The Addiction

Music

Edge Of Content

$12.97

1.	Our Time Is Now	Play	Our Time Is Now Our Time Is Now ©2006 (lyrics & music by JJ Benson) Hear the crowd – now they’re chanting our name The stadium is rockin’ – ready for the game Take a breath and try to focus in Opportunity is ours to take History right here and now is ours to make Let’s shock the world and show that we can win All the words of the people who doubt us Are gonna make us laugh when they’re raving about us They can’t see it ‘til it’s staring ‘em right in the face Times change and there’s no looking back The wheels are in motion – the train’s on the track So jump on board or you better get out of the way Our time is now… now…. “Thanks for stopping by,” he says “We love your music, but we’re gonna have to pass. It’d be too risky trying to market you. See, it’s all about the bottom line Ya gotta sound just like the bands that we’ve already signed and you gotta look more like you’re 22.” All the words of the people who doubt us Are gonna make us laugh when they’re raving about us They can’t see it ‘til it’s staring ‘em right in the face Times change and there’s no looking back The wheels are in motion – the train’s on the track So jump on board or you better get out of the way Our time is now… now…. Our time is now… You can’t afford to wait – no time to hesitate If you want to create your fate… Rap: We weren’t ready when we started out Takes time – gotta learn what it’s all about So we paid our dues – laid our foundation Now it’s time to take it to the nation - oh – get ready to see our sound and faces on tv What? I know your ass ain’t gon’ believe ‘til the whole world’s singing “I know you wanna be me” It’s true for all y’all – set a goal and never waver, not at all Ya gotta know deep in your soul That the haters tryin’ to bring you down gon’ fall Don’t wait ‘til later – start right now building your elevator Ya gotta take your shot before the clock runs out… Our time is now Lyrics	Our Time Is Now Credits Lyrics & music by JJ Benson Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards & background vocals Brian Haley - drums Robert Wright - bass & background vocals, additional drums Bryan Pyzer - guitars Rick Lay - percussion Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes When JJ first came up with the keyboard/string line (hook) of the song, he felt it lended itself to aggressive production and an eventual sync-up with sports in some capacity. It reminded him of the type of adrenaline-rush intro music played prior to kickoff at football games or tipoff at basketball games to hype the crowd, so that theory drove his direction with the lyrics. Highlights: the double-drum sections/fills, Brian Haley's drum solo and the Omen-esque operatic background vocal countermelody during the last chorus. (ps - those aren't actual chimes following the countermelody. That was a shelving bracket tuned!) Info
2.	The Truth	Play	The Truth The Truth ©2006 (lyrics & music by JJ Benson) I guess in me you found the perfect rebound – did it make you feel better? Finally treated right, with lovin’ outa sight – nobody’s made you wetter All the wild nights and all the little lies you told him so that we could be I guess I shoulda seen that lies would end up being told to me eventually When you look into the mirror what do you see? When you lay down at night, tell me how do you sleep - knowing what you’ve done to me? Oh…all these games that you play Oh…will come back and haunt you someday Oh…let me introduce you to a little thing called the truth Like everybody else, I fell under your spell - I let you in my soul When doubts would fill my head, you’d lure me into bed where you knew you had control Unless you’re all alone, you won’t pick up your phone - I guess that shoulda been a clue So full of alibis, ya don’t look me in the eyes, how dumb was I for trusting you? When you look into the mirror what do you see? When you lay down at night, tell me how do you sleep? Look at what you’ve done to me Oh…all these games that you play Oh…will come back and haunt you someday Oh…let me introduce you to a little thing called the truth Lyrics	The Truth Credits Lyrics and music by JJ Benson Lead vocals - Meven Keyboards and background vocals - JJ Benson Bass, background vocals and additional drums - Robert Wright Guitars - Bryan Pyzer Drums - Brian Haley Percussion - Rick Lay Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes The verses of this bitter send-off to a cheating ex-lover were actually written by JJ in 2003 with an entirely different chorus. Unsatisfied with the hook/chorus, he sent the song to the backburner and let it marinate for several years. In the beginning stages of writing new material for Edge of Content, he pulled the song back out and completely rewrote (and vastly improved) the chorus. Sometimes a song sits unfinished for years before it suddenly demands to be revisited so it can take shape. Highlight: Robert's bass solo. the audio clip inserted at the beginning of the tune is from one of the band's favorite movies, the highly underrated 1981 Albert Brooks film "Modern Romance." Info
3.	Destination Still Unknown	Play	Destination Still Unknown Destination Still Unknown ©2006 (words by JJ Benson & Steven Maldonado; music by JJ Benson, Steven Maldonado, Brian Haley, Josh Merritt & Tim Rosenau) He was all she’d known – Katie had never been alone but she had dreams of something bigger than Tennessee She packed up nineteen years of clothes and memories into two suitcases to try to become the next big thing in the City of Angels but she never thought she’d spend three years waitressing in hopes of landing the role of a girl who’s in love… As she boards the plane, says goodbye to L.A. She’s on her way back home Sees the city fade into yesterday though she’s on her way back home, destination still unknown He took a job with his dad fixing washers and dryers He met a girl named Jane at the Dairy Queen and they fell in love – so they say, but every Saturday they go to a matinee where he quietly hopes that his first love Katie’s face will appear on the screen… As she boards the plane, says goodbye to L.A. She’s on her way back home Sees the city fade into yesterday Though she’s on her way back home, destination still unknown Destination still….and it always will…be unknown As she boards the plane, says goodbye to L.A. She’s on her way back home Sees the city fade into yesterday She’s on her way back home As she boards the plane, says goodbye to L.A. She’s on her way back home As her future fades into yesterday wherever the road may go, destination still unknown Lyrics	Destination Still Unknown Credits Lyrics by Steven Maldonado & JJ Benson Music by JJ Benson, Brian Haley, Steven Maldonado, Josh Merrit & Tim Rosenau Lead vocals - Meven Keyboards & background vocals - JJ Benson Bass, background vocals & additional drums - Robert Wright Guitars - Bryan Pyzer Drums - Brian Haley Produced, engineered, mixed & mastered by Robert Wright Notes This song was originally the brainchild of ex-bandmember Brian Haley, who worked out a rough demo of the groove and basic chord structure with bassist Josh Merritt and guitarist Tim Rosenau in Tim's home studio. Brian brought the demo to JJ & Meven, who loved the feel of the song. After tweaking the chord changes, adding a prechorus and writing a melody, the lyrical direction came easy. A bittersweet testament to the difficulty of following dreams of fame/fortune and balancing that endeavor with finding love nearly wrote itself after the chorus lyric appeared to Meven & JJ. The lack of resolution to the story of aspiring actress Katie and her small-town first love was a deliberate attempt to illustrate the apparent ambiguity of life's direction, and how even when we make conscious life-altering decisions, we're never quite certain what the outcome will be or if we made the right choice. Highlight: Meven's vocal in the breakdown section. Info
4.	The Whole World Is A Mirror	Play	The Whole World Is A Mirror The Whole World Is A Mirror ©2006 (lyrics by JJ Benson; music by JJ Benson, Robert Wright, Bryan Pyzer and Rick Lay) She sees him coming so she crosses the street Looks at her watch so she’ll seem more discreet Heaven forbid that their eyes should meet… She sees another so she does something worse Picks up her pace as she clutches her purse While in her mind reciting lines of Bible verse… There’s saints & there’s sinners – there’s love and there’s hate We get what we give – we choose our own fate Look at little closer if you don’t like everything that you see Try to see beyond your predetermined animosity ‘cause the whole world is a mirror and there’s a whole lot of you in me He checks his bags and he approaches the gate Just four hours ‘til he sees her again Dreams of her smile as he steps aboard the plane Suspicious eyes in aisles 1, 2 and 3 He hears the whispers as he looks for his seat Everyone’s a jury in this land of the free… There’s heroes & martyrs – there’s wrong & there’s right There’s light & there’s darkness – there’s black & there’s white Look a little closer if you don’t like everything that you see Open up your mind and see the truth lies somewhere in-between ‘cause the whole world is a mirror and there’s a whole lot of you in me Lyrics	The Whole World Is A Mirror Credits Lyrics by JJ Benson Music by JJ Benson, Robert Wright, Bryan Pyzer and Rick Lay Lead & background vocals - Meven Keyboards & background vocals - JJ Bass & background vocals - Robert Wright Guitars - Bryan Pyzer Drums - Rick Lay Produced, engineered, mixed & mastered by Robert Wright Notes This lyric and musical idea floated around JJ's consciousness for a few years before materializing as the rehearsals started to take place in preparation for recording Edge of Content. A lyrical statement about prejudice and close-mindedness, this "message" song drives home the band's belief that we're all more closely related than we might sometimes believe, and that the best way to approach every new person we meet is with a clean slate and an open mind. JJ wrote the verses & choruses, but needed the collective creative energy of the band to come up with a bridge. The 80's-meets-the-future approach to the instrumental breakdown (bridge) was a true example of great band collaboration, as the buildup with delay-heavy guitar and layered synths creates the perfect crescendo leading into the dry rhodes&vocal breakdown. Highlight: Robert's bass fills leading back into each phrase of the verses. Also note the effectiveness of his production decision to tune Meven's lead vocal in the prechorus into background harmonies and send them through a vocoder. The atmospheric, nearly robotic pulse and energy of the song is an intentional complement to the lyric -- prejudiced thiking is normally pre-programmed and robotic in nature. Info
5.	So Anyway		So Anyway So Anyway (lyrics & music by JJ Benson) © 2005 This wasn’t the way our story was supposed to end We wrote such a great beginning, then somebody stole my pen so I’m left with no good reason now to even make my bed and all these memories that keep swimmin’ thru the vodka… …in my head This wasn’t the way I thought I’d see us fade away Why can’t we save this disappointment for a more convenient day? Cuz you caught me by surprise and unprepared to dull the pain I’m all out of anesthesia and it looks like….it’s gonna rain So strange – just how fast it all can change Nothing beautiful can ever stay the same It’s all just a game that I’ve grown too old to play But I’m a fool who never learns from his mistakes So anyway… This wasn’t the way I thought I’d plunge to my defeat I figured something more dramatic – something far more indiscreet …and now I’m left to wonder what I didn’t say or do but at least I get to spend my time regretting….something new… So strange – just how fast it all can change Nothing beautiful can ever stay the same It’s all just a game that I’ve grown too old to play But I’m a fool who never learns from his mistakes So anyway… This wasn’t the way our story was supposed to end. Lyrics	So Anyway Credits Lyrics & music by JJ Benson Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards & background vocals Rick Lay - drums & percussion Robert Wright - bass & background vocals Bryan Pyzer - guitars Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes A cynical, sad lament on the futility felt after another failed relationship ends, this song was perfectly suited to Meven's honest, intimate vocal delivery. The band toyed with the idea of producing this song as just a piano/vocal ballad, but decided that bigger was probably better when it came to production on this one. Highlight: Little B's searingly emotional guitar solo and the orchestra countermelody soaring underneath it throughout its conclusion. Info
6.	Rewind		Rewind Rewind (lyrics & music by Steven Maldonado & JJ Benson) ©2006 I guess I shoulda’ known it – in a town the size of this Sooner or later, I was gonna see her face again Still I wasn’t ready when she caught me by surprise Tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned and saw those dark familiar eyes I said “I can’t believe it – when did you get back in town?” Said she’s here for a wedding, but she lives down in Atlanta now As we both kept talking, I wondered if she felt it too Inside I was searching for that something that I felt for her in school I always thought that if we met, I’d have so much to say About all this regret & how I still feel the same… All this time I’ve been wondering what I could have done Looking back, second-guessing all my life But sometimes love’s only perfect for a certain place in time Life won’t let your heart rewind She said she’d finally graduated, but wasn’t using her degree She’d gotten married, and they named their daughter “Destiny” I told her that I’m happy, which is basically the truth We made a little small talk, when we saw that’s all that we could really do With not much left to say, we started our goodbyes As I watched her walk away, I finally realized… All this time I’ve been wondering what I should have done Playing out different endings in my mind But sometimes love’s only perfect for a certain place in time Life won’t let your heart rewind Lyrics	Rewind Credits Lyrics and music by JJ Benson & Steven Maldonado Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards & background vocals Rick Lay - drums & percussion Robert Wright - bass & background vocals Bryan Pyzer - guitars Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes The conclusion to the story first told in "California King" (from 2002's "For All Intent & Purposes"), this song describes the surprisingly anticlimatic lack of emotion felt by the subject when he unexpectedly reunites briefly with the ex for whom he's spent so many years pining, regretting and wondering. He quickly learns that it's much easier to romanticize the past when we don't attempt to relive it. The band intended to work this song out in rehearsals for 2004's "Temporal Bliss," but the song fell flat after repeated efforts to pump life into it. Meven and JJ shelved the idea temporarily, but still believed in the strength of the lyric and melody. They revisited the song in 2006 with fresh ears & eyes and added a 2nd-half to the first verse, then brought it to the new version of the band during rehearsals for Edge of Content. With a blank canvas stylistically on which to paint this lyric/melody, the band instantly fell into a much funkier approach this time around, spurred on by Robert's twist on the bassline to the bridge of The SOS band's "Take Your Time (Do It Right)". Highlights: Rick's swinging subtle drum fills; Robert's layered backgrounds during the bridge and chorus vamp; Little B's Prince-inspired rhythm parts and JJ's rhodes noodling over the outro. Info
7.	Whoever It Is		Whoever It Is Whoever It Is (Music & lyrics by Steven Maldonado & JJ Benson) ©2005 Whoever it is that's led you to this Who's slithering in to a place in your head I should call home I don't wanna know about him - I sure don't wanna hear about him Whoever he is, I don't wanna know We used to be so in love - staying up all night on the phone Always knew what was on your mind, but now I look in your eyes and I don't know This ain't my imagination, but it's something I just can't put my finger on Stayin' out late again - say you're hanging with your friends and you say "don't wait up"… Whoever it is that's led you to this Who's slithering in to a place in your head I should call home I don't wanna know about him - I sure don't wanna talk about him Whoever he is, I don't wanna know Maybe this is just a phase, maybe it'll fade away in time and maybe if I tell myself that there ain't nobody else, it'll all be fine They say what you don't know won't hurt you, so baby wontcha leave me in the dark They say that ignorance is bliss so if ignorant is what this is, call me stupid if you want… Whoever it is that's led you to this Who's slithering in to a place in your head I should call home I don't wanna know about him - I sure don't wanna hear about him Whoever he is, I don't wanna know If you think it's best to get this off your chest, baby please tell someone else Whoever it is - yeah, whoever it is whoever he is, I don't wanna know If I'm jumping to conclusions, baby you should certainly understand When I think back to how we met, maybe I just can't forget I used to be that other man Whoever it is, yeah whoever it is Whoever it is, whoever it is, whoever he is... Phone rings, wrong number - That's what he said, but I know better Phone rings, wrong number - That's what he said, but I know better Phone rings, wrong number - That's what he said, but I know better Lyrics	Whoever It Is Credits Lyrics and music by JJ Benson & Steven Maldonado Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards & background vocals Rick Lay - drums & percussion Robert Wright - bass, additional lead vocal & background vocals Bryan Pyzer - guitars Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes An idea that generated in Meven's brain during an extended love affair with Marc Broussard's "Carencro" CD, this song explores the band's bluesier side and provides an environment for Meven to display more gritty, soulful vocals than the band's music usually requires from him. The reason for the seemingly insecure paranoia of the subject's skepticism and doubt about the fidelity of his lover is explained in the final prechorus of this extended Addiction-style-blues-jam. (ie: one can never be fully secure in relationships that are formed through a web of deceit and betrayal). Highlights: Meven's uber-soulful vocals, JJ & Little B's bluesy solo tradeoffs and Robert's scorching vocal answers to Meven during the crescendos at the end. Info
8.	I Couldn't Say No		I Couldn't Say No I Couldn’t Say No (lyrics & music by Steven Maldonado & JJ Benson) ©2005 I'm singing - she's watching somehow we're both pretending this something's not anything Nobody suspecting - the dots they’re not connecting because I'm wearing this ring I wasn't the navigator - not the negotiator I didn't even know where we were going We took the elevator - she pushed accelerator a million miles an hour straight up I couldn't say no - oh oh oh, no... I couldn't say no - oh oh oh, no... I keep on debating about this choice we're making it's time I reclaim control Tonight I'll resist her and when she moves in, I'm not even gonna kiss her I've gotta end this after the show but she's a great persuader, and like a “Now & Later” only an hour later I can still taste her ‘cause when she's on her knees, it's like she's born to please and I'm a slave who must obey her I couldn't say no - oh oh oh, no... I couldn't say no - oh oh oh, no... She’s like a drug I keep injecting though I know it’s not right Why can’t I learn to just say no? I couldn't say no - oh oh oh, no... I couldn't say no - oh oh oh, no... Lyrics	I Couldn't Say No Credits Lyrics and music by JJ Benson & Steven Maldonado Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards & background vocals Rick Lay - drums & percussion Robert Wright - bass, trumpet & background vocals Bryan Pyzer - guitars Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes Another tale of lies and infidelity, this song serves as a married entertainer's desperate rationalization for his continuous inability to resist the advances of one particular "fan" at his shows. The sexually charged lyrics are energized by Rick's thumping 60's style floor-tom & snare backbeat and Little B's tremolo'd low-notes "surfer guitar" approach. Highlights: Little B's twangy solo circa 1963 amidst a backdrop of drums, horns and cheering crowd. Hidden in the mix are further audio references from Albert Brooks' "Modern Romance." Info
9.	Detox	Play	Detox Detox (music & lyrics by JJ Benson & Steven Maldonado) © 2004 Four in the morning – tossing and turning I’m staring through bloodshot eyes sweating, shaking, puking you out, I’m still trying to drown out the sound of all these memories surrounding me and breaking me down… I need to stay as far away from you as I can I need to stay as far away from you as I can I need to detox if I wanna find myself again I need to detox I burned all our pictures but I can’t erase all the memories burned in my mind but the person you make me is not who I should be and I can’t keep living this lie where all these memories are surrounding me and breaking me down… I need to stay as far away from you as I can I need to stay as far away from you as I can I need to stay as far away from you as I can I need to stay as far away from you as I can I need to detox if I wanna find myself again I need to detox Lyrics	Detox Credits Lyrics and music by JJ Benson & Steven Maldonado Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards & background vocals Brian Haley - drums Josh Merritt - bass Bryan Pyzer - guitars Produced by The Addiction Engineered by Ben Phillips and Stephen Gause Mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes An ode to the moment when one becomes aware of how toxic a bad relationship can be (and the need to fully escape it to get over it), "Detox" makes The Addiction's apropros analogy between substance addiction and relationship addiction. Each can be equally destructive. The melody and lyric to the hook first came to JJ a few years ago, and he brought it to Meven to help flesh it out after the release of "Temporal Bliss" in '04. The band recorded the song with Ben Phillips and Stephen Gause before Robert and his engineering/producing/mixing talents entered the picture. Upon Robert's arrival and the decision to record the remainder of Edge of Content with Robert at the helm, the finished tracks were acquired from Ben and mixed/mastered by Robert. Highlight: the intensity of the buildup as the band drives home the hook one last time in the final chorus. Info
10.	End Is Beginning	Play	End Is Beginning End Is Beginning (Music & lyrics by Steven Maldonado & JJ Benson) ©2005 The end is beginning – the start of our love’s demise The drain’s been pulled, the water’s spinning I can see it in your eyes It’s like that smell before a storm, where you can tell it’s gonna rain And though you’re not yet out the door, I already feel the pain The fat lady hasn’t started singing But she’s walking to the stage The plot’s no longer thickening and I don’t wanna turn the page Our end is beginning and though you’re still on my mind It’s the bottom of the ninth inning and we’re five runs behind You haven’t said a thing But I can sense it in your touch Something’s missing when you kiss me Like it doesn’t mean as much Our end is beginning - I don’t wanna say goodbye But I see the writing on the wall, and I know the choice will not be mine La la la la la la la – la la la la la la la La la la la la la la – la la la la la la la The credits haven’t started rolling, but the screen is fading black And though you haven’t even left yet, I already want you back The end is beginning – the start of our love’s demise The drain’s been pulled, the water’s spinning I can see it in your eyes It’s like that smell before the storm, where you can tell it’s gonna rain And though you’re not yet out the door, I already feel the pain And though you’re not yet out the door, I already feel the pain And though you’re not yet out the door, I already feel the pain Lyrics	End Is Beginning Credits Lyrics and music by JJ Benson & Steven Maldonado Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards & background vocals Rick Lay - drums & percussion Robert Wright - bass, trumpet & background vocals Bryan Pyzer - guitars Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes Another lament on love gone wrong, Meven and JJ explore dozens of analogies between the looming end of a relationship and the looming end of nearly everything else that ends in life. The marraige of sad lyrics with happy music was the goal here, and the latin Bolero groove complete with mariachi horns and hootin/hollerin' fiesta partygoers helps achieve that goal quite nicely. Highlight: Meven and JJ's lounge-singer-ish vocals; Rick's jalapeno-spicy hand percussion and Robert's mariachi trumpet melodic replies. Sometimes sad topics can be silly, and this one is quite silly indeed. Info
11.	Last Kiss Goodbye		Last Kiss Goodbye Last Kiss Goodbye Words & music by J.J. Benson © 2004 Although the words remain unspoken, I know what’s weighing on your mind Before hearts start getting broken, I need to say goodbye There’s a space deep down inside your heart that I wanna occupy but I can’t make you see how good it could be if somebody else is still on your mind so close your eyes – don’t say a word there’s nothing left to hide baby just hold me close before I go I wanna savor this – one last kiss…goodbye With the grace of an angel, you swept in and stole my heart There’s so much I still wanna share with you that it’s tearing me apart I can see that you’re not ready for love and you’re afraid to get too close You need the time and space to figure it out and so it’s best if I just let you go so close your eyes – don’t say a word there’s nothing left to hide baby just hold me close one more time before I go I wanna savor this – one last kiss…goodbye Let’s not make this any harder than it has to be Time will tell if you and I are meant to be so close your eyes – don’t say a word there’s nothing left to hide baby just hold me close one more time before I go I wanna leave you with this to remember me by one last kiss before we say….goodbye Lyrics	Last Kiss Goodbye Credits Lyrics and music by JJ Benson Meven - Lead vocals JJ - Keyboards Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Robert Wright Notes Sometimes love requires you to make the difficult decision to let go of someone you care about because it's what's best for the both of you. This heartfelt ode to that moment was written by JJ in 2004, and the band agreed that it was best served by a minimalist, intimate rhodes/vocal approach. The stamp on the end of the CD encapsulates the running theme of discomfort and pain with regard to love/relationships, but the bridge provides a glimmer of hope for something better...the possibility of actually finding contentment rather than always standing on the edge of it. Highlight: Meven's vocal delivery from the first moment of this song to the last. Info

Third independent CD from Nashville-based The Addiction arrives! Another hook-heavy dose of soulful pop/rock, the 11-song collection marks the celebration of the band-formerly-known-as-groove-addiction's 8th year together. Order it NOW right here on this site or follow the link to cdbaby.com.