How I Became the Bomb

Deadly Art

As each passing year shrivels like a worm in a bonfire, How I Became the Bomb endeavours to preserve the finer moments by releasing a compendium chronicling the works of the pop troupe. Like all good historians, the band intends to insure that history will be kind to them, for they intend to write it. Thus, with each year will come an ANNUAL, encompassing the voluminous content in which you've hopefully already indulged, as well as some selections of added importance available nowhere else. Like the Volumes already put forth, each ANNUAL will be available digitally, but a finely-crafted physical copy will also be remitted, shortly, from the Merch section. The first ANNUAL is entitled Deadly Art, a blend of works from volumes past, re-sequenced for enhanced enjoyment, peppered with delectable new tracks, re-recordings of older favourites, and even a re-rendering of an obscure Paul McCartney song. Enjoy.

Q: Where did you guys come up with the idea for this method of releasing your music? What made you guys decide to forgo the standard LP?

A: I think our collective musical dissociative disorder prohibits us from making the album that people who buy albums want. The cohesive twelve song LP doesn't interest us. We're singles guys, song guys, mixtape guys. So why not release our stuff in smaller intervals and in smaller quantities? This allows us to work more efficiently and keep our music coming regularly to fans' hands and ears. I don't know if the advent of the digital age has killed the album, but it certainly has made it easier for us to work around it. In the best-case scenario, we've installed a new format for release that people enjoy and others may follow. In the worst case scenario, those clamoring for an album can just wait for the end of the year, when we'll release what we're calling an "Annual," which will collect the year's work, along with whatever videos we've produced. By titling each release as a "Volume," and each compendium as an "Annual," we're hoping to achieve the feeling we used to get when a new comic book arrived. We hope it sort of serializes our work and makes it more fun for our fans.

You did it at Lake Fever, correct? Who did you work with as far as production goes?

This was our second time around at Lake Fever. On Let's Go! we worked with Jason Bullock, who did a phenomenal job capturing our live sound. For this record, we wanted to see if we could get the sounds in our head on record. Enter John Baldwin, who mastered the mini-album and basically shares a brain with me. A year and a half later and we have nearly twenty songs ready for permeation and, somehow, I'm now best man in his wedding. Oh, the tangled web we weave.

What are the first 3 songs? Tell me a little bit about each one...

“Salvage Mission” - Metaphors akimbo on this little ditty about a fellow searching for his sweetheart on the outer edges of space.

“A Formal Occasion” - A dance-y little number, with plenty of low end and terrifically absurd lyrics.

“Tomorrow's Date” - In a roundabout way, I think we're doing our best Queen impression on this one.

“Salvage Mission” will be the first of many videos. What's the concept?

Taking inspiration from all of our favorite outer space epics, we've put together a little cockpit drama, in which all of the events play out on the faceplate of our space voyager. Viewers will look into the eyes of our wayward wanderer as he searches for his ol' lady in the outer reaches of space.

I understand Robert Paynter is the director. He's fairly accomplished, correct? He's worked with Nike and such. How did you guys come to work with him?

Rob Paynter is creating the images and he, along with Jonny Kingsbury, also set up and shot the video. You may have seen his work with various big name athletic apparel groups and the like. He does great work and even has found his work up on the digital billboards on Times Square.

What was the experience like?

Allow me to explain the perils of donning a cosmonaut helmet for nearly six hours:

A. The damned thing was actually sealed, meaning I had to breath through a small tube. Also, I couldn't drink anything. Furthermore, by my reckoning, I probably inhaled close to a billion dead cosmonaut skin cells. Needless to say, I became fairly ill shortly after shooting.

B. Unfortunately for us, we didn't happen to have a Geiger counter handy, so we never had the chance to check the helmet for radiation. This thing did leave this atmosphere on Christmas Day, 1987, after all. Who knows what cancerous gamma rays I ingested during the shoot.

You're also going to release a 2nd video this month for “A Formal Occasion.” What can we expect from that? Who's directing?

Johnny Kingsbury, a prominent photographer around town, is directing. Our bassist and resident horror expert, Ricky Bizness, is the idea man behind this one, so expect bloodshed.

Back to the music, what did you want to capture both sonically and thematically with the new work? What were your influences and inspirations, both musically and lyrically?

We've always admired artists who were able to sustain the life of their music by making it so dense and intricate that it would hold up after hundreds of listens. Hopefully, we've achieved some semblance of what Spector, ELO, ABBA, and others did so frequently with their music. Lyrically, we probably owe more to Zelazny, Asimov, and Wilde than any lyricist I can think of off the top of my head. We certainly put far more into the notes than the words. The lyrics, for us, are just to put the finishing touches on the little story we're telling.

Give us a teaser as to what we can expect from all of this. What exiting things do you have on the horizon as far as pairing songs with videos, specific concepts or directors?

To paraphrase Jules Verne: "Anything one can imagine, one can make real." We aim to keep trying to get bigger and better. Fans can expect at least three songs and a video every three to four months.

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1.	Harvest	Preview Stop	Lyrics
Hey kid I hate to break your heart but it's a deadly art and someone has to die I've found that we cannot work it out there's just no end to this bout but I'm not gonna cry You'd make a most excellent corpse donate your organs, of course your heart's not worth dime I'd take far too long to carve harvest's no good when you've starved and it's been quite some time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time Too bad it has to end like this but I knew from the first kiss we'd never make it out alive So sad that it has to be you there's just no sense in two I'm not the type to take a dive There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time I know that you thought you had won but I am not undone and I'm not gonna cry Hey kid it's time to end this torch song with what I've known all along that someone has to die There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time There isn't time
2.	A Formal Occasion	Preview Stop	Lyrics
'Twas a black tie affair showed up in my underwear you pretended not to care though I'm sure I drew your stare Oh, I'm so bored with this would it be all that remiss everyone's so moribund I don't even own a cumberbund Perchance that's a lie I would never dry your eye after all you've done to me all I need is a girl to call me Call me Paging Captain Midnite paging Captain Midnite he's gonna be here all nite if you don't do exactly as I say Oh, I'm so bored with this Would it be all that remiss if I were to steal a kiss but he'll settle for a call me Call me No I don't have a stitch to wear nor do I have a single care I love you more the lion's share I love you so please call me I'm begging you please Call me Oh I'm so bored with this would it be all that remiss if I were to steal a kiss all I need is a lil' kiss Oh you're there next to me somehow equals sex to me that Imperius Rex is me but he'll settle for a call me Call me No I don't have a stitch to wear nor do I have a single care I love you more the lion's share I love you so please call me I'm begging you please Call me Why won't you call me No I don't have a stitch to wear nor do I have a single care I love you more the lion's share I love you So please call me I'm begging you please Call me My darling, call me No I don't have a stitch to wear Nor do I have a single care I love you more than words can share I love you So please call me
3.	Killing Machine	Preview Stop	Lyrics
The army has taught me a lot about life I know now that everything won't always be rife With everybody's notions of what I am 'cause they don't know and they don't see That I am a man yes, I am I'm a one man killing machine My right hand it contains an M-16 The other hand it contains a fresh canteen I could go out there and do what I please if they would let me then they would see That I am a man yes, I am I'm a one man killing machine Don't believe a word I've said It's all lies what I've said Don't believe a word I've said It's all lies what I've said The army has taught me a lot about life
4.	Stella, Dear	Preview Stop	Lyrics
When Stella came back from the city it was clear that something had gone wrong whatever it was, wasn't pretty whatever it was, it wouldn't be long 'Fore Stella turned her back on her mother and Stella turned her back on her dad and we all became such a bother and that's the bit that really drove us mad So we turned our backs and rolled our eyes we heaved our stones and heaved our sighs Then Stella turned her back on her sister and Stella turned her back on her friends we'd like to claim that we never missed her but that's a lie that we can't defend We know that tomorrow there'll be know tomorrow we'd like to be with her but time you can't borrow we know that she doesn't want us 'round forever we know that tomorrow with her just means never we know that she left us we know that she's left us But we didn't cry no, we didn't cry no, we didn't shed a tear We didn't cry no, we didn't cry no, not for a steady year We just turned our backs and rolled our eyes we heaved our stones and heaved our sighs but, we just wanted of her to say that she would have preferred to stay we'd rather watch her fall apart than dare admit she broke our hearts Yea, Stella turned her back on her sister and Stella turned her back on her friends we'd like to claim that we rarely missed her but that's a lie I can't recommend For Stella turned her back on her old man and Stella turned her back on her mom we'd like to say that we weren't yeomen that we handled it with such great aplomb We knew that to follow would only smack of theft we knew that to follow would mean that we, too, left but who knew tomorrow would leave us so bereft we knew that tomorrow there'd be no tomorrow we'd like to be with her but time you can't borrow we know that she doesn't want us 'round forever we know that tomorrow with her just means never we know that she left us we know that she's left us We didn't cry no, we didn't cry no, we didn't shed a tear We didn't cry no, we didn't cry no, not for a steady year We didn't cry no, we didn't cry no, we didn't shed a tear We didn't cry no, we didn't cry no, not for Stella, dear
5.	Temporary Secretary	Preview Stop	Lyrics
Mister Marks Can you find for me Someone strong and sweet Fitting on my knee? She can keep her job If she gets it wrong Ah, but Mister Marks I won't need her long All I need is help For a little while We can take dictation And learn to smile And a Temporary Secretary Is what I need For to do the job I need a... Temporary Secretary Temporary Secretaire Mister Marks Can you send her quick? 'Cause my regular Has been getting sick I need a... Temporary Secretary. Temporary Secretaire. Mister Marks, I can pay her well If she comes along And can stay a spell I will promise now That I'll treat her right And will rarely keep her 'Til late at night I need a She can be a belly dancer. I don't need a true romancer She can be a diplomat But I don't need a girl like that She can be a neurosurgeon If she's doin' nothin' urgent What I need's a temporary Temporary Secretary Temporary Secretary Temporary Secretaire Now, Mister Marks When I send her back Will you please make sure She stays on the right track? (Now I know how hard it is For young girls these days In the face of everything To stay on the right track) She can be a belly dancer I don't need a true romancer She can be a diplomat But I don't need a girl like that She can be a neurosurgeon If she's doin' nothin' urgent What I need's a temporary Temporary Secretary Temporary Secretary Temporary Secretaire
6.	Best Man	Preview Stop	Lyrics
I know it's your wedding day but I wanna take you to dinner I know it's your special day and you think you've found a winner Don't go on listenin' to me just take my hand and we will do whatever we want and no one else can stop us And if they even try I'll pull out my big gun and they they will die they will die I know it's your wedding day He'll get over it soon enough or maybe I'll just kill him and if he is too tough then we'll just run away And no one else can catch us 'cause cars are way too fast no one will ever match us we'll live beyond our caste we'll hit back roads together our gunhands intertwined if we're happy together would it be a crime I know it's your wedding day You know I wouldn't think it all that bold to steal away from him at the threshold You know I'd make them all forget about you if we could just find a car fit for two You know I would have never dreamt of this had we never shared that first first kiss You know I would have left when white winds changed if I had ever thought we'd feel this way You know I've often felt in someone's way I never wanted someone else to say We'll hit backroads together our gunhands intertwined if we're happy together would it be a crime I know it's your wedding I know it's your wedding I know it's your wedding day
7.	Secret Identity	Preview Stop	Lyrics
Girl, I know that what you need from me is love but I'm afraid that it's the one thing I can't give up 'cause my enemies will find you and kill you to get to me Girl, you know that I hate to lie to you but I'm afraid that it's the one thing that I must do 'cause secret identities are for the safety of you not me This secret identity it's killin' me it's killin' me This secret identity it's killin' me it's killin' me This secret identity it's killin' me it's killin' me This secret identity it's killin' me it's killin' me
8.	Action Lady	Preview Stop	Lyrics
I was sitting at this real big party lookin' for some fun I guess I was really kinda lookin' for some one I was lookin' for somethin' to do maybe that somethin' is you I was lookin' for somethin' to do maybe that somethin' is you I'm lookin' for an action lady and I think I see her now that eyepatch really drives me crazy and I won't even ask how I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for an action lady I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for an action lady I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a lookin' for a lookin' for a How How long am I supposed to wait before an action girl won't hesitate How long am I supposed to wait before an action girl won't hesitate I'm lookin' for an action lady and I think I see her now that eyepatch really drives me crazy and I won't even ask how I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for an action lady I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for an action lady I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a lookin' for a lookin' for a How How long am I supposed to wait before an action girl won't hesitate How long am I supposed to wait before an action girl won't hesitate on me How long am I supposed to wait for an action girl yea, an action girl I'm lookin' for an action lady and I think I see her now that eyepatch really drives me crazy and I wanna ask her out I'm lookin' for somethin' to do hopin' that somethin' is you I'm lookin' for somethin' to do hopin' that somethin' is you I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a I'm lookin' for a lookin' for a lookin' for a now
9.	Atlas	Preview Stop	Lyrics
I'm so accustomed to the weight but I haven't learned to accept my fate I'd really like to walk you home but it's not because don't wanna be alone I really like to be alone but you know I'd always walk you home Is it my name or pedigree Atlas shrugged so I guess it's me I need someone to carry me shall I tell 'em to go on go on go on I need someone to carry me I need someone I need someone to carry me I need someone Never need an excuse to walk you home Never need an excuse to walk you home I need someone to carry me I need someone I need someone to carry me I need someone I need someone to carry me I need someone I need someone to carry me Never need an excuse to walk you home
10.	Blood Will Tell	Preview Stop	Lyrics
I did my best to carry on I did my best to do my best I did what any living son would have done at your behest We wear our veils fairly well at least the ones I recognize the others, I can barely tell not much light behind those eyes And I can't go on singing the same song and I won't go on playing the same song I was among the shouldering the ones who watched the clock unwind was I among the smouldering or have I been unkind And I can't go on singing the same song and I won't go on hearing the same song And if you were to cry cry tonite and if you were to cry cry tonite and if you were to cry cry tonite and if you were to cry cry tonite And I won't go on Singing the same song
11.	Tomorrow's Date	Preview Stop	Lyrics
Waste my life trying to do what's right though I've never done right come the end of the nite Why's my life so filled with strife is it my own fault that I'm under assault I'll get yours when you're ready for mine but don't fret, girls mine can come anytime I've got time tell me is that a crime but I wouldn't be lying if I claimed to be dying Give to me another look in the glass let's hope that this one serves as a kick in the ass if I live fast I can forget the past so I couldn't be asked no, I shouldn't be asked I don't know tomorrow's date, but I I will save it anyway I don't have a thing to say, but I I will say it anyway Alter your state when you're seeking a mate it'll make things great when you're out on a date I've no shame when it comes to this game the stakes could be raised and I wouldn't be fazed Give to me another look in the glass I tell you, I can't see a single line from the past I'm not sane but I'll sing the refrain 'cause I wanna be sane yea, I wanna be sane I don't know tomorrow's date, but I I will save it anyway I don't have a thing to say, but I I will say it anyway I don't know tomorrow's date, but I I will save it anyway I don't have a thing to say, but I I will say it anyway I don't have a thing to say, but I don't have a thing to say, but I don't have a thing to say, but I don't have a thing to say, but I Waste my life trying to do right but I've never done right come the end of the nite Life's too hard so I'm breaking the glass maybe with these shards I can carve a new past Give to me the latest terminal disease so you can all just grieve or, at least, cry to deceive Then you'll see what it's like to be me what I've always seen what I've always believed There's no time I'll salute and smile while the rest of you count your days in denial I've no time and it must be a sign that I'm not even crying even as I lay dying I don't know tomorrow's date, but I I will save it anyway I don't have a thing to say, but I I will say it anyway I don't know tomorrow's date, but I I will save it anyway I don't have a thing to say, but I I will say it anyway
12.	Fancy Meeting You Here	Preview Stop	Lyrics
I never thought that I would find you here in my little place that serves me beer imagine my disdain when your refrain it hasn't changed a bit it's still the same so Hello again we can try we'll make it we're gonna make it Hello again we'll just lie we'll fake it we're gonna fake it So go on and leave me But please don't deceive me Why here now with your new look have you a notion what it took to finally bid your face adieu you really haven't got a clue What makes you think that you'd be wanted here in my little place that serves me beer why can't you stay away for one more day I guess there's only one thing left to say and that's Hello again please don't cry can't take it I can't take it Hello again let's just lie let's fake it let us fake it So go on and leave me But please don't deceive me Why here now with your new look have you a notion what it took to finally bid your face adieu you really haven't got a clue Hello again we can try we'll make it we're gonna make it Hello again sobs and sighs I'll take it I can take it Hello again don't you lie don't fake it don't you fake it Hello again I won't cry I'll take it I'll just take it Hello again please don't cry can't take it I can't take it Hello again we can try we'll make it we're gonna make it Why here now with your new look have you a notion what it took to finally bid your face adieu you really haven't got a clue so Hello again Hello again Hello again
13.	Mothership	Preview Stop	Lyrics
Let me down off the mothership I must join the new membership no they won't know Pawns galore can't you hear it they're ripe for can't you see it any war can't you feel it come now let me detail you with my latest bid it's my best since the pyramids so let me go Born again we're all blessed well, as long as the deficit keeps the throng under a lid can't go wrong won't you let me go Oh oh no let me go Oh oh no Lead them right towards the obelisk what's that adage about bliss they won't know something's amiss they won't know won't you let me go Go Go Go Pawns galore can't you hear it they're ripe for can't you hear it any war can't you hear it wait there's more come now let me go Let me go they won't know let me go Feed them right to the edifice what's that adage about bliss they won't know something's amiss they're too slow won't you let me go Let me go they won't know so let me go Come now sir can't you hear it please, monsieur can't you hear it must concur can't you feel it come now, sir come now and let me go
14.	Ladykiller	Preview Stop	Lyrics
Everywhere I go When I go I am going for you Tell me what to say Tell me when to say I'll say it for you I know who to be I know where to be Be there for you I know what to do I know what to do Do it for you Oh, I wanna be there with you Tell me where to turn Tell me who to turn Turn 'em for you Tell me who to burn I know who to burn Burn 'em for you I know what to do I know what to do Do it to you I know what I must do Know what I must do Must do for you Oh, I wanna be there with you Everything is changed Yes, it's changed And it's changed by you My life's rearranged Rearranged Rearranged by you I know what to do I know what to do Do it to you I know what I must do Know what I must do Must kill you Oh, I wanna be there with you
15.	Gay Guy	Preview Stop	Lyrics
I'm goin' downtown tonite I've been thinkin' 'bout startin' a fight prob'ly with a gay guy think I could take a gay guy Been havin' it kinda rough lately wonderin' if my sorrows came innately maybe I'm a gay guy what if I am a gay guy Oh, no I close my eyes when I go to bed I'd like to say I see the girl I wed but that would be a lie I'm probably a gay guy Oh, I'm lookin' at dudes' butts He sees himself in a different light Every night He doesn't know if he's wrong or right Every night Another urge that he has to fight Every night It's out of mind and he's outta sight Every night He sees himself in a different light Every night He doesn't know if he's wrong or right Every night Another urge that he has to fight Every night It's out of mind and he's outta sight Every night He sees himself in a different light Every night He doesn't know if he's wrong or right Every night Another urge that he has to fight Every night It's out of mind and he's outta sight Every night Yea, I'm gay I'm gay Yea, I'm gay I'm gay Yea, I'm a gay guy and I'm lookin' at dudes' butts
16.	Salvage Mission	Preview Stop	Lyrics
Floating in space I never thought I'd see you again I was braced for impact, captain But there you were I thought you were dead I knew you weren't Your ship was wrecked somewhere off-world pirates had hit but left the girl Thank the stars I knew I'd find you again I knew I would Now I've found you I won't let you now I've found you I won't let you go Soaring through space while estranged you should know I have changed Thank the stars I knew I'd find you again I knew I would Light years apart we remain stars have been crossed we are the same I have returned I've traveled so far { TRANSMISSION GARBLE } Now I've found you I won't let you now I've found you I won't let you go

Volume IV: Through Adversity To The Stars

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Serving as the motto to many, this phrase is most often adjoined to The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force. The world's preeminent independent flying corps, the RAF's achievements are sundry and manifold, from the development of the Spitfire Fighter Jet to the introduction of precision bombing techniques, but none are remembered with such gravity as the RAF's defense of England's skies in the Battle of Britain, prompting Churchill to opine: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." In an eerie twist, the motto also serves as the the title for How I Became the Bomb's fourth digital release.