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TAPE 1 · ALBUM · 16:37 ALL IN
Turlock Runs Sideways
Recorded over two days in the back room of a rented rehearsal space in Modesto on a four-track that was already broken when they got there. The engineer left after the first afternoon; the band finished the record without him. Ten tracks; twenty-two minutes; nothing on it repeats a section on purpose, and nothing on it holds a tempo for longer than a verse.
- 01Sideways at the Chevron1:38
Words, as sung
(count-in on hi-hat, one riff kicks in hot, everything in the red) Cattle truck at half-past nine Ground squirrel comes out the passenger side Trying to run, keeps going wrong Every leg's got a different song Sideways, sideways at the Chevron Sideways under the pump Something got into that little guy Something ain't coming out Del is watching, don't say a word Rudy's pumping regular, unheard Nothing to do, no place to be The squirrel is a full-time employee Sideways, sideways at the Chevron Sideways under the pump Something got into that little guy Something ain't coming out (guitar drops out, drums keep it, Del yells over the top) Ran sideways, ran sideways, ran sideways Ran sideways, ran sideways, ran (one last blast of the riff, ends abruptly on a cymbal choke) That's the band. That was already the band.
- 02Fever Field2:04
- 03Nothing Runs Straight1:22
- 04California Ground1:47
Words, as sung
(single distorted guitar note held, drums kick in on the fourth beat) Ground squirrel in the almond row Ground squirrel where the poison goes Ground squirrel eats what the ground can grow Ground squirrel knows what the ground don't know California ground, California ground Something in the dirt makes the animals loud California ground, California ground Something in the dirt won't stay in the ground Farmer put a sign in the almond field Farmer set the traps and the traps got peeled Farmer said the squirrels was acting weird Squirrels said the farmer was the one to fear California ground, California ground Something in the dirt makes the animals loud California ground, California ground Something in the dirt won't stay in the ground (guitar cuts out, bass and drums only, Del talks over) It's not the squirrels' fault It's what's already in the dirt The squirrels are just the part you can see California ground, California ground Something in the dirt makes the animals loud California ground, California ground Something in the dirt won't stay in the ground (one riff, sped up, ends on feedback)
- 05Chain-Link Diet1:33
- 06Amphetamine Almond1:29
- 07Two-Lane Fever2:11
- 08Play It Until It Dies1:47
Words, as sung
(one riff, four bars, drum count) Turn the amp to ten and leave it Nobody has to believe it Every song is the same song Every song is a minute long Play it until it dies Play it until it dies Turn it up until it dies Turn it up until it dies Fits is holding on Fits is holding tight Fits is gonna go down Not tonight, not tonight Play it until it dies Play it until it dies Turn it up until it dies Turn it up until it dies (all instruments at maximum, no vocal, riff repeats and speeds up eight bars in a row) Play it until it — Play it until it — Play it until it — Play it until it — (drums cut out mid-fill, guitar and bass hold one distorted chord, feedback, silence)
- 09Sixteen Songs (Then Nothing)1:18
- 10Overload1:28