Absent Plot - MP3
Recorded 1996 or Earlier
Released April 29, 2013 on Young Froth/Taypiss
Kevin Barnes - Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Wood Block
Written by Kevin Barnes
Second prize is quite a letdown
Borrowed second and burned up, waved off, carrying on anybody's days
Except it's so sad
And I don't know if I care
It's so sad
And I don't know if I care
It's so sad
Sugar comes as no surprise so please stay awake
It's too hurt, it's too bent with lies
Can't fend, can't pass it up
It's so sad
And I don't know if I care
It's sad
And I don't know if I care
It's so sad
Where'd they come from?
Where'd they take you?
Packed your bags and drove you away
Put you up in some different life that you can't afford
So why don't you go on
Fall on deaf ears
Hoping you fall on your fears
And let's watch 'em
Like a great plan we can build a house we've been talking about
Give them too much time
And not enough drive
Too much time
And not enough drive
Too much time
And not enough drive
Too much time
Young Froth/Taypiss was a Kickstarter reward for his documentary Song Dynasties, offered to those pledging $35 or more. The vinyl album was a collection of early four track recordings dating back even earlier than those on the album “The Early Four Track Recordings.” Unlike that album, this album has actual titles for each of the songs, but they are detached from the lyrics of their respective songs and in alphabetical order. Kevin must have come up with the titles close to the album’s release, though it is unclear whether he arranged the tracks in order to fit his titles or if he deliberately titled each song in alphabetical order to fit the tracklisting. The title of the album incorporates the two-title naming scheme used for Voltaic Crusher/Undrum to Muted Da and would later use on White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood and its songs. However, those songs have reasons for their double-titling, indicating two parts or ideas to each song. On White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood: “The two title concept came to me when I was thinking about how difficult it is to frame the message of a song with just one title, because so often the songs are about so many different subjects.” What’s curious about this is that, as a compilation album, there are no two ideas that are consistent across the entire album. Breaking down the album title, “Young” makes complete sense. It’s fitting his earliest work should have “Young” in the title. “Froth” is what people normally think of as bubbles, but a less common definition is “worthless or insubstantial talk, ideas, or activities.” This makes for an especially fitting title in the incomprehensible style Kevin is known for. What the second title “Taypiss” means I have no idea because it is a made up word that can’t be broken down. The only thing related I can think of is the word “typist,” which has no clear connections.
Getting to the song itself, it features many of the things that would define his style such as his quick, wordy lyrics, pitched up backing vocals, and tendency to sing one pitch for long amounts of time. However, the lyrics are much more vague than most of his work. Despite many of these phrases making sense on their own, they’re indecipherable together. Perhaps the title reflects the state of these lyrics, how there is the sense of a plot to this song in places such as the bridge, but it is nonexistent.
The song has a standard verse/chorus structure and the standard instrumentation of a guitar and drums. While Kevin tends to use more avant garde chord structures and melodies, they work normally here. The drums are unique here in that they are constantly in and out of the mix. It could be the nature of the four-track player, but it’s timed with the music in the bridge, indicating it might have been intentional. These experimental touches with the drums and backing vocals add to what is a pretty standard song.
Availability
Digital - None
Physical - Rare
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