Soulbound

Artwork by Alyson Williams

This song is dedicated to Lolo in honor of our upcoming 25th anniversary.  While impossible to effectively express how profound my feelings are for her, I attempted to cobble together some semblance of the binding force that connects the two of us.  The lyrics reflect a nod to the many games we've played together in which items become soulbound to our various characters, as well as being hopelessly dependent upon one another.  There's also some stuff about Laverne & Shirley for some reason.  I love you Lolo!

The artwork associated with this tune comes from an extremely talented artist from California, Alyson Williams.  She worked with us for a few weeks getting a good feel for the song, our thoughts, and the message at hand.  It's been a great experience, one we've been very lucky to have.  Thanks so much Alyson!  Please check out more of her work here -->  brokenumbrellablob.blogspot.com

Lyrics:

I'll be your Shirley
You can be my Laverne
We can drink milk and Pepsi
And we can put these gloves on bottles at work
for the rest of our lives

I have become soulbound to you.
You have become soulbound to me.
We are symbiotic.
We went a half a million miles.
I'll go a million more miles with you.

Soulbound to me
Soulbound to you
We went a half a million miles.
I'll go a million more miles with you.

I'll be your lichen
You can be my green moss
We'll find a boulder
Then we can always embrace
and have no cares about anything else

The Efts on The Most Popular Girls on the Internet again! Yesssssss!

Check out the fantastic podcast here --> TMPGOTI Episode 235

The Efts have led generally charmed lives.  We've had wonderful things happen to us over the years.  Among those wonderful things is the fact that we've crossed paths with The Most Popular Girls on the Internet.  We've managed to once again become the featured breaky-break song on TMPGOTI's podcast this week.  We strongly suggest you head to their site to check out the episode so you can hear Tara and Sassy discuss Game of Thrones (without spoilers!), Everquest Landmark, gallbladder problems, the psychological consequences of playing video games, being in the Grant County Press and much more.

Once again we'd like to thank TMPGOTI for being our favorite venue.  We love you Tara and Sassy!!

The Efts in the Grant County Press!

Front page of the Grant County Press - March 8 2014 edition

It was with great honor that we found ourselves in our hometown's esteemed newspaper last week.  After an interview with local newsman extraordinaire Tom Hencke, we were a little apprehensive about the reaction from our area's general populace.  Considering the local radio stations run the gambit from country to Christian to Christian-country, we knew most curious locals were about to hear some music stylings they might not have been privvy to before reading the article.  Our apprehension was dismissed almost immediately as we received a wonderful outpouring of support for our craft.  Thanks go out to Mr Tom Hencke for his beautiful wordsmithing.  We would also like to thank the town of Petersburg for their subsequent support and wellwishing.  Fun times!

Page 9 continuation of the article

Bits. Bytes. Beats. Released!!!

Download the album for free here --->  Bits. Bytes. Beats.

Beats. Beats. BEATS!!!  We released our 7th album today!  'Bits. Bytes. Beats' is a collection of our eight most recent songs.  We feel like this is our best work to date.  Each of the songs on this album are original works written and composed by Shannon & Loretta of The Efts.  All of the tunes have been spiffed up, hosed down and generally made better than the versions already available on this blog.  Topics on this album include music creation, amazing parties, best friends, cool art made by best friends, favorite tv characters, our feelings for one another, favorite podcasts and favorite playlisters.  This collection of songs is available for free from Google Play and can also be heard on Earbits Radio.

Track list for Bits. Bytes. Beats.:
1. Beat Walker
2. What You Mean to Me
3. You're Not Afraid of Color
4. Charlie Is the Foundation
5. 69 Songs
6. The Most Popular Girls on the Internet
7. Andrew Treat Does Everything Right Redux
8. The Stone Rose

We would like to thank the following people for their support:  Our parents, Anita Heatwole, Tanner Haid, Kristian Yeager, Sara Treat, Dylan Assael, Kara Dean, Jackson Yeager, Tara & Cassandra from TMPGOTI, Andrew Treat, Amrik Brar, IndieSixtynine, Kervens Brun, John Lyon, Dezi Schuster, Carmen Smith, and Brandon Judy.

The Stone Rose

The Stone Rose artwork by Dylan Assael

This song is dedicated one of our bestest friends ever: Kara Dean. We wrote an earlier song about one of her alter egos called Tiniest Viking. This tune is about another one of the facets of her personality, a being called The Stone Rose. We were inspired by a recent email to us from her partner and best pal Dylan which read in part:

nobody can controllably summon her. She comes when she wants to.

She rallies the party, even when there is no party to rally. 

She dances late into the early morning. 

She wrestles women twice her strength, to a draw! 

She's got that can do anything attitude. 

She's lightning, and thunder in a bottle.

And man, I have a serious crush on her.

The lyrics we wrote (found below) reflect the words Dylan wrote and the feelings both of the members of The Efts have for Deanie. Some of the best times we've had in our lives have been with The Stone Rose. We will love her forever and beyond.

Lyrics:

You cannot beat her up

She already did it for you

With her one black eye

she'll do everything she wanted to.

All she ever wanted to do.

With the party all around her

she's the engine in the center.

She's enveloped in the wonder

of the lightning and the thunder she called

down out of the sky 

and she falls down.

She picks herself up and she dusts herself off

and she picks a fight with someone twice her size

It's alright.

It's alright.

It's alright.

We will help you.

We will hold you.

We will love you.

The Stone Rose.

You're Not Afraid of Color

Dylan in Colors artwork by Shannon

This tune is dedicated to one of our best friends in the whole world: Dylan Assael. We met Dyl in 1991 at art school. Since then he's been an integral part of our lives. Every home and workspace we've had has been decorated with his art. His influence on the way we talk, walk and think is immeasurable and profound. His sense of adventure, his sense of humor, and his sense of style have blended together into a legendary source of inspiration for both members of The Efts.  We hope you enjoy this tribute to his lifelong devotion to the arts and our lives.

Lyrics:

You're not afraid of color.

Yellows and greens.

You blend it with another

You're filling the screen

Now you put the pen on paper.

Not later.

And you draw up a curve.

You swerve.

Now you dig a little deeper,

you creeper.

And you're brushing a nerve.

If I had to pick a brother

you know you're the one.

You are from a different mother.

But our connection

it could not be any stronger

It burns like the sun

and my brain is on fire

You're not afraid of color

Purple and red

Now you're sketching up another.

Your hand from your head.

Now your pencil is a pistol

a missile

And it's shooting me dead,

the lead.

Put your vision to the paper

a sabre

Is stuck in my head

Make your mark upon the printer

you're lifting the ink

Put the compass in the center

you color it pink

Make a caster at the minter

I shudder to think

what you're working on next

You're not afraid of color

Orange and blue

You're not like every other

When you mix up the hues

If I had to pick a brother

you know you're the one.

You are from a different mother.

But our connection

it could not be any stronger

It burns like the sun

and my brain is on fire

You're not afraid of color

and my brain is on fire.

The Efts on The Most Popular Girls on the Internet Episode 230!

Check out the excellent podcast here --> TMPGOTI: 20 Degrees Calculus

For the first time ever, a podcast has played one of our songs before we've had a chance to release it.  The Most Popular Girls on the Internet made our snow day even better by surprising us with adding our newest song 'You're Not Afraid of Color' to their 230th episode over the weekend.  Both of the wonderful hosts of TMPGOTI are members of our music beta team.  As a result, they heard this several days before we've had a chance to put on the song's finishing touches and get some associated art for the release.  We once again implore you to check out their show.  Listen as Sassy gushes about her favorite Bond actor and debates about the amount of time allowed before spoilers can be unleashed upon the interwebs.  Hear all about the continued alpha action as Tara works her way through Everquest Next: Landmark and rants about the whole Comcast/Netflix debacle.  Hilarity will ensue as Sassy tries to use words with her mouth.  We love you TMPGOTI!  Thanks for giving our music a home.

69 Songs

"69 Songs In An Envelope" artwork by Jackson Y

     For several years our lives have been musically enriched by one man who continues to shine a beacon on songs we probably would have never otherwise heard.  Indie Sixtynine is one of the world's most prolific and dedicated music purveyors, aggregators, and disseminators.  His taste is exquisite, his methods are focused, and his work is constantly appreciated in our household.  We celebrate his existence and his influence on our own work.  As a gift for Indie's upcoming 5-year playlist anniversary, we've created this song in tribute to him.  Thanks Indie!  You've made our world brighter, something we will never forget.

     This song is accompanied by a radical piece of custom artwork by the venerable and talented Jackson Y.  Thank you once again for the art Jack!  Your skills continue to astound us.

Lyrics:

69 songs in an envelope

69 pieces of this message to me

This isn't political and this is not about money

Its a stream of consciousness from you.

69 songs in an envelope

69 moments that I've shared some time with you.

Your message has been received

Your 69 songs set free

I puzzled together the way that you feel

how you carry the burden for me

I puzzled together the way that you feel

how you stay independent with me  

Beat Walker

"Beat Walker" artwork by Wiles, Dylan, and Ashland Assael

Happy Valentine's Day Lolo!  This song is dedicated to you, my partner in life, love and music.  You've become a master at creating sounds with me on our Mac.  As our music is funneled through your ears, it becomes something more than I could ever hope to create by myself.  Without you, The Efts are nothing.  Thanks for being a wonderful and creative force.  You are the Beat Walker, and you bring me to my knees.  I love you Lolo!

Big thanks go out the Assael family for the triptych associated with this song.  It's the kind of art that makes me want to rejoice.  I can't wait to see more artwork from your amazing family.

Lyrics:

I'm a street talker baby

you're a beat walker.

And when I come around

looking down

Calling all around this town.

Heat.

You know what I need baby.

Hammer out the lead.

I gotta find a seat

'cause now you brought the beat baby.

Beat it to my teeth, lady

Feel in in my feet. Maybe

put it all the way down in the ground

deeper than the speaker sounds.

Make me wanna jump around

show me why they say that you're a beat walker

you're not a sweet talker

I can recognize in your eyes

when it's time to synthesize

beats.  

You can call it fate now

I can call it luck how

we can build a house out of

beat bricks, wicked licks

and drummer sticks.

Beat walker bring me to my knees

You know what I need.  Lead

me to sonic seeds. Feed

me the chronic beats. Rocker

down upon the keys, squeeze

on my knees. Don't you be a rhythm tease.

Please.

'Cause you're a beat walker.

Andrew Treat Does Everything Right Redux

Those of us in certain circles have often said Andrew Treat does everything right.  He's a thoughtful friend who is the perfect accomplice for adventures that often share a border with life-altering experiences. This song reflects the 2nd in a series of parties hosted by the incomparable Andrew Treat.  Borrowing heavily from the material from our first song about an AT-related party, we've updated the lyrics to reflect a more recent vice-fueled weekend at his place in Parkersburg.  We also added some stuff like bass drops, bigger drums and deeper synths.  We'd like to thank beta team members Tanner, KY, Amrik and AT for their help.  We'd also like to thank the incredible Jackson Y for the poignant picture drawn for this song.  Seeing Jackson's vision of Andrew Treat in Game of Thrones form is a wonderful companion image for this project.

Lyrics:

I don't remember all of September.  Oh no.

I just remember pieces of this adventure.

It was me and AT

KY and Amrik

and it was scheduled to be

a Game of Thrones viewing

There was a giant TV

A million color 3-D

and it was loud as could be

He had an Acura TL

in which I sat in the back

and as the afternoon gelled

we all listened to rap

And then we made a quick stop

down at the old butcher shop

we got some red bloody chops

and then some red soda pop 

There was Rock Band, GTA

Staying up all night and day

Bourbon and some Powerade

Swervin' at the chopper raid.

And as the day began to fade

my memory began to shade

Games we barely got to play

Drinking till the light of day

We watched an orb weaver

make her man feed her

Covered in gore creature

on his back porch feature

Charlie Is the Foundation

Charlie Day artwork by Jackson Y.

The Efts watch a lot of TV.  Over the last few years, one show has emerged to dominate our television: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  We've become unabashedly enamored with one of the show's characters.  Charlie Kelly (portrayed by the ultra-talented Charlie Day) is a product of a broken home, broken dreams and broken teeth.  His indomitable spirit allows him to maintain a relatively positive attitude regardless of the stressors provided by the world at large.  "Charlie is our foundation!" is an exclamation made by Danny DeVito's Frank in episode 8 of season 9.  We agree.  We felt a need to pay homage to Charlie Kelly in song form.  We hope you enjoy.  

A special thanks goes out to Jackson Y for the superb artwork accompanying this song.  He continues to provide an integral facet of our overall musical product through his work as West Virginia's youngest professional artist.  We would also like to thank beta team member Tanner Haid for his musical and editing guidance.

Lyrics:

Boil denim that he found down under the bridge

With an eye to the side for the waitress

He will smash all the rats with his bashin' stick

and he might spend a night in the crevice.

With a soft spot copped for the man in green

he will pop tops off of the bottled drink

He's a friend to the end of the final scene

Charlie is the foundation

with the whole world on his back.

With the law of the bird he recalls what he heard

and he tosses the word 'filibuster'

Scrapping for every single thing that he owns

He atones.

Breathing fumes in the rooms of his empty bar

with his tools and the ghouls, doesn't need a car.

He's content that he went never nowhere far

Nowhere far.