Pretty Pictures EP

by Mutts

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1.
04:24
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2.
03:58
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3.
04:01
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4.
04:48
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about

Pretty Pictures EP is the first release from Mutts, a keys-based rock trio from Chicago. The EP was tracked primarily live to tape over 3 days at a warehouse on the North side of Chicago. It was co-produced with engineer Jon Alvin, and tracked to a 1960's tape machine, with minimal overdubs and no use of auto-tune.

"The Windy City barrel house piano man is back, hissing and seething like Like Screaming Jay Hawkins in the graveyard, busting out bits of mean dog voodoo R&B."
- The Big Takeover Magazine, Issue #65

"You may moan with pleasure listening to Maimone's treasures! Opening and closing with wild tracks that are way more rock and pop than his piano man full length, this is an exciting record by someone to watch out for and enjoy before he sells out and starts writing songs for Disney cartoons in 2023. Because he is Randy Newman good. But not Randy Newman Toy Story 2 bad." - Roctober Magazine

credits

released October 9, 2009

Jon Alvin - Recording & Mixing Engineer
Bob Buckstaff - Bass
Chris Faller - Drums, Percussion
Mike Maimone - Piano, Organ, Vocals
All on production and mixing
Mastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering
All songs written by Mike Maimone;
(c) 2009 Mike Maimone/Mutts

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Track Name: Stolen Bricks
Stolen Bricks
Words & Music by Mike Maimone
(c) 2009

Your back burner is fried, your house is burning down.
Gotta get all your ducks in a straight line now.
You get your ducks in a straight line,
but your back burner is fried, your house is burning down.

You keep your knives and friends in your back pocket.
Better watch your back when your pants come down.
You know, you all get caught with your pants down.
And all your friends got knives in your back pocket now.

You built your house with stolen bricks, and it's all coming down.
Trapped by your stolen bricks and we've all gathered 'round.
You're painting pictures - you're painting pretty pictures.
Without your stolen bricks, where you going to hang them now?

You stole my grandpa's watch to pawn it.
Never gonna give you the time of day now.

You built your house with stolen bricks, and it's all coming down.
Trapped by your stolen bricks and we've all gathered 'round.
You're painting pictures - you're painting pretty pictures.
Without your stolen bricks, where you going to hang them now?
Track Name: Trust
Trust
Words & Music by Mike Maimone
(c) 2009

You gave me a reason to stay here,
gave me a reason to go.
You gave me a reason to eat up,
gave me a reason to choke.
Went to bed with the bottle,
stayed up all night with your lust.
Woke up today with a reason -
it sure as hell ain't your trust.

Now you're sore from all your scrubbing
but it won't wash off.
Tore right into the surface,
but it won't wash off.
Decorate or decompose,
you can't change what's inside -
and it'll come up to the surface
when you most want it to hide.

I'm gonna be the man who throws you in jail,
shoplifting love outta my garage sale.
Used and worn through just the way that you need
it locks you up each time you swallow my key.

Tightened up my jaw now;
a man must never cry.
This morning we were screaming,
heavy breathing feels like a lie.
Now it feels so empty leaving,
'cause I don't know that I must.
There's love upon your surface
underneath I doubt there's trust.

You gave me a reason for living,
gave me a reason to die.
You gave me a reason to give in,
dangled a reason to try.
Told me to speak my peace
so you could go and speak yours...
now we got so much peace we done started a war.
Track Name: Uncivilized
Uncivilized
Words & Music by Mike Maimone
(c) 2009

Lost at sea in her stormy company
yeah, but she's the only motion I got.
Somehow I still feel like an island
although my baby's got me landlocked.
Unfulfilling is love without sin,
unfulfilled is a lust fueled by gin.
But every moment in a love hung over
is better than alone in sober.

Uncivilized,
you're stepping on the sun
whenever it shines
in my sky.
Oh, but I need you.
You're just like the rain
on soil too dry;
I have to have you.

You're so uncivilized...

When I feel it's a morning to mend
she's left a train ticket on the counter again.
I take a step - but a pawn to a queen -
when she says she might be leaving on the 3:19.
I heard it in the morning,
heard it 'round 2...
I heard it from her mother,
now I know that we're through.
But in the evening
skin aglow in silhouette...
she's beauty like a storm after a day bathed in sweat.
Track Name: on the Rope
on the Rope
Words & Music by Mike Maimone
(c) 2009

You can nibble and you can gnaw
but you can never swallow it all,
and now you've bitten off a mouthful you can't chew.
So you borrow, so you beg
always be a puppy humpin' some leg,
diggin' holes to hide the milkbones they throw you.

But who's on top when you're on the rope?
Only gonna drop when you're on the rope...

Whether go-getter or a slave to snooze
everyon'e a hooker waiting to get used.
You give your money to a pimp on your TV
painting a picture of a perfect world,
but you're a nut and he's a fat old squirrel.
He's gonna put you in the ground
but you'll be no tree.

'Cause he's on top when you're on the rope.
You're only gonna drop when you're on that rope.
Now who's on top when you're on the rope?
Now I'm on top and you're on my rope...

Perfect is a lie your mother read to you at bedtime.
Structure is a pillow where our dreams never learn.
Effort turned my aspirations into pretty pictures,
just in time to watch 'em all burn.