1. |
I Knew Your Name
03:56
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I knew you once before, but I don’t know you anymore. Have the years taken hold and the stories all been told? Is this what it’s for - forgetting friends? I knew your name, I saw your face a hundred times a day, but now I can’t retrieve those… Memories, stay with me, a long pale hallway and the smell of a staircase. When I see you on the town, will you know me? Will you know me in unexpected places with unexpected pounds and kids in tow? We’re on the go! Life is so much more… This is what it’s for: for getting friends.
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2. |
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Between tonight and the next I’ll survey the skies for the context of our empires and temples collapsed, of our compass and misprinted maps. Society pirouettes on command by some dark hand in the heart of man, and as from the glass he walks away mankind forgets his face. We’re fading away, a people tattered and frayed. We’re fading away as the tower moves out of range. With every tune it’s apparent to me that our soundtrack is in a minor key. Is it to do with the candid vacancy of our soul’s subtle mutiny?
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3. |
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Look me in the eyes when you say to me, “I want to be far away.” Your heart betrays the coldness in your voice when it cracks. Your bathroom mirror has heard these words before. Despite rehearsal it still holds true: breaking up is hard to do. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips, drew a circle on my cheek with her fingertip. She’s still waiting for me to make my move. Was it all over for us in the first inning? Is there providence in this premature ending?
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4. |
A.M.
03:26
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Between the metro and the office lie five blocks of token metropolis street. Every day at 7:14AM the man framed in the newsstand says “Hello!” to me. Still the beast gives chase from my apartment. With the masses on the transit, I’m alone. I bought his smile with two editions of The Times… now I can’t get it off my mind. The hounds are lank and lean. There’s anger in their bright-eyed stare, conditioned well to take any intruder in my space and those who fly over closed military air. Bloody heels run from the beast behind. The miles close quick with anticipation. I bought his smile with two editions of The Times… now I can’t get it off my mind. The A.M. was hard today.
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5. |
The Honest Truth
04:10
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When this came down he didn’t know, didn’t know what it was all about. Nobody would say what everyone knew. Why does this always seem to happen to you? Check, check - something’s just not coming through. Won’t you do that boy a favor? (Won’t you tell him?) Won’t you do that boy a favor? (The honest truth?) Oh, so sad - a heart that thinks it has what it doesn’t have.
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6. |
Curse the Weatherman
04:42
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A nation of dandelions abides in my yard. I’m watching the approaching storm and listening to the passing cars. My roots run deep, like my little twisted tree. Still, I’m moved by the wind and what the drivers think of me. The local outcasts are the heat and humidity. The rain is our relief, but when it comes we run like we’ve seen the enemy. How long will we continue to watch the forecast and curse the weatherman? As the clouds gather, run inside to remain unchanged and dry? No more. No more will I run when the rains come. No more.
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7. |
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Yesterday we traded old wounds for fresh earth. In between we sold our days for something much less their worth. December will have to serve as our sufficient goodbye. Still your words, they have me thinking... your heart, long before you, died. You’ve three postmortem miracles and a place in the parade of saints. There’s suture in your funeral and closure in Saint Peter’s gates. When the men grow faint from battle retreat is as sweet as peace. My mind is tired of fighting and silence sets my heart at ease. We both knew forgiveness our circumstance would change; but this reticent resolution is welcomed anyway. Our hands are down, you look fine in your wedding gown. Our hands are down, it’s all over now.
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8. |
I Want You Now
03:31
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My baby told me, told me to call her when I knew what I wanted. “Ring, ring” my baby! I’m calling ‘cause I know, know what I’m wanting… baby I want you, I want you now. Nothing in this world can satisfy, no nothing is so sweet. Your words, they’re ringing in my ears and I see you when I close my eyes to sleep. I know you’ve heard this before - I don’t know what I’d do without you. Please don’t go out that door… baby I want you, I want you now.
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9. |
There Was This One Time
00:47
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10. |
We Did Not Dance
03:06
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Your eyes were closed, feet on the dashboard. I was driving, driving that car headed west to where we did not know. No, we did not know, did not know what to expect. We struck out in the middle of the night on a journey we have never left, never left. All that I knew was I could not let you fall in that hole in the ground. No, I could not lose such a wonderful you, this treasure that I found. No, we did not dance, but my heart turned around for days on end. I did not think that I could find a way to love you more, but I did, oh I did.
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11. |
Phillips Variety Store
03:54
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“I don’t suppose kids are wearing these anymore. Everything we carry is a size too small or a little more.” The local midday gospel show was droning on with its dreariness on the radio (“Just a closer walk, just a closer walk…”) She had a cousin never left thirty miles of her house, and I wonder how much time this lady spends behind these doors. Beneath the dust there’s a melodrama here. You can find all you need and more at Phillips Variety Store. “Papa didn’t say much when times got tough.” The bullet they bit bit him back… and that’s that. Arson or devilment, the cream of the stock goes to the town stores. “Their uppercut is our undercut.” I can smell the smoke again. This life is a major production, it’s a tale told by the heart. We miss our cues, we miss our lines and sometimes we mistake major roles for bit parts.
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Best Cassette Moultrie, Georgia
Eric Foster-Whiddon likes to write music. He records and performs his original tunes under the project name Best Cassette with the help of Brandt Sims and various other friends.
Best Cassette recommends:
Great instrumentation, super creative.
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BLUE CHIP BLUE
by Bill Mallonee
A songwriter among songwriters. Americana before Americana was cool.
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Right-Left Confusion
by The Simulation
Drummer and recording engineer for Best Cassette.
go to albumIf you like Best Cassette, you may also like:
Introspective pop songs with transcendent melodies offer a joyful meditation on staying present in a world that often moves too fast.
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Celtic-inspired instrumentation, delicate harmonies, and reflective lyrics abound on the sisterly indie-folk duo's debut album.
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Here in the Pitch
by Jessica Pratt
On her fourth album, Jessica Pratt blends up 60s pop and bossa nova into a spooky mix of soft psychedelia.
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