The Whole Bolivian Army

TRACK LIST
1. Anaximenes' Air 
2. Black Alder 
3. Whipping Girl 
4. Smash Glass 
5. Miss 
6. Necrodancing 
7. Harvest Sun 
8. Krain 
9. Firewater 
10. (And) The Fever Chill 
11. Phinney Ridge

CREDITS
MB, vocals, percussion; Matt Kite, guitar, vocals, piano; Jay Perry, bass; Dave Warburton, drums, percussion. Produced by Scott Ross & TWBA. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Scott Ross at Hanzsek Audio (Seattle, WA). Cover photo courtesy of George Eastman House. Music by TWBA. Lyrics by Matt Kite. © 1998 Gargantuan Records/TWUBBA Music (ASCAP).

REVIEWS
"More bands should be as fearless." 
— Claude Flowers, Eastside Journal, Jan. 15, 1999 

"Here's a band that explains why the execs at Sony, etc. are always so pissed. People are going to buy Spinner, because it's so good, and fresh tasting. Support indie through the nose, go sexy vocals, go Army of 4!" 
— Ben Ohmart, NZONE, Jan. 15, 1999 

"From the tip of its toes to the crown of its precious little head, The Whole Bolivian Army's third album Spinner is tight, wild and a joy to listen to." 
— Amy Kepferle, The Every Other Weekly, Nov. 5-18, 1998 

"The Whole Bolivian Army is unafraid to stand emotionally naked in the face of current trends against wearing your heart on your sleeve. And they manage to pull it off, with both poise and ferocity. The Whole Bolivian Army's third Album, Spinner, raises the question of women displaying their breasts -- and hearts. I've savored this CD again and again. And again. The steady and challenging voice of Mary Beth Kite soars high above the mediocrity that infiltrates so much of today's modern rock landscape. Real and honest, this album is lush with feeling and metaphor. It's been a long time since I felt personally acquainted with/grateful to the creators of an album, in more than just an awestruck way." 
— Kyra Kelly, The Torch, Nov. 5, 1998 

"At times Spinner overreaches. But how many songs on the radio right now are as good as 'Necrodancing?' For my money, precious few." 
— Robert Allen, The Rocket, May 27-June 10, 1998 

"Spinner strikes a wonderful, all-too rare chord. It's a loud, passionate, proud work, self-aware where so many records are self-absorbed, bold where so many records are irritatingly forceful. In the early 1980s, it was acceptable for rock music to cover huge emotional and idealistic expanses. Acts like Big Country, Simple Minds, and most successfully U2 expressed a romantic vision of the world. Morals shaped a desire to experience life to the fullest. In recent years, a skewed sense of humility and an inherent cynicism about the future has shrunk many artists' dreams. T.W.B.A. shines because its songs reflect an adventurous spirit. Album producer Scott Ross makes the whole project crystal clear, guitars, vocals and drums ringing loud and proud. Dynamite stuff." 
— Claude Flowers, Eastside Journal, May 1, 1998

Anaximenes' Air 

I steal and I feel, but I never took from you 
I beg and I pray, but I'll never kneel for you 
what do you want from me? 
should I sink into the mud with you? 
should I live your death 
so you can die my life? 

the sun, the sun is melting you 
the earth, the earth is eating you 
the sky, the sky is choking you 
the truth, the truth is killing you 

I need and I want, but I never took from you 
I trip and I fall, but I never stepped on you 
would it make you feel better 
if I had tracks running down my arms? 
If I wet myself or slept with gargoyles? 

the sun, the sun is melting you 
the earth, the earth is eating you 
the sky, the sky is choking you 
the truth, the truth is killing you 

you're safe where you are 
I know you'll never climb out 
I tried to follow you in 
to tackle you deep down 
but I can't breathe where you live 
I can't breathe where you live... 

Black Alder 

and she's running through the trees 
who knows what she will find? 
and she's falling over me 
she's got mischief on her mind 

and she's playing in the mud 
painting like Picasso 
she's exploding like a SCUD 
she's got nowhere else to go 

even if she doesn't know 
black alder 
even if she can't let go 
black alder 

and she's sitting on a stump 
and looking at the trees 
and she's searching for a lump 
she's staring up at me 

and we're climbing the lighthouse together 
she never asks for pity 
she's just waiting for the stormy weather 
rising and falling with the sea 

even if she can't be free 
black alder 
even if she can't believe 
black alder 

she doesn't want to take the poison cure 
she just wants to live, to dream 
she doesn't want to breathe with machines 
she just wants to be free... 

Whipping Girl 

she'd do anything to stumble off this track 
she'd sell everything -- she's lying on her back 
turn your head, turn your head way 
this girl is not your problem 
she's as good as dead anyway 

she's your whipping girl 
your inflatable dream girl 
she's your tripp'n girl 
the needle and the seam girl 

you got her hooked 
now you've got to cut her loose 
the sky hangs over her 
like an ever-tightening noose 
she gave you more than you could handle 
she gave you everything 
she's slipping through your fingers 
crumbling while she sings 

I'm your whipping girl 
your inflatable dream girl 
I'm your tripp'n girl 
the needle and the seam girl

Smash Glass 

like a storm that blows everything clean 
like the rain pouring down on me 
you made me better than I was 

like a fire that burns us to the ground 
like a flame that never goes down 
you showed me a new life 

like a dream that seems so real 
like an image you can almost feel 
you gave me new hope 

we know (don't we?) the myth about love 
that love can live on its own 
we know (don't we?) the truth about love 
that passion moves like a ghost 

like the winter sun rising above the trees 
like bare alders glowing over me 
you showed me a new way 

like frozen air hovering over the water 
like the sweat chilling on my back 
you covered my faults 

we know (don't we?) the myth about love 
that love can live on its own 
we know (don't we?) the truth about love 
that passion moves like a ghost 

like smashing glass in the middle of the night 
on the edge of town in the middle of nowhere 
and I can hear the dogs barking 
and I can see the lights go on 
and I can feel my heart pounding 
'cause we're one step ahead of dawn...

Miss 

don't you miss me? 
don't you need me? 
I can't remember who I was 
before I met you 
I can't remember who I was at all 

I finally found love, finally broke through 
I finally let go, only to lose you 

don't you miss me? 
don't you need me? 
I know I'm worth more than this 
but this is all I've got 
I know my life is bigger than this 
but this is all my life 

I finally found love, finally broke through 
I finally let go, only to lose you 

you don't want me now 
this is who I am... 

Necrodancing 

my face feels funny 
paint dripping down 
my head feels empty 
listening for the sound 

I can see you in the fire 
see you in the flame 
this is your ceremony 
this is your claim 

watch me dance 
spinning in a circle 
the stars like spotlights 
spinning in a circle 

it's your turn to burn 

I know my way back 
I know the gap between the trees 
I can still go back 
I can still go back 

it's not my turn to burn

Harvest Sun 

yesterday, I walked alone 
I found a path that was my own 
I saw you coming, I saw black sky 
I heard the birch creek and the willow cry 

I can't speak, can't find the words 
I can't breathe, can't catch my breath 
I can't speak, can't find the the words 
I can't move, can't take a step 

tomorrow, the trees will turn 
the leaves that fall will slowly burn 
I'll catch a spark and fill the sky 
with stars that fled the earth to die 

I can't speak, can't find the words 
I can't breathe, can't catch my breath 
I can't speak, can't find the the words 
I can't move, can't take a step 

seems to me you'll find a way 
seems to me the sun will come through 
seems to me you'll find us anyway 
seems to me the sun will come to... 

Krain 

I have a friend with a big beard and Jesus hair 
the best thing he ever told me was 
"please be willing to be unsure" 

and I... I try 
I try, but it's hard 

a long time ago, he asked me a question 
"have you ever been to Krain?" 
I've been their once since then with her 

and she... she cried 
she cried, 'cause it hurts 

we ate lunch in an old, dark and drafty café 
with Trivial Pursuit cards on the tables 
I fiddled with the cards 
wishing more sunlight came through the windows 
pretending that she was not dying 

OK, I admit it 
I'm not sure of anything 
I'm still fumbling 
still chasing something I don't know exists 
and there's still a corner on the highway called Krain 
I've been there once too often 

and I... I try 
I try, but it's hard 
and she... she cried 
she cried, 'cause it hurts

Firewater 

show me 
exactly where I fell 
hold me 
'cause this feels like hell 
I'm more than a little lost 
I'm cracked up, face down 
I'm more than a little drunk 
broke my chin on the ground 

save me 
I've got no spirit to bare 
dress me 
I've got nothing clean to wear 
I'm more than a little lost 
I'm flipped out, shut in 
I'm more than a little mad 
I'm living beyond sin 

sue me 
I've got nothing to sell 
bruise me 
I've got nothing to tell 
I'm more than a little lost 
I'm flipped out, shut in 
I'm more than a little mad 
I'm living beyond sin 

you can walk on water 
I can't even swim 
you can trust your father 
I can't believe him 
I want to believe him 
I need to believe him 

firewater... 

(And) The Fever Chill 

fading 
I'm fading inside your love, your heart 
everything 
you're everything I need, I am 

and I believe 

someday 
someday now, we'll forgive and forget 
angel 
I believe your light, your God 

and I believe

Phinney Ridge 

alone in my room 
this is where it started 
coming to me soon 
this is where it started 
you dug me up beneath black water 
I drank from your cup, buried beneath black water 

and you wouldn't let me go down 

I fell asleep 
slipping deep inside 
dreaming too steep 
slipping deep inside 
nothing seemed to fit 
I couldn't live much longer 
there was nothing to get 
this is where it started 

you weren't afraid to go down with me...