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A Rhythm In The Cages (2009)

by The Taxpayers

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K.R.K.
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K.R.K. One of the more sprawling and eclectic albums in the Taxpayers catalogue, A Rhythm In The Cages isn't as airtight as some of its siblings, but it is absolutely bursting with incredible songs. Punk, blues, folk, noise, and unclassifiable weirdness abound. "Militaristic Kitchen," "Dig Too Deep," "Cuyahoga Canal," and "Stealing Apples From The Man" are all eccentric, hooky classics that will live in your head for days. There's really something for everyone here. Favorite track: Militaristic Kitchen.
heyziffer
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heyziffer Another Taxpayers album you can listen to from start to finish. Montana cracks me up every time. Favorite track: Montana.
Perry Willig
Perry Willig thumbnail
Perry Willig So much to enjoy in this album. New take on Punk sounds that will make you want to punch something, lyrics that are great for life reflection, and jams to play around a campfire. Favorite track: Stealing Apples From The Man.
Mike Janson
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Mike Janson Every track on this album is solid. I've been listening to this for months and still haven't gotten tired of it. stoked to have finally bought it!!
xrenxcorex
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xrenxcorex Not as good as the one that came after it. Needs another go.
Jason Litherland
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Jason Litherland I hear these guys eat shampoo
more...
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1.
In Dubrovnik, in a building, on an antique floor. With the cutting edge of glass against the skin at the throat. From the basement to the attic, running back and forth. In the middle of a room through the ice and the storm. We took the dope that we had, packed up as much as we could, threw a rock through the solitary window in the room. Took the clothes on our bodies down to the open bag of trash, laying to rest every goddamn good thing we had ever had. From the door, to the stairway, to the street, through a gathering storm; Never getting warm. In Dubrovnik, at a pawn shop, an exchange for more. In the mail at the building an arraignment for court. From the shelter to the elements, running back and forth. From the shelter to the elements, right back to the store. We took the cash that we had, packed up as much as we could, took the trash with the clothes to the backpacks and the goods. Stuck a plug in the basin, possessions intact, started the faucet, the sink overflowing the edge. From the door, to the stairway, to the street, through a gathering storm; Never getting warm.
2.
White Walls 01:47
White walls! Bad setting! Black paint! Big holes! This company is totally fucking bankrupt. The lights stick in the folds. The rats that live in the basement have multiplied and spread by the score. This business is failing in lateral folds; productivity must rise! More units must be sold! You get an elemental wasteland for the price of living in the heartland. White walls! Bad Setting! Black paint! Big holes! This is a difficult way to live.
3.
Epilogue: A sound off from simple people with simple theories. Fucking up, but articulate, with a feeble grasp of arithmetic. Fueled by false determination, and the final breath of a declining nation. Where do you think that the remedy is? And why do you think it even exists? This building is falling down. Paradox: A nodding off from imploding circles with no direction. Take a look in the fucking mirror, and ask yourself who the enemy is. Last call at the gas pump. Last call at the water pump. Who do you think are your fucking friends? Who do you think are your fucking friends?
4.
Dig Too Deep 01:14
Dig too deep, get hot, hot hell, get devils inside your body. Climb too high, get wet, wet wings, get heaven inside your throat. And when the city starts to shatter. When the military comes. When the soldiers from their bases do arrive: we're going to feel the earth shake. Do you have any more money? Do you have any more food? Do you even have a roof over your head? Looks as though the end is coming soon.
5.
I have been making presentations for a final escalation, I have been praying to the god of giving up. She says, “Lock the door behind you now, before the criminals/cops break in your house”. Oh, I have looked so hard for a place where I could die. But the winners up there of high-end living won't allow the broken insane to arise. So fuck this city. Fuck this job. They break you down before you even reach the top. In a god-fearing land, there ain't no lodging for the mad; you can't get high enough to breathe before you drown. I'm gonna go back to that factory, where they make moving parts that will take you very far away. In the flash of a pack of matches, I will be gone.
6.
Needle's Eye 03:46
I want your sincerity, you know. I want a song that will dig into my bones. I want a place to live where I can raise my kids, settle down with you and call it a home. I want a town as big as New York, where the masses and the buildings are born. I want an anonymous place where nobody knows my name; if that were possible, I wouldn't need much anymore. I want a bar where I can drink until my face turns numb. Gimme a bottle of wine so I can kill some time; I don't gotta prove anything to anyone. When I get back to the house, a binding webbing forms. Dream of hell-bound barking dogs, and then walk back out the door. If I get this far when I grow old, I won't want for any fortune of gold. I want the markings, instead, of a life well-lead, and the force of a body turning cold. A lover's eye does define a life that is good and true. Many a times I've been chilled to the spine because I wanted you.
7.
This is a militaristic kitchen, this is a pluralistic sideshow. Get off the hesitation, get off the fucking sidewalk, I love you. No borders, no boundaries, no authorities, no leaders, I love you. This is a militaristic kitchen, this is a pluralistic sideshow. This is a militaristic kitchen, this is a terrifying freakshow. Get off the hesitation, get off the fucking sidewalk, I love you. No preachers, no greed, no misconceptions, no losers, I love you. This is a militaristic kitchen, this is the most compelling freakshow. This is a militaristic kitchen, this is just the beginning now. Get off the hesitation, get off the fucking sidewalk, I love you. Watch your back! Watch history! Watch everything and act! This is a militaristic kitchen, this is only the beginning.
8.
When you commit unforgivable crimes, there is a house in which to hide. At this house, there are guns inside. If you begin to starve, I will feed you well. If you cannot read, I will gladly help. If you need some sleep, you can rest a spell. But there's no swimming in the old canal, in those polluted waters where the best of men drown; there's no swimming in the Cuyahoga Canal. If you build a boat, you can sail up north. You may find freedom past the Canadian border. But your presence here is unwelcome, in the name of law and order.
9.
Setting: Bellingham. Action: Stealing apples from the man. Characters: Dianne and three young dudes in a travelin' band! Went to their land; sabotage was the plan for 30 proof hooch in Pi Pagoda's van! Setting: City Hall. Action: Getting handcuffed by the cops. Plot Devices: Bike locks and tons of people tossing molotovs and rocks. Went to their land; sabotage was the plan. Financed by the state, laughing while running away.
10.
Bike Cops 01:49
You got caught up in U-locks, played chicken with bike cops, danced badly with employees at hotel picket lines. Stole copies from Kinko's, spray painted the windows, and slept on the floor for a year. Then they got you on charges of assaulting an officer, interfering with a “protector of the peace”, disorderly conduct, harassment, and trespassing; we panicked, and now you're locked in a jail cell alone. But don't ever get lonely. You've got friends in most places.
11.
Montana 03:17
Does it even matter?
12.
Where have you run? Are the walls still on your mind? Where could you possibly go, expecting to find something? Do you realize you are bound to hit the floor? Do you realize that the walls you make and the places you stay will get beaten by the wind and erode? The ones in danger who are down on their luck get picked up at the crossroads in a pickup truck. The driver, concealed, speaks real slow, He says, “There is trouble at the end of this road...”

about

"A Rhythm in the Cages"
by The Taxpayers (2009)

Hello, and welcome to our album. To say that the significance of new creative output seems diminished, or even unimportant, in recent years, is an understatement. We've personally never been of the belief that art holds more weight than simple actions and events. To say, however, that individual or collective expression is an indulgent relic from simpler times, is unfair. In fact, I believe that today, things like new books, records, paintings, and other such inventions are that much more significant due to the urgency of the times.

The songs found herein were created out of the half frustration/half joy of “stuckness”. The situations which are inescapable. There is not always an easy escape route in life, and sometimes you've gotta figure out how to live gracefully under pressure until an exit sign emerges. In some cases there is no exit. Either way, it's important to keep the lights on and not let the sheer overwhelming nature of it all do you in.

It's difficult, but possible, to be stronger than everything that gets thrown at you. In the meantime, keep looking out for one another and stay well.

Seeing you Soon,
The Taxpayers

credits

released December 31, 2009

A number of our friends helped with other instruments on this record. Joe Kashishian played guitar and sang on “This Building is Falling Down” and “There is Trouble”. Alex Bekuhrs played saxophone on “Dig too Deep”. Adrienne Hatkin of Autopilot is for Lovers played piano on “No Lodging for the Mad” and sang on “There is Trouble”. The following singers and shouters sang on “Bike Cops” and “Montana”: Jay Awesome, Jawn McPhillips, Crimetrain, Ceightie MacTatters, Big Al, Sam John, Nina, Danielle Steal, Zach Archer, and Shelby Dorneden. Guitar Zack Fischman played the piano intro to “Dig too Deep” and the harmonica on “Montana”.

This album was recorded and mixed by our friend Michael Love of Raised by Television in 2008.

The beautiful front cover album art was created by Alicia Moreland with great care. Layout and Design work was done by Noah Phillips.

All the songs, music, lyrics, and artwork associated with The Taxpayers are copyrighted under the Creative Commons license. This means you can feel free to do what you want with it (cover it, reproduce the artwork for fliers, etc), as long as it's non-commercially (we're looking at you Navy advertisements and Gap commercials).

Thanks to everyone. For everything. For reals.

Nate Taxpayer - bass
Noah Taxpayer - percussion
Rob Taxpayer - rhythm guitars, harmonica, vocals

license

Some rights reserved. Please refer to individual track pages for license info.

tags

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