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Entry 1 of 3 · Admitted 1986 · Consulate Records
Basement Diplomacy
Three days, one storage unit, the cost of the tape. Side one is a party; side two is the same party, angrier. The liner notes list the band's home as "Screwthatistan" and their mailing address as "you weren't invited."
- 01Give Me the Funk or Give Me Death2:45
Opening track. Written and recorded in the same week.
Read the declaration
Storage unit, four in the morning Nobody's landlord, nobody's problem Thumbs got a line that could break a jaw Chops got a knife and Sock got nothing on Give me the funk or give me death Give me the funk or give me death Ain't a third thing on the menu Give me the funk or give me death Ask me where I'm from and I say — next question Ask me twice and I say — next question That is not a lie, that's a border policy That is how a nation keeps its business One! Two! You don't get a three! Everybody sweating in a room too small Everybody screaming at a wall This is the anthem, learn the words There ain't any words. Just scream.
- 02Sock Puppet Regime2:20
Merkle has confirmed the shoes.
Read the declaration
Danny does not own a pair of shoes Danny owns a kit and a point of view Danny plays a hundred and eighty And Danny does not check with you Sock puppet regime Sock puppet regime Nobody elected anybody Sock puppet regime The government is four people The parliament is one van The treasury is a coffee can And the coffee can is empty You want to know who is in charge here You are asking the wrong question Nobody is in charge here That is the whole administration
- 03No Visa2:05
The shortest and loudest thing on the debut.
Read the declaration
No visa! No papers! No passport! No plan! No visa! No papers! No stamp in my hand! I was born in a country you cannot find Got my citizenship in a state of mind No visa, no visa, no visa Guy at the door said where's your ID I said the ID is from Screwthatistan He said I never heard of it I said that is not my problem, man Immigration is a state of mind Immigration is a state of mind Immigration is a — Let me in.
- 04The Ambassador Is Dancing3:10
The only track on the debut under 130 BPM.
Read the declaration
The ambassador arrived at half past ten Ambassador arrived without a coat Ambassador does not represent anyone Ambassador is dancing The ambassador is dancing The ambassador is dancing Get the man a drink and get out of his way The ambassador is dancing There are formal channels for a thing like this There are proper ways to move The ambassador does not use the channels The ambassador uses the groove Somebody is going to file a complaint Somebody always does By the time the paperwork gets processed The ambassador is gone
- 05Landlocked2:30
Nair's first writing credit.
Read the declaration
No coast! No port! No boat! No sea! Landlocked, landlocked, that is the country Landlocked We got no water and we got no navy Landlocked We got a bass and that is the whole economy Every nation has a resource Every nation has a thing they sell We got Thumbs and we got Tuesday And we are doing pretty well You cannot blockade what you cannot locate You cannot sanction what you cannot find Landlocked and loving it Landlocked and out of your mind
- 06Nope1:35
Ninety-five seconds. The band played it twice at most shows, back to back, without comment.
Read the declaration
Nope Nope Nope nope nope Nope Asked me for a favour — nope Asked me for the rent — nope Asked me where I'm from — nope Asked me one more time — NOPE It is a full sentence It is a complete answer It is a foreign policy It is the whole record Nope.
- 07Basement Diplomacy3:25
Title track and album closer. The house party in Hyde Park was ended twice by police — once for noise, and once when the band restarted twenty minutes later.
Read the declaration
Down the stairs, past the water heater Past the guy collecting three dollars This is the embassy tonight This is where the treaty happens Basement diplomacy Everybody is a delegate Basement diplomacy Nobody is leaving till it's settled Article one: the floor is sovereign Article two: there is no article two Article three: if you can hear this You have already agreed Police came twice on the first night Once for noise and once because Twenty minutes after they left The negotiations resumed Basement diplomacy Basement diplomacy The treaty is the groove The treaty is the groove