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Via Negativa

by Z-Sides

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    The debut album from Z-Sides in high-quality WAV format.
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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Midlothian, Beams, Truth to Tell, Body Luminous, Tracks in the Sand, Ad Infinitum, V, Prehistoric Phone, and 4 more. , and , .

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1.
PREHISTORIC PHONE Does anybody hear this? Is the signal getting through? The bearer of a message nobody’s listening to Has it been encrypted? Did they crack the code? Give birth to an answer before you grow too old 3… 2… 1… It’s a long way to heaven Does anybody see this? The view is so to die A forest in flames, an atomic sky And if you find my fingerprints buried underground Just think of me in my youth, a man about town 3… 2… 1… It’s a long way to heaven You gotta chance it all - It’s prehistoric! Seemed like a bright idea a long time ago Now like a bad connection, it never took hold Does anybody hear this? Is the signal getting through? The bearer of a message nobody’s talking to Does anybody know you? Does anybody care? Is anybody out there? Is anybody in here? 3… 2… 1… It’s a long way to heaven You gotta not give up – It’s prehistoric! Seemed like a bright idea a long long time ago Now like a bad connection, it never took hold. Can we get a new one? Listen for the call… Why don’t you dial up an answer before the signal drops?
2.
WORKING CLASS ZERO Another day starts as the last one did, foggy-eyed wide, bright of mind If it’s ever too late for a little shut-eye, it’s too early for coffee-cide Go punch that clock, go turn that crank, go write another word If I could move those hands from bad to good by killing the clock, I would I wanna take it up, I wanna shake it up, I wanna break it up – It means nothing to me! I wanna cut it off, I wanna black it out, I wanna throw it up – Oh come on, let me be! I’ll tell you all you ever needed to know about how to live like a working class zero! Flung together so far, driven to the edge apart How can I unriddle the inscrutable algorithm of the heart? Don’t you wonder, does it have to be quite like that? How can I relax? How can I keep cool? Am I just another number up to be added, line upon line, they wanna give you – Easy money… Easy money… And you’re a working class honey, right down to your shoes! That girl’s got the working man blues – a working class zero with nothing to lose Except everything… All I’ve got… It’s all or nothing… What else does it mean to be a working class zero? Used to be a time in the bad old days when everybody did what the king would say Walk a hundred miles to the sacred place so they can pay their good dues Is it natural evolution at work for a man to trade everything he’s worth? Caught between a hard place and a rock, better watch your back, better stand your guard Because they made it up, yeah they made it up They turned it inside out and gave it up They’ve got you all burned out and broken in two A working class zero ain’t nobody’s fool! They made it up, oh yeah they made it up What was the truth as it stood not good enough? Took a long time to unburden my shoes – A working class zero with nothing to prove!
3.
CAUSE & EFFECT When I was young and had it figured out… I didn’t know what I was talking about Now that I’m older and my talk is fine Oh how I wish I could go back in time! You used to run as if you were one of the best Another downer just like all the rest! Cause & Effect, Cause & Effect - Cause & Effect, Cause &… When you are taking time to be alone You can’t stop looking at your telephone Was there a message that you shoulda read? Another strategy to get ahead? So cold and lonely when you sleep at night Right kinda lovin’ mighta saved your life Cause & Effect, Cause & Effect - Cause & Effect, Cause &… I’m so heavy, you’re so heavy, everybody’s heavy - Get this show on the road! I’m so lazy, you’re so lazy, everybody’s lazy - Get this show on the road! [CHORUS] I’m so happy and you’re so happy and everybody’s happy - Get this show on the road! I’m so crazy and you’re so crazy and everybody’s crazy - Get this show on the road! I’m so angry you’re so angry everybody’s angry - Get this show on the road! I’m so sorry and you’re so sorry and everybody’s sorry - Get this show on the road! Look at all the rich folks Drowning in their good luck Dressed up in their good looks Giving us their dirty looks If you’re feeling down and you don’t know why Don’t try to point your finger at the other guy! Life’s a string of unintended consequences… [CHORUS]  
4.
APROPOS OF NOTHING Apropos of nothing, what are you thinking of When you lay down in the grass and watch the stars above? Free to make your way to another love Oh maybe we’ll forget about it in the long run… Honey, if I didn’t know you, I’d say you were lost in the clouds Better off there than somewhere sitting all by yourself! Apropos of nothing, what are you trying to prove Beating up yourself like there’s nothing else to do? Oh will it be ok if I say these words to you? Maybe we’ll forget about how little words can do… Honey, if I didn’t know you, I’d say you were lost to the world Trying to follow in someone’s footsteps - so much better than on your own! Honey, if I didn’t know you, I’d say you were lost in the dust Trying to breathe while you cover your mouth, singing songs to yourself Could it be that maybe someday, when we’re down the road a spell, After time works its healing wonder, we’d be better with someone else? Would we be better with someone else…? Apropos of nothing…
5.
Catalogue 05:59
CATALOGUE You! You think you are a tough guy Like to strut your stuff guy Everybody’s had enough, guy You’re on ‘em like a bloodhound The streets are like your playground Won’t stop until you take them down… You! You think you are the street king Inside you are a weakling Trying not to show it to the world You’re feeling pretty low-down Got some shit to work out Need someone to kick around Are you feeling better now? You! You’re picking on the weak kids The small and on the meek kids Hoping that nobody’s gonna see… You! You better look inside, man Won’t like what you will find, man ‘Cuz karma’s gonna take you far It’s gonna leave a scar Woulda been better where you are… All the things I never got to say to you… A list as long as my broken arm… Places that we never got away to… Fill the pages of an empty catalogue…
6.
(AFTER THE) FADEOUT Was that not you I just heard calling from beyond the sea? The night-time sky clouds have all blown away just like me And you know I got it all wrong… After the flood, follows the reckoning when you think it might never rain Hold the moon in your two hands and watch it fade to the sea And I know we got it all wrong… That’s all that you left after the fadeout… Some silences make a deafening sound Some sidelong glances whiplash your head around And follow you down into the ground… That’s all that you left after the fadeout…
7.
LUCKY TO BE A LIGHTWEIGHT You’re lucky to be a lightweight… Thoughts unceasing through you flow Here one moment, then they go Every quote you ever misspoke is ringing in your ears Either you don’t talk fast enough, Or else you never shut up Sacred church of the little lost bird just swallowing your song Nothing ever gets to you But nothing ever quite gets through We could talk about it for a million years, what’s the use? Your mind’s made up, as if we needed more proof! You’re lucky to be a lightweight You’re lucky to be a lightweight Not just anyone would have gone one and done, no, just you… Lucky to be a lightweight… Life sits lightly on your shoulders, how do you get away with that? When the skies open up and shit on your head, Somehow you let it roll off your back Your head hangs heavy like a boulder How do you stand the weight of it? When the wind blows through your soul The sound of emptiness somehow fits Nothing ever gets to you But nothing ever quite gets through We could dance around it for a thousand years, what’s the use? You’re lucky to be a lightweight You’re lucky to be a lightweight Not just anyone would could have gotten nothing done oh so soon… Lucky to be a lightweight… Wisdom filled with empty words Prettiest lies you ever heard Can’t just circle the square anywhere… Nothing ever gets to you But nothing ever quite gets through… We could dance around it for a thousand miles… We could talk about it through a million empty smiles… You’re lucky to be a lightweight…
8.
Choked Up 02:34
CHOKED UP Time out! No time to take right now! Hey you! Why do you scream and shout?? Did you forget what it was all about? I don’t know how you do it There’s got to be more – more to it How do you hold it all together when - When it’s altogether ending? Try to get a word in edgewise Try to put in a word in for you All the words get stuck like glue Somewhere inside Just another day Crooked tooth Tongue-tied People!! What do they talk about? Why do I feel the need to scream and shout it? Is that the best that I can do? Try to get a word in edgewise… Try to put a word in for you… All the words get stuck like glue somewhere inside Just another day ending… Another bad dream trying not to Remember when you still had it Button your lip, get a grip and knock it out!! You gotta do it!! Just another day ending Another broken soul mending, too Turn away like you mean it! Try not to get so fucked up - choked up!
9.
V 04:07
V (instrumental)
10.
FOLLOW THE MONEY They don’t care what we say – Deeper pockets win the day Left or right, blue or red - what they do ain’t what they said! On the inside, trading stocks – Guarding the henhouse when they’re the fox! Giving speeches full of lies – pull the wool over our eyes Sea of red in the books – give the money to the crooks! Big fat checks for the well-connected Buying favors, whatever the flavor Highest bidder buys the votes – Shove it down the people’s throats Empty suits bought and sold – Zombies of the capital! Follow the Money – Follow the Money!! They don’t care what we say – Deeper pockets win the day Left or right, red or blue – we the people, we all get screwed Big donations… Govern the nation… Big donations… Govern the nation… You know they do! Follow the Money – Follow the Money!!
11.
Undertones 05:35
UNDERTONES Well I see that your lips are moving, but your words don’t sound right. Perhaps there’s some way to put it that will make everything fine? I could not hold myself back if it meant holding all of my thoughts inside… Sounds like you’ve got a problem with me and my problems don’t lie You’ve had it – I’m lacking I’m lost – trying to find my way back in Through all the undertones… Well in a new mode of operating, we might never have fought Once the heart has been broken, the heart cannot be bought I took you so long to make up your mind and even having the thought – at all – Means all we had has been lost, and it was lost from the start Don’t doubt it – Don’t shout it You’re still gone and I’m still hearing about it Through all the undertones… If all you say is everything has meanings within meanings How do I craft the perfect comeback without coughing up your next attack? People like we are, it seems, sometimes are born for the loss Rising above your station won’t make you the boss Lead set to melt, boil it down and scrape off the dross Carrying on your back the weight of it all Oh, don’t stop it, don’t drop it This story’s not done yet, as long as you’re trying to top it What an icy truth to say that you’re free to go All that was and all that is and all that ever will be Drowned out in the undertones… I’m hearing all the words that don’t say nothing anymore It’s all just meanings within meanings within meanings within meanings Your life’s been decimated Your love’s been desecrated Your world is desiccated Nothing is consecrated The darkness permeated Your hope emaciated Ooohh.. the undertones….
12.
Made Right 06:35
MADE RIGHT The metal bent, the lies sworn, the paper torn, the hair shorn… All things made right… In the fullness of time… The fabric ripped, the well dried, the fuel spent, the keyed side The open wound, the glass half-broken The words misspoken, or never sent… All things made right… In the fullness of time… All things made right… In the fullness of time… All darkness made bright… In the fullness of time… All weights made light… In the fullness of time…

about

Z-Sides formed in the spring of 2013 in Redwood City, CA. The result of a chance encounter between like-minded musicians, original band-members Lane Pianta (Vox/Gtr), Don Meadows (Gtr) and Steve Chait (Drums) began applying themselves to the process of writing original songs that would resonate personally for them and with their circle of friends. Joined that summer by Sam Cabral on bass, the band began to play live shows locally. In September of 2013, Z-Sides began recording what would eventually become their debut album, Via Negativa. Translated as ‘by way of negation’, this title references an attempt to articulate the hard truths of life by hacking away at persistent falsehoods, whether they take the form of unsatisfying personal relationships, ineffective public policy, or the more insidious guise of private doubts and misgivings. Halfway through the recording process, Sam rotated out and the band was joined by Chris Barnett, who saw through recording the remaining six songs on the album.

credits

released September 30, 2015

Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Riley Bradley at RHL in Redwood City, CA. Mastered by Vince Hudson. Album art by Andy Curione and Mike Boland. All songs copyright 2015, Z-Sides.

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Z-Sides California

.datum. is the solo moniker of Bay Area singer-songwriter Lane Pianta, who also records under the band name Z-Sides. A completely independent operation – Lane has benefited greatly from the support of a group of very talented musicians, as well as collaborators in other artistic spheres.

Thank you all for supporting original rock 'n' roll!!
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