Liar's Paradise (1998)
Have you ever been lied to? Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever been hated for telling the truth? Have you ever wanted to rip the heads off of the plastic people? Welcome to Liar's Paradise, a sound recording that analyzes this world in which we live. How it feels to lie, how it feels to be lied to, how it feels to be in constant search for Truth. Over the full hour of interconnected songs, expect to hear everything from spoken word & hard industrial rhythms to melodic classically influenced piano & cello. Featuring performances by: Matt Frantz (producer of Graphic Verses), Bill Danner, Jim Lee, Andrew Niemann, Veer Chasm (Jo-L), Charlie Padgett, Dan Staniforth, Jami Sherman, Twitch (Voideth), Megan Narkter, Carson Pierce (Flaming Fish Music), Paul K (of Paul K & The Weathermen), Doug (& Kaela) Van Pelt (editor of HM Magazine), & Gary Hamilton (Shock Wave Music). Produced by M. Frantz based upon the concept of A. Niemann. Total Time: 59 Minutes.
TRACKLISTING
1. Temptation FREE DOWNLOAD > RIGHT-CLICK FOR FULL TRACK
words written & spoken by Bill Danner, all music by Matt Frantz
2. I Remember When...
lyrics, vocals, & all instruments by Jim Lee, re-mixing and additional guitar & effects by M. Frantz
3. Welcome to Paradise
words written & spoken by Andrew Niemann, all music by M. Frantz
4. What They Want is Blood FREE DOWNLOAD > RIGHT-CLICK FOR FULL TRACK
vocals, samples, & percussion by Veer Chasm, lyrics & guitar by M. Frantz, mixing (& re-mixing, & re-re-mixing) by Jo-L & M. Frantz
5. Riptide
words written & spoken by A. Niemann, guitar by Andrew, with effects & re-mixing by M. Frantz
6. I Said I Wasn't Going to Give In
words written & spoken by M. Frantz
7. Me Lying to Me
lyrics written & sung by Charlie Padgett, cello by Dan Staniforth
8. You
Have the Right
words written by A. Niemann & M. Frantz, spoken by A. Niemann, bass guitar by M. Frantz
9. Pro-Worm Confession
lyrics written by M. Frantz, vocals & piano by Jami Sherman, cello by D. Staniforth
10. How Could You?
lyrics & vocals by Voideth (of Twitch), guitar by A. Niemann, bass by M. Frantz
11. I Slept With
Your Wife
words written & spoken by A. Niemann, background vocal samples by Megan Narkter & Carson Pierce, all music by M. Frantz
12. The Lover Pays in Cash
words written & spoken by Paul K (of Paul K & The Weathermen), out of context editing & all music by M. Frantz
13. So It Was, and So It Is
words written & spoken by C. Pierce, all music by M. Frantz
14. Temples
Built Merely for Keeping Out Rain
words written & spoken by Paul K, out of context editing & all music by M. Frantz
15. Hypocrisy
words written & spoken by Doug Van Pelt, based on original text by Doug for HM magazine, all music by M. Frantz
16. Gained My Trust and
Tore Me Apart
words written & spoken by Gary Hamilton, effects, editing & all music by M. Frantz
17. Mailbox One FREE DOWNLOAD > RIGHT-CLICK FOR FULL TRACK
words written by M. Frantz, J. Sherman & A. Niemann, spoken by J. Sherman & , A. Niemann, background vocal samples by Kaela Grace Van Pelt
18. I Saw the Truth, It's Not Too Late
words written & spoken A. Niemann, all music by M. Frantz
19. New Man FREE DOWNLOAD > RIGHT-CLICK FOR FULL TRACK
lyrics, speaking, vocals, & drums by A. Niemann, additional vocals, guitar & effects by M. Frantz
20. Cleansing
vocals by B. Danner, M. Frantz, A. Niemann, Voideth, & K. G. Van Pelt
21. Protect Me From Temptation
words written & spoken by B. Danner, all music by M. Frantz
REVIEWS
Review #1: "There are few albums we've reviewed in recent history which we can honestly say are "all out weird." This is one of those albums. When you find the info sheet and see the name Matt Frantz, though, somehow you're not so surprised by the industrial noise that marches forth from the speakers. Spoken word spouts truth and thoughts that we'd rarely let escape our lips, yet usually ends up finding itself realizing ultimate Truth... the emotion behind the writing is certainly conveyed." -Brian McGovern, HM Magazine issue #75
Review #2: "Everybody's doin' it... Go ahead, go ahead, just do it... Just do it this once, you'll give it up next time... You promise, you'll never do it again..." This is how the nightmare (reality) begins. Liar's Paradise is just that, a trip through reality, and reality can sure be scary. The man behind this project, Matt Frantz, from Cincinnati, OH, can also be found behind such projects as Graphic Verses, The Fluoxetine Effect, and Red Rum Trance. Liar's Paradise is an aural analysis of the world we live in. A mixture of ambient noise, industrial influences, and just plain chaos are some of the sources you'd probably find if this analysis had a bibliography. The liner notes recommend listening to the CD in total darkness through high fidelity stereophonic headphones at maximum volume. You may want to consider locking the door before you begin. One of the most impressive aspects of this CD is the seamless forward movement. If you're not watching the track counter, you'll find yourself on track 7 when you thought you were only on track 2. This is a direct result of the intensity of the sounds you are hearing. The various soundscapes that are painted through each movement of the CD are mesmerizing and tend to keep you on the edge of your seat. Liar's Paradise boasts an all-star line-up. Carson Ellis Pierce (Flaming Fish Music), Doug Van Pelt (HM), Gary Hamilton (Shock Wave Music), and many more contribute their writing, musical skills or vocal chords, whether through singing or through the spoken word. Music listeners who are easily disappointed with the lack of a steady beat will find this a hard listen, but if you're into experimental, thought-provoking "mind" music, give this one a try. Frantz knows what he's doing, and has done a great job catching the emotion and feeling in this recording. He also knows his instruments. The quality of this recording, but in artistry and in production, is very high. -Review from Kraynight Productions, Inc.
Review #3: "One of the zaniest CD's I ever received in recent memory is this experimental project from Ohio-21 tracks that intertwine a true look our society-using samples,loops,spoken word, bizarre music like NIN/Ministry meets Frank Zappa at a guitar clinic. Headphones are a must as there is a lot of emphasis on the left-to-right channeling--not really a music-filled CD but if you thrive for the unusual, this definitely will make you think." -Review from issue #2 of Quintessence E-Zine
LYRIC SHEET FOR LIAR’S PARADISE © 1998 (This is a partial lyric listing)
1. TEMPTATION: lyrics by Bill Banner. "it's alright,
everyone's doing it. Who cares? It's not going to make a difference
anyway you'll be forgiven. Go on go ahead nobody's going to know it
but you and me. Don't worry there's no worries at all. It's between
you and me and he'll forgive you anyway. Don't worry about it. Everyone
else does it. Haven't you ever heard the scripture? Not one not one
is righteous? Go ahead, go ahead, just do it. Just do it this once.
After this once you'll give up next time. Yeah. You'll give up next
time. Just do it, just do it this once. You'll give it up. You promise
you'll never do it again. Just this one more time. Just once more. Just
this one more time. No, don't worry don't worry about it. Nothing's
going to harm you ever. You're saved remember, you're saved. You're
free. You can do what you want. You can do what you want. It doesn't
matter at all. It makes no difference at all. You can do what you want.
Come on! Come on yeah. You know you want to do it you know you want
to give in. You're shaking yeah shaking. You know you want to. You feel
it you feel it don't you? Yeah, I think you do! I know it's part of
you now and you're never going to get rid of it! It's always going to
be there looking at you. No matter what you do no matter where you go
and I know of it. I know about it! That's the thing that's the greatest
thing in the world! I know about it. And you see, I know so I can tease
you. But hey HEY! He'll forgive you right? You're a child of God right?
Why don't you prove it? Why don't you prove it? Yeah, you're not good
enough you never will be. You'll never be good enough. You fall; you
fall how many times? How many times have you fallen? How many times?
I CAN'T EVEN COUNT! I can't count how many times. Oh, yeah, "This
is the time Lord! This is the time Lord!" That’s right. Do
you really think this is it? You think it's going to end today? Do you
think this is all it's going to be? IT'S YOUR WHOLE LIFE! It's going
to be your whole life and I'm going to be there! You know you can't
resist. You know because you're sinful! You know because you want it
you want it so bad. You want it every second of your life that's right!
That's right! It goes all over goes over all your friends. It's higher
than that. You know it! So go ahead. GIVE IN! Go ahead. No one's going
to hate you. He loves you. He loves you remember? He loves you forever.
He'll love you forever. Go ahead give in this time. Go ahead give in
just this one last time this one last time right? JUST ONE LAST TIME
RIGHT? Just give in, go ahead that's right. It'll make you lie to friends.
I KNOW! I KNOW! I KNOW IT WILL! Oh, the irony of course! The Child of
God OF COURSE! Right. It'll make you lie to friends. It will make you
forget family members make you forget loved ones. Because it over rides
all of that right? It's your basic instinct. It's there with you. When
you wake up it's there! When you go to bed it's there. As you're living
your day you see things it's there. I'll never go away I'll never go
away I'll never go away I'LL NEVER GO AWAY!
4. WHAT THEY WANT IS BLOOD lyrics by Matt Frantz. The children
are playing in the street, the pretty girls are getting older, they
are learning what it takes to get what they need to keep the smiles
on their faces. The shampoo is burning my head, something they spit
on to slide in my ears. A little whisper that they spit in my ears.
The men are acting out in the ring, the crowd is growing duller, they
are now forgetting what they came to see. AND WHAT THEY WANT IS BLOOD
GIVE ME SOMETHING REAL TELL ME HOW IT FEELS TO WEAR YOUR MASK NIGHT
AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT... Unfortunately
not, I can't see anything but the plastic trees, though I know It's
not real, the lush forest smells like burning skin. I JUST WANT TO RIP
AWAY THE LIES. They play, they dance, they smile, they laugh. They they
they they they are only acting. What are they? What are they acting
now? Acting like liars pretending to tell the truth.
16. GAINED MY TRUST AND TORE ME APART lyrics by Gary Hamilton.
You acted so kind at the the start. Gained my trust and tore me apart.
Gave me nothing but internal bruises. Justified with empty excuses,
robbing the weak, cutting down deep, feeding on pain, you've gone insane.
You only hurt me because you were hurting inside. The inflictions covered
what you wanted to hide. All my suffering eased your pain. But I was
left completely drained. You tasted my blood and came back for more.
You knew where to hurt me right to the core. Attacking anywhere that
made me bleed. Just to please your selfish need. Now I'm ready for your
attack. I will not suffer when you come back. Use your fangs, they won't
harm me. Beaten down but now I'm free.
19. NEW MAN lyrics by Andrew Nieman (& Matt Frantz). I'M
GOING TO BE A NEW MAN telling you I am I'M GOING TO BE A NEW MAN I'm
going to free myself I'M GOING TO BE A NEW MAN, DON'T LISTEN BRAIN GONE
I'M GONE AND I'VE GOT TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND, I'M GOING TO BE A NEW
MAN I said I am, I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU, I'M GOING TO BE A NEW MAN I'm
going to kill myself, who Ii used to be DEATH BY DROWNING ITS TIME TO
GO AND I'VE GOT TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND, I'M GOING TO BE A NEW MAN
no more like before I'M GOING TO BE A NEW MAN never going to be like
before I'M GOING TO BE A NEW MAN that's what I'm living for TO BE NEWLY
BORN, I'M GOING TO BE, I'M GOING TO BE NEW, IT'S TIME TO LEAVE THE PAST
BEHIND!
21. SAVE ME FROM TEMPTATION by Bill Danner. Don't give in!
Whatever you do, don't give in. Remember He loves you. Remember He's
there for you. I know I know I KNOW! I remember these things. Where
am I going? Why can't I stop? Why can't I stop? Why? It won’t matter.
It won’t matter will it? No! It never matters. OF COURSE HE LOVES
ME! He'll love me forever. Just this one more time! Just one more time
I mean who am I kidding? I'm no going to kick this thing! I'm not going
to kick this thing of mine forever you know? God knows that! God knows
that all right? I'm saved I'm saved. I can do anything really. Through
Him, I can do anything right? So He's going to forgive this right? And
I swear I swear I swear I SWEAR this is it! THIS IS IT! The last time
in my life anything like this is going to happen. I swear God! I'm stopping
I am stopping tonight. But I need it first Lord. You say you will not
tempt us more than we can bear right? You said that right? Yeah, well
I can't bear this! I NEED THIS! You know that. You're allowing him to
tempt me! You're allowing it to happen! So you're not going to be angry
with me are you? You love me and I love you! I love you more than anything
don't you understand? It kills me to do this I need it! I need it I
need it and I want it. You know I want it. You know I do. When I can
look you in the face when all of this is over and I know you'll forgive
me believe me Lord! If I knew If you were right here talking to me,
looking me in the face I'd be saying, "I should never do that again!" Would I obey? I've got the strength. Of course I do! I'm shaking Lord.
I'm shaking here. Take me Lord.
