albums
Compilations
2012 Casio Picks
2012 Piano Picks
2012 Acoustic Picks
2012 Electric Picks
2013 Trex Video
Childhood (1974-90)
1977 Firsts
1978 Seconds
1985 Cacappella
1986 Eye Beater
1987 Guitarded
1988 Kim 1
1988 Kim 2
1988 Kim 3
1988 Kim 4
1988 Kim 5
1988 Kim 6
1988 Kim 7
1988 Kim 8
1988 Kim 9
1988 Kim 10
1988 Kim 11
1988 Kim 12
1989 Kim 13
1989 Five Dollar Drummer
1989 Wino Three Girls
1990 A Caustic Gutter
1996-1999
1996 NoVaSoCa
1996 Fullerton
1997 Soundtracks
1997 Walk Around
1997 Riding the Greyhound
1999 I Mowed
1999 Simulameous
1999 Yikes
1999 Piano Farte
2000-2008
2001 Marathon
2001 Days Like These
2001 Alcan Back
2001 Sleepy Sloppy
2001 Dad Day Jam
2002 Unfit
2002 The Key of G
2003 Daffy Day
2003 Januweary
2003 Post-Key
2003 Fatiguitar
2003 Oh No
2005 Waiting
2005 Sun Strike
2006 Stinky Room
2006 Schtupid
2007 Coy Pun
2007 Post-Ides
2007 Post-Ideas
2007 Post-Ideals
2007 Warble
2007 Another Same Day
2007 And Another
2007 Bald Ballads
2007 Lunch Broken
2007 Mayo
2007 Mayon
2007 Mayonandon
2007 Mayoff
2007 Juneo
2007 Juneon
2007 Juneonandon
2007 Two Song Rule
2007 Cavy Fury
2007 Infinity Daze
2007 Fall Start
2007 False Tart
2007 Fall End
2008 New Ear
2008 Decadend
  • Title: Electric Picks
  • Artist: Trex
  • Timespan: 2002-2007
  • Theme: trav's favorite electric guitar moments
  • Length: 134:35
  • Tracks: 25
  • Lyrics: 25
  • MP3s: 25 play all locally
  • Rating: (none) rate this album

Track List

# title lyrics time download listen started recorded rating
1 Information lyrics 7:50 download listen locally - 2002-12-17
2 Key lyrics 7:59 download listen locally - 2002-12-17
3 Infatuation lyrics 3:35 download listen locally - 2002-12-17
4 Alone lyrics 3:56 download listen locally - 2003-02-09
5 Slimy Clutchy lyrics 5:12 download listen locally - 2003-02-10
6 Yesterway lyrics 14:25 download listen locally - 2005-06-10
7 Have to Do lyrics 1:18 download listen locally - 2005-07-09
8 Aversion lyrics 7:00 download listen locally - 2005-07-??
9 She Shops lyrics 6:41 download listen locally - 2005-07-23
10 Why the Guitar lyrics 3:18 download listen locally - 2007-03-19
11 Warble Guitarble lyrics 4:29 download listen locally - 2007-03-29
12 Limited Intelligence lyrics 2:09 download listen locally - 2007-04-24
13 Closed Door Policy lyrics 3:29 download listen locally - 2007-04-26
14 Kumbayuck lyrics 8:35 download listen locally - 2007-05-01
15 Guinea Pigs to the Vet lyrics 2:52 download listen locally - 2007-05-10
16 Next Corner lyrics 5:45 download listen locally - 2007-05-16
17 AC lyrics 3:02 download listen locally - 2007-05-30
18 Not Worth lyrics 5:56 download listen locally - 2007-06-11
19 Wah Wah Wah Wah lyrics 5:21 download listen locally - 2007-06-15
20 Nuke the Bug lyrics 4:57 download listen locally - 2007-06-22
21 Chord Progression lyrics 6:39 download listen locally - 2007-06-25
22 Little Bears lyrics 4:08 download listen locally - 2007-06-27
23 Hey Cope lyrics 4:11 download listen locally - 2007-06-28
24 Choo Choo lyrics 7:27 download listen locally - 2007-08-09
25 Grampie lyrics 4:21 download listen locally - 2007-10-19
Total 134:35 play all locally album rating: (none)

Notes

These songs have my favorite moments on electric guitar. They are ordered chronologically. I didn't bother to stick to a single CD length because no one in his/her right mind would bother to put these on CD!

Songs

Information

Garage rock in my living room! The music reminds me of Joy Division. The lyrics are about making decisions. They focus on relationships, but also make references to the music.

Lyrics to "Information":

INTRO:
  1 2 3 4

CHORUS 1:
  you've got all the information
  you need to assess the situation
  you've got all the information
  you need to assess the situation

  so what are you going to do with it?

CHORUS 2:
  you've got all the information
  you need to control the situation
  you've got all the information
  you need to control your situation

  so what are you going to do with it?
  and what are you gonna learn from this?

BRIDGE:
  you've got all the information
  that you need right now

  time to strategize
  time to be wise

  so I couldn't sleep last night
  stayed up until 6
  making a tape for you
  expressing my thoughts

  i was intending to drive over there
  and drop it off
  so you'd see this morning

  but then i remembered my day alone
  and how i just didn't want to talk
  i didn't want to be anywhere socially
  didn't even want to go for a walk

  of course, that day passed
  and the next day went pretty fast

  so here we're getting older
  the days are growing colder
  things are flying by

  i once wrote a lyric
  that i will stop the guitar to recite
  it's from the song "artificial life"

  "sun like a rocket through the sky,
  one less day before i die"

CHORUS 3:
  you've got all the information
  you need to control the situation
  you've got all the information
  you need to control the situation

  you've got all the information
  you need to control the situation
  you've got all the information
  you need to control your situation

VERSE:
  you can either wait forever
  or you can take a chance
  decisions come every day
  they define who we are

  you can be safe
  or you can be daring
  i don't think you can get everything
  by staying in your room
  by staying in the womb
  by staying in the womb
  by staying in the womb

  we're just little babies
  learning about life
  we're just little babies
  learning about life

  and about how to play guitar
  and about how to drive a car
  and how to walk far

CHORUS 4:
  you've got all the information
  you need to control the situation
  you've got all the information
  you need to control the situation

VERSE:
  what?
  do what? do what? do what? do what?
  do what? do what? do what? do what?
  do what? do what? do what? do what?

CHORUS 5:
  this is the gift of information
  i don't want to put on any pressure
  this is a gift of information
  and some crappy music too

  this is
  this is a gift of information

SPOKEN:
  i need to learn some new chords
  but to show you that i am not afraid
  of venturing from the safe
  to a two-chord sequence
  i'm just gonna wing it
  

Key

This was an exercise in concentration. It also became a motivational song.

It starts off sloppy and silly, but once I stop talking and focus on the guitar, it settles into a nice groove. That groove, in fact, is my favorite moment on the album. The chanting, gospelly vocals at the end are pretty cool too.

Lyrics to "Key":

we take a walk
and look at the trees
look for the squirrels
and the butterflies

we look at moss
we smell the fresh air
and it is good
and it is good

we help our friends
we give them time
we have our patience
we give them smiles

we give them money
when they're in need
we give them food
we give them bread

we treat our friends good
we treat our health good
we treat everything good

except we're not nice
to people who
are mean to other people
because they deserve
for us to be rude to them

don't kill the guitarist
he can't help playing bad
don't kill the vocalist
he can't help that he can't sing

don't kill the travis
he's just trying to be funny
he's just trying to help
trying to be
trying to earn his money

playing on an amp
in a gold
playing on an amp
with an old guitar

plugged into his pod pro
which is just a silly name
for a little red box
that makes the guitar
sound like different sounds

somethings are boring
but what really matters

is how we find
the good things there
in the boring life
in the boring life

if we find good things
and make them better
if we improve things
we can be smiling and happy

the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying

the key is keep caring
the key is keep caring
the key is keep caring
the key is keep caring

the key is keep laughing
the key is keep laughing
the key is keep laughing
the key is keep laughing

the key is keep smiling
the key is keep smiling
the key is keep smiling
the key is keep smiling

the key is keep forgiving
the key is keep forgiving
the key is keep forgiving
the key is keep forgiving

the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying

the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying

the key is have faith
the key is have faith
the key is have faith
the key is have faith

and the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying
the key is keep trying

it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better

it's gonna get better
it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better

it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better

it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better

gotta have trust now
it'll get better
gotta have trust now
it'll get better

gotta get better
it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better

you'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better
it'll get better

just gotta have faith
you just gotta have faith
you just gotta have faith

that things will always
work out in such a way
that you end up smiling
at the end of every day
  

Infatuation

I felt on a roll after "Key" and came up with this pop-punk ditty. Yeah, I screwed up half way through, but I love the choruses. This is my favorite song on the album.

Lyrics to "Infatuation":

VERSE:
  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room

  i think about you, i think about you
  i think about you, i think about you
  i think about you, i think about you
  i think about you, i think about you

CHORUS:
  you call it infatuation
  you call it infatuation

VERSE:
  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  i think about you, i think about you
  i think about you, i think about you

  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  i think about you, i think about you
  i think about you

CHORUS:
  you call it infatuation
  i call it a realistic situation
  you call it infatuation
  i call it a natural situation

  you call it infatuation
  i call it a blissful situation
  you call it infatuation
  i call it a wonderful position

VERSE:
  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  i think of you, think of you
  think of you, think of you
  ahhh

  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  i think of you, think of you
  think of you, think of you

  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  i think of you, think of you
  think of you, think of you

CHORUS:
  and you call it infatuation
  i call it a wonderful situation
  you call it infatuation
  i call it a blissful situation

  you call it infatuation
  i call it a natural situation
  you call it infatuation
  i call it naturalization

VERSE:
  one last time

  in my room, in my room
  in my room, in my room
  your face is the glue, face is the glue
  face is the glue, face is the glue

  of my mood, of my mood
  of my mood, of my mood
  in my room, your face is the glue
  of my mood

CHORUS:
  you call it infatuation
  i call it a natural relation
  you call it infatuation
  i call it a lucky situation

  you call it infatuation
  i call it a realistic situation
  you call it infatuation
  i say congratulations
  

Alone

This is a nice little song about solitude. It has a happy ending.

Lyrics to "Alone":

go to school
go to work
go home
dream alone

go to school
go to work
go home
dream alone

go home
dream alone
go to school
act a fool

go home
be alone
draw something
for yourself

draw something
for yourself
make something
for yourself

no one will see
and no one will hear
no one will hear you
here by yourself

no one will hear
no one will see
no one will look at you
by yourself

go home
go to school
go to work
you're by yourself

at home
at school
in the park
you're by yourself

you think alone
you do alone
you eat alone
you sleep alone

you dream alone
you are alone
you will always
be alone

go to school
go to work
go to church
and you're by yourself

go home
dream alone
eat alone
all by yourself

go running
up the hill
wear yourself out
got a smile

exhausted
hair looking dorky
[scat]

you can't sing
you barely can play
you barely can breathe
the timing is astray

can't breath
lay panting
lay sweating
you hear voices

suddenly
a spark
two eyes
a ha

looking at me
curiosity
a ha
a ha

and then i talk
and then we talk
and the we go
for a walk

we exchange
contact information
formally

the weather is good
and the ??? for me
was it good for you
like it was for me

bye travis
hope we meet again
bye travis
you're a nice friend

bye travis
i hope i hope we meet again
you're a
good friend

go home
be alone
think of her
think of her

go home
be alone
sleep alone
all by myself

soon i'll see her
and then i'll be
completely
happy

she makes me
so happy
she makes me
so happy
  

Slimy Clutchy

Finally some catchy moments! Seems like it took forever to stumble across a decent groove.

This starts off where the previous song ("Take Energy") left off, with percussive strumming and grumpy lyrics. Then it segues into an aggressive jam/chant. That's the cool bit.

Lyrics to "Slimy Clutchy":

let's just try this
this is drumming
this is drumming
??? drumming
blaa blaa blaa blaa blaa

i'm not playing very well today
i'm not playing very well today
and i'm not singing very well today
and i'm not thinking very well today

it might be fatigue
it might novelty
it might stress with her
it might be any of the above

will she recognize
will she recognize
that the stress is
what is making us

feel weird
when we're together now
feel weird
when we're talking about the future

feel weird
when we have to make decisions
that affect our lives
forever and ever and ever and ever
and ever and ever and ever and ever
and ever and ever and ever and ever
and ever and ever and ever and ever

does she know that tomorrow and today are forever
does she know that tomorrow and today mean forever
does she know that today
these decisions are forever

do i know that today
my
my

my own decisions
my considerations
my intellectual
amusings
my scribblings
my ramblings
my doodles
my wonderings
my doodlings

like this one and this one, this one...
serve to answer questions, questions....
and yes they soothe me, soothe me...
soothe my emotions, emotions...

stir me to action, action...
i need to take, take, take, take
some action, action, action

when will she call me, call me...
when will she call me, call me...
when will she call me, call me...
when will she call me, call me...

and i feel like if i leave her alone
everything about her is gonna make her doubtful
i feel like if i leave her alone
she'll slip back into
she'll slip back into

the slimy, crutchy creatures of poo
the slimy, clutchy creatures of poo
the slimy, clutchy creepers of poo
the slimy, clutchy creatures of poo

they're that
they're that

the slimy, clutchy creatures of poo
the slimy, crutchy creatures of poo
the slimy, crutchy creatures of poo
the slimy, crutchy creatures of poo

and if i stay away from her
will she slip back
slither back

into the slimy clutchy oasis of poo
the slimy clutchy oasis of poo
the slimy clutchy oasis of poo
the slimy clutchy harem of poo
the slimy clutchy harem of poo
  

Yesterway

Cool lyrical improv, all based on a slip of the tongue. The guitar is pretty cool too. The first few minutes are the best; after that, it sometimes feels like it's going on too long. Overall, I like this one.

Lyrics to "Yesterway":

today is june the 10th 2005
same day as yesterday
i mean same day as the last song

this is the same day as yesterday
this is the same day as yesterday
this is the same day as yesterday
and i play

it is the same way as yesterway
it's the same way as yesterway
i do it the same way as yesterday
and i do it this way again

i don't ??? anything this way
never ??? anything this way
i'm the same person this way
again

'cause it's yesterway
i do it the yesterway
gotta have my yesterway
to me it's the besterway

some people might say that i never change
some people might say that i'm always the same and
some people might say that i'm slightly deranged
'cause i don't try to imitate
'cause i don't try to sing into the ???

it do it the way i want, which is yesterway
in the army it'd be called the yessirway
my tradition is called yesterway
because it works that way

for me
for me
for me
for me

i do it the yesterway
playing the chords the same way
don't practice anymore
and the chords begin to bore

but i still do it the yesterway
yes i still do it the yesterway
i know i'm being a pesterway
but i don't know how to break this routine

so i keep on doing it the yesterway
keep playing the same 2 chords over and over again
keep doing the same routine day after day
keep singing about the westerway
keep singing about the westerway
keep talking about my westerway
that's all i can see: the westerway

and i keep improvising the same old way
quality control doesn't enter the field today
a little bit of editing doesn't happen this way
no collaboration today

'cause i'm doing it travis' besterway
the besterway
it's my only way

and i have 3.5 glasses of wine today
'cause that's my yesterway too
i like to slurp a little, what's it called
it's called the riesling

and here i'm jangling the guitar
momentum is not getting me very far
inertia is the name of my car
i think i'm going to have to stop playing
because my neck hurts

i watched the bird doing the yesterway
speculating how it would be some other way
yes my fingers bleed at the westerway
and my thumbs get their callouses this way
i get my callouses this way
i do it my abilities this way
i know it's so indulgent but that's ok

'cause yesterday
i finished a song that i feel is ok
it's not as bad as this one anyway
its singing is much improved
it has a speculative mood

it's a good enough song
and i have good enoug routines to carry one
i have a good enough pattern
it doesn't make me sadden

it's called the yesterway
it's the repeating things again
it's what turns boys into men
or at least turns them in their own own selves
that was really dumb
not every lyric can be a winner
but only ??? are sinners
i keep playing no matter how bad i sound
because i feel internally proud
eternally proud

and it's all because of yesterway
for me it's the only way
gotta repeat and repeat and repeat it again
eventually i'll get ??? something

and the name of this routine is yesterway
it is my besterway
it's the only way
that i know how to work and play

it is the travis way
it's called the yesterway

  [scat]

so that's yesterday
and it's called my yesterway
it is the only way i know ??? to play
repeat rerinse relather reshampoo your hair
i say hair because it doesn't sound like hay
and if you wash your hair 10 times a day
then it will begin to feel like hay
so i'm not that compulsive
i'm not as bad as i could be
is that consolation to me
that i'm not soft like jodie
that i'm not soft like jodie
   

Have to Do

Catchy chorus, bad guitar. Lack of patience.

Lyrics to "Have to Do":

gotta get the phone now
got to

do what i'm supposed to do
do what i have to do
do what we all must to do
to have successful friendships

i'm doing what i have to do
doing what i have to do
doing what i have to do
it isn't good for me

doing what i have to do
doing what i have to do
i'm doing what i have to do
but it isn't good for now

we're doing what we have to do
we're all always doing what we have do
we're all doing what we have do
it's not good for me

i'm doing what i have to do
i gotta do what i have to do
i'm a little bit rusty
  

Aversion

This muddy dirge starts horribly, but then somehow becomes pretty and catchy. The chords and harmonies are intriguing, in a shoegazing kind of way.

It was recorded between 2005-07-11 and 2005-07-23.

Lyrics to "Aversion":

1 2 3 4

that's a promising beginning
that's a promising beginning
that's a promising beginning

not such a promising beginning
not such a promising beginning
not such a promising beginning
not such a promising beginning
  [repeat]

if you put flowers in a stinky room
you get an aversion to flowers

???
if you put flowers in a stinky room
you'll get an aversion to flowers

if you put a flower in a stinky room
you'll develop an aversion to flowers
an aversion

1 2 3 4

if you put flowers in a stinky room
i will tell you what happens

if you put flowers in a stinky room
you'll get an aversion to flowers

you'll get an aversion
you'll get an aversion
you'll get an aversion
??? aversion

if you put flowers in a stinky room
you'll get an aversion to flowers

if you put flowers in a stinky room
you'll get an aversion to flowers

if you put flowers in a stinky room
you'll get an aversion to flowers

if you put

i think i can salvage this
i'm pretty sure i can salvage this
i can turn this into something witty
if i concentrate and get a little lucky

if i put effort into bad ideas
it's like adding flowers to a stinky room

if i put effort into bad ideas
it's like adding flowers to a stinky room

yet i persist adding flowers to my bad ideas
i add my flowers

and if i add flowers to my stinky ideas
i get nowhere

but i keep adding flowers to my bad ideas
and i get nowhere

i keep adding hours to my bad ideas
and i get nowhere

i am alive to my own bad ideas
am i getting nowhere

i keep spending my life on my bad ideas
am i getting anywhere

if you add flowers to a stinky room
you get an aversion to flowers

if you add flowers to a stinky room
you get an aversion to flowers

i add my hours to my bad ideas
i ???
  

She Shops

This is based on a blues cliche. It starts off very sloppy, but gets better.

Lyrics to "She Shops":

she shops all day
she shops all night
it seems like
or on the computer

she shops all day
she shops all night
and when she's done shopping
she's talking about shopping

she buys all day
she buys all night
she bought me this bass line
i think it's okay

but i can't sing
and i can't play
no way
no way

i play all day
i play all night
but i don't get better
i don't play right

she shops all day
she shops all night
she doesn't get better
she doesn't do right

well i can play
or i can sing
but i don't think
i can do both things

at the same time
unless i'm lucky
she shops all day
she shops all night

who cares if i don't rhyme
who cares if i don't

  [scat]

i play all day
i play all night
i play all day
i play all night

i need a drink
i will play better
i need a drink
i can't ???

i cannot play
???
i cannot sing
and play at the same time

i cannot do it
i can't get better
it doesn't matter
how many hours
i put into it

but that's not true
it's just not true
'cause i have learned
that if you put

hours into it
you will get better
remember the song
the key is keep trying

i'll be ok
i'll be all right
'cause i'll keep playing
all day and all night

i'll keep practicing
on the guitar
i keep waiting
for her car

she shops all day
she shops all night
but that's ok
but that's all right

because it gives me
time with the guitar
and pretty soon
i'll be ok

i'll be ok
i'll be all right
i'll playing
all day and all night

go

and while she shops
i will play
while she looks
on ebay

and while she shops
i will play
while she hunts and bids
on ebay

i prefer
amazon
i like the
safety on

i prefer
amazon
i like
the safety on

it's hard work
repeating things
that are stupid
like that

but it's ok
'cause i'll get better
i'll keep on playing
the guitar

i will practice
and you will see
i will improve
i will ???

she shops all day
she shops all night
that's ok
that's all right

'cause i will play
all day and all night
and i'll get better
you'll see i'm right

you'll see i'm right
you'll see i'm right
you'll see i'm right

  [scat]
  

Why the Guitar

Decent (though sloppy) guitar riff, but clumbsy lyrics.

Lyrics to "Why the Guitar":

i don't know anymore
what the guitar is for
tripecac don't use it and trex abuse it
i don't know what the guitar is for

i don't know why 
i bother practice while the tape is playing
i don't know why
i bother to make up stupid lyrics

tripecac don't use it and trex just abuse it
the guitar is an instrument of pain
tripecac don't use it and trex just abuse it
my voice is just about the same

yes it hurts my wrist, i start to feel pissed
at my inability to play the good chords
i really wish i had practiced to more
i guess i could have but i don't feel like it

tripecac won't use this and trex will just abuse this
oh this is a waste of tape
tripecac overthinks and trex just stinks
why am i putting this on the tape

i don't know why i go
why i go ahead
these dumb ideas, improvising deas
oh that makes no no no sense

tripecac overthinks and trex just stinks
so why do i keep on doing this
oh tripecac overthinks and ipecac and anchovies just stunk
oh that doesn't make any sense but nothing does

amen
  

Warble Guitarble

This is very warbly, but kinda catchy once it gets going. The lyrics are funny, if you know the characters involved!

Lyrics to "Warble Guitarble":

do you hear that warbliness? i hate it
i think the tape recorder's dying
today is the 29th of march 2 thousand and 70 77
which is a long time from today
today is so far in the future that i can't even picture it
warble
i need a better tape recorder
the name of this song is warbly guitar
warble warble guitarble
warble guitarble
warble guitarble

warble guitarble had a mess in the woods
warble guitarble liked the sweep the sidewalks
warble guitarble was dropped on the head as baby
warble guitarble had a son named jodie

and one day jodie said daddy warble, can i be a girl
and warble guitarble just collapsed and fainted
'cause he always wanted to have a girl
but the boy he had was just too boyish

warble guitarble said ok jodie you can be a girl
so jodie went to the doctor
and snip snip snip she/he became a girl
warble guitarble was so proud of his little girl

unfortunately during jodie's operation
she was dropped on her head just like her dad

warble guitarble and jodie were quite a pair
they had a combined iq of 32

warble guitarble died one day and jodie inherited the broom
that's where she's now, in warble guitarble's room
[scat]

so one day you might see jodie guitarble sweepin'
and one day you might see jodie guitarble glug-glug-glugging
and one day you might see jodie guitarble missing the bus
and one day you might see jodie talking to me

jodie guitarble is my hero of the week
jodie guitarble well she was a he
but shen she got snipped and now she just sweeps

i can't think of anything else to sing about her
except jodie had another brother, that's true
and the other brother is known to me and known to you

the brother's name was downie
turn that smile upside downy
and you get a frowny

that was a waste of time
and i bet it's really warbly too!


  

Limited Intelligence

The music is almost catchy, and the lyrics are kinda funny. Not too bad overall. For Trex.

Lyrics to "Limited Intelligence":

2 3 4

the pressure's on to say something witty
but i don't if i can i can
the pressure's on to say something genius
but i don't if i can ???

'cause i'm a limited intelligence kinda boy
a limited intelligence kinda boy
a limited intelligence kinda boy
yeah

i don't know
how to sing or how the chords go
i don't know
what i played during the last verse

'cause i'm a limited intelligence boy
limited intelligence boy
limited intelligence boy
yeah

i take the dumb classes but that's ok
'cause all my friends are cool with me
they all take dumb classes and wear baseball caps
when we're not being seen by the evil teachers

'cause the teachers are the evil ones boy
teachers are the evil ones boy
teachers are the evil ones boy
they're the enemy and we all agree

'cause limited intelligence boys
think the teachers are the evils ones boy
limited intelligence boys
think the limited intelligence boys are so cool

a limited intelligence solo
a limited intelligence oh no
limited intelligence can't solo 
because they have an iq below 100

gotta go now
gotta shower
  

Closed Door Policy

Sloppy at the start, then catchy, then sloppy at the end.

Lyrics to "Closed Door Policy":

at any time i will be interrupted
at any time i will be interrupted

i want a closed door policy
i wanna hole up with myself
i want a closed door policy
for the sake of efficiency

i want a closed door policy
???
??? closed door policy
for the sake of efficiency

i wanna note ???
i want ???

i like my closed door policy
helps me optimize efficiency
i like my closed door policy
i can take lunch breaks where i play the guitar

i like my closed door policy
i like my lunch breaks
i hope the floor doesn't cave in
'cause i hear it creakin'

i like my closed door policy
???
for the sake of efficiency

will you have a closed door policy with me
you wanna call me to ??? efficiency

you wanna share my closed door policy ee ee
you wanna use your remote desktop with me

i have a closed door policy
for the sake of efficiency
i have a closed door policy
i like my lunch breaks

i have a closed door policy
for the sake of efficiency
i like my closed door policy
and my guitar-filled lunch breaks

they might sometimes run a little long
they might sometimes run a little long
they might sometimes run a little long
they might sometimes run a little long

they might sometimes run a little long
they might sometimes run a little long
they might sometimes run a little long
they might sometimes run a little long

i like the closed door policy
for the sake of efficiency
i like my closed door policy
and my lunch breaks

i like the closed door policy
for the sake of efficiency
will you join me in my closed door policy
  

Kumbayuck

I guess the reverb made it sound like an epic guitar jam, so I started making up a story about lots of guitarists.

The improvised narration is actually kinda funny. Also, the main chorus is catchy, at least by Trex standards. So overall it's not too bad.

Wow, did I just say "Trex standards"?

Lyrics to "Kumbayuck":

in the back of the stage the guitarist is warming up
it was a cacaphony
10,000 amateurish guitarists all converged on the stadium
somebody's idea of a guiness world record
was to collect all these aemateurish guitarists
and perform the world's longest and loudest rendition of kumbaya on guitar
the thing is nobody knew the chords
they all the knew the words
pretty soon the organizers decided instead of kumbaya
they would have to play something a little bit more memorable
in terms of the chords
so they decided to play this song
also written by the same dude who wrote kumbaya
it's called kumbayuck
it sounds a little something like this

kumbayuck
don't need no religion here
kumbayblaablaa
i don't need no religion dear

when i die i'll turn into a puddle
a puddle of bloody goo
when i die i'll turn into a vapor
like a pile of doggie poo

kumbayuck
don't believe in no reincarnation
kumbayuck
don't bother giving ??? a carnation

i don't know what will happen when i die
will i just decompose or go into a place in the sky

kumbayuck
this song sucks
kumbayuck
this song sucks

so the guitarists they were supposed to learn those words
but a lot of them didn't like the idea of doggie doodoo
in the guiness book of world records next to their names
so one of the guitarists, mind you one of about 11,000 that showed up
shouted really loud to everybody "freebird"
being sheeplike in their mentality and half-stoned
the remaining 10,999 guitarists all yelled back "freebird"
so that is what they ended up playing that day
11,000 guitarists for the guiness book of world records
ended up playing "freebird" for 35 hours
i know, you're wanting me to break into "freebird"
i'm sorry; i wasn't one of those guitarists
while they were all bleating away at their ridiculous cliche vocals
strumming cacaphononically to the canafanafalacalacphony
i was miles away on a sailboat
heading down to the carribean island of santa travis
and when i got there i was greeted by some natives

who had their ukeleles out
and they began to shout

play us a song boy
or we will eat you
play us a song your white dude
'cause we are the cannibals

so i had to think fast and i pulled out a verse
but i thought it might be a little perverse
but that's okay i proceeded to play
didn't want to end up in a hearse

so i played kumbayuck
this song sucks
kumbayuck kumbayuck kumbayuck
this song sucks

the natives like the ewoks in that 3rd star wars movie
thought i was some sort of god
they were so impressed with my guitar playing
that they put me on a chair made of bamboo and coconut shells
and carried me to their village, sat me next to the fire
and asked me to play this glorious tune for the other people
in their little tribe

they gave me some coconut milk that had fermented
it was just a matter of minutes before i felt demented
unfortunately my playing had cemented
i could play kumbayuck with my eyes closed

so i began to play kumbayuck
this song sucks
kumbayuck
don't wanna end up in the belly of some native schmucks

kumbayuck
i know this song sucks
kumbayuck
well, i'm in luck

because at that point i saw an airplane in the sky
he had pontoons on the bottom
i pulled out my cell phone
and i dialed the phone number for the airplane
don't ask me how
it's just a story

let's just stay i happened to remember
the phone number of the airplane falling through the sky
falling did i say falling
yes he was falling and that is the end of the airplane

he fell into the water and the natives chased after him in their canoes
meanwhile i decided to slip out of their village back towards my jet
my private jet
nevermind the fact that i arrived in my boat i wanted to go in my jet
this was after all the island of saint travis
and i can do what i want on my island
and i can do what i want in my song
10,000 or 11,000 in the stadium
they're the ones who have to play along

so i say kumbayuck
this song sucks
kumbayuck
ok i think i'm gonna end it soon

kumbayuck
my hand is getting tired
kumbayuck
i gotta go back to programming

i don't know how to stop this song
but i don't know how to stop this song
but i don't know how to stop this song
i hope i don't keep on hoping very long
  

Guinea Pigs to the Vet

Kinda catchy once it gets going.

Lyrics to "Guinea Pigs to the Vet":

gotta take the guinea pigs to the vet today
i gotta cut their nails gotta see how they like so much the hay

guinea pigs to the vet today
guinea pigs to the vet today

gonna finish my work and try to do a good job today
last night i spent all my time messing with computer configurations

don't know what i'm gonna do with trex today
don't know if i have time for tripecac today

i am gonna take the guinea pigs
i'm not looking forward to it

one thing is sure and that's the value of these songs 
is not the guitar or the vocals it is just the gestalt
oh i could say it's all just me 
and yet i just do not know how otherwise i ??? the fault

gotta take the guinea pigs to the vet today
gotta get the contact lenses from the vet today
gonna put the contacts on the guinea pigs and it'll help them see the hay
ha ha ha

right now donovan wears glasses coffee's just as blind
coffee refuses to wear anything that looks like it's tacky
coffee is stylish, donovan is fat
donovan doesn't ever care how he looks
he always wakes up doesn't even bother to brush his hair

gotta take the guinea pigs to the vet today
gotta pick up my contacts too
gonna check the mail if i have time
and i'm gonna come home to you

gotta take the guinea pigs to the vet today
and that's just what i'll do
and in the meantime i'll just play
[scat]

gotta take the guinea pigs to the vet today
and that is what i'll do
gonna give them contacts so they can see their hay
and see and avoid walking on their poo
  

Next Corner

Decent playing, amusing vocals. It's nice to have a song about something positive like hiking!

Lyrics to "Next Corner":

may 16th

it's a mystery
where the road ???
feel like i ??? big hikes
but we're a little afraid we'll be up here all night

and then the cats come out and the cats come out
and there's something to be scared about
when the cats come out when the cougars come out
better be prepared to shout

i wish i knew
where every animal was residing at any given instant
i wish i knew
what is around the next corner

but to be honest i think
maybe that would take some of the fun out of the hike
i think it's uncertainty 
that we like

never quite knowing what's around the next corner
inviting a little bit of disorder
get the adrenaline pumping
grab your backpack and start humping
and i don't mean that in a carnal sense

sometimes i wish i had an internal compass
and a potion of detect enemies
i could tell where the cats where the bears are hiding
and i would know just which trail to take

but that defeats the fun
and if you pardon my pun
i'm feeling bushed
i know that sounds so forced

but i've tired my fingers out keeping up with the ideas
in a way trex really is a trek
through the underbrush
there are all sorts of animals
preparing an ambush
  

AC

I guess it was hot that day. Too bad the playing wasn't. Relatively catchy idea though.

Lyrics to "AC":

uno do tres quatro

today was the first day 
that i turned on the ac
it got up to 82 ???

turn on the ac too
i'm not ???
it's so hot 
my head is stuffy

i'm not being excessive 
when i turn on the ac 
got guinea pigs to protect

i'm not being pansy 
when i turn on the ac
it's 82 degrees 
and that is just too much for me

i'm not being a wimp 
when i turn on the ac
i gotta have ac 
or i'm going to go crazy

can you blame me 
if i turn on the ac
i'm not being a pansy 
it's 82 degrees

wouldn't you turn on the ac too
the guinea pigs i just stand up for
when i try to protect the little cavies
from the 82 degrees

it's too hot for me
gotta have my ac
i gotta have it
i'm not a pansy

82 degrees
is too hot for me
so i turn on the ac 
on the top floor of the house

trickle down theory works for me
??? my ac
   

Not Worth

My music making philosophy. Kinda catchy. Returns to the day's "Mud Hike" theme at the end.

Lyrics to "Not Worth":

last song for june 11th

it's not worth my time
to come up with a good rhyme
it's not worth my attention
to successfully relieve the tension

it's not worth my time
to try to sing in key
it's not worth my attention
to try to have a melody

it's not worth my time not worth my time
don't you agree
i'd rather just create song after song after song after song after song
it's about quantity

everybody knows that quality rules
everybody rules that the quality rules

everybody knows that something else happens
but i just forget right now

everybody knows that 
it's a bad idea to get travis on an instrument
and he will play with conviction
and even with ordition
and he will document everything
as if his ideas are important as those of the king

he will never admit that maybe some of his creations are disposable
left to him everything would be documented for eternity

he really is a pathetic guitar player
and in the vocal department he's not very far behind
but you should hear him on drums he's even worse on those
sounds like an elephant ramming a fig tree up his nose

with a crack crack crumble crumble 
crumble crumble crumble bang
bang bang on the pots and pans
go back to the basement days

crack crack crumble crumble 
strum strum strum strum bleet
everybody thinks travis thinks better
when he's off of his feet

how 'bout some editing
they said to me one day
i said it's okay it's okay
but i think i prefer the spontaneous way

so trex kept growing and growing and growing and growing
and tripecac kept on slowing
and trex just keeps on getting bigger

but i figure if if i keep on playing
maybe some day a gem will emerge from this primodial muck
maybe some day something cool will emerge from this muck

mud hike
you know the kind you dislike
it's a mud hike
it's the kind you dislike

i gotta go back to work now
my lunch break is over
i gotta go back to programming now
my day job is calling me over

this is a mud hike in a lunch break
??? just ???
it's a mud hike in my lunch break
just kind that you dislike

it's a mud hike in my lunch break
it's like finding a bug in your sandwich
it's a mud hike in the lunch break
it's a waste of tape
but we've heard that one before

bye bye bye bye
  

Wah Wah Wah Wah

I had rigged up my old keyboard (Yamaha SY55) and a volume pedal to act as a poor-man's wah pedal. To make testing interested, I used the Pod Pro to create a loop. Not bad. Not good either, of course.

I'm not sure when I recorded this. For simplicity, I'll assume it was the same day as the previous song.

Lyrics to "Wah Wah Wah Wah":

hey 
ok i got the sy55

hey
wah wah wah wah
wah wah wah wah

get ready for some chaos
it's gonna get really gross pretty soon
here we go

ok i think i should fade out
it's dead
fade out
   

Nuke the Bug

This starts off sounding like heavy cheese, but then turns funny before collapses into another type of cheese.

Lyrics to "Nuke the Bug":

i don't know where i flicked the bug that was on my leg
it's somewhere in here and i hope it doesn't lay and egg
or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6
or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 eggs
or 11 or 12 13 14 15 16 eggs
17 18 19 20 21 22 eggs
23 eggs 24 eggs 25 26 27 28 29
30 eggs 31 eggs 32 33 34 35
36 eggs and 37 eggs 37 37 37 37 eggs
hatching 37 babies
in my studio
that is yucky yucky

i hate bugs
i hate bugs

so i think i'll get a can of insect killing spray
well maybe not today
how long does it take
a little bug to lay 
37 eggs

should i get the spray
and kill the bug today
should i spray the air
or is that not fair

give the bug a fighting chance
yuck i hate the bugs
yuck i hate the bugs
yuck i hate the bugs

i wish all the bugs would die
i don't mind the bumblebees when i'm outside
i wish all the bugs would go away
i see the body of a yellow jacket stuck to a piece of tape

so what should i do
should i kill the bug through and through
with chemicals or should i stomp around
should i vaccuum or should i just move furniture around

and pretend i crushed it with the leg of a chair or a table
pretend that i stomped it when i wasn't really looking
is that killing is that killing is it sufficient exermination
should i convince myself that i've rid myself of the pest

or should i perhaps be more thorough
and remove every single piece of furniture from this room
  and the house while i am at it
call the fumigator call the insect squad
come and spray my house drown it in chemicals i'll move out

if you just kill this bug
oh i hate this bug
please please kill my bug
oh it's a little bitty bug

on the other hand i'm not convinced it really was a bug
it may have just have been a piece of tape
i see lots of pieces of tape all around the floor
little black things plastic or something

pieces of headphone i think
i think a little bit of headphones all over the floor and table
i think it's headphones
why was it wriggling on my leg of it's headphone material
i think it was a bug

so call the fumigators the exterminators
just nuke the bug and nuke the bug and nuke the bug and nuke the bug 
just nuke the bug nuke the bug nuke the bug nuke the bug 
you gotta nuke the bug nuke the bug nuke the bug nuke nuke nuke

you've got to nuke the bug
  

Chord Progression

Simple. Predicatable. Just like the chord progression.

Lyrics to "Chord Progression":

25th of june 2007

can't get sued over this chord progression
won't win any medals with this chord progression
won't win any fans with this chord progression
won't win any notoriety with this chord progression
won't win any thing with this chord progression

oh it's a predictable chord progression
it's a bit of a chord progression
won't win any accolades with this chord progression
won't get on any compilations with this chord progression
won't achieve anything with this chord progression
won't even earn my own enthusiasm with this chord progression

this chord progression is just a cliche
and it's not ok
to keep on playing
this lame lame lame lame chord progression

it is not permissible to sing with any decible on this chord 
chord progression

this chord progression suffers from retardation
this is a down syndrome chord progression
no offense to all the down syndrome tripecac fans
i bet you can play better than i can
i know you can bicycle 
and go to the bank
maybe tie your own shoe
maybe play better than you
that makes no sense but that's ok 
'cause this is a pathetic chord progression
it's a bad chord progression

it's it's 1 4 5
it's just a 1 4 5 progression
it's a really bad progression

so why must i keep playing this really clicheic chord progression
why must i keep on insisting on repeating the same old stupid chord progression

come on travis 
shake yourself out of the rut
come on move your butt
put down your foot

this is a pathetic chord progression
this is a really bad chord progression

nobody would pay to hear this chord progression
some things don't belong on cd and this is one chord progression
it's a 1 4 5 progression
it's a really pathetic chord progression
it's a downie downie syndrome chord progression
it's a stupid chord progression

come on let's face it nothing can save this chord progression
it's a pathetic one
i can't argue against nuking it
rebuking it
feel like puking it

[cough] 
i coughed out the vapors that were choking me
i get choked up when i think how pathetic this can be
the fact that some bands never get farther than this
some bands drink beer that tastes like piss
some bands grow up on budweiser and stairway to heaven
and this pathetic chord progression
pathetic chord progression

oh how i'm almost done
yeah yeah i'm almost done
with this downie progression
with this downie progression
with the downie progression
with the downie progression
with the downie progression
with the downie progression
with this downie progression
with this downie progression

it's just 1 4 5 and a power chord
some one please pull the chord
that's a really bad rhyme but you know what
it sounds ok next to this chord progression
it's a power chord proression
a pathetic chord progression
it's a downie chord progression
1 4 5 progression
it's a downie progression
it's a i think i'm done
[scat]

that was really bad
  

Little Bears

About guinea pigs.

Lyrics to "Little Bears":

all right sticking to the 2 song a day rule
second song for december 14th 2001

and downstairs there's 2 bears 
2 bears 2 bears
eating hay eating hay 
eating hay all day all day

and downstairs downstairs 
there's 2 bears with lots of hair
eating hay eating hay 
eating all day eating all day

and downstairs downstairs 
there are 2 little bears
eating hay hay hay 
hay all day day-ay

can you guess me their names names names
it's donovan and coffee

i'm just barely scrambling by
with the second song of the day
it's a slight variation on a power chord
i'm really bored

it's not sounding very good today
not playing very well today

downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
their names are donovan 
and coffee how 'bout them

they like to eat their hay
they eat it every day
they like to nibble their hay
they like to eat it all day

and downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
donovan and coffee are they names
and eating pellets and hay are their many many many games

and downstairs downstairs
2 little bears little bears
they like to eat hay all day
and they like to play in the hay

and downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
their names are donovan and coffee
and they like to poop and pee

and downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
they like to eat and play
in the big piles of hay

they like to eat and play
in the piles of poop and hay
they like to eat and play
and sleep in all day

oh downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
their names are donovan and coffee
they like to poop and pee

and downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
they like to eat hay all day
and i gotta clean up the mess they make

and downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
their names are donovan and coffee
and they like to poop and pee

oh downstairs downstairs
there's 2 little bears little bears
one is brown and the other is black black 
whatever

that was dumb and that ends today's session
  

Hey Cope

Ugh, the flange is really annoying. Catchy vocals at times.

Lyrics to "Hey Cope":

all right today is the 28th of june
song number 1
this is called yet another cope dirge

we all buy the old cds
when the record label release
and we buy the new cds
when the record company release

so what what what you gonna give us today 
cope what you gonna give us today
is it gonna be brain donor again

what what what you gonna give us today 
cope what you gonna give us today
hey is it gonna have a melody or will it be muddy

we pay our money for each copy cd
i feel poor next to him
we pay our work to get the cope work
and that i do 

so hey cope what you gonna give me today
cope what you gonna play for me today
cope what you gonna give me on this here cd

hey cope is it gonna be a return to form
is it gonna be another metallic sludge storm

hey cope what you gonna give me on this cd
or are you gonna give it away for free
why must i pay 30 bucks for a pile of poo poo

hey cope where's your talent gone
where's it now you know
where's it go

[scat]

i like to sing about politics
i like to sing about druids
i like to sing about whatever i want on my cds oh

i like to rant about politics
i like to rant about crystal
i like to rant about planetary alignments on my cd

my name is cope and i can't cope
with the poppy expectations of my fanbase
nope nope i'm not gonna ???

my name's cope and i'm not gonna
even try to please my fanbase
i'm just gonna play whether i wanna

so hey cope what you gonna give me on this cd
why don't you give it away for free
why must i pay 30 bucks for a pile of crap

hey cope why must i import all your stupid ideas
into my cd collection
every time merchandiser updates its cope section
  

Choo Choo

Dumb lyrics, but nice driving beat once it gets going. Not bad overall.

Lyrics to "Choo Choo":

last song

it's called choo choo

choo choo toy choo choo toy 
choo choo toy choo choo toy
choo choo toy choo choo toy
for a good good boy

choo choo choo ... on the track
choo choo choo ... don't step on the track  
choo choo choo ... don't step on the track  
choo choo choo ... down the track
  
choo choo choo ...

take the train down the trail
and enjoy the rail
take the train take the train take the train to the station

don't bother to change the chords the bunji chords
don't bother to change the chords the bunji chords

choo choo choo ...
choo choo choo ...

choo choo choo ... down the track
choo choo choo ... down the rail
choo choo choo ... don't step on the track  
choo choo choo ... pick up the pail

this is a bad song to end the stupid tape
but nothing else was working so this is ok
i wish i could come up with better lyrics so
i could digitize them and sell them for a piece
a piece of a piece of a piece pizza pizza pizza ...

i wanna buy lots of pizza
i wanna eat lots of tacos
i wanna contemplate nachos
i wanna drown in nachos hey

take the train down the track
to the rio grande and back
take a stop take a plop take a pop

wanna drown in tequila
wanna see how is feels to hey
take the train to mexico 
why won't the train go it's on strike

last time 
that's it

take the train down to mexico 
gonan stay first class not coach
take the train get the coach coach coach ...
coach coach coach ...

[nonsense spanish]

no puedo espanol hoy
no soy americana noi
no quiero ir al bano
no quiero oir al songo

take the train down to mexico don't forget your guitar
you know the pennies and the nickles will take you pretty far
in the yucatan you can buy a man with a dollar
all you need is norte american power hey

ok coming back up to the station in the northwest

so we come back and it's blue and green
and the sea smeals it smeals it smeals
s m e a l s s m e a l s s m e a l s s m e a l s 
s m e a l s s m e a l s s m e a l s s m e a l s 

you can make a meal out of the smells
you can make a meal out of the smells
that's where the hobo dwells 
making meals out of smells hey

take the train down to mexico ho woah
caught the train back from mexico ho
cha cha cheese here to mexico
you know know know know know it's time to go

i gotta go gotta go gotta go ho
gotta head down the road to yellowstone
hope i come back to the tripecac

that's it
  

Grampie

Heartfelt reflection on my grandfather's passing.

Lyrics to "Grampie":

today is the 19th of october 2007

dad's dad just passed away thie morning at 7:25am my time
which means about 10:25am their time
it's not a cheery thought but it's mine
it's not a cheery thought but it's mine

i just keep on introverting
you might think that it's perverting
to just keep on introverting
every single day

but i don't mind leaving a legacy
my musical creations will live after me

[scat]

haven't been able to concentrate at work
i'm not getting much done
but at least i finished a trex cd it's one from kim
that she gave me on jessica's wedding i call it kim 1

kim 1
the theme is all about death
the theme is all about death
the theme is all about death

but what did i know about it then
i was only 14
it was just dream
death was just an abstraction to me

but now i know
people have to go
and they'll go
and sometimes it will be slow

yes i know
that someday i'll have to go
here's my legacy
if you care about me

[scat]

think about death
it really makes one think
woah
about how one lives one's life

gonna cry out the ways we swear every single time
gonna get a second breath
gonna cut to the chase with my life
i want to accomplish so much before my own death

it's the resolution that's what we tell ourselves
when we see someone else passing away
at least that is how i feel
on this somewhat melancholy day

october 19th 2007
dad's father has gone to heaven
october 19th 2007
and some day i'll see him in heaven