The Whole Bolivian Army: Spinner

Spinner (1998)

"More bands should be as fearless."
— Claude Flowers, Eastside Journal, Jan. 15, 1999

"Here's a band that explains why the execs at Sony, etc. are always so pissed. People are going to buy Spinner, because it's so good, and fresh tasting. Support indite through the nose, go sexy vocals, go Army of 4!"
— Ben Ohmart, NZONE, Jan. 15, 1999

"From the tip of its toes to the crown of its precious little head, The Whole Bolivian Army's third album Spinner is tight, wild and a joy to listen to."
— Amy Kepferle, The Every Other Weekly, Nov. 5-18, 1998

"The Whole Bolivian Army is unafraid to stand emotionally naked in the face of current trends against wearing your heart on your sleeve. And they manage to pull it off, with both poise and ferocity. The Whole Bolivian Army's third Album, Spinner, raises the question of women displaying their breasts -- and hearts. I've savored this CD again and again. And again. The steady and challenging voice of Mary Beth Kite soars high above the mediocrity that infiltrates so much of today's modern rock landscape. Real and honest, this album is lush with feeling and metaphor. It's been a long time since I felt personally acquainted with/grateful to the creators of an album, in more than just an awestruck way."
— Kyra Kelly, The Torch, Nov. 5, 1998

"At times Spinner overreaches. But how many songs on the radio right now are as good as 'Necrodancing?' For my money, precious few."
— Robert Allen, The Rocket, May 27-June 10, 1998

"Spinner strikes a wonderful, all-too rare chord. It's a loud, passionate, proud work, self-aware where so many records are self-absorbed, bold where so many records are irritatingly forceful. In the early 1980s, it was acceptable for rock music to cover huge emotional and idealistic expanses. Acts like Big Country, Simple Minds, and most successfully U2 expressed a romantic vision of the world. Morals shaped a desire to experience life to the fullest. In recent years, a skewed sense of humility and an inherent cynicism about the future has shrunk many artists' dreams. T.W.B.A. shines because its songs reflect an adventurous spirit. Album producer Scott Ross makes the whole project crystal clear, guitars, vocals and drums ringing loud and proud. Dynamite stuff."
— Claude Flowers, Eastside Journal, May 1, 1998

SOUND SAMPLES
You can listen to free song samples from Spinner at CD Baby and I-Tunes.

VIDEO
"Whipping Girl" live at the Bite of Seattle (2010)
"Whipping Girl" live at Jamnesty (2011)

TRACK LIST
1. Anaximenes' Air
2. Black Alder
3. Whipping Girl
4. Smash Glass
5. Miss
6. Necrodancing
7. Harvest Sun
8. Krain
9. Firewater
10. (And) The Fever Chill
11. Phinney Ridge

ALBUM CREDITS: MB, vocals, percussion; Matt Kite, guitar, vocals, piano; Jay Perry, bass; Dave Warburton, drums, percussion. Produced by Scott Ross & TWBA. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Scott Ross at Hanzsek Audio (Seattle, WA). Cover photo courtesy of George Eastman House. Music by TWBA. Lyrics by Matt Kite. © 1998 Gargantuan Records/TWUBBA Music (ASCAP).

LYRICS: Below.

Anaximenes' Air

I steal and I feel, but I never took from you
I beg and I pray, but I'll never kneel for you
what do you want from me?
should I sink into the mud with you?
should I live your death
so you can die my life?

the sun, the sun is melting you
the earth, the earth is eating you
the sky, the sky is choking you
the truth, the truth is killing you

I need and I want, but I never took from you
I trip and I fall, but I never stepped on you
would it make you feel better
if I had tracks running down my arms?
If I wet myself or slept with gargoyles?

the sun, the sun is melting you
the earth, the earth is eating you
the sky, the sky is choking you
the truth, the truth is killing you

you're safe where you are
I know you'll never climb out
I tried to follow you in
to tackle you deep down
but I can't breathe where you live
I can't breathe where you live...

Black Alder

and she's running through the trees
who knows what she will find?
and she's falling over me
she's got mischief on her mind

and she's playing in the mud
painting like Picasso
she's exploding like a SCUD
she's got nowhere else to go

even if she doesn't know
black alder
even if she can't let go
black alder

and she's sitting on a stump
and looking at the trees
and she's searching for a lump
she's staring up at me

and we're climbing the lighthouse together
she never asks for pity
she's just waiting for the stormy weather
rising and falling with the sea

even if she can't be free
black alder
even if she can't believe
black alder

she doesn't want to take the poison cure
she just wants to live, to dream
she doesn't want to breathe with machines
she just wants to be free...

Whipping Girl

she'd do anything to stumble off this track
she'd sell everything -- she's lying on her back
turn your head, turn your head way
this girl is not your problem
she's as good as dead anyway

she's your whipping girl
your inflatable dream girl
she's your tripp'n girl
the needle and the seam girl

you got her hooked
now you've got to cut her loose
the sky hangs over her
like an ever-tightening noose
she gave you more than you could handle
she gave you everything
she's slipping through your fingers
crumbling while she sings

I'm your whipping girl
your inflatable dream girl
I'm your tripp'n girl
the needle and the seam girl

Smash Glass

like a storm that blows everything clean
like the rain pouring down on me
you made me better than I was

like a fire that burns us to the ground
like a flame that never goes down
you showed me a new life

like a dream that seems so real
like an image you can almost feel
you gave me new hope

we know (don't we?) the myth about love
that love can live on its own
we know (don't we?) the truth about love
that passion moves like a ghost

like the winter sun rising above the trees
like bare alders glowing over me
you showed me a new way

like frozen air hovering over the water
like the sweat chilling on my back
you covered my faults

ee know (don't we?) the myth about love
that love can live on its own
ee know (don't we?) the truth about love
that passion moves like a ghost

like smashing glass in the middle of the night
on the edge of town in the middle of nowhere
and I can hear the dogs barking
and I can see the lights go on
and I can feel my heart pounding
'cause we're one step ahead of dawn...

Miss

don't you miss me?
don't you need me?
I can't remember who I was
before I met you
I can't remember who I was at all

I finally found love, finally broke through
I finally let go, only to lose you

don't you miss me?
don't you need me?
I know I'm worth more than this
but this is all I've got
I know my life is bigger than this
but this is all my life

I finally found love, finally broke through
I finally let go, only to lose you

you don't want me now
this is who I am...

Necrodancing

my face feels funny
paint dripping down
my head feels empty
listening for the sound

I can see you in the fire
see you in the flame
this is your ceremony
this is your claim

watch me dance
spinning in a circle
the stars like spotlights
spinning in a circle

it's your turn to burn

I know my way back
I know the gap between the trees
I can still go back
I can still go back

it's not my turn to burn

Harvest Sun

yesterday, I walked alone
I found a path that was my own
I saw you coming, I saw black sky
I heard the birch creek and the willow cry

I can't speak, can't find the words
I can't breathe, can't catch my breath
I can't speak, can't find the the words
I can't move, can't take a step

tomorrow, the trees will turn
the leaves that fall will slowly burn
I'll catch a spark and fill the sky
with stars that fled the earth to die

I can't speak, can't find the words
I can't breathe, can't catch my breath
I can't speak, can't find the the words
I can't move, can't take a step

seems to me you'll find a way
seems to me the sun will come through
seems to me you'll find us anyway
seems to me the sun will come to...

Krain

I have a friend with a big beard and Jesus hair
the best thing he ever told me was
"please be willing to be unsure"

and I... I try
I try, but it's hard

a long time ago, he asked me a question
"have you ever been to Krain?"
I've been their once since then with her

and she... she cried
she cried, 'cause it hurts

we ate lunch in an old, dark and drafty café
with Trivial Pursuit cards on the tables
I fiddled with the cards
wishing more sunlight came through the windows
pretending that she was not dying

OK, I admit it
I'm not sure of anything
I'm still fumbling
still chasing something I don't know exists
and there's still a corner on the highway called Krain
I've been there once too often

and I... I try
I try, but it's hard
and she... she cried
she cried, 'cause it hurts

Firewater

show me
exactly where I fell
hold me
'cause this feels like hell
I'm more than a little lost
I'm cracked up, face down
I'm more than a little drunk
broke my chin on the ground

save me
I've got no spirit to bare
dress me
I've got nothing clean to wear
I'm more than a little lost
I'm flipped out, shut in
I'm more than a little mad
I'm living beyond sin

sue me
I've got nothing to sell
bruise me
I've got nothing to tell
I'm more than a little lost
I'm flipped out, shut in
I'm more than a little mad
I'm living beyond sin

you can walk on water
I can't even swim
you can trust your father
I can't believe him
I want to believe him
I need to believe him

firewater...

(And) The Fever Chill

fading
I'm fading inside your love, your heart
everything
you're everything I need, I am

and I believe

someday
someday now, we'll forgive and forget
angel
I believe your light, your God

and I believe

Phinney Ridge

alone in my room
this is where it started
coming to me soon
this is where it started
you dug me up beneath black water
I drank from your cup, buried beneath black water

and you wouldn't let me go down

I fell asleep
slipping deep inside
dreaming too steep
slipping deep inside
nothing seemed to fit
I couldn't live much longer
there was nothing to get
this is where it started

you weren't afraid to go down with me...