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The Catalyst (fdm150)

by Chris Anderson

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1.
Mad Rain 05:41
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MAD RAIN there's a demon on my back he's got a belly full of sunshine sometimes we're losing track in between the aching shadow of the moonlight there's a savior on my sleeve he keeps a-tugging me in vain it's not just that i don't believe i can't see the other side through the mad rain taking my time, shoo it along it pays to be plain shaking the line is kinda fun praise, for the rain for the mad rain there's a shiver in my soul it comes and goes when i'm not thinking sometimes i'm in a hole and other times i don't know where the link is there's a hunger in the darkness around the corners of the truth a mighty thunder or a spark will set us moving to the rhythm of the foolproof praying for naught, lookin' up this light shatters the pain caught up in knots like a long night shade praise, for the rain for the mad rain there's a siren in my bones she sings the gospel of the new wave in a muted dulcet tone all the secrets of the rain are washing away there's a goddess in my mind's eye she pulls the strings when i'm not looking we waltz along the lie and reinvent the fool to look just like the crooked king taking my time, shoo it along it pays to be plain shaking the line is kinda fun praise, for the rain praying for naught, lookin' up this light shatters the pain caught up in knots like a long night shade praise, for the rain for the mad rain -6/13/21
2.
The Re-evaluation Of Jimmy Divine 04:09
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THE RE-EVALUATION OF JIMMY DIVINE i hit the green light, rollin' down that hard road i felt the streamline send me to the corner for all time i took it out on myself and ran behind the curtain just to see my shadow pulling all the hurt in and it's big bad showdown weighing me down, oh mama! i thought, i thought all about the rings that are rolling like a circus clown we see every time we look into the mirror on a monday i took it out on myself try not to move, dear or else you're gonna feel the big burn let's not be too clear just in case my shadow learns it's what it is, it's what it is - don't you try and steal my sunshine i divvied up my ghosts between the freaks of the harbor and the saints of the fault line and it's big bad showdown weighing me down, oh mama! i thought, i thought all about the rings that are rolling like a circus clown we see every time we look into the mirror on a monday i took it out on myself i turn my face to the middle of the crowd and i screamed, "good god, oh yeah, we got 'em now!" i heard the sunlight wither away just to give us something to say oh light, you better do something good! i saw the light in the fringes of my neighborhood it's up to you now if you want to see this to the end i've got a thought, wow, we might as well begin again i saw the light, i saw the light but not the light you're thinking i'm standing on my own this time and i'm bailing on the ship before it sinks and it's big bad showdown weighing me down, oh mama! i thought, i thought all about the rings that are rolling like a circus clown we see every time we look into the mirror on a monday i took it out on myself -9/13/21
3.
The Arms Of "i" 05:31
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THE ARMS OF “i” without the spin we won't begin to peel the curtain back and i can hear the beating of your heart storm, firefly fall into the arms of i a thousand pardons for my face i didn't mean to leave a trace of all the things we were denied i told them, hold your breath it's about to get wild parasites playing hardball - is it divine? i got a hunch that they're gonna punch a hole in the sky what bunch of hooey - i divide my time between these moments that i know are mine and all those shadows in my soul, sometimes they take control and i can't tell the difference til it's too late, fool a mask is so much more than a face paradise on the hard line pick up and go to the end just to pick it up and do it again i'm an open book if you can read so take your time and tread light around these moments of mine i want to tell you how deep i am but the words keep coming like a murder-field of crows i caught the eye of the lie and i fell into the arms of i oh, you can't escape the moment when you go down the boulevard of sins and shadows they're real so like a butterfly right here is home oh, you can't escape the lightness of your soul so brighten up those corners and windows they're open wide to everyone you've ever known oh, you can't escape the madness oh no, you can't escape the madness.. -8/2/21
4.
Better Than The Bright Lights 06:54
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BETTER THAN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than the moonlight better than where we've been so let's do it all again the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than a quiet night it's better than the whirlwind here we are now gunning for the gold her eyes are the divide what's thought and told we're on the brink, now of learning how to think it's time to yuk it up or drink it down the eyes of all the angels swing in figures like calamities often we all navigate the oceans of uncertainty the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than the moonlight better than where we've been so let's do it all again the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than a quiet night it's better than the whirlwind we're in the hole now wading through the tide of lies i know the air is in her eyes i got it all now the diamond and the dirt it never really hurt to watch it fall and the eyes of every angel sees a devil waiting at the gate an opera, it is not, but sometimes we'll just make 'em wait the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than the moonlight better than where we've been so let's do it all again the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than a quiet night it's better than the whirlwind we're in the dark, here we're stringing it along just to see what kind of fears are going on upon the wall we all sing out to the wind before we hit the spin and go again the eyes of all the angels tell stories of the afterglow silently we scream along until it's time to go into the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than the moonlight better than where we've been so let's do it all again the dim - it's better than the bright lights far better than a quiet night it's better than the whirlwind i am going down to the river now take me as i am -7/13/21
5.
My Turn To Waste It 04:49
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MY TURN TO WASTE IT and it's my turn to waste it passion deep inside my soul i feel alive but i don't know why i know what it takes to break away fashioning some kind of throne in my mind got a line on the highs and lows but i don't want to stay away down on my luck, what the fuck gonna take all the time that i need to rewind toes in the dirt like a duck in the back of the blind and it's my turn to waste it barricades can fade away if you want, you can sing to yourself come on, it's your break know what to say tear the shades and stare me down got a two bit tunnel to the edge of town only i can find my way sing like a siren caught in the web of goodbyes under the ids and the eyes piled like a snowdrift oh, it's just a reprise i got no need for it cos it's my turn to waste it carryin' the torch in the rain on the way to the end i got no need to pretend sharin' every moment gotta do this, now it is time i'm gonna rise, yeah! it's my turn to waste it -7/13/21
6.
Scenemaker 03:26
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SCENEMAKER scenemaker, heartbreaker see through jealous eyes black powder, a ghost shroud she'll please herself enough to get by how does it feel to rewind all the moments of your life go flyin' blind scenemaker, unholy faker lies, like a shiv in the night she backs the giant but she'll never buy it pardon me, it's time for the fight how does it feel to rewind all the moments of your life go flyin' blind scenemaker, shit taker she's always got the thief in her mind undercover, she'll rise above her smile ain't no ordinary kind how does it feel to rewind all the moments of your life go flyin' blind scenemaker, moon shaker the high road never seemed so high the river's rising, ain't no surprise she's saving all her life to get by how does it feel to rewind all the moments of your life go flyin' blind scenemaker, coal raker the fire's never one to burn bright faux healer, shallow revealer the islands in your mind are alright how does it feel to rewind all the moments of your life go flyin' blind -9/1/21
7.
Slave To The Sound 04:29
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SLAVE TO THE SOUND i am the slave to the sound i'm hearing all of my life i'm going round in circles i keep my ear to the ground just to stay alive i hear the echo repeating on the edge of the light i'm calling out in wonder i heed the passage of night just to stay alive when the thunder calls it a day we're gonna fight when the thunder leads the way to the light i am a slave to the sound i'm hearing something akin to the waves of fire i stow away in the ground just to stay alive i see the morning awake i got a scar on my faith it's burning like the devil i make a deal with the light just to stay alive when the thunder calls it a day we're gonna fight when the thunder leads the way to the light i am a slave to the sound i heard the rumor about the sudden change in the weather i'll feed the chill in my bones just to stay alive i stole the passion away from everyone whose afraid of just a little bit of sunlight i'll find a place in the dark just to stay alive when the thunder calls it a day we're gonna fight when the thunder leads the way to the light -9/8/21
8.
Everything Autumn 05:26
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EVERYTHING AUTUMN be the thing you rave about ranting does no good, no how slanted thoughts will do just fine enjoy the ride while it still rolls the scenery is worth the tolls that it takes upon my mind but i can't wait until the summer ends and to feel the cool that comes rolling in on the winds of change - it's time to start again steer the ship into your own reflection often is the zone where all your lies were built upon just pretend that they're not there get lost while others stop and stare don't let 'em think that you're withdrawn i can't wait until the summer ends and to feel the cool that comes rolling in on the winds of change - it's time to start again i can't wait until the summer ends just to feel the autumn chill on my skin oh, winds of change, it's time to start again what lies in wait beyond the dawn i often think about the long journey to the other side there's nothing left but time and love and all these things i'm singin' of it's best to keep it open wide until the moment's come and gone and another one is coming on the ripples of the next high tide just remember that the goal is to simply satisfy your soul may you never be denied i can't wait until the summer ends and to feel the cool that comes rolling in on the winds of change - it's time to start again i can't wait until the summer ends just to feel the autumn chill on my skin oh, winds of change, it's time to start again -8/26/21
9.
Firestorm 05:51
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FIRESTORM i feel the fire folding in my soul let's get it back now let's burn it down, y'all this fever's on the rise can't touch it i know, i know, i know that she's burning too i know, i know, i know but whatcha gonna do i know, i know, i know that she is burning too i feel the fire folding in my soul it's all i got now it's all i'll ever need this catalog of distant thunders this rumble's new i know, i know, i know that she is laughing and while i know, i know, i know it's in her smile and now i know, i know, i know that she is burning too i'm yearning for the flame i feel the fire folding in my soul i've got an idea i've got it now (i've got it now) it's time to pay the piper he's calling a brand new song to fasten up the day i know, i know, i know it's time to rise up screaming i know, i know, i know it's time to live that dream i know, i know, i know it's time to burn those bridges and get down with the flame i feel the fire folding in my soul my soul is like a firestorm -7/29/21
10.
Dreaming Unaware 06:24
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DREAMING UNAWARE dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware now that the cat is on his back we're losing track of all our cares dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware in the garden i see ghosts havin' a party, they're making a toast to the ones who came before that sudden rain washed away the memories and stopped a million trains over there - we're over there dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware now that the sky has hit the ground we've no excuse not to stick around dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware like an opera in reverse we unfold the mystery now, we're lifting the curse that we carried all our lives to ease the pain that strands us in the market in the steaming iron rain that's everywhere - we are everywhere dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware now that you've seen it all explode it's time to hit the desert roads dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware hi, my dear, my head's too clear i'd rather take a number than disappear oh hello, my dear, my mind's too clear so i better fuck it up and get the hell out of here bartered time still flies, my friend from the instant that you took it til the bitter brittle end we carry all our thoughts along the way and leave a trail of memories of every single day like i'm still there dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware now that we're living in reverse we'll never know which one is worse now that we're dreaming, dreaming, dreaming unaware -9/22/21
11.
Boom On The Riptide 06:17
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BOOM ON THE RIPTIDE on and on the band keeps playing swaying songs of old parades and i recall we were never really there hired guns don't always do it right we are fighting for the shade just to smash and wipe it all away this is our time let's watch it go boom on the riptide on and on the passion spells disaster on the rubber rails this hail is never ending, at least now pirate talk can get you far enough it's a tough call when you're down to turn around and face the light this is our time let's watch it go boom on the riptide we're just passengers in the whites of the snake's eye we go boom on the riptide we pull it under as we're pulled we pull it under as we're pulled we pull it under as we disengage our fears on and on the siren sings a lonely blues in a minor key the mist we see is only just a screen harbingers of love and hate dance along the aisles and our smiles are all we have left this is our time let's watch it go boom on the riptide we're just passengers in the whites of the snake's eye let ride it out until we all learn to fly boom, goes the fever on the riptide -7/31/21

about

Chris Anderson's 95th full-length album release.

As mentioned elsewhere many times, a massive songwriting project came out of nowhere in June 2021 and by the time I stuck a fork in it, at the end of September 2021, those sessions had yielded 283 new songs, and it came to be known as the Music Box. Many were instrumentals and short blasts and such, but about 200 of those songs turned out to be legit, complete songs. And many of them were pretty good.

The majority of 2022 involved performing all of those songs, over a series of virtual concerts referred to as the Music Box Tour, and recording demos of the songs along the way. Some of those demos made up the 2022 album, The Solipsist, and will comprise many future releases as well, but eventually the time had come to record them properly. What better time to do it than the RPM Challenge?

At this point, even though it has only been a few weeks, I do not recall how the track list came to be this, but these songs were meant to go together, and it more or less fell together as such. Being that I have lived and breathed these songs for so long, the sessions themselves were pretty easygoing. Aside from the fact that I was sick with an upper respiratory infection for pretty much the entirety of the recording process. This led to a bit of a setback, when I totally lost my voice with four songs left to record. Those songs were all worked on piecemeal and the result is an album that I am incredibly proud of.

While the songs on this album could be construed as being "selfish", they really fall more in line with "individualist". Not necessarily in an Ayn Rand sort of way - there's no man vs the world here; more like "man disregards the world and gets on with his own existence". Some of these songs are among my all time favorites (especially "The Re-evaluation Of Jimmy Divine", which stands about as close to the top as any song not named "Reinvent The Lie" can get).

The artwork, in a first for me, was created totally by artificial intelligence, based on my specifications and, while this isn't exactly what I plugged in, it turned out even better than I imagined.

So, here you have it. The first eleven songs, from a cache of almost three hundred. There will be many more albums to follow. They may even be better than this one.....though I really dig this one. I hope you do too.

-CA, 2/24/23

credits

released March 1, 2023

"produced" by Chris Anderson
Recorded in The Room, February 2023,
for the RPM Challenge
Remixed in The Room, 9 March 2023


CA: acoustic & electric guitars, bass, acoustic & electric mandolin, drum programming, percussion, vocals, other shit.


All songs written by Chris Anderson
(c) CA / Flying Dachshund Music (BMI)



Special thanks to the Music Box.


(p)(c) CA / Flying Dachshund Music. All rights reserved. Violators will feel the firestorm.

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Chris Anderson Alexandria, Virginia

Chris is a wildly prolific songwriter who has hovered among the outskirts of the music world for over 30 years. On his own label, Flying Dachshund Music, Chris has released 154 CDs, 96 of them being full-length albums. That's just the tip of the iceberg and there are no signs of stopping. Ever.

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