Overdubbin my Ass (Echoes of Toys in the Box Music)

We wrote sum of the corniest lyrics in the whole world. Sora had this idea of startin a band after seein Counting Crows play in the Late Show w/ David Letterman. "We have a lil problem," I said. "Nobody knows how to play anythin." I had just learnd how to play Loser with my right hand fingers still swollen from pressing against the frets. Gotta ask for that guitar on my birthday. We can't use the Lumanog for recording. It was gonna sound like tin cans.

Sora had a friend who offered to sell his drum machine for a thousand pesos. We were gonna start jammin during the holidays. Dean wanted to play bass so he'd have to use my old guitar and use the new one only during recording. Have to save up for Type II blanks too, it has a better magnetic formulation that allows more faithful analog. But Sony and TDK were so much on the pricey end, we'd have to make do with SKC. Made in Korea. Sometimes, I bought Goldstars.


I had some melodies runnin thru my head, repeatin 2 chords in the stanza and 3 chords in the chorus. Too much Frances Bean Will Have her Revenge in Seattle. But Sora had such a disco beat goin that Man in the Waterfalls turned out to be a pop number, or at least tries to. Twas bout a girl Boyet and me fell in love with in Iligan, tested our friendship, and broke my heart. Boyet was never into the band thing. His obsession was newscasters and anchors, news shows and their spoofs, network logos and newsroom stylings. We thought he worshipped the band.

One time, during recess. Bongbong said he liked the name Soundgarden coz it meant a source. "Why not name the band, Voicebox? I'll make the shirt design and have it silkscreend by Archie," who was into all sorts of graphic art. He drew cityscapes, detailed robots, ninja battles. "I wrote a rap verse today," Sora interrupted.

December 8th. The gang was all here. The 3 valedictorians are taking centerstage tonight. My new green Gibson ready to be strummed fiercefully. There was enuf beer to stir 7 fifteen year old's into midnight disturbers of d peace. But we weren't in some bar. We were at my home, it was a birthday gathering. Bacolod nitelife in the early 90's was exclusive to exclusive school boys and girls who danced to disco remixes of Losing my Religion and All I Want.

Drums had to be recorded first. Sora pounded on the bass and snare with the sticks, violating all rules of timing, style, and metronome. He was more influenced with drum and bugle than Lars Ulrich or Tre Cool. His rap was absurd! But it was inflammatory. Not to mention, unoriginal. We played with him, of course, while the tape rolled.

After the take, twas my turn to cue. New cassette was placed on deck B, drum tracks played on deck A while I played guitar with echo and reverb. We used the Sony mini-component's karaoke mic, stuck it inside the soundhole. My fingers bled. The new strings were fuckin taut as nipples.

Bass came next. Hardly noticeable, as Dean went along with the guitar and drum rhythm. He was too clumsy we had to retake a lotta times. What a waste of tape. But anyway beer was plenty so who cares, right?

Twix was the name of our dog born of a half-Retriever bitch. The song is sung to the tune of Sunday Bloody Sunday. It was written during a time when mirror images of album covers revealed demonic designs. I could never figure where the chorus came about.

Vice-presidents are about to be the most useless people in the world. Lacking enough will power to be nominated to the top spot, they're chickenshit as chickenshit goes. No. 2 is as good as last.

Interrupt
You figure, "how does Jonathan Richman get away with it?" And more recently, Michael Hung. Hell, we're doin it without label intervention or anyof that shit. So fuck you all metal poseurs, you make me sick. Useless frat gangwars have pushed this nigga to the brink. so back off, my rhymes are warheads. They'll pick u up on a river with the warpigs. And that's just how these words flow outta my eye-lids. Ladies and gentlemen, you just read HDFKM.

Hunger Did F****n Kill Mama is a side-project of Sora with the Bongoman. Breakbeats, a Rapman, and a mic. The proverbial rap vibe. Titles in that unfamous production were Whats Ur Name and This World. He loved rap as much as I love my Nanay.

Lason. Pretty much self-explanatory. I guess my Tagalog was as bad as my ability to reach notes. Funny how language has divided this country for so long.


Voicebox
Dude Not in the Mood

Track Listing:

Vice-President
Twix
Cant I
Whats Ur Name (feat. HDFKM)
Dear Lady
Man in the Waterfalls
She Went Home
Lason
Mutation

Buy the EP for P99 ONLY!

P.S.
Our hats off to Download.com's editors for the Wesley Willis and
Lou Barlow comparisons. We are honored.