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Blaque Monday

by Steve BLaque

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    A 12 page deluxe CD booklet accompanies the album. The liner notes are a one-sided blow by blow excerpt from a Skype conversation I was carrying on with my producer during the final days of mastering and reflect where my head was at for each of these tracks. If you understand any of it seek prompt medical assistance. There's also a bunch of photographs that may contain images of myself and or instruments used during the recording - I can't be certain, but they reflect the way I see the world. Again, these carry the usual medical warnings.
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  • Full Digital Discography

    24
    releases

    Get all 24 Steve Blaque & The Raven releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Concreter, Cold, Open the Bombay Doors Hal, Cortez the Killer, Tyson's Tokyo Torment, Love in Vain, Crush, Million$View, and 16 more. , and , .

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1.
Kalafo'nikayshun 06:17
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"Californication" Psychic spies from China Try to steal your mind's elation Little girls from Sweden Dream of silver screen quotations And if you want these kind of dreams It's Californication It's the edge of the world And all of western civilization The sun may rise in the East At least it settles in the final location It's understood that Hollywood Sells Californication Pay your surgeon very well To break the spell of aging Celebrity skin is this your chin Or is that war your waging [Chorus:] First born unicorn Hard core soft porn Dream of Californication Dream of Californication Marry me girl be my fairy to the world Be my very own constellation A teenage bride with a baby inside Getting high on information And buy me a star on the boulevard It's Californication Space may be the final frontier But it's made in a Hollywood basement Cobain can you hear the spheres Singing songs off station to station And Alderon's not far away It's Californication Born and raised by those who praise Control of population everybody's been there and I don't mean on vacation [Chorus:] First born unicorn Hard core soft porn Dream of Californication Dream of Californication Dream of Californication Dream of Californication Destruction leads to a very rough road But it also breeds creation And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar They're just another good vibration And tidal waves couldn't save the world From Californication Pay your surgeon very well To break the spell of aging Sicker than the rest There is no test But this is what you're craving [Chorus:] First born unicorn Hard core soft porn Dream of Californication Dream of Californication Dream of Californication Dream of Californication
2.
Bebopalula 03:37
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Be Bop a Lula Gene Vincent Well be-bop-a-lula she's my baby, Be-bop-a-lula I don't mean maybe. Be-bop-a-lula she's my baby Be-bop-a-lula I don't mean maybe Be-bop-a-lula she's my baby doll, My baby doll, my baby doll Well she's the girl in the red blue jeans. She's the queen of all the teens. She's the one that I know She's the one that loves me so. Say be-bop-a-lula she's my baby, Be-bop-a-lula I don't mean maybe. Be-bop-a-lula she's my baby doll My baby doll, my baby doll Let's rock! Well now she's the one that's got that beat. She's the one with the flyin' feet. She's the one that walks around the store. She's the one that gets more more more. Be-bop-a-lula she's my baby, Be-bop-a-lula I don't mean maybe. Be-bop-a-lula she's my baby doll My baby doll, my baby doll Let's rock
3.
Far From Any Road 03:29
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"Far From Any Road" From the dusty May sun, her looming shadow grows Hidden in the branches of the poison creosote She twines her spines up slowly towards the boiling sun And when I touched her skin, my fingers ran with blood In the hushing dusk, under a swollen silver moon I came walking with the wind to watch the cactus bloom A strange hunger haunted me; the looming shadows danced I fell down to the thorny brush and felt a trembling hand When the last light warms the rocks and the rattlesnakes unfold Mountain cats will come to drag away your bones And rise with me forever across the silent sand And the stars will be your eyes and the wind will be my hands
4.
Another Way to Die 06:24
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"Another Way To Die" Another ringer with the slick trigger finger For Her Majesty Another one with the golden tongue Poisoning your fantasy Another bill from a killer turned a thriller To a tragedy [Chorus:] Yeah A door left open A woman walking by A drop in the water A look in your eye A phone on the table A man on your side Or someone that you think that you can trust It's just Another way to die Another tricky little gun giving solace to the one That'll never see the sun shine Another inch of your life sacrificed for your brother In the nick of time Another dirty money heaven sent honey Turning on a dime [Chorus] (It's just another) Hey! (It's just another) You're nothing to me die (It's just another) Shoot 'em up bang bang Another girl with her finger on the world Singing to you what you wanna hear Another gun thrown down in surrender Took away your fear Another man there he stands right behind you Looking in the mirror [Chorus] It's just another It's just another It's just another way Shoot 'em up, bang bang Hey Hey It's just another Yeah Yeah It's just another It's just another It's just another It's just another day Bang bang bang bang
5.
Stagger Lee 07:28
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"Stagger Lee" It was back in '32 when times were hard He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards Stagger Lee He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat Had a '28 Ford, had payments on that Stagger Lee His woman threw him out in the ice and snow And told him, "Never ever come back no more" Stagger Lee So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud Till he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood Stagger Lee He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am" The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn" To Stagger Lee He said, "Well bartender, it's plain to see I'm that bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee" Mr. Stagger Lee Barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day" Mr Stagger Lee Well those were the last words that the barkeep said 'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown Was known to make more money than any bitch in town She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt Over to Stagger Lee, she starts to flirt With Stagger Lee She saw the barkeep, said, "O God, he can't be dead!" Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head" She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time. Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime" Mr. Stagger Lee "But there's something I have to say before you begin You'll have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in, Mr. Stagger Lee" "I'll stay here till Billy comes in, till time comes to pass And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass" Said Stagger Lee "I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole" Said Stagger Lee Just then Billy Dilly rolls in and he says, "You must be That bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee" Stagger Lee "Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees And suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead" Said Stagger Lee Billy dropped down and slobbered on his head And Stag filled him full of lead Oh yeah.
6.
Van Nuys 06:58
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"Van Nuys" I don't want to die out here in the valley Waiting for my luck to change And I just want my dad to know That I finally made it... Everybody gets high Everybody gets low Everybody gets bruised Everybody gets sold I don't want to die out here in the valley You don't have to lie, I know that's what I'll do I don't want my mom to know That I never loved my life And I sold my soul Everybody gets high Everybody gets low Everybody gets bruised Everybody gets sold Everybody gets dark Everybody unfolds Everybody gets high Everybody gets so low And everyone's eyes are blue And everyone's mouth is dry And nobody wants to die In Van Nuys Van Nuys Everybody gets high Everybody gets low Everybody gets bruised Everybody gets sold Everybody gets dark Everybody unfolds Everybody gets high Everybody gets so low Well you don't know how to get back to your crawlspace Underneath the dirt and the rust and the waste But the sun sets fast these days. Everyone's eyes are blue And everyone's mouth is dry And nobody wants to die In Van Nuys Van Nuys Everyone's eyes are blue And everyone's mouth is dry And nobody wants to die In Van Nuys Van-- Everyone's eyes are blue And everyone's mouth is dry And nobody wants to die In Van Nuys, oh Everyone's eyes are blue And everyone's mouth is dry And nobody wants to die In Van Nuys Van Nuys
7.
Rider's on the Storm 05:45
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"Riders On The Storm" Riders on the storm Riders on the storm Into this house we're born Into this world we're thrown Like a dog without a bone An actor out on loan Riders on the storm There's a killer on the road His brain is squirmin' like a toad Take a long holiday Let your children play If you give this man a ride Sweet family will die Killer on the road, yeah Girl, you gotta love your man Girl, you gotta love your man Take him by the hand Make him understand The world on you depends Our life will never end Gotta love your man, yeah Riders on the storm Riders on the storm Into this house we're born Into this world we're thrown Like a dog without a bone An actor out on loan. Riders on the storm Riders on the storm Riders on the storm Riders on the storm Riders on the storm Riders on the storm
8.
Steel n' Glass 05:32
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(This is a story about your friend and mine Who is it, who is it, who is it?) There you stand with your L.A. tan And your New York walk and your New York talk You're mother left you when you were small But you're gonna wish you wasn't born at all Steel and glass Steel and glass Steel and glass Steel and glass Your phone don't ring no one answers your call How does it feel to be off the wall Well your mouthpiece squawks as he spreads your lies But you can't pull strings if your hands are tied Well your teeth are clean but your mind is capped You leave your smell like an alley cat Steel and glass Steel and glass Steel and glass Steel and glass there you stand in your toilet sand with your mickey duck and your donald fuck You're daddly left you when you were small you're gonna wish you wasn't born at all Steel and glass Steel and glass Steel and glass Steel and glass
9.
Rock On 06:41
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These are the lyrics I went with "Rock On" Ooh Hey, kid, rock 'n' roll, rock on Ooh, my soul Hey kid, boogie, too, did ya? Hey, shout, summertime blues Jump up and down in my blue suede shoes Hey, kid, rock 'n' roll, rock on And where do we go from here? Which is a way that's clear? Still looking for that blue jean baby queen Prettiest girl I've ever seen See her shake on the movie screen, Jimmy Dean (James Dean) And where do we go from here? Which is the way that's clear? Still looking for that blue jean baby queen Prettiest girl I ever seen See her shake on the movie screen, Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean Rock on Rock on Rock on
10.
My Life is Brilliant 08:16
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"My life is Brilliant" My life is brilliant. My life is brilliant. My love is pure. I saw an angel. Of that I'm sure. She smiled at me on the subway. She was with another man. But I won't lose no sleep on that, 'Cause I've got a plan. You're beautiful. You're beautiful. You're beautiful, it's true. I saw your face in a crowded place, And I don't know what to do, 'Cause I'll never be with you. Yes, she caught my eye, As we walked on by. She could see from my face that I was, so fucking high. And I don't think that I'll see her again, But we shared a moment that will last 'til the end. You're beautiful. You're beautiful. You're beautiful, it's true. I saw your face in a crowded place, And I don't know what to do, 'Cause I'll never be with you.
11.
Thirst 05:52
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"Thirst" When I think of Fates worse than death All I can think of Is something you said You said we were golden Bright like the sun And now I am stranded Knowing I'm not the one An ocean of anger Flowing through me Blood-stained and broken From what I failed to see And just like a snake charmer You led me astray Living in distress Hoping help was on the way In the midst of a storm searching for shelter I came upon one single feather A half-hearted wish for something better Gracefully cursed I thirst Attached to the soil I'm dyed in the wool There's iron in my blood Yet so vulnerable But after I'm gone Once I finally leave You will be left alone To the wolves and the thieves. In the midst of a storm searching for shelter I came upon one single feather A half-hearted wish for something better Gracefully cursed I thirst Gracefully cursed I thirst Gracefully cursed I thirst I thirst
12.
I'm a Man 04:08
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"I'm A Man" Well, my pad is very messy and there's whiskers on my chin And I'm all hung up on music, and I always play to win I ain't got no time for lovin' 'cause my time is all used up Just sittin' 'round creatin' all that groovy kind of stuff Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so Well, if I had my choice of matter I would rather be with cats All engrossed in mental chatter showin' where our minds are at, And relating to each other just how strong our will can be In resisting all involvments with each groovy chick we see Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so I've got to keep my image while suspended on a throne That looks out upon a kingdom filled with people all unknown Who imagine I'm not human and my heart is made of stone they're all dead wrong coz i'm an actor out on loan (my own line) Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so

about

BLaque Monday

All recordings for this collection originated sometime in August of 2015. They were initially done as a reaction to the completion of my album of the same year, My Lair, and initially not intended for anything more than a memory.

By late September it became clear to me that these tracks ''were the sound'' I'd been attempting to capture in my live shows, but that all the usual shit was getting in the way. I'd been making albums in one style but definitely playing in a solo style and enjoying what I was doing. In shows as a solo performer in my style maybe sometimes it's not so easy to get across the sound that's actually in my head. But I was hearing it,(the sound) and hearing it more n' more in the shows I was doing. At times it would come to me in mid performance and from this feeling I wanted to make the album so that I could have it as a memory, sure, but as a memory of the performance of the songs in bars in Beijing. Perhaps also I wanted to give people a chance to hear what's going on inside my head.

So i recorded the songs live, just like I play them: live: straight up and with guitar n' voice goin' down the pipe. All of the songs got overdubs or retakes (only one or two songs received a retake and I think I outline this in the individual track comments), but essentially what is on the album went down in real time using my Burton or Amos guitar (the two cheapest guitars in my collection, but definitely having something that intrigued me) and my ISK BM5000 microphone. I recorded the pieces via a Zoom R8 and then edited inside Ableton Live 9, mainly because I like that software. If there was a need for pitch correction I chose to do that in Cubase, again mainly because I like that software...(hehe). All the songs were recorded at Forbidden City Studio in Beijing.

Along the way I was able to overdub certain parts and took the exercise much the same as I had chosen to do from my albums of 2014 and 2015, whereby I would listen a massive number of times and let the harmonics of each track speak to me. It was an interesting situation being without drums, but one that I found enormously enriching, especially since all my overdubs were achieved without time coding or 'beat mapping', so I had to rely on my own internal clock and marry that to whatever clock was happening at the time I recorded the original tracks.

Credits for the album are in place within individual tracks, but this was definitely a solo album and one that used little musical input from others, Having said that discussions with various people along the way helped me plan a little better or achieve better performance. I think I should point out that the material results from friends who recommend certain songs to me and on this album I feel I'm the beneficiary of this.

Artwork for the album is once again delivered by Plan B's Levan Stanes and the album was produced by Darktrunk Enterprises for 52 North Records and Forbidden City Studios. The album was mastered in December 2015 at Forbidden City Studio, Beijing.

So if you were unable to get to any Steve BLaque shows and maybe you were curious, then this is what you would have got, sans the overdub.

As with my last two albums I believe the work is honest. It's been a ride and a half to get it to this level. I could do more, but I don't want to, I could do better, but then I am who I am. I am particularly proud of the fact that I didn't enslave myself to preconceptions of being modern, or rooted to any kind of commercial format or that I was conscious of an end listener, and nor did i choose to try to be someone who I'm not by trying to write a pop song for 13 year old's. But if younger people dig it... then more power to them i say n' that would be ways cool anyway.

Steve BLaque

credits

released December 26, 2015

There's a lot of people to be thankful for with respect this 'album of covers' (I learned more from covers than any original piece" Paul McCartney): Adopt. Adapt. Improve.

The World Premiere of the album at Yarravalley Radio 91.1 garnered comments like "BLaque Monday will thrill you and chill you. Do yourself a favour and shout yourself the album as a Christmas present." - Greg Carrick; The Bat Cave; YVFM 99.1 and "This is the most spine-chilling Stagger Lee version you will hear".

Thanks again to Plan B for their conceptual design also to Hugh Reed and Steve Cahn, both from Beijing and also from Beijing Chris Newbery and Mei Qi Gao and alongside them Jack Rizzotti and Julian Tavilin for working with me in a very difficult time and helping me build a better working environment at Forbidden City Studio.

There's a girl called Kaladonia Cairnz and she has ridden all the bumps on this album, and I'd say has helped me keep going on it when it might have been easier to walk away.

Artists who had their work covered for this album include the following and Steve BLaque thanks each performer, or band, for songs that have given him a purpose behind living and shitloads of good time listening.

Led Zeppelin, RIchard Thompson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gene Vincent, The Handsome Family, Alicia Keys, Nick Cave and the Badseeds, SixxAM, The Doors, James Blunt, John Lennon, David Essex, City and Color and the Spencer Davis Group

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Steve Blaque & The Raven Beijing, China

Steve Blaque singer, songwriter, Producer and engineer and owner of Darktrunk Recording (formerly Forbidden City Studio Beijing) also performs in an unplugged environment with his favorite flavors of Indie and Grunge. Blaque has always said ''you don't need distortion to be grunge and you don't need twang to be Indie''. ... more

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