the hair the tv the baby & the band

The band is back with their trademark infectious hooks and impeccable pop sensibilities on this, their first record in five years. From the B-52’s party vibe of “Shim Sham” and “Sweet Potato” to the more reflective cool of “Room With A View” and “What You Do” to the full on romp of “Everything” and “One Two” to the seductive vamp of “Fallen Idol”, every song is pitch perfect.

EVERYTHING

Pump my heart until
Bleeding heart be still
Gag my mouth and sing
I love everything

Everything that’s beautiful
Everything that’s horrible
Everything consistent
And everything rhetorical

Everything dramatic
Everything that’s tragedy
Everything triumphant
And everything that’s sad to me

Everything important and
Everything priority
Everything fantastic
And everything that’s bored to me

All of what has happened
And all of what has yet to be
All that I’ve forgotten
And all of what’s been said to me

Pump my heart until
Bleeding heart be still
Gag my mouth and sing
I love everything

Everything malicious
And everything democracy
Everything judicious
And everything hypocrisy

Everything prolific
And all things categorical
Everything that’s current
And everything historical

Pump my heart until
Bleeding heart be still
Gag my mouth and sing
I love everything
Coming into frame
Another point of view
Too much to retain
A polaroid of you

No need to entertain
The kneelers in the pew
But please can you refrain
From kneeling with them too

Everything poetic
And everything that’s practical
Everything sadistic
And everything fantastical

Everything outrageous
And everything subliminal
Everything courageous
And everything that’s criminal

Everything I think about
Everything I dream about
Everything that’s quiet
And everything I scream about

Everything that’s glamorous
Everything that’s hideous
Everything that’s obvious
Everything insidious

Pump my heart until
Bleeding heart be still
Gag my mouth and sing
I love everything

Gag my mouth and sing
I love everything
Gag my mouth and sing
I love everything

DO IT BETTER

I’ve got a watch that’s made of gold
But I think it’s getting old

And it makes me think of you
Afraid that what you say is true

It’s old

I think you like to disagree
Like a raven in the sea

And I want to show you how
But I don’t know if I’m allowed

To see

I didn’t know you do it too
Now it’s time to show me how

You do it better
How
You do it better
How
You do it better

I like the way you dress
I like the way you kiss

I like the way you say goodbye
I like the way you laugh
If there’s another half
I like the way you make me cry

Made a fortune now it’s gone
I held onto it too long

We’re not keeping track of time
Because we’re always in our prime
I didn’t know you do it too
And now it’s time to show me how

You do it better
How
You do it better
How
You do it better
I like it when you scream
I like the things you dream
I like it when you hit me too

I like the things you say
I like the way you play
And I am here because of you

SHIM SHAM

We had a party at the shim sham club
Youth in motion doubled up the buzz
Back and forth and back and in between
We sang and danced the band was rock-a-teen

Delinquent girls we stayed up all night
Spray painting walls under suburban lights
Then and now seems like a different scene
We lived to live, whatever’s meant to be

Driving to and from a favorite city
Sharing stories of celebrity
A break in time left irresistible space
Filled in by punk rock and a storefront face

We had a party at the shim sham club
Youth in motion doubled up the buzz
Then and now seems like a different scene
Still live to live whatever’s meant to be

Hung out on staircases in dirty places
Looking for the next of many faces
On the path less taken we were meeting
Making friends for life in memory’s keeping

THE HAIR THE TV THE BABY & THE BAND

Dirty faces, packed suitcases
Run for planes with untied laces

In a hailstorm, setting sail for
Places we fight tooth and nail for

The bets are placed, the odds are thin
The gun’s been shot, the race begins

The wheels will turn
The top will spin
For me for she for her for him

Wake on the shores of a distant land
The hair the tv the baby and the band
Sunburned back with my face in the sand
The hair the tv the baby and the band

Winning races, stealing bases
Back to back, still dirty faces

Sketch the traces, tie the laces
Dot to dot to different places

The finish line is once again
Crossed without adrenalin

The wheels will turn
The top will spin
For me for she for her for him

Wake on the shores of a distant land
The hair the tv the baby and the band
Sunburned backs with my face in the sand
The hair the tv the baby and the band
Eight hands pound on the concert grand
The hair the tv the baby and the band
We’ll dance on the stage or we sit in the stands
The hair the tv the baby and the band

The wheels will turn
The top will spin
For me for she for her for him

Eight hands pound on the concert grand
The hair the tv the baby and the band
We’ll dance on the stage or we sit in the stands
The hair the tv the baby and the band
Glass worn thin from the grains of sand
The hair the tv the baby and the band
Fresh fruit’s best when it’s ripe then canned
The hair the tv the baby and the band

ONE TWO

Ooo gotta do it

Ooo get back to it

Ooo gotta have it

Ooo like a habit

And I can almost see the light
Whatever gets you through the night
When all the color turns to white
I think it’s time to reunite

Ooo gotta do it
Ooo get back to it
Ooo let’s get through it
Ooo let’s intuit

Rummaging the lost and found
While she is getting ultrasound
Measuring it by the pound
I haven’t finished sleeping around

A how-to-do kit
We’ll show you how to do it
A baby bonnet
It’s too hot hot

Still have to prove it
If you want to wear it
The baby blanket
Will make it hot hot

Let’s sign the letter of consent
We’ll write our names in wet cement
Taking back the things we meant
The weight is off the money’s spent

Can I get back to you
But don’t let me get too far
Wake up in the sleeping car
See me in the rear view

Ooo gotta do it

Ooo get back to it

Ooo gotta have it

Ooo like a habit

Ooo gotta do it
Ooo get back to it
Ooo let’s get through it
Ooo let’s intuit

ROOM WITH A VIEW

We are working so hard
And we’re betting the farm
Charge it all to the card
Seventh time is a charm

And the neighbors are asking,
Can you please turn it down?

Nothing left to defend
Going under the knife
Do our best to pretend
We’ll be 20 for life

And I’m on my way over
Stuck in traffic again

And all, all we have left is a room
I didn’t mean to assume
We got the room with a view

End all.  Nothing is bringing us down
Salt to the freeze on the ground
A family drama in sound

And you’ll get your water and your beer
We dress alike but not too queer
I am always on my way up when
You’re on your way down

All the casting is done
And we’re playing our parts
We just do it for fun
Have to wring out our hearts

I know that you’ll always be here
As long as I don’t say when
Feeling misunderstood
Try to make a reversal
And it’s never as good
As it was in rehearsal

Used to stop at the red light
And now we go to the gym

And all, all we have left is a room
I didn’t mean to assume
We got the room with a view

End all.  Nothing is bringing us down
Salt to the freeze on the ground
A family drama in sound

Can you turn it up but not too loud
We love the fuss but don’t like crowds

I forgot the pause at the end
Can we try it again?

And now we have to book the rental car
We no longer smash guitars

Seems you’re always on your way out
When I’m on my way in

And all, all we have left is a room
I didn’t mean to assume
We got the room with a view

End all.  Nothing is bringing us down
Salt to the freeze on the ground
A family drama in sound

IT’S NOW

Why do I get the feeling it’s time to go?
You got mirrors on the ceiling
You’re serving Darjeeling in your art nouveau

Seems so logical to me
Finger the bowl of potpourri

The levolors are closed admiring
The fake Van Gogh

It’s now
It’s now
It’s now
It’s now

Back

Turn off the answering machine unzipping
My jeans get low
The doorbell rings like the way that it stings
And it stops the flow
Seems so logical to me
I saw it on the BBC

But still I can’t seem to pick myself up and go

It’s now it’s now
It’s now it’s now
Right now right now
Right now

Back

It’s now it’s now
Say when say when
Pretend again

It’s ripping at the seams
The ripping makes me scream
It’s something so unbearable
I have to make a scene

It’s now
It’s now
It’s now
It’s now

Right now
Right now

Why do I get the feeling it’s time go
It seems so logical to me
Finger the bowl of potpourri
But still I can’t seem to pick myself up and go

FALLEN IDOL

Bags are getting heavy
And I think I’ve lost the invitation

Pullin up beside me
In your new two-seater
Feelin kinda icy
Can I crank the heater

Bird is on the wire
And he’s lookin for some motivation

Wearin my best
Hide the scarlet letter
Wasn’t that my number
In the paper shredder

My tongue is tied
Since I’ve become a fallen idol
Access denied and now it’s just
A vicious cycle with you
I’m back in town and you’re wearing
The crown like Michael
Chips are down and now it’s just
A vicious cycle with you

I got no signal
Cause I’m in an undisclosed location

Wearin a hood like the Unabomber
They misunderstood
And now they think I’m Dahmer

Happy that you’re here
Leave the keys on the kitchen table

Sorry had to run
You weren’t on my rider
Burned another bridge
Call the firefighters

My tongue is tied
Since I’ve become a fallen idol
Access denied and now it’s just
A vicious cycle with you
I’m back in town and you’re wearing
The crown like Michael
Chips are down and now it’s just
A vicious cycle with you

You know as much as I know
Since I’ve gone solo
We’ve hit a new low

And somewhere
Over the rainbow
A kiss I will blow

I’m in the front row

My tongue is tied
Since I’ve become a fallen idol
Access denied and now it’s just
A vicious cycle with you
I’m back in town and you’re wearing
The crown like Michael
Chips are down and now it’s just
A vicious cycle with you

SWEET POTATO

She was singing so off key
And wearing baby blue

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

Then they put her in the bottom
Three for singing tea for two

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

She’s talkin hootchie kootchie
And she’s got em in the palm of her hand

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

Got a backstage pass but
She doesn’t wanna meet the band

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go
Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go
Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go
Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go
Finger-lickin gum-smackin sass-talkin
You know what

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

Got a lop-sided broken-heeled
Stumble-down sort of a strut

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

Hair-hoppin flip-floppin candy’s
Kickin up the dust

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

The carpool lane is open but
She’s takin the bus

Sweet potato ooh sweet potato

Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go
Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go
Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go
Anyone anywhere anyway
Let’s go

EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW

Everyone wants to know
How it goes
Everyone down below
Now they know

Holding on for life
Water clouds their eyes
When will help arrive?
Holding on for life

Everyone wants to know
How it goes
Try to control the flow
Undertow

Holding on for life
Water turns to ice
Never say goodbye
Holding on for life

I don’t know how much longer
I can stay here

I think we’re in the eye of the storm

21ST CENTURY

The way you’re looking at me
Don’t want to get too sentimental
Celebrate the athlete
Don’t open confidential

Used to be more art school
Now I’m speaking with an accent
Picking from a new pool
Are we in the past or present?

Countdown
Countdown
Countdown
To the 21st century

Countdown
Countdown
Countdown
Get them off of me

Too concerned with skincare
Never know what’s fact or fable
There’s always something out there
Now we act like Cain and Abel

Entertaining downstairs
Chain smoking on the davenport
Have you seen the dishware?
Throw the towels in and watch the

Countdown
Countdown
Countdown
To the 21st century

Countdown
Countdown
Countdown
Get them off of me

It’s armageddon
It’s armageddon
Burning the bed in
Sinatra Previn

It’s armageddon
It’s armageddon

Seven eleven

Met me in heaven

Fever has set in
Fever has set in
Open the portal
Why don’t you get in

Fever has set in
Fever has set in
Bread that’s unleavened
Healing the bedouin

WHAT YOU DO

Safety nets and parachutes
Strip the flavor from the fruit
Do what you do

Broken glass and razor blades
Just enhance the plans we’ve made
Do what you do

It’s a long way down
Feel the sound
It’s a long way down
With you

Compass and a highway map
Arm sore from the seatbelt strap
Do what you do

Sundial and a shadow clock
Doorbell underscored by knocks
Do what you do

It’s a long way down
Feel the sound
It’s a long way down
Feel the sound
It’s a long way down
With you