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Devastating Karate

by Devastating Karate

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1.
Carlton Way 02:03
Cesar was a little old Mexican man First job was on the radio wearing these cans He didn’t fix the leaky roof, the little things were never cool But come around rent day I got something else to say I’ll pay tomorrow Cesar got his son to manage the place But he was always baked, like the kids at Carlton Way But last week, last night, Dean was in another fight With two cops, one wife, yeah she’s got a black eye I’ll pay tomorrow Brendan’s got a new dog Damus got the whole roof The valley’s just to hot But I know what to do
2.
My dream is to be the one who everybody wants to Always have a drink in the daytime This scene is the one that wants to always be around you Always have the last word last night Some of them come back to you Most of them sell out to you Keep their whole heart in the back of their mind It’s always drink fine cork wine To be green with a little hygene, excercising maching Separate your eyebrows just right Brown eyed blondie, Dr King and Ghandi Just sugar no cream, do it now and do it right
3.
Malibu 02:42
I wish I wasn’t such a little spaceman You wake up in the morning and you think about it all day long It gets you nowhere You wanna be somewhere but you just don’t know where I tried for 14 days Distracted by my brain I hope it’s just a phase I think it’s just a phase But time might tell a story to “Please make your mind up, what to do “Let me know and make it true” It’s not that difficult, but she was just a bitch about it Me and my brain: different destinations Hmm…? Chemical inhalation? Hey Mapquest what’s the way? Left turn from day to day? Three stones, can of chew Then I know what to do I wanna live in Malibu, 1795 Drink from the canyons because I want to stay alive Look at the ocean from a desert hill Eat a lot of corn and find some deer to kill All-right!
4.
Window Shade 03:30
Little Cammy, baby tell me what’s cool I know your sister but she ain’t at school today Where you heading out of sixth period? Wanna walk up through them trees? You know me. I like them shorts you’re wearing Them black streaks in your hair Know what you’re growing up to be? It’s something special baby, really special girl While you close that window shade I’m laying down this picture frame again Calm your heart. Nothings got to be weird We’re both in this together, let’s keep it all right here Let’s head on back to my place Wanna see the back room? Right this way So soft like your sister, just fine Just let it all go for a little bit of time You’re both mine
5.
Mr. Pimpin 02:17
Where’d my kitty go Nobody knows Where’s Mr Pimpin at He got run over on Brooks Kitty come indoor I know what for Carnitas Like a good kitty do Lost in the alley Someone to save me Victor and Shelly They make me happy
6.
Culiacan 02:40
Baby Jesus raisin money Baby bees and tasty honey Riding back through Mexicali Federales see us coming All the aliens are scared of my guitar Riding back towards the border in a shady car We met down near Culiacan With Migi and his borhter Juan Don’t wanna say just what we saw I just hope we pull it off All the aliens are scared of my guitar Riding back towards the border in a shady car I saw the whole thing last week Stopped in cold blood, I couldn’t even blink I saw the dark rain I saw the green car A couple miles to the border, you know it ain’t that far
7.
AZ 02:12
I met a song writer Out by the campfire He said he lived in Nashville Up on a hill I’m Arizona I though I had ya Stoned and I’m drunk now From Arizona I met a guitar man Boy could he jam Took his plane in from Nashville Hot licks no thrills I’m Arizona I thought I fooled you I really drunk now From Arizona I heard about your dope man Back from the can You should throw a party We could all jam You should throw a party You should throw a party
8.
Backlands 02:26
9.
10.
Big Pants 01:24
Put your fog horn on and light your spell Put your fog horn on and light your spell Put your fog horn on and the you go and then you light yourself a spell Put your big pants on and steal some cheese Put your big pants on and steal some cheese Put your big pants on and then you go and then you get yourself some cheese I’m not going to go away I’m not going to go away I’m not going to go away Happy Happy Birthday
11.
Start a Fire 02:26
Start a fire, start a fire, wash it all away Wake up it’s the same old day No one’s home, waste some time, nothing left to say Yesterday is not OK Stuck in the sand you know it moves so slowly Talk about it talk about it, I can’t even think straight Nothing is easy when you’re always alone I got your lighter, but it’s got no flame My uncle never lies, then he told me not to worry It eats my mind every day So buy some peace, drop a dime, smoke it in a hurry Got no money for a week and a day Stuck in the sand you know it moves so slowly Talk about it talk about it, I can’t even think straight Nothing is easy when you’re always alone I got your lighter, but it’s got no flame My tank is on empty, threw your shit all away You never think that it should be this way Should I open my arms, I stop before I begin Tomorrow maybe try it again I hope it feel right
12.
On The Floor 04:36
I’d hate to see you later said her daughter just outside the porch you know The weakness of a heartache just left in the dark two weeks ago Little sister’s waiting just inside the door Little sister’s waiting just inside the door She just sat silent on the floor She just sat silent on the floor I’d hate to see you later said her sister just inside the door you know “I never told your secret so I’m glad that it’s time for you to go.” Little sister’s walking back into her room Thinking of the thing she did two weeks ago She just sat silent on the floor She just sat silent on the floor I’d hate to see you later said her daughter just outside the porch you know The weakness of a heartache just left in the dark two weeks ago I’d hate to see you later said her sister just inside the door you know “I never told your secret so I’m glad that it’s time for you to go.” She just laid silent on the floor He laid above two weeks ago She just laid silent on the floor He laid above two weeks ago
13.
Rubin LeFice 03:11
Rubiin LeFice liked to test your patience Always said things so absurd Rubin LeFice never pledged allegiance Tore the wings from a helpless bird Stole a fine dime from another man Stole a drink of wine from his mother Spoke his twisted little mind to the principal man Never good words for another Alienated all his classmates Chased them home from school with a stone Mother worked from home on an hourly rate Father was nobody know Now Tuesday finds Rubin with a tummy ache A doctor and a knife are the only fix Mother takes his hand and a lonely fate For Rubin not a bed bud a ditch No more Rubin as a burden for the bitch
14.

about

Devastating Karate’s self-titled debut is a snapshot of the band’s early days. The group formed in Venice Beach during the summer of 2005, quickly putting together a live set’s worth of material for local gigs and parties. By fall, they had a batch of tunes deemed ready for the studio. Tracking was done quick and dirty over two days at Mikael Karlsson’s studio in downtown Los Angeles. As is the case with many bands’ first trip to the studio, it has more of a “garage” quality than later Devastating Karate recordings. That said, the ad hoc approach to recording meshes well with the punk-folk themes. The band manages to squeeze 14 tunes in just under 37 minutes. From the rootsy twang of “Backlands”, to the driving rockabilly of “Window Shade,” and the punky harmonies of “Malibu,” the band delivers a new type of cow-punk, drawing comparisons to old Kings of Leon, The Pixies, Elvis Costello, Wilco and The Supersuckers.

Devastating Karate followed up the release with a tour of the Southwest and several mini-tours of California, Vegas and Arizona. Initial reactions were mixed. Some thought it was a joke (think Tenacious D or Spinal Tap), some were confused and others saw it for what it is: non-affected rock-n-roll with lyrics that stream unique and memorable images from everyday life. “Malibu” is the story of daydream that takes you to the Malibu hilltops in 1795, where we will need to hunt and gather for survival. “On The Floor” and “Window Shade” share opposing perspectives on the same love triangle. “Fine Cork Wine” expresses a common malaise for elements of modern society and public consumption, while “Carlton Way” warns a landlord of delayed rent payments.

Devastating Karate features Nick Ratliff on vocals/guitars/mandolin, Zach Lewis on drums, and Monk Turner playing bass. Monk was replaced by Charles Pasarell for all later DK recordings, but Monk’s unique approach is fully intact on the bands debut (he also did the album art). The album received limited broadcast airplay in markets including Los Angeles, Tucson, San Antonio, Las Crucas and Santa Cruz, as well as airplay from various online outlets.

credits

released December 25, 2005

Nick Ratliff: vocals, guitars
Zach Lewis: drums
Monk Turner: bass

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Devastating Karate Los Angeles, California

"A tongue-in-cheek, honky-tonk tinged (former) power trio that hoists a brew to everything from Hank Williams' earthy country to hormonal '80s hair metal, this bunch is almost as fun as that one Fourth of July where Uncle Kenny passed out on the neighbors' lawn" (Jason Bracelin, Las Vegas Review-Journal) ... more

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