence, Swansongs, son quatrième album, devrait radicalement changer la donne. Avec ce disque en état de grâce, cristallisant sous une forme singulièrement harmonieuse tous les talents de son auteur, l’Américain ne peut qu’être projeté en pleine lumière et accéder enfin à la renommée qu’il mérite.
Portant les méditations d’un homme parvenu au mitan de son existence, Swansongs sonde les eaux troubles de l’introspection, du souvenir et du deuil. Chocolate Genius Inc. y livre une somme sonore et poétique qui atteint la beauté décantée d’une épure. Un condensé sublimé de toutes les qualités d’écriture, de jeu et d’interprétation qu’il aura su dévoiler dès son premier album.
Car c’est bien en singer-songwriter sans chaînes ni entraves que Chocolate Genius Inc. apparaît en 1998 avec Black Music. Né au Panama, californien d’adoption, c’est à New York, au contact d’esprits aussi indépendants que Marc Ribot, Meshell Ndegeocello, Cibo Matto, John Medeski ou Chris Wood, qu’il a pu se métamorphoser en créateur souverain. Comme Terry Callier ou Arthur Lee (le leader de Love) en leur temps, comme ses contemporains Joe Henry ou Mark Eitzel, il élabore la formule secrète d’un songwriting subtilement universel, ni blanc ni noir, conçu à distance des bourbiers du folklore comme des mirages de la mode. Un songwriting qui saurait rassembler dans ses fibres les multiples composantes de l’identité américaine. C’est cette approche-là que Chocolate Genius Inc. va s’attacher à développer dans ses albums suivants, Godmusic (2001) et Black Yankee Rock (2005), s’octroyant la liberté de capturer aussi bien l’esprit savant et joueur de Van Dyke Parks que les prophéties enfiévrées de Sly Stone, la rage sèche du blues ancestral que la jubilation frondeuse du jazz new-yorkais, l’énergie brute de l’indie-rock que les feulements sensuels de la soul.
Après l’extraverti Black Yankee Rock, Chocolate Genius Inc. ramène aujourd’hui cet art panoramique aux proportions d’un souffle intime. Composé pour l’essentiel de ballades, Swansongs s’inscrit selon lui comme la suite et la fin logiques d’un triptyque éminemment personnel entamé avec Black Music et Godmusic. La thématique générale de l’album, vibrant chant d’adieu à des êtres chers, des lieux et des choses qui ont marqué la première moitié de sa vie, l’a naturellement conduit à tirer la quintessence de son écriture. Neuf jours dans un studio de Los Angeles lui auront suffi pour graver ces onze chansons empreintes d’une sagesse à la fois sereine et douloureuse, reposant sur le constat que toute existence se construit aussi sur la perte, l’absence, le commerce avec les fantômes. Loin de Manhattan et de ses habituels complices (seul Marc Ribot se fend d’une apparition sur Enough For/Of You), Thompson, porté par des partenaires de passage au diapason, atteint une forme de gravité en apesanteur qui sied idéalement à son propos.
Sa plume et son chant volent ici d’un prodige à un autre. Du blues réverbéré d’Enough For/Of You aux étreintes piano-voix de Like a Nurse et Sit & Spin, des divagations tortueuses de Lump aux envolées salvatrices de When I Lay You Down et Ready Now, des confessions charnelles de Kiss me aux paroles spectrales de Mr. Wonderful (où la voix du père disparu se fond dans un halo électronique), tout est ici suspendu au fil d’une inspiration affranchie des contraintes de style ou de genre. Ces dernières années, Chocolate Genius Inc. s’est beaucoup illustré dans les domaines du sound design et des musiques de film ou pour le théâtre ; il a aussi vécu une expérience intense en intégrant en 2006 la caravane du Seeger Sessions Tour de Bruce Springsteen. C’est sans doute là, entre ces deux pôles apparemment éloignés, entre l’aventure sonore et l’écriture traditionnelle, entre la pure recherche plastique et l’exploration des tréfonds de l’âme humaine, que se niche la beauté si peu banale de Swansongs. Et quelque chose nous dit que, pour Chocolate Genius Inc., cet équilibre ne marque pas seulement un magnifique achèvement, mais aussi une forme de renaissance riche en promesses.
