Young Elk - The Dark Side of the Holy Ghost

by Young Elk

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1.
God Is Cruel 06:50
lling all preachers who hide behind these tv screens calling all liars, can’t seem to say exactly what they mean calling all assholes, the ones who lack integrity calling on everyone who puts their trust into the guarantees our god is cruel our god is cruel calling all daughters, the ones who have to break the rules calling all fathers who think they have to tell them what to do calling all prophets, locked down the corner market on what’s true calling all saviors, who want dominion of your living room our god is cruel our god is cruel our god is cruel so fucking cruel calling all ministers, who hunt for vulnerability deep in the process, where human beings reclaim their dignity calling all missionaries, exploiting opportunities calling all martyrs, who bled to death to prove their loyalty our god is cruel our god is cruel our god is cruel but man so are you i woke up fearing all was lost so i got on my knees and prayed that i was wrong no goddamned good for anyone so we rewrite the words to our favorite songs we pray for strength to carry on when we could be shaking booty ‘til the break of dawn tattooed these bible verses on brittle, broken bones so we don’t have to say we’re sorry when we’re wrong but i believe i believe and i believe i believe
2.
Paper Cuts 05:11
lyrics we drink the blood on saturdays from paper cuts found in alleyways where you say things, you should not say on bended knee, under stained glass window panes the reverend installed himself now you’re wondering how your father felt when he drove away just to save himself and your mother cried over 20 dollar bills so you so you so you could tell the truth and pretty girls don’t call you back they wanted you to just relax so you sing songs that will not last on borrowed hope you can not give back and lightning strikes, but not for long the joy you had was all but gone to pretty places you don’t belong you start to cry, but instead you carry on so you so you so you could tell the truth and i’m keeping secrets so i don’t let you down i’m keeping secrets so i don’t let you down and i fall to pieces while you burn down this house and i’m keeping secrets so i don’t let you down
3.
how i wanted to be dangerous but i also want big business raised up again like lazarus like a suicidal mistress now i want to be alone just play Molina on the stereo and hear the saddest songs i've ever known but i'll never know how i wanted to be tucked away in the innocence of yesterday on the car drive home from wild waves melted ice cream on the freeway but my heart is made of stone and my mind is set on growing old because there's a dark side to the holy ghost the holy ghost on the same day that we're punching clocks with terror in our eyes there are strange ways that our hearts will stop it will take you by surprise and i believe in time we'll waste away like a lazy, rainy saturday we'll build up courage to try cocaine and pray for shit that just can't remain because no one wants to be alone no matter how hard the stomach groans we're all just longing for the undertow that sucks us underneath oooh
4.
you don’t have to see the light but you can walk the streets at night you can drive another car or you can forget who you are walked into the living room after drinking in the woods my mother smelled some whiskey on my breath for a minute she thought that i was dead when i got up out of bed my brother lost his shit again he grabbed my sister by the throat should have done something but instead my limbs just froze credits
5.
you have put me in these bones could not leave well enough alone i tried but i just could not come back home it seems that you have hid your face the kids are in the bunker singing amazing grace it seems it’s you that gets their way that don’t make me a liar cause every night i call up your number and i hang up the phone i smoked a cigarette at dawn i kissed your cheek and went to sleep with every light we had turned on does that make you feel at home? or does that make you feel alone? now they wont let me try because i know tonight you’ll hold your breath underwater until everything’s gone but somebody’s gotta try to make it right somebody’s gotta try to make it right somebody’s gotta try to make it right somebody’s gotta try but not tonight
6.
No Victory 04:41
terrified by her gaze that goddamned look upon her face when she pulled me aside she began to say we’ve been faking it for weeks so don’t bother trying to speak because i’ve already packed my things true love doesn’t want to talk she just wants it all to stop so she keeps moving and malice mumbles every word before she writes another verse but who are we kidding? no one’s winning stared down an empty room started drinking her perfume started burning every picture i had left of you found some whiskey in the drawer so i poured it on the floor started wondering what i was even drinking for borrowed time it doesn’t stop it just runs out the clock until there’s no victory now we’re speeding on to death trying to cherish all that’s left but who are we kidding no one’s winning
7.
we’re all just gathering stones we think we notice, but we don’t that we will all die alone that we’ve got some place to go but there is a cloud that follows you around and there is a prayer that you can’t say out loud so you feel let down no one is listening now the vomit is spilling out your mouth your words don’t make any sounds don’t want to speak up anyhow but there is a king who gave away the keys to these big rooms filled with books you don’t want to read so you lie here with me
8.
No Lights 04:32
death keeps coming like a storm in your heart you can’t tall me when it’s dark sorrow’s beating like a drum in the band one that wont heed your command can i get a witness? can i get a witness? can i get a witness? can i get a witness? can i get a witness? can i get a witness? there will be no lights when we’re gone but there will be songs and we’ll just sit and hum along we’ll play football on the lawn until our fathers are all gone

about

"This is the kind of album best enjoyed with blunted spirits, ensnared as it is within a sinister realm of minimalism, which is dimly portended during the barebones “Should Have Done Something.” Still, Young Elk’s power lies in a willingness to close in on itself slowly, like the petals of a summer poppy at night." (The Portland Mercury)

"The title track off Young Elk’s debut LP, 'The Dark Side of the Holy Ghost' is a memorably haunting release that features a developmentally chugging melody, with solemn vocals, sullen string flourishes, and a coarse twangy guitar" (Obscure Sound)

"Borrowing heavily from the Slo-core scene of the late 90’s, the steady chug of this thickly produced track is both endearing and memorable. (Pop Occulture)

"Imagine taking the slow-burn bitterness of Bazan, adding the sinister undercurrent of Water Liars and sprinkling an almost Berningerian knack for imagery both mundane and melodramatic, and you’ll be getting somewhere close to how it plays." (Wake the Deaf)

credits

released November 18, 2016

Young Elk is:

Ezekiel J Rudick - Guitar, Vocals, Keys
Tony Reyes, Guitars, Vocals
Bruce Reed - Bass, piano, organ, synth
Nic Moen - Drums, Percussion

Additional Musicians:
Hannah Glavor - Vocals
Lisa Adams - Violin

All songs written by Ezekiel J Rudick
All songs arranged by Young Elk
Recorded and Produced by Young Elk at AudioCinema in Southeast Portland
Mixed by Jordan Richter at Room13 in Portland, Oregon
Mastered by Gus Elg at Sky Onion in Portland, Oregon

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Holiday Breath Records Portland, Oregon

We make records because death is coming.

Current roster: Young Elk, Second Sleep, Molter

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