Pretty Don't

tempie

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Description

Musically, this is the B side to Reno. Still in that kind of side stage at the carnival indie rock mode, this time feeling firehose and pavement along with the elephant six. For the end I wish I had a basement full of stoners to sing along, at that point you know when the buzz is peaking and the world is beautiful and dripping with meaning. Just before it goes to shit. Lyrically well this is about beautiful girls, I like them, which is like saying 'i don't like aneurysms' but it is what it is, 99% of life is obvious. But this isn't about liking them, it's about crashing into the reality of them, that awful moment when you realize that beautiful girls do not shit rainbows and unicorns. This is of course a male moment but you don't have to be a guy to enjoy the tune.

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Lyrics

smile
you got pieces of me in your teeth
it's been a while
since i seen hide nor hair of me

you're pretty but pretty don't pay the bills

you try
like conseco at a swap meet
then you cry
'cause your not a celebrity

you're pretty but pretty don't pay the bills

pretty is as pretty does
i'd knock down your door
for a smile or kind word

Song Stats

Hits: 1183
Comments: 43
Fans: 19
Plays: 54
Downloads: 31

Uploaded: May 19, 2011 - 10:00:20 PM
Last Updated: May 19, 2011 - 10:05:27 PM Last Played: Mar 02, 2013 - 07:32:03 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

Pretty (29), Jose Conseco (1), Unicorns (3), Short (118)

Hardware:

Delta King, Fender Bassmaster, Ovation Acoustic, pots and pans, Tambourine, wood block, odds and ends in the basement

Software:

GB08 (it has antique plates now)

Comments

jdholliday	jdholliday said 762 days ago (May 19th, 2011)
	wow pretty cool! I'm loving the Forest Gumpesque line "Pretty is as pretty does'! Great production! Check out my latest song called Please Help, Pride of NYC needs tracks!

tempie

tempie said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)

Forest Gump
a movie where the entire premise is that the perfect citizen is a guy too mentally retarded to ask questions that would make him unhappy. ridiculous, yet strangely logical. thinking about it now, that 'pretty is as pretty does' probably DID come from some brain cell imprinted by forest gump. the hegemony, it's everywhere!

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

michael2

michael2 said 762 days ago (May 20th, 2011)

ha
'i don't like aneurysms' - that should be another song title. I totally hear the Firehose/Elephant 6 thing. I know I haven't been very present here at MJ in a little while, but damn your recordings are sounding nice these days. this is really impressive (and catchy as hell). If this had come out on Drag City it would be sitting in my CD collection right now. awesome track.

Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

tempie	tempie said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	drag city how i wish. red glitter vinyl. like a 70's cycle helmet. i could die happy. who am i kidding, i'd die happy right now. i mean i'd rather not but... Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

michael2	michael2 said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	ha I have a boxful of EPs that I did with this band that were on silver glitter vinyl (recorded on 4 track of course). crazy part? I can't even remember the name of the label that put it out (and they were pretty cool in my world at the time). Oh wait, just remembered: Krown Pocket. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

RAVENS	RAVENS said 762 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	Funky Nope, pretty don't pay the bills unless you're a stripper, hehe. Awesome track, love the little solo break at 1:30, that was neat. Great vocals as well, short but sweet! RAVEN ;-) Check out my latest song called Tattooed Scars (w/ Sigmund, Scofugate, Rok41)

tempie	tempie said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	i can count the pretty strippers i've met on one hand although i had two in my classes back when i was teaching that paid for their entire college education with 'tips and tips alone'. thanks for the listen girl glad you liked it Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

racerat	racerat said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	Pretty Don't Craig, Killer killer killer. Love it. Complex, funky and totally whacked out. You should have called it "sh*tting rainbows"...;-) Production is killer. Mix...yup...killer. Nice. RR Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

tempie	tempie said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	complex, funky, and totally whacked out if i was single, i'd use that for my craigslist ad. 'should have called it sh*tting rainbows' ha you're right, that would have been perfect. glad you liked it man. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

racerat	racerat said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	Wait... I was just listening to this song and was suddenly hit by it's marked similarity to work by The Minutemen. It was that real D. Boone and Mike Watt vibe to it! RR Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

tempie	tempie said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	i love the minutemen and i wrote this big explanation of why and then realized that you already know why or you wouldn't have taken the time to leave the comment. Thanks dude. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

egobandit	egobandit said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	Ok First let me say what universe are you really from, The continuity the subtle accent that ad to the changes. The phrasing in your vocals, pretty don't pay bill, perfect! Tempie fix relieved! Check out my latest song called piece it together

tempie	tempie said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	the tempie universe man when I was thirteen I was caught unawares in the rock and roll vibe emanated by a 250 lb senior giving her boyfriend a hickey on the hood of his camaro while joan jett blared from the pioneer speakers. i stopped, stared, and she winked at me. and tempie was born. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

michael2	michael2 said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	whoa that story is so frikking hot, I just got a woodie. I bet her name was Lisa. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

tempie	tempie said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	no way man her name was tempest but everybody called her tempie Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 761 days ago (May 20th, 2011)
	pretty does it dang Craig....... this is dynamite. i really dig the push and pull action. pretty cool diverse eclectic action going on here. man, i so dig this one. Check out my latest song called They Must

tempie	tempie said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	thanks man i'm always thinking, 'what's my sound'? and i find a little bit here and there but it always has to be different, whatever that means. i try to scrap all the obvious metaphors. sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, really glad it worked this time and that you liked it. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

dave_b	dave_b said 759 days ago (May 22nd, 2011)
	Pretty Don't I like this line "you got pieces of me in your teeth". The funky bass and fast strumming work well together, the stops keep attention focused. I think though, that pretty does pay the bills all too often. Check out my latest song called Llarions Blues

tempie	tempie said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	nah that's the myth it doesn't make it easy, just a different kind of hard. glad you liked it man thanks for the listen Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

jfisenne	jfisenne said 759 days ago (May 22nd, 2011)
	I like the funky crunchiness of the background chords, particularly in the beginning (hey man, I'm not a real musician so that's my best description). Cool tune! Check out my latest song called She's One Of The Walking Dead

tempie	tempie said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	funky crunchiness works that's the combo of the strat and the semi hollow body layered up, the hb has a great big sound and the strat is nice and flat and edgy, together it sounds like one quality guitar vs two cheap ones lol. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

PeterB7858	PeterB7858 said 759 days ago (May 22nd, 2011)
	Infectious Hi Craig. The picture is worth the price of admission. I'm writing a cheque out as we speak :-) This is just fantastic! The syncopated madness is infectious. Just too cool for school. Regards, Peter. Check out my latest song called Sailor's Warning w jiguma, Philip18

tempie	tempie said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	is it in the mail? i'll wait by the box glad you liked it dude thanks for the listen. 'infectious' - see mom, washing your hands IS a waste of time! Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

finkeldink	finkeldink said 759 days ago (May 22nd, 2011)
	Excellent groove Nice head bobbin beat. Nice randomness in spots. good job keeping it all cohesive. Very cool! Check out my latest song called The Trader (Curtain Call- with Loob and egodays)

tempie	tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	when they give away a tempie bobble head doll at the bank when you open a checking account that's when i'll know i've made it. glad you appreciate the randomness! Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

gadzooks	gadzooks said 759 days ago (May 22nd, 2011)
	Cool tune I really like what you've done with this. It real funky especially at around 1:02 the bass and drums kick in the funk here and then the cool guitar parts come in with that wacky electric solo with acoustic riding underneath near the end. Great lyrics ,,, it's all good. SG Check out my latest song called Coulda Shoulda

tempie	tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	i too, lived in an apartment building i miss the fire escape. fire escapes have a kind of atmosphere that is not recreateable in a house. glad you liked it man thanks Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	A Basement Full of Stoners.. ... is the Tempie Sound. Downloaded. Check out my latest song called She Was Nowhere

tempie	tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	abasementfullofstoners is the next HBS good enough for a ringtone change? Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

billykirsch	billykirsch said 758 days ago (May 23rd, 2011)
	Pretty don't pay the bills I see pretty here as a metaphor for intelligence, skill, art, or any talent in general. (The girl in the art must have payed some bills with her looks btw, but you already covered the topic). Short, wicked and catchy. How do you do that? Ah, talent... Check out my latest song called Everything

tempie	tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	pretty as metaphor that's anita ekberg. you haven't seen la dulce vita? see it! it's my favorite movie just after l'atalante. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

PaddyNavinCaryatid	PaddyNavinCaryatid said 758 days ago (May 24th, 2011)
	Dude .. wow this is Tempie but it aint ... That Malkmus-esque fragility is way cool man, love the stabs of guitar and the crazy little lofi picks in the right ear. This is a new sound from you yet immediately recognisably you. One of your finest and way more than a b-side. Check out my latest song called Streetlight Confessional

tempie	tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	tempie don't pay the bills either the minute i clicked 'stop' on recording that solo i thought to myself, 'Paddy will dig this'. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

Soundhound	Soundhound said 757 days ago (May 25th, 2011)
	Good song.... But you should have gotten someone else to play the solo guitar, the song truly has potential on the Avon-garde side of things... Nice vocals and groove cool mix, solo needs help..... Check out my latest song called When You Are Here...With/ Patricia Edwards..

tempie	tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	hey that solo doesn't sound bad for a guy with two broken arms incurred from rolling the tempie camaro while trying to run down the last guy who criticized my guitar stylings. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

Relic67

Relic67 said 756 days ago (May 25th, 2011)

the tempie sound
I always appreciate the opportunity to roam around the Tempie sound-world... this is as fine an example of that as any. Lots of tasty moments.
Including the guitar solo! Don't hire another guitar player for that solo, unless it's Jandek... Love the creation myth re: the Tempie name, I don't care if that story is true or not, I choose to believe it!

Check out my latest song called Someone Else's Thing

tempie

tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)

the faith of a mustard seed
have you ever seen a mustard seed? me either. i don't think of mustard as coming from a seed but rather that yellow squeeze bottle. the faith of a squeeze bottle, i can live with that. but the story is true, i swear, you can believe it in good conscience. and i would totally hire jandek to play that solo. but first i'd have to leave the guitar outside in the rain for a couple days.

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

jiguma	jiguma said 756 days ago (May 25th, 2011)
	Love the description! This sounds terrific (and reminds me of a moment at high school - but that's another story). A song love-child of Mikki Nylund and Egobandit - clear as a bell and a lot of fun. Very nicely done! Cheers from Oz, Neil Check out my latest song called INTO THE BLUE

tempie	tempie said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	i actually LOOK like a combination of egobandit and mikki nylund, which makes me wonder... i'd like to hear that high school story. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

KCsGROOVE	KCsGROOVE said 756 days ago (May 26th, 2011)
	brilliant song! I like everything about it Cool drums, vocals, lyrics, arrangements... :-) totally cool Fav and download! KC Check out my latest song called I DON'T LIKE IT

SISTERS	SISTERS said 748 days ago (June 2nd, 2011)
	cool hook crazy music! you're pretty but pretty don't pay the bills - cool line! i like the way this jumps and jives. like that burbling bass, too. seriously enjoyed the instrumental break, anne Check out my latest song called UNIVERSAL SONG w Astronomusic & 24 Soloists

ktb	ktb said 748 days ago (June 2nd, 2011)
	Pretty Don't Off the charts, nuts crazy ass good. Your song descriptions are always as cool as the tunes. This blows me away. Love to know how you put it together. What came 1st, are you playing all this? Frankly, I'm a little embarrassed as to the sketchs I've sent you in the past. I would give anything to be able to write like this. Check out my latest song called Blackwater (by Tokai)

tempie

tempie said 747 days ago (June 3rd, 2011)

cookin with tempie
better looking than julia childs and spunkier than rachel ray. i'm always curious how people write too, i find that process stuff really interesting. anyway i always write the same way, every song. i start with the hook - usually the chorus will come to me while i'm mowing or driving or something, and i record it on my phone so i don't lose it. then i start thinking about lyrics, and as i get each line i put that in the phone too. once i've got one verse and a chorus i put it in GB with a really basic bass line and drum track. next comes the rhythm guitar, acoustic first and then electric. Once i've got the rhythm the way I want it I redo the bassline using the rhythm track as a guide. I redo the drums at the same time so then i've got the basic bassline and drums that i'm going to go forward with. then i add lead guitar. Whenever I record lead or rhythm i'll put six or seven tracks in, trying all kinds of ideas. Then i'll weed them out. At this time i'm really thinking about phrasing and i'll sketch the vocals around the various parts. Then i'll start arranging in earnest. I might have to go back and add some more guitar if I add a new section of the tune or whatever, but if i do i use the same process, acoustic first, then rhythm electric, then lead. By this time it's shaping up into what it's going to sound like 'for real' and i start to add bits here and there to flesh it out - some slap bass or funky synth or whatever. I add/delete a lot. Then i delete some more. There's a short story somewhere about a writer who edits his work into nothing, and then he's happy with it, and I always think of that story when i'm editing ha. Anyway I'm playing it alot on the monitors by now and adjusting EQ each listen. If something bothers me i'll redo it. When I have it musically exactly where I want it I do the final vocals, again, trying things out until it sounds the way I want it. I use crap equipment because I think crap equipment is charming, mostly because in trying to overcome a technical limitation of the equipment you usually draw something out of yourself that you hadn't intended and that adds honesty to the tune. Then I tinker with the whole thing until I think it's ready for MJ. Then I let it sit on MJ for about a month and then do a remix which I consider "final" and post it on my tempie site www.thetempiesound.com. so it's kind of the french chef approach. i'm fussy and exacting. and it's completely pointless from a practical viewpoint since nobody cares about any of it but me. however i think it's good work, which is worthwhile in and of itself, kind of like building a stone wall, i like to think when I do that of the people who will come along in a hundred years and wonder about the guy who built it, maybe a great grandchild will write a paper in school some day about their crazy great grandpa who wrote rock and roll tunes in his basement.

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

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ktb

Artist Info

Name: Craig Thomas
Location: Up there in the Blue Ridge VA United States

Tempie is the 00's equivalent of an 80's Tascam four track project, started by Craig Thomas in 2002. For-fun D.I.Y. pop influenced by 60's Teen Scene, 70's AM country, and 80's pop. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Tempie-Sound/10786... [see more]

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