The Efts on Indie69's Best of 2013 Playlist!

Download the amazing playlist here -->  Indie69bestOf2013

We've received several great honors during our tenure as active musicians.  These include hearing our music on The Most Popular Girls on the Internet and Radio Free Hipster, seeing our stuff available for free on Google Play, and being included in various playlists aggregated by Indie69.  Last week we were floored to discover our version of Strangers has been included in the Indie69 Best of 2013 playlist.  For those of you who follow this blog, you no doubt already know of Indie69 and his work.  We can't thank him enough for his never-ending sonic beam.  Being part of this particular playlist is an amazing way to end the year.  Thanks so much Indie!  You'll always have a place in our hearts and our souls.

What You Mean To Me

Several times I've tried to write a song about what Lolo means to me.  It's difficult because she means everything to me, something too huge and profound to jam into a ditty.  This song reflects the millionth attempt of trying to tell Lolo that while she's one of the most self-sufficient people on the planet, I love that we've become partners.  This is also my birthday present to her this year.  I love you Lolo!!

Lyrics:

It's what you mean to me.

Under these trees

you're a skeleton key.

I tried to say it better

I tried to write a letter

I didn't know the words.

What you mean to me

you're the air that I breathe

the water I bleed

You can carry me

under your wing

But you set me to fly

by your side

What you mean to me

under these trees

going to be

feeling free

The Efts on Indie69's November 2013 Playlist!

Download here -->   Indie69's November 2013 playlist

November is The Efts' birthday month.  This year's birthday month is starting off great, as we've been included in Indie69's November 2013 playlist.  If you're tired of listening to the same old music, we encourage you to fire up your favorite torrent software and suck down 70 new songs courtesy of the ever-present audiophile Indie Sixtynine.  We're honored to see our latest song Waiting Room included in the mammoth offering of tunes this month.  Thanks as always go out to our favorite music aggregator - Indie Sixtynine makes every month a reason to celebrate.

The Most Popular Girls on the Internet Play GTA5

Listen to the rad podcast here --> Episode 218: Hysteria

As usual we're playing the same video games as The Most Popular Girls on the Internet.  Currently that game is Grand Theft Auto 5, arguably the best game ever for generation 7 consoles.  This week brings a new TMPGOTI, and with it brings tales of Tara and Cassandra playing GTA, drawing penises, and a fun new Drunknowlegy.  They also play our version of Waiting Room.  Needless to say its a riveting episode that shouldn't be missed so why are you still reading this?  Check out the link above!

Our 6th album has been released!

Download Geekover from Google Play

Yessssssss!!  Our 6th album (Geekover) has been released on Google Play today!  This collection of songs features covers of tunes that are important to the lives of the members of The Efts.  Our thanks go out to all of the original authors of these songs for their creativity and hard work.  We would also like to thank the members of The Efts Beta Listening Team for their help with making finished products from our early versions of these tunes.  Finally we would like to thank Jackson Y for his beautiful artwork created for the cover of this album.

Songs found in this album include:

Strangers

Annie's Song

Baba O'Riley

Ring of Fire

True Colors

New Slang

Creep

Waiting Room

The Efts on Indie 69 October 2013 playlist!

Download the playlist here -->  Indie69 October 2013

One of the best things about the beginning of any given month is the release of a new playlist from the revered Indie Sixtynine.  We are honored to have been included in this month's double-sized selection of music gleaned from all corners of the audiosphere.  Our thanks go out to Indie Sixtynine for his tireless devotion to lovers of music everywhere.

Waiting Room

Pope & Brace's poster for the 1988 Fugazi show in Morgantown, West Virginia

Fugazi.  They've been one of the most important bands in our lives.  Not only have we listened to their tapes (and cds and records) for more than 2 decades, they also provided the first really good show we ever saw live.  Fugazi was fronted by Ian MacKaye, possibly the most iconic figure in punk music from our geographical area.  His music, lifestyle, and presence all have a place in our hearts.  We knew we had to cover at least one of their tunes in our upcoming covers album.  After trying to work up a cover of Margin Walker and Give Me the Cure we ended up lovingly recreating Waiting Room instead.  All of the aforementioned songs are featured on Fugazi's amazing album called 13 Songs.  Comprised of the band's first two EPs, its the album we would choose if we could only listen to one album for the rest of our lives.  Even after many hundreds of listens, 13 Songs remains solidly at #1 of our list of all-time best records in history.  Our enduring thanks go out to all of Fugazi's members for their talent and dedication to the scene.  Their music will remain a primary facet of our lives until we die.

Lyrics:

I am a patient boy
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait
My time is water down a drain

Everybody's moving
Everybody's moving
Everything is moving,
Moving, moving, moving

Please don't leave me to remain
In the waiting room

I don't want the news
(I cannot use it)
I don't want the news
(I won't live by it)

Sitting outside of town
Everybody's always down
(Tell me why)

Because they can't get up
(Ahhh... Come on and get up)
(Come on and get up)

But I won't sit idly by
I'm planning a big surprise
I'm gonna fight
For what I want to be

And I won't make the same mistakes
(Because I know)
Because I know how much time that wastes
(And function)
Function is the key
Inside the waiting room

I don't want the news
(I cannot use it)
I don't want the news
(I won't live by it)

Sitting outside of town
Everybody's always down
(Tell me why)

Because they can't get up
(Ahhh... Come on and get up)
Up from the waiting room

Sitting in the waiting room
(Ahhh...)
Sitting in the waiting room
(Ahhh...)
Sitting in the waiting room
(Ahhh...)
Sitting in the waiting room
(Ahhh...)

(Tell me why)
Because they can't get up

New Slang

Released in 2001 by The Shins, New Slang is one of our top ten favorite songs of all time.  James Mercer wrote the lyrics in an effort to describe his urge to get out of his hometown, job, relationship and life.  The words are presented in a manner that encourages the listener to envelope this sense of angst of one's surroundings.  The melody is timeless.  A song for eternity, this musical gift from The Shins will follow us around forever.

New Slang by The Shins has a rather sordid history with The Efts.
Shannon of The Efts was listening to the original Shins version when he flipped
his pickup truck into an icy creek several winters ago.  As the cab of
the truck filled with slushy ice-cold water, he frantically tried to
get the truck started so he could escape through the power windows.
With a final focused attempt to start the vehicle, the windows opened
and The Shins poignantly reminded him that he could dance like the
king of the eyesores and the rest of our lives would a' fared well.

Lyrics:


Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth.
Only, i don't know how they got out, dear.
Turn me back into the pet that i was when we met.
I was happier then with no mind-set.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the king of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries.
Hope it's right when you die, old and bony.
Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall,
Never should have called
But my head's to the wall and I'm lonely.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the kind of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

God speed all the bakers at dawn may they all cut their thumbs,
And bleed into their buns 'till they melt away.

I'm looking in on the good life i might be doomed never to find.
Without a trust or flaming fields am i too dumb to refine?
And if you'd 'a took to me like
Well I'd a danced like the queen of the eyesores

Strangers

Akai LPK 25 keyboard, Samson Meteor mic, MacBook Pro w/ Logic Pro, random headphones all used in this song

Written by lead guitarist/vocalist Dave Davies for his band The Kinks, Strangers has been a staple of the soundtrack to our lives for years.  This song first appeared in 1970 on The Kinks' album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, part one.  The lyrics have found a place in many aspects of our lives.  It fits when we play mmorpgs, it fits at work, and it fits within our personal lives.  Some songs have a singular message, but this one seems to encompass a wide spectrum of messages.  We had fun recreating this tune in our own nerdy style, and our thanks go out to the extremely talented Mr Davies for his songwriting expertise.

Lyrics:

Where are you going I don't mind
I've killed my world and I've killed my time
So where do I go what do I see
I see many people coming after me
So where are you going to I don't mind
If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
So I will follow you wherever you go
If your offered hand is still open to me
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
So you've been where I've just come
From the land that brings losers on
So we will share this road we walk
And mind our mouths and beware our talk
'Till peace we find tell you what I'll do
All the things I own I will share with you
If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
We'll take what we want and give the rest away
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Holy man and holy priest
This love of life makes me weak at my knees
And when we get there make your play
'Cos soon I feel you're gonna carry us away
In a promised lie you made us believe
For many men there is so much grief
And my mind is proud but it aches with rage
And if I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

TMPGOTI talks consoles in a (more or less) sober fashion

Check out the great new TMPGOTI here -->  Episode 204: It's all about the hardware

This past weekend we got to go hang with our very good friend Andrew Treat.  On our way to his place we joyously listened to the new episode of The Most Popular Girls on the Internet, something we love to do while cooped up in our truck.  We had some good laughs throughout episode 204, and learned more about the hardware differences between the upcoming Xbox One and the Playstation 4.  We also learned about Sassy's limited game title memory concerns.  TMPGOTI also included our recent cover of Baba O'Riley as their featured breaky break song.  Thanks for making our weekend even more fun TMPGOTI!  And happy birthday Tara!!

Annie's Song

Annie's Song by Jackson Y

Written by John Denver in 1973 as an ode to his wife Annie, this song is another of our favorite tunes of all time.  While most of our fellow West Virginians know Denver's 'Almost Heaven' (a song played during almost every WVU sports event), Annie's Song has had an even greater impact on the souls of The Efts.  After spending an evening at our friends Sara and Kristian's house listening to Mannheim Steamroller and playing boardgames, we were intrigued by the idea of smelting John Denver and Mannheim Steamroller together.  This song is the product of that particular idea.  We hope you enjoy this cover which is our 5th song made for our upcoming covers album.  Our eternal thanks go out to Jackson Y for another superb picture.  We love how he included so many elements of the song in this latest artwork.  Thanks so much Jack!

Lyrics:

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again

Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again

Creep

Creep by Wiles Assael

Written by Thom Yorke and performed by Radiohead, Creep is one of our all-time favorite songs.  As known supergeeks, we tend to be awkward and weird in most social situations.  Lyrics such as "I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.  What am I doing here?  I don't belong here." were a welcome message to us as we awkwardly bumbled our way through many unfortunate social scenarios.  We made this cover with care, and are eternally grateful to Yorke and the rest of Radiohead for their stellar songwriting and performing skills.  We are also extremely thankful for the art accompanying this post.  It was drawn for us by Wiles Assael, a very talented young artist from New York.

Lyrics:

When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so very special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What am I doing here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice when I'm not around
You're so very special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What am I doing here?
I don't belong here

She's running out the door
She's running out
She runs runs runs

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so very special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here

TMPGOTI Gets Serious... Sort of.

Listen to the excellent podcast here -->  TMPGOTI Episode 202: Freedrunk

You know its going to be good when they start the podcast already inebriated.  Tara and Cassandra provide a couple hours of solid entertainment in their most recent episode of The Most Popular Girls on the Internet as they discuss games, movies, books, Game of Thrones etiquette, and have a relatively serious discussion regarding big brother monitoring the internet.  They also play The Efts version of True Colors during their mid-show breaky break.  We've said this several times on our blog, but we'll say it again: LISTEN TO TMPGOTI.  We are addicted to their weekly antics and look forward to each new episode.

Baba O'Riley

Wasteland by Wiles Assael

Written by Pete Townshend for a never-realized follow-up to The Who's rock opera Tommy, Baba O'Riley is what we consider to be one of the greatest rock-n-roll songs of all time.  The title of the song is derived from a combination of Meher Baba and Terry Riley.  We knew prior to undertaking this project that it would be challenging.  After many hours we discovered just how much of a challenge Baba O'Riley posed.  We now have even more respect for The Who, a band to which we've spent many hours listening.  This version features 9 vocal tracks, 10 synthesizer tracks, and 1 drum track meant to be an homage to the cool percussion found throughout the movie Me, Myself and Irene.  Our thanks go out to the original authors of this marvelous song, and to Wiles Assael for drawing an incredible piece of art for this post.

Lyrics:

Out here in the fields

I fight for my meals.

I get my back into my living.

I don't need to fight

To prove I'm right.

I don't need to be forgiven.

Don't cry.

Don't raise your eye.

It's only teenage wasteland.

Sally take my hand.

Travel south crossland.

Put out the fire

Don't look past my shoulder.

The exodus is here.

The happy ones are near.

Let's get together

Before we get much older.

Teenage wasteland

It's only teenage wasteland

Teenage wasteland

Oh, oh

Teenage wasteland

They're all wasted!

True Colors

True Colors by Jackson Y.

Some songs are fun to hear, some are uplifting or are able to underscore a particular mood.  Some songs can even define a life.  This song is all of the above.  True Colors was written for Cyndi Lauper by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly in the mid-1980s.  Steinberg wrote the song about his mother.  The two approached Anne Murray with the song and she turned it down.  BIG mistake.  Cyndi Lauper added her own flavor to the tune which soon became one of our favorite songs of all time.  Throughout our lives this song has been supportive and calming, a visionary piece of music that we've heard thousands of times.  This post reflects a very Eft-ish cover of a song that has meant a lot to us.  Thanks go out to the original authors of True Colors and to the very talented Jackson for supplying another amazing piece of artwork for us.  

Lyrics:

You with the sad eyes

Don't be discouraged

Oh I realize

Its hard to take courage

In a world full of people

You can lose sight of it all

And the darkness inside you

Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful,

Like a rainbow

Show me a smile then,

Don't be unhappy, can't remember

When I last saw you laughing

If this world makes you crazy

And you've taken all you can bear

You call me up

Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful,

Like a rainbow

If this world makes you crazy

And you've taken all you can bear

You call me up

Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors

True colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful,

Like a rainbow

TMPGOTI Celebrates 200 Episodes (and a live interview with The Efts)

Listen to the celebratory episode here -->  Episode 200 (part 1) Live From Ice Station C

We had a fantastic weekend.  We watched 15 new episodes of Arrested Development, spent some time with our co-couple Dylan and Deanie, had Monday off, and spent all day Saturday with Tara and Cassandra as they celebrated their 200th episode of The Most Popular Girls on the Internet podcast LIVE.  We were star-struck and thrilled as they included us in the festivities.  We got to be interviewed during the program prior to the official unveiling of a song we wrote for them.  It was the cherry on top of a phenomenal weekend, one we'll never forget.  Thanks (x1000000) for the many hours of joy you've given to us Tara and Cassandra!

The Efts on Earbits Free Online Radio!

Check out The Efts in Earbits-form here -->  Earbits Free Online Radio

Fun times!  Earbits is now spinning our tunes to listeners around the world via their free online radio service. It's kind of a big deal.  In addition to being able to stream music to your PC from thousands of bands, they also have a really cool Android app for a portable Earbits experience.  You can stream our last three albums in their entirety and discover many other bands with a few simple clicks.  Thanks for selecting us Earbits!  Online radio is a way of life for us, and Earbits does it better than any other similar service we know.

The Most Popular Girls on The Internet Song

The Efts love The Most Popular Girls on the Internet

They've made us laugh for hours.  They've informed us of the various facets of their lives which have oddly paralleled our own.  They are wickedly smart and nerdily fascinating.  They are The Most Popular Girls on the Internet.  Each week we welcome our favorite podcast hosts Tara and Cassandra into our home via our interlines.  Catching up with TMPGOTI has become such an important part of our lives that we wanted to thank them via this gift-song.  We are literally begging anyone reading this to check out their site and become addicted to their ways.  The Most Popular Girls on the Internet: brightening the lives of the geek community for almost 200 episodes.

Lyrics:

Every time they put their voices on the microphone

they send it to the speakers found within my car and home

They don't need a Y to go with their X chromosomes

They are the most, the most popular.

Every week I get some weekly geeky stereo love

As a geek I need to know about all this stuff

Once a week is never ever really enough

of girls on the internet.

They are the most popular

They are the most popular

They are the most popular

girls on the internet

They may talk about the news from in Ice Station C

They may chat about the games that they have played lately

They may drink and shout about something that's on TV

They are the most, the most popular.

The Most Popular Girls on the Internet Celebrate Jameson Day Very Loudly

Listen to the excellent podcast here -->  TMPGOTI Episode 194

We learned something last week.  We learned how to create unholy burps using common household liquors. Want to know more?  Check out the above link and listen as The Most Popular Girls on the Internet explode digestively.  They also discuss Hunger Games, Guild Wars 2, Devil May Cry, women as gamers, and still have time to squeeze in our latest song Holding Hands for Forty Years.  Hearing Tara and Cassandra (aka Gassy Sassy) congratulate Shannon's folks on their 40th anniversary was a surreal and wonderful experience.  Thanks (as always) go out to our favorite podcast for continuing to support us.

The Efts 5th album released!

Download Emoticon here ---> The Efts - Emoticon on Google Play

Huzzah!  We've released our 5th free collection of songs in album form which is now available on Google Play.  Emoticon is a group of songs we developed over the last few months.  Some of the tunes were written for family, some for friends, some for guildies, some for science, a few for just us, and one cover of a song written by even more friends.  We hope you enjoy this newest free album. Each of the songs have been polished recently and are in better shape than in their previous postings on this site.  We'd like to thank Jackson for his excellent work with the album art.  Keep up the great work Jack!  You're an incredible artist.

Further thanks go out to our parents, Cacapon Institute, all of our beta listeners, our guildies, Creep of Crows, Brandon Judy, Chris A Ivey, Tanner Haid, Tara and Cassandra of The Most Popular Girls on the Internet, The Siege, and everyone who downloaded this album.

Track listing:

We Can Do Anything
Holding Hands for Forty Years
Brandon's Theme
Disenchanted
Ascended Heroes Theme
Chris A Ivey
Stream Cleaner
Wednesday Song

Holding Hands for Forty Years

This song is particularly special.  Shannon's parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this month so we wrote them this gift-song.  They've made the last four decades a work of collaborative art.  Its been magical for those of us who have had the opportunity to bear witness to their relationship.  Sometimes two people are destined to be together, which is a big reason why this song pretty much wrote itself.  Thanks Mom and Dad for being who you are.  We love you!!

Lyrics:

Easy to say they'll be forever.

Hard to see the time in those you hold most dear.

Sharing the weight of their endeavor.

They've been holding hands for forty years.

Partnership redefined.

When one slips, the other holds the line.

They are like an endless meadow

swaying in a gentle sunny breeze.

Holding hands for forty years.

All this time they've been together.

Holding hands for forty years.

Heart and soul they have been tethered.

Together.

The Efts on The Siege episode 30!

Listen to the podcast here --> The Siege #30 Living Through the Living Story

Radio is a dismal affair in the rural area in which we live.  None of the stations that reach our tiny woodland cabin play anything of interest, which is why we turn to podcasts for our ear-tainment.  Along with The Most Popular Girls on the Internet and the now retired Radio Free Hipster, we have been listening to several Guild Wars 2 podcasts.  Our favorite of the latter is The Siege.   The Siege is hosted by legit fans of the game who seem to love sharing their stories and knowledge with their listeners.  We were very excited to hear our guild's theme song played on the most recent episode.  Thanks, The Siege!  You've continually enhanced our enjoyment of GW2, and we look forward to hearing many more episodes of your excellent podcast.

The Most Popular Girls on the Internet Make Fridays Even Better

Listen to the excellent podcast here --> TMPGOTI Episode 189: Harlem Shakes on a Plane

Fridays are great in general.  It's the cusp of the weekend, which means staying up extra late playing games.  Fridays have been even better for us since we discovered The Most Popular Girls on the Internet last year.  Listening to the weekly antics of Cassandra and Tara is like a reward for making it to the end of the week in one piece.  We tend to wander the halls of our workplaces like wide-eyed disciples spreading the word of TMPOTI's existence, thrusting earbuds into the ear holes of our constituents while blasting Tara and Cassandra's latest podcast.  It was to our eternal delight that our recently finished Ascended Heroes Theme appeared on yesterday's episode.  Thanks for making Friday's even better Tara and Cassandra!  You are loved in our household.

Ascended Heroes Theme

We know we are heroes because it says so right next to our names.

We've been in many guilds over the last 20 years or so of playing MMOs.  From our first non-official guild way back during the days of text-based MUDs to our current Guild Wars 2 infatuation, we've been surrounding ourselves with groups of players.  Ascended Heroes [Hero] on the Northern Shiverpeaks server of the Guild Wars 2 metasphere is a particularly good guild.  Rich in empathy, acceptance and talent, Ascended Heroes provides a home for casual and hardcore players alike.  This song is in support of this wonderful group of people.  May we escort Plinx a million more times!

Lyrics:

I want to be a hero

but I just can't do it by myself.

I've got nothing to fear though,

when I'm out there fighting with my friends.

I know I am a hero

because it says so right next to my name.

I'm counted as a hero

when I'm with my guild playing this game.

A round of drinks 

while we help Plinx

make his way home

from west to east.

Fractals and dungeons

make us strong

while we hunt dragons

all day long.

We can beat AC in our sleep

and we can capture any keep.

We all play seven days a week

right here on Northern Shiverpeaks.

The Efts on Indie69's Best of 2012 playlist!

Download the huge playlist here --> Indie69 Indie Music and Culture

New music can sometimes be difficult to find.  There's no shortage of it, but figuring out which new music to try can be a painstaking process.  Indie69 to the rescue!  Month in, month out, Indie discovers cool new music and lovingly wraps it up in a zipped archive.  Said archive is then seeded out in a torrent for your listening pleasure.  He's got an uncanny knack for finding hidden sonic gems, and we're delighted to have been included in his Best of 2012 superplaylist.  109 songs are jammed into the list, which hopefully will solve your I-don't-have-any-new-music blues.  Please check out his playlists and support him.  He's a powerful presence in the musicsphere in which we live.

The Efts on The Most Popular Girls on the Internet AGAIN!

Check out this sweet action! --> The Most Popular Girls on the Internet episode 180

Perhaps you heard a distant explosion this morning.  That was the sound of our egos exploding with sonic delight.  Delight I tell you!  We've once again been featured on The Most Popular Girls on the Internet, this time with Brandon's Theme.  After listening to so many episodes of TMPGonI lately, hearing one of our songs on their show is surrealishly satisfying.  For those of you who have never checked their site, you should do so immediately.  With 180 episodes, 250+ hours of content and a never-ending supply of unadulterated geekiness, we're completely head-over-heels in love with this show.