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Give Up the Ghost

by Strange Creatures

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1.
Darling Demons 04:25
lyrics
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Over and over and over again, I'm a snake inside of skin I can't shed. Over and over and over again, I feel your breath wrap around my neck. Crash and burn! And her shadow dances 'round my heart, and leaves me scratching at the walls. Never learn! Over and over and over again, a mistake in the wires inside of my head. Running and running, they're coming and coming! What I'd give to be free! What I'd give to be free! Chart a course, cast to sea; these darling little demons, running rampantly through me. Slower and slower and slower till, time has stopped and is standing still. Over and over, in over my head. Time to call it what it is, my friend. I can't breathe! By the park and in the rain, time has stopped, it's still the same. Fever dream! Over and over and over again, I'm a snake inside of skin I can't shed.
2.
Fade Away 04:16
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Got no words to say, so I'll fade away. Tracing with my tears, slipping through the years. Hold on, hold on (to shadows of dreams that are gone) So long, so long... Please be good to me, and I'll be good to you. Hold on, hold on (time keeps on ticking along) So long, so long... Please be good to me, and I'll be good to you. Got no words to say, so I'll fade away.
3.
Nutshell 03:48
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4.
Walk on By 03:26
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I followed the order, I swallowed the sound. Got a new face in some other town. I needed a friend who believed that we still had enough time that we had some to kill. Walk on by; cold hands shape my dreams. And this shadow holds every story told that remains a part of me. I had enough poison, had all I could take. Had enough people trying to just fake a smile. Looked at my boy, gazed at my wife, decided I needed a whole other life for awhile. Walk on by; cold hands shape my dreams. And this shadow holds every story told that remains a part of me.
5.
Hitching a Ride to the End of the World 04:43
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Sitting in my mama’s den, Looking back through time that’s slipped away from me. All these faces from the past… And these places that I remember splendidly. Are we ghosts that roam the earth? Are we children lost in a random reality? If we fall, what will matter most, my friends, After all is said and done? Could you sleep, knowing you are who you are, and face the setting sun? Will we mend this broken land? Choose a path that leads to sanity. The dust has cleared and all we have Are shattered dreams and sons of liberty. After all, what will matter most my friends, When it’s all said and done? Could you breathe, knowing you are who you are? Has it changed anyone?
6.
Eyes Wide Shut 01:15
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Close your eyes if it makes your world happy; Never mind all the lines in between. Fill your head with the bullshit they feed you, Instead of all that you know you have seen. Forfeit the warnings that have sounded around you, And the lives of which your forefathers sang. Close your eyes and say goodbye to your world now, As it ends with a whimper, not a bang.

about

"Strange Creatures" is Jay Hammen, a special education teacher, husband, and daddy living in the sunshine state. Previously the drummer in the indie-rock, Baltimore-based band, "Brickfoot," Jay has decided to express himself as an independent artist. Brickfoot found success traveling to thirty different countries touring for the Armed Forces Entertainment Network, as well as opening for acts such as The Psychedelic Furs, Fastball, Nine Days, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Earlimart, Silver Sun Pickups, and Kiss. They recorded with world renown engineers Shelly Yakus (John Lennon, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty) and Rick Slater (The Rolling Stones), as well as Jim Fairchild (Grandaddy, Modest Mouse) and Aaron Espinoza (Earlimart).

After relocating from Baltimore to Florida and beginning an entirely new life, Jay studied Elementary Education at USF in St. Petersburg, but found that he just could not stay away from making music while teaching. With a guitar, his voice, an iPhone, and inspiration from life experiences as well current world events, he began writing his own music for the first time and recording the results during late night sessions. These sessions were expedited after an almost fatal crash with his then three-year old daughter while spending time healing. After receiving positive feedback from a diverse sampling of music aficionados, Jay decided to release this small collection of sincere songs during a time that seemed right for the content. Steve Herneker, the incredibly versatile vocalist for Brickfoot, added vocals and additional instrumentation on Darling Demons and Fade Away.

"Give up the Ghost" is an EP that has been influenced by the likes of David Bowie, Radiohead, Brian Eno, The Doors, Deerhunter, Arcade Fire, Talking Heads, The Beach Boys, Krautrock, The Flaming Lips, Fleetwood Mac, John Frusciante, Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop, Joy Division, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Sufjan Stevens, Talk Talk, and The Velvet Underground. Themes introduced deal with addiction (there is a cover of Alice in Chains' "Nutshell"), anxiety, the passing of time, reality vs. illusion, self-discovery, and distrust of an increasingly frustrating government, woven in poetic lyrics which dance between shadows and dreams.

Jay would like to thank family, friends, and students for their continued love and support. An extra special thank you goes to Steve Herneker, his best friend and musical collaborator since childhood, as well as Steve Harmon for adding guitar to "Fade Away." Additionally, sincere gratitude goes out to Matthew VanDyke, whose life story helped to inspire "Hitching a Ride to the End of the World,"(and a high-five to Gregory Wardrope for naming that song).

Most of all, an incredibly special thank you is sent to Valerie, Cadence, Dane, and Lainey Hammen, "for whom my heart beats."

credits

released July 19, 2016

Jay Hammen - Music, lyrics, vocals, cover photo
Steve Herneker - additional music and backup vocals
Steve Harmon - acoustic guitar on "Fade Away"

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Strange Creatures Dade City, Florida

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