Stain on the Flag (w/ The Composer)

Tiny_Man_Inside

Genre: Rock

Get Flash to see this player.

Description

Stain on the Flag is the first “real” song by Tiny_Man_Inside, in that it features performances by the entire band.

Performance Credits:
vocals/lyrics: Huy Dao
drums/production: Bryan Anderson (a.k.a. The Composer)
guitars/bass: Mason Wolak

It has been my great pleasure to work on this track with two very talented individuals – Bryan Anderson (a.k.a The Composer) and Huy Dao. Bryan is a supremely talented musician who provided the percussive backbone to the song. He also has a great ear towards arrangement and production, and was instrumental in bringing new life and energy to a song that was originally written in 1997, yet still remains relevant today.

Huy Dao provided the vox, infusing his usual high-energy verbiage and keen eye towards the social state of America. Nine years away from the mic haven’t diminished his formidable skills, and his performance on this track shows that he remains as restless and angry as ever.

Stay tuned for more Tiny_Man_Inside creations in the near future, as the three of us have been working on more material together.

--- Mason Wolak (guitars and bass)

** This song was written by Huy Dao and Mason Wolak. It was originally performed by the band Cement Babyhead, which also featured drummer Doug Bacon, and bassist Dan Moon.

Leave a Comment

You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Lyrics

A state of disunion is the fate of a nation
Whose youth thrown in jail of the mind
Find frustration in the fight, when they question
No answers, no avail

Words. They're afraid of kids
Surrounded by words who forsake the love of the flag
God, Mom, and Apple Pie
Otherwise known as the American Lie

They're afraid of our words
They're afraid of our thoughts
Are we gonna be silenced?
Are we gonna be bought?

There's a war on our words
There's a war on our thoughts
Are we gonna be silenced?
Are we gonna be bought?

The aesthetic on the screen
Is reflected by the green
Of a falsified dream, the refrain...
The chorus is nightsticks falling on the brain

And you know when they're done
With the cuffs and the gun
This generation's just another stain
On the flag... God, Mom, and Apple Pie
Otherwise known as the American Lie

They're afraid of our words
They're afraid of our thoughts
Are we gonna be silenced?
Are we gonna be bought?

There's a war on our words
There's a war on our thoughts
Are we gonna be silenced?
Are we gonna be bought?

Speak out
Be Silenced
Speak again

Song Stats

Hits: 9127
Comments: 54
Fans: 15
Plays: 1409
Downloads: 204
Votes: 21
Uploaded: May 23, 2006 - 08:57:46 AM
Last Updated: Oct 25, 2006 - 08:14:36 AM Last Played: Feb 13, 2013 - 01:04:50 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

heavy (204), rock (1884), political (50), disillusionment (3), Tiny_Man_Inside (1), The Composer (1)

Hardware:

Onyx 400F, Gibson SG, Gibson Les Paul, AT 2020 condenser mic, 2 X 1.8 GHz G5/ 2Gb RAM, iMac, Dell Laptop

Software:

Guitar, bass, and vocals recorded in Tracktion 2.1. Drums recorded in Digital Performer 4.5. Mixing and production in DP. Amplitube 1 and Amplitube 2 were used for guitar and bass.

Samples used from Freesound:
SiSePuede.aif ( http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/samplesViewSingle.php?id=18649 )

Comments

	said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	This tune Rocks!! The vocal style/tone right away reminded me of Rage Against the Machine. Can't comment on the mix 'cause I'm listening on my PB, but it sounds good. Have to D/L and listen at home. Post more of these!!

Tiny_Man_Inside	Tiny_Man_Inside said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	thanks! my advice to you since you downloaded it is to burn it on a CD and listen to it in your car LOUD! Check out my latest song called Imagined Flight (w/ alackbass, The Composer, and Robert Betrus)

perceptualvortex	perceptualvortex said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	Yeah rocks, totally reminded me of RATM, with that style of singing and rocking. Everyone does a great job here... I noticed the fine drumming and guitaring most of all, but everything is solid, and very nice mix. I very much dug this well written, expertly recorded rockout. Check out my latest song called Mercury (RPM 6)

	said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	Rockin' Great song. Very good arrangement, fits vocals very well. Great guitar throughout, and mix is very good. This song really rocks

moorlandt	moorlandt said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	I love the variation Very uncommon, surprising and grabbing piece. Some parts remind me of the Chili Peppers, but the whole track goes in a completely other direction. Something I easily listen to more than once, and that's my ultimate definition of good music :-) Walter Check out my latest song called Free (remix)

The Composer	The Composer said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	Was there ever any doubt? Its finally up and rocking! Now all we're waiting for is the song that we originally started working on :P Everybody listen to this loud! Check out my latest song called Blood Is Boiling (By Faeble)

Tiny_Man_Inside	Tiny_Man_Inside said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)
	Was there ever any doubt? It's kinda funny how the song that started our collaboration isn't finished yet. Can't wait to finish that one. --- Vicariously I live, while the whole world dies.... Check out my latest song called Imagined Flight (w/ alackbass, The Composer, and Robert Betrus)

AEROjet	AEROjet said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	sahweeet Dynasty Warriors meets Rage against the Machine... Nice guitar, nice production Check out my latest song called You Got Me (remix)

Tiny_Man_Inside	Tiny_Man_Inside said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)
	sahweeet I've never heard the Dynasty Warriors before. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the comment, much appreciated. --- Vicariously I live, while the whole world dies.... Check out my latest song called Imagined Flight (w/ alackbass, The Composer, and Robert Betrus)

happygemini3	happygemini3 said 2557 days ago (May 23rd, 2006)
	whoa!!! RATM meets Downset meets Urban Dance Squad.... nice rebellious work....a slammin track....where's the pit man?? makes me wanna punch something....NO NOT THE EMAC!!!! Check out my latest song called spaceman vs. astronaut

krismacqueen	krismacqueen said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)
	wow super production, playing and song craft. Very solid stuff. I love the high energy and constructive anger. Check out my latest song called Song for Rob

Tiny_Man_Inside

Tiny_Man_Inside said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)

From the Ikabod Pain Thread
In the interest of keeping all the comments in one place, I have posted Ikabod Pain's review of Stain on the Flag here:

Ik ran this through ever sound portal at Ik's disposal and while the radio effect on the vocal was a bit too much on the thin side Ik was very impressed with the mix and the performances.

Rapcore is a hard genre to do mainly because these guys Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and
Brad Wilk owned it, ruled it and invented it, even though they drew from earlier metallic instrumentation. Ik suspects all musicians do this to some degree.

There are moments when the guitar in this piece reminds Ik of the band Deep Purple. So kudos for that.

And as this style of music was being determined it was in fact the guitar playing of Tom Morello that set the standard by which all would be judged. Is your guitar player Tom? Only in their wet dreams BUT he or she still did an excellent job staying true to the style of this music.

The predominant instrument in this genre is the electric guitar. Drums are also a basis of this style of music because they sustain the rhythm of the music, and create an energetic drive that keeps the music flowing.

Ik mentions some of these things for one reason and one reason only. This piece of music pulls it off in grand fashion.

The bass runs and mix was spot on.

Vocally Ik felt (keep in mind Ik's feelings about the effects applied to them) could have been more affective had those effects not been so overly done. In other words the vocal was well suited for this piece just not effected properly. And that is what kept this piece from a full four sets a bouncing.

So MPIR

Oh yea the drums. Don't touch a thing. They weren't too wet and yet not too dry. Properly placed beats and well balanced. Twisted Evil

Check out my latest song called Imagined Flight (w/ alackbass, The Composer, and Robert Betrus)

The Composer

The Composer said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)

From the Ikabod Pain Thread
For the record... there were three bouncing blondes and one stationary
blondes included in the Ikhabod rating. Can't get too much better than that. :
D

---
Screw my stuff, listen to <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20963">Loyd Vader</a> and <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/21082">Tiny_Man_Inside</a>

Check out my latest song called Blood Is Boiling (By Faeble)

weitermitfahrer	weitermitfahrer said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)
	wow great job guys...as much as I don't want to 'blow' sunshine up your ass..Great tune. Are those drums live? loops? Programmed? Roland Vdrums? Awesome. Keep at it. The only constructive critisism is that in the begining the vocals seem slightly rushed..It might just be me..I'll be listening to it several more times so I could be wrong. Check out my latest song called Exo theme #1

Tiny_Man_Inside

Tiny_Man_Inside said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)

wow
Thanks for the support. I'll let Bryan comment on the drums...

Regarding the vocals - Huy and I wrote this song in 1997 and originally recorded it at a slower tempo. We were talking about speeding things up a bit and discussed with Bryan and he sent us some drum tracks at different tempos. Huy (vocalist) is coming off an 8 year lay-off in recording, so he's still getting his timing back, just like I'm still trying to get my guitar chops back. Considering the long lay-off and the increased tempo, I think he did a wonderful job. We agree the first part of the first verse is a little choppy, but he's rounding back into shape at a rapid rate. I think we'll re-record that section of the song to smooth it out for the official "finished" piece.

Mason

---
Vicariously I live, while the whole world dies....

Check out my latest song called Imagined Flight (w/ alackbass, The Composer, and Robert Betrus)

weitermitfahrer

weitermitfahrer said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)

wow
great, Yea I know the feeling..this past year I got back together with my vocalist from my college days and yep I know that feeling of trying to play that stuff again.

Right on man..I dig his vocal styling and sound. Yea it's easy to compare the sound to rage against the machine but you got something else in there that can't quite put my finger on..I like it!

Check out my latest song called Exo theme #1

The Composer

The Composer said 2555 days ago (May 25th, 2006)

Regarding the drums
To do with the drumming, although I do own both a drum kit and recording
equipment, I don't actually own enough equipment to record a whole drumkit
and not all of the drumkit sounds good when recorded.

I'm not going to go into too much detail, but I record what parts of the
drumkit I can and the rest is either midi triggered samples or programmed.
Idealy though, without me telling you so, you would hopefully just assume
they were real. :D

---
Screw my stuff, listen to <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20963">Loyd Vader</a> and <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/21082">Tiny_Man_Inside</a>

Check out my latest song called Blood Is Boiling (By Faeble)

FEEL	FEEL said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)
	Great job the three of you... Haunts me a bit of "Rage Against the Machine". Nice changes, drums are great, vocals are right on and a powerful message.. We need to take our country back and not let it become a lie... John Check out my latest song called I Want Emoticon

FEEL	FEEL said 2556 days ago (May 24th, 2006)
	Great job the three of you... Oh yeah... the guitar rocks! Check out my latest song called I Want Emoticon

	said 2556 days ago (May 25th, 2006)
	Great music... but the lyrics are mindless tripe. Later!

Tiny_Man_Inside

Tiny_Man_Inside said 2555 days ago (May 25th, 2006)

to each their own
Of course you have a right to your own opinion. It would have been nice to hear more of a critique regarding why you think it is tripe, and furthermore why you feel it is mindless. But, I respect the fact that you may feel this way.

While the song was originally written 9 years ago, I personally feel that it has just as much, if not more relevance now. The "war on our words" could easily be taken in the context of the recent actions of our attorney general Alberto Gonzales, who is threatening to make it illegal to report on classified information. Think about that for a second - if you are a reporter, could go to jail for reporting on our government using torture at Gitmo... That, my friend, is the very definition of war on words.

---
"Tempted the devil with my song... and got what I wanted all along" - Maynard

Check out my latest song called Imagined Flight (w/ alackbass, The Composer, and Robert Betrus)

said 2555 days ago (May 25th, 2006)

to each their own
Mason & friends:

My bad. The hour was late and my back muscles were giving me fits and I
dislike anything that smacks of anarchy (the one thing worse than tyranny). I
wish I had written something more helpful, as I really do think your musical
chops are developed and on target here.

I notice you were quick to respond with critiques of two of my own pieces.
They were balanced and restrained, which, in the face of my earlier comment,
display a surprizing amount of generosity. For this I thank you!

Rock on!

Macaudion

Macaudion said 2555 days ago (May 25th, 2006)

Okay I'm listening to this for the third round
And I'm dign' everything about it, but I have to ask - Is there someone
playing drums on this - Of course this is where I gravitate - And you
didn't really mention the drumming or drummer - Regardless, it is the
def drive - Don't get me wrong, I think that the vocals are very solid
and keep things rockn' centerstage - right on! - The 'tar work is spot
on; raising hell, but not stealing the show - although it could have if
the drums didn't have such the gravl' pull for me - the bass is hunken
chunkin w/ bigger than bite sized pieces - very nice indeed - But the
drums are clearn' a wide assed path for the rest to travel - Just freakn'
driven' - Man - Very nice work guys - As solid as rock can be - Keep
on jammn' - Thanks - Dion

Check out my latest song called Pavel

The Composer

The Composer said 2555 days ago (May 25th, 2006)

Okay I'm listening to this for the third round
Hey Cydniko, that would be me on drums. And as I mentioned previously
parts of the drumkit are actually live but I don't have the facillities to record it
all though so some of them are midi triggered or programmed samples.

Glad you liked them!

---
Screw my stuff, listen to <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20963">Loyd Vader</a> and <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/21082">Tiny_Man_Inside</a>

Check out my latest song called Blood Is Boiling (By Faeble)

outlier	outlier said 2555 days ago (May 25th, 2006)
	to get away from the rage comparisons i kinda liked the pinch harmonic vibratto additions that very much deviates from all of the RATM comparisons ... jives more with a mr. wylde kind of approach. (not that I don't very much like the stuff that does sound consistent with RATM flavor.) Check out my latest song called sprung

Tiny_Man_Inside

Tiny_Man_Inside said 2554 days ago (May 26th, 2006)

Another Review, This time from my father
Thought it would be funny to include this here. Obviously I don't agree with his assessment of the drums, but otherwise I thought it was pretty funny:
----------------
OK, I don't know what this type of music is "supposed" to sound like but here goes. I cannot get behind that drumming. It sounds like some guy has tripped and fallen into his drum kit and the more he tries to correct himself he knocks over another snare, or cymbal, or sticks his foot thru the kick drum. The vocals are way too dry for my taste as well. If they are going to be that dry, I would think they'd sound a little better further back in the mix. Wee's delivery is spot on and I don't see where moving the vocal back would affect the overall impact.

The song is extremely interesting in the way it is put together. I like the idea of so many different things going on. The guitars are great.....throughout..........no cliches, I like the way the tempo slides down near the end, smooth change. Harmonies sound spot on in the 3 places I picked them up. Don't know if that's Wee w/ Wee or Wee w/you, but they're solid. I don't have to say anything about Wee's lyrics. I'm obviously on his side, I certainly don't want that pissed off Vietnamese boy pissed at me. Incidentally he looks like something from "It Came From Outer Space" in that photo on the Macjams site. You, on the other hand, look like a serial killer. The other guy looks like he's trying too hard. Wee's lyrics also READ WELL, as poetry.

Check out my latest song called Imagined Flight (w/ alackbass, The Composer, and Robert Betrus)

The Composer	The Composer said 2554 days ago (May 26th, 2006)
	I certainly don't want that pissed off Vietnamese boy pissed at me... Cut me deep Mr. Wolak, cut me deep. That stuff about Huy is gold though! :D --- Screw my stuff, listen to <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20963">Loyd Vader</a> and <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/21082">Tiny_Man_Inside</a> Check out my latest song called Blood Is Boiling (By Faeble)

datafunk	datafunk said 2554 days ago (May 26th, 2006)
	hey guys that was gorgeous, thumbs up, votes up, keep it up! Check out my latest song called Dr Lioli vs the seven blender army (feat Dr Lioli as himself)

screamalexz

screamalexz said 2554 days ago (May 26th, 2006)

rage?
like the lyrics, i heard this on pyro radio and listening again now. its very rage against the machine, but so much so that i thought it was intell i looked at the artist listed. ofcourse if the singer is actually the singer from rage then that won't bother me so much, otherwise its just a little too much the same. do like the politics, awsome guitar. high energy. great song i think.

Check out my latest song called Broken Spirit

ktb

ktb said 2552 days ago (May 28th, 2006)

add my vote
many deep kudo's on an awesome track. its simply one of the best
submissions I've heard here at MJ. the production quality is
astonishing. someone in the pipeline here is a master mix braintrust.
the guitars literally jump out of my speakers, and they are soooo thick!
awesome tones used through out. the vocal is really awesome, loved
the quick megaphone effect. I also never seen this side of Bryan before!
would love to know how he recorded the drum tracks! peace John

Check out my latest song called Blackwater (by Tokai)

Einarus	Einarus said 2552 days ago (May 28th, 2006)
	Nope... No complaints here. If I said I had some, I'd be lying. Really, really cool. -E Check out my latest song called Preparation

Mcboy	Mcboy said 2551 days ago (May 29th, 2006)
	funky work here guys......love the guitar sonics very much.....drumming is spectacular....vocals just right ......truly well done rock......more power to u!!!!!!! Check out my latest song called Bluesphemy (MJRF 2010)

_nderscore	_nderscore said 2549 days ago (May 31st, 2006)
	tiny man.. BIG f___ing sound. niiice tune guys Check out my latest song called glyd

_nderscore	_nderscore said 2549 days ago (May 31st, 2006)
	tiny man.. BIG f___ing sound. niiice tune guys Check out my latest song called glyd

_nderscore	_nderscore said 2549 days ago (May 31st, 2006)
	tiny man.. dagnabbit! Check out my latest song called glyd

loyd vader

loyd vader said 2547 days ago (June 2nd, 2006)

as if this isnt fucking amazing
well done guys !!!!!!!!!!
im loving every second of it, and you know this............maaaan !!
the drops are fat and lyrically concientious and do sound a lot like zach de la rocha but what can u do. as usual the composer comes to the table bringing a hand that consists of a royal flush production wise. the bass is so close to bottoming out on my stereo but that means jack as i believe my stereo sux. but i will put it out there. cant wait for the other collab!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out my latest song called im not lazy, im just tired

	said 2545 days ago (June 4th, 2006)
	NIBBLES This totally rocked my jibbler!

	said 2545 days ago (June 4th, 2006)
	NIBBLES This totally rocked my jibbler!

	said 2545 days ago (June 4th, 2006)
	NIBBLES This totally rocked my jibbler!

	said 2545 days ago (June 4th, 2006)
	NIBBLES This totally rocked my jibbler!

breezer	breezer said 2545 days ago (June 4th, 2006)
	This makes me Rage against the machine! Very cool! Rock On! Check out my latest song called Twelve-21-Twelve

	said 2543 days ago (June 6th, 2006)
	YES! The guitar tone is killa and yes this does sound exactly like Rage! The only beef I have is to maybe be more original. The guitar in places sounds a little out of time with the drums. Besides that you guys sound like a Rage Against The Machine cover band. Originality is the key gentlemen!

Tadashi Togawa	Tadashi Togawa said 2533 days ago (June 17th, 2006)
	Pavilion of fear. I timidly enter the pavilion. Living room of the dark. The sound blows up underground. You three people appeared. Check out my latest song called Mexican taste

annalia	annalia said 2519 days ago (June 30th, 2006)
	Rockin Loud I think this would be good one to send to Neil Young for Living With War Today. Check out my latest song called freakshow

craft	craft said 2507 days ago (July 12th, 2006)
	RAGE!!! The guitar is like a mchine gun shooting reall good notes this one does sound exactly like Rage! Love the vocals.. The emcee is real good.. Dig this one... Check out my latest song called Valarty & AJ Craft - Burn (Alternative version)

DeRocK	DeRocK said 2440 days ago (September 17th, 2006)
	WoNDeRFuL ...you can eat a dick for you clarity... ... and you can fuck off for you awsomeness... ...be more seriouse and you will find my beside you in this war of thoughts... and dont forget, were all in this together. sry, every thing above this is my crazy nature saying you are kool, grow up : ) Great song! Check out my latest song called Feck'in IPod

AquilA	AquilA said 2440 days ago (September 17th, 2006)
	Full Speed Ahead Really kickin' tune with the soul of Rage Against the Machine. Great production and performances. Terrific tone on the guitars. Check out my latest song called Bounce Buffet w/ Hectorious

futzpucker

futzpucker said 2434 days ago (September 23rd, 2006)

You're definitely not gonna be silenced
This song works on many levels. It obviously rocks like an avalanche. I has
something to say, and it says it without equivocation. It sounds like you
guys have played with each other for years, and you know what the others
are thinking before they think it. And this is very very well produced - the
sound is great.

Overall, an a$$-kicking success.

Check out my latest song called Just As It Is

Slashh!	Slashh! said 2377 days ago (November 19th, 2006)
	If no one had told me otherwise... ...I would have bet dollars to donuts this was a RATM tune that somehow snuck past me. Scary good lyrics. Check out my latest song called Days Not Realized

gregd	gregd said 2365 days ago (December 1st, 2006)
	Yes! The vox are a touch hard to hear in spots, but I like this much. I could guess your influences, but what's the point? I like your sound despite who you may sound like. Keep up and I'll tell the Thought Police on you. ; ) -g Check out my latest song called 08nov08

alanfraser	alanfraser said 2340 days ago (December 26th, 2006)
	It rocked but I seriously doubt this generation will take to the streets unless the draft is reinstated. Nevertheless, the tune delivers the message with great punch to match the content. Very cool. Check out my latest song called Too Much or Not Enough - Live at 20th Century

	said 2134 days ago (July 21st, 2007)
	nice first album rage... not the heavily played stuff... the stuff i heard in seattle in 92...very very cool... again, the guitars are thin... but i am being picky... gerat tune!!!!!!!!!! tell me to shut up!!!!!!!!!!!

	said 2109 days ago (August 14th, 2007)
	mildly rage... i hear the definite influence. but huy's vocals are much more palateable (if i could spell it). i love this track! it has it all, especially the production! killer tune guys!

davisamerica	davisamerica said 1995 days ago (December 6th, 2007)
	right then again yeah some deep purple and chilli peppers too...but just a really outstanding track...hats off gents Check out my latest song called 12

Fan List

Artist Info

Name: Tiny_Man_Inside
Location: DC/NYC USA

Mason Wolak - guitars, bass, backing vocals Bryan Anderson - drums, percussion, production Huy Dao - vocals, lyrics, saltiness Mason Wolak is the first member of Tiny Man Inside to join MacJams. In addition to writing/playing/recording... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

More songs in Rock:

Chat

Bowman	83
PeterB7858	31
Symphony101	39
Warren Smith	100