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The Sons of Distortion

by Mike Starling

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1.
All dressed up with no place to go Like a hundred-dollar bill layin' out in the snow Just a thin line between here and insane What can I say I got used to the pain Fits right in Spent my last cash, didn't have a dime Now I'm flat broke, it happens all the time Wheels came off my wagon some time back Drinkin' my belongings from a paper sack Fits right in A fool and his money are soon departed Just like love my checkbook's retarded Show me a girl who's so good-hearted I'll show you a mine that remains uncharted Fits right in Words and music ©1988 Mike Starling and Jim Peterson Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
2.
Like a lightning bolt crashing out of the sky, One day you arrived to ignite my life Like a little tree on a stormy day One good rain washed you away What are you waiting for? A little apprehension I can understand A bit of hesitation, yeah, we all got that Saving for the future, for a rainy day Now that's a bone of contention Cuz time's slipping away What are you waiting for? Like your favorite jeans all ripped and worn Like that great job you can't stand no more Like a stale routine making you a slug Get off your ass, yank the plug What are you waiting for? Words and music ©1998 by Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
3.
Anonymous 03:34
Walkin' down the street now, nobody knows my name Nobody's got my number, nobody plays my game I'm anonymous Walk down the beautiful sidewalks in this fairy tale land Watchin' the beautiful people walkin' hand in hand Laughin' and smilin' like everything is alright They don't feel the pain of a thousand lonely nights Of the anonymous Does anybody call you? Does anybody ask you to come and play? Does anybody care if you come around Or if you just go away Like you were just anonymous Walkin' down the street now and it's a goddamn shame Ain't nobody to talk to, ain't nobody to blame I'm just anonymous Words and music ©1999 Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
4.
Met a girl from Texas Said she was an actress Hung out at all-ages bars Talked to guys who play guitars Little Sally Mason Of the Pepsi Generation Thinking bout that movie star Drinking water at the bar Crazy little fingers wrap around the trigger Crazy little fingers Climbing up that maple tree Out in my backyard Getting up was easy Coming down was hard Muggers on the corner Potholes in the street Magnets in my autocar Poison in my sheets. Crazy little fingers wrap around the trigger Crazy little fingers I got a good friend baby We have a real good time We don't have no secrets Well just a few sometimes We won't live forever No matter what we do But we might stay together I think that would be cool Crazy little fingers wrap around the trigger Crazy little fingers Crazy Words and music ©1991 by Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
5.
Insomnia 03:26
Up all night, up all day, I can't sleep a wink Take all kinds of sleeping pills but they don't even make me blink Eyes all red, legs feel dead, weird thoughts runnin' 'round my head I'm about to lose it, God I need some sleep Insomnia Men of science, men of skill, men of schooling Working long into the night in laboratories Studying the lower primates, depriving them of sleep Turn them into crazy, raving, psycho chimpanzees Insomnia R.E.M. that's what I need, peaceful restful sleep All I get is delirium tremens, the DTs Can't sleep when I want to When I want to, I can't sleep Now my dreams won't go away They're with me throughout the day Insomnia Words and music © Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
6.
Milky Way 03:51
Comet Kahoutek looked like a firefly It was just a no-show in the summer sky Radio transmissions bouncin’ off the dishes Quasars and shootin’ stars, flags and secret missions Livin’ in the Milky Way Just a little point of light in the big black sea of space. Livin’ in the Milky Way Carl Sagan is on the tube tonight He’s got a billion bucks tucked away out of sight Nuclear winter and constellations, sister Refractor telescope, hey, try this black hole on for size Livin’ in the Milky Way Just a little point of light in the big black sea of space. Livin’ in the Milky Way Climate air-conditioned, we’re such good magicians Concrete and steel and oil, you can hardly see the sky Miles and miles of pavement so we can go where we went Runnin’ in circles and we’re runnin’ out of time Livin’ in the Milky Way Just a little point of light in the big black sea of space. Livin’ in the Milky Way Words and music ©1991 Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
7.
Experience 03:00
Experience is what you get When you don't get what you want Experience is all I get from you But experience, that ain't what I want Oh I keep searchin' Lookin' for a girl like you With all the nice parts and none of the bad Keep searchin' but I still don't have a clue Experience is what they want But not too much or you're sunk Experience is what they wanna use Without it you're out of luck Oh I keep searchin' Lookin' for a girl like you With all the nice parts and none of the bad Keep searchin' but I still don't have a clue Experience is what you get, you get When you don't get what you want Experience is all I get from you Now you'll experience that I'm gone Oh I keep searchin' Lookin' for a girl like you With all the nice parts and none of the bad Keep searchin' but I still don't have a clue Words and music ©1996 Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
8.
Coffee's drippin' in the kitchen Vicki's puttin' on her makeup in the living room And here I am Livin' on the lam again Just another day Only one front door key So they leave one in the hallway just for me Yeah, here I am Stayin' with friends again Just another day Dishes are pilin' up Gonna get to them by Sunday Procrastinate Pocrastinate again Just another day Words and music ©1986 Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
9.
Arkansas 03:51
C'mon Patty, you gotta help me load this truck Nickel on the sidewalk says that I'm in luck Don't tell anybody, we might not make it out I'm so sick of everything, I'm leavin' without a doubt Down to Arkansas Got a loan from Grandma to get on down the road Got all my guitars, it ain't too much of a load I cut my hair, I don't care, as long as I got a job Crash out in a trailer, but I won't be too long Down in Arkansas C'mon Patty, you gotta help me load this truck Quarter on the sidewalk says that I'm in luck Don't tell anybody, we might not make it out I'm so sick of everything, I'm leavin' without a doubt Down to Arkansas Words and musc ©1989 Mike Starling and Jim Peterson Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​
10.
Drum machine and a Casio In the basement studio Drum machine and a Casio It’s out of control We’re the last generation of rock ’n’ roll I used to read the Rolling Stone Now it’s just turned into Vogue For the yuppies and the Deadhead clones Used to read the Rolling Stone It didn’t die before it got old We’re the last generation of rock ’n’ roll I don’t listen to the radio I’m gonna make a video So forget about the radio It didn’t die before it got old We’re the last generation of rock ’n’ roll. Words and music ©1992 Mike Starling Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI)​

about

Songwriter Mike Starling kicked off the new millennium with a smokin' new band featuring long-time collaborator Casey Virock on guitar, plus Mike von Muchow on bass and Kevin Skrenes on drums.

From the contagious opening hook of the funky rocker "Fits Right In" to the final flurry of feedback on the tongue-in-cheek anthem "Last Generation of Rock & Roll," the band pumped out a potent blast of high-octane post-modern garage rock that still sounds fresh and vital today.

"Mike had just opened his new studio and was looking for a project he could really sink his teeth into as a producer," Starling says. "I really love the direction that he and Casey and Kevin took with the songs. Definitely one of my hardest rocking records and there's a lot of cool ear candy in there too."

Long out of print, the Sons of Distortion album has been restored and streamlined for digital release to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its world premiere at Professor Bob Allen's Album Encounters laser light show at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Planetarium in 2002.

credits

released December 21, 2022

Mike Starling: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Casey Virock: electric guitars, vocals
Mike von Muchow: bass, guitars, vocals
Kevin Skrenes: drums, vocals

All songs written by Mike Starling except "Fits Right In" and "Arkansas" by Starling and Jim Peterson

Published by Bean Hoy Music (BMI) ​

Song arrangements by the band

Produced and mixed by Michael von Muchow at Actual Sound Studio, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA

Assistant engineers: Gene Purcell, Brent Brown, Emily Nelson

Mastered by Tom Tucker, Jr. at Mastermix, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Album cover illustration by Chris Gall

Sound recording ©2002 Mike Starling
mikestarling.com

If you like this, check out the ultracool music by Casey Virock at
porcupineband.bandcamp.com

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Mike Starling Wisconsin

Roots-funk grooves for a post-rock planet

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