A Brief Case Of Madness

by Tom Dickins & The Punintentionals

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DLT Low One of the finest independent albums of the past ten years. So much beauty, kindness, wit and talent bound together - it will make its mark. Favorite track: Ocean Today.

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

We will mail you a physical copy of the album, in a beautifully designed 6 panel digipack with enclosed lyric booklet. You will also receive an IMMEDIATE digital download so you can listen straight away.

This digipack features the stunning cover art from Ange Devery - which features every single lyric on the album - all being drawn into the rabbit hole. The inside cover includes artworks submitted by supporters of the crowdfunding campaign from all over the world - inspired by the songs as they developed over the last 12 months.

Includes unlimited streaming of A Brief Case Of Madness via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	O Jordan 03:25	lyrics

2.	Celluloid Girl 04:50	lyrics

3.	Swollen Pride 03:42	lyrics

4.	Sad For The Weather 04:27	lyrics

5.	The Itch 03:42	lyrics

6.	Green Paper Heart 03:19	lyrics

7.	Ocean Today 03:28	lyrics

8.	Miss You Already 04:29	lyrics

9.	Without Exit Strategy 03:46	lyrics

10.	Half Full Of Ourselves 04:31	lyrics

11.	Dream Of Waking Up 03:35	lyrics

12.	Dusty Stars 03:59	lyrics

about

This is the debut album from Tom Dickins and The Punintentionals - to write record this album I felt I had to escape Melbourne - and we moved to Woodend. Many of the songs were crafted and developed in consultation with the supporters of my Crowd-funding campaign. I am eternally grateful for their support, encouragement and patience.

credits

released August 16, 2013

Copyright Tom Dickins, 2013

All songs written and arranged by Tom Dickins
Produced by Stive Collins and Tom Dickins
Recorded at Crowded Studios
Mastered by Adam Dempsey at Deluxe Mastering
Artwork by Ange Devery, Crowded.

Tom Dickins: Vocals, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Ukelele
Stive Collins: Drums, Percussion
Thomas Devery: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
James Devery: Acoustic Guitar
Sally Christiansen: Vocals
Gemma O'Connor: Vocals, Tambourine
Brodie Brummer: Electric guitar on Track 3

Pozible Executive Producers:
Absynthe Shiels
Alan Francis
Amanda Palmer
BecBec Wright
Callie Michaels
Catie Watts
Clary Terrell
Jade
John Hall
Karina Cetin
Krystal "Krykky" Campbell
Marc Roberts
Marcus van Jager
Martin 'Beaverhousen' Miller
Michaela
Miriam Keane
Nala
Nick O'Donohue
Rob Casteel
Rob cliff, Lisa lehne, Cassie wright, Jasmine daniels, Holly Billie
Sabrina Frowiss
Sunspike
Tania Risko
Tom Steiger

Pozible Producers:
Bradley Storer
Brandon Engel
Bridget Wagner
Christoph Stahl
Colin Burn-Murdoch
Corey Finger
Daniel Silveira
David Long
Elise Siegmann
Evan Blood
Glenn Ford
Helen & Shane Perris
J.P. McCabe
James Ewing
James Miller
Jodie Liddell
Kate Zampogna
Laura Bender
Liam & Sharon Keeffe
Maiike Johnson
Mark Anderson
Megan Nottage
Nathalie Boisard-Beudin
Nicolas Biri
Noni Kuhner
Punch Drunk Monkey
Roger Menso
Rosemary White
Sean O'Callaghan-daft
Sky Croeser
Thomas Proctor
Tully Barnett
Wayne Stanford

Thank You's:
A huge thank you to Ange Devery - my wife, my manager, my partner in life, crime and work. Without your support, encouragement, feedback and tireless work - the album would not be what it is today.

Evan Drill - you enabled us to record this album in the way that we wanted to record it. It truly is the sound that I have been chasing for my whole career - and because of your generosity - I have been able to attain it.

Friends of Harry. You know who you are. Your involvement has shaped this album, the way it was written and arranged and the songs that is comprises - that is down to you. Thank you for making this process so deeply invigorating, challenging and exciting.

Punintentionals - thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Let's smash the world to pieces with this fantastic bloody record

Jaron Luksa and Amanda Palmer - your feedback at the 11th hour was important, insightful, intelligent, integral and a whole lot more 'i' words that I can't think of right now.

And of course - our friends and family. Thanks for your love and patience. This is what we've been busy with. This is why we are tired. This is why we are broke. It has been worth it.

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about

Tom Dickins Melbourne, Australia

Musician. Maker of things. Breaker of other things. Sometimes alone. Sometimes with co conspirators. Most recent album with the Punintentionals.

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Track Name: O Jordan: Where'd you go, where'd you go Jordan?
Did you climb, did you fly to the centre
And what did you see there?

How'd you fall, how'd you fall, Jordan?
Was it hard? Was it fast?
Was it all in slow motion?
Was it just like the movies?

Did you tie that final straw
To the camels back?
Did you look for the colours
But only see black?
O Jordan

Did your feet tap the beat, Jordan?
Did the beat keep your feet planted firm on the ground?
Did it make that ole' familiar sound?

Where's that hill, where's that hill Jordan?
Did it mask the best parts of the sky?
Did you see you mother? (cry)

Did you marvel at the moon
Or did it make you feel lonely?
When you look to the horizon
Can you see you’re the only
Jordan?

I'm not sure what that kind of lonely looks like
I'm not sure what that kind ugly feels like
I'm not sure what that kind of poison feels like
When it's traveling traveling traveling
Unravelling your veins

Did you marvel at the moon
Or did it make you feel lonely?
When you look to the horizon
Can you see you’re the only
Jordan?

O Jordan
O Jordan
O Jordan...
Track Name: Celluloid Girl: There’s a celluloid girl waiting for the tide
To come and cover over her picture of the bride
She made the veil herself out of shells of virgin white
Her dress, a shade of seaweed
To float her down the aisle

…

Though torn around the edge and faded at the sides
She looks to the horizon to where her lover died
She cries the tears of ages and ancient wounded pride
Then dips her little toe in to keep the cold alive

…

Now there’s a digital girl moving just so slightly
She’s staring at the ocean, so messy and untidy
What did mother see that could have kept her here
Whatever could have held her down for sixty years…
Track Name: Swollen Pride: I lay awake for several hours
Thought of all the plans we’d laid
How we would topple all the towers
With the music we had made
And we would reach the stars together
And we’d pick one for ourselves
Let the bigots keep their heaven
We’re much happier in hell

So let us drink
Let us drink
Let us laugh until we cry
Let us stroke each other’s
Swollen pride…

I've bit my tongue so many times now
That it’s getting hard to speak
The truth you're seeking in the darkness
Is a game of hide and seek
You talk to strangers for a living
But can never phone a friend
I hope you’re happy, hope you’re happy
I hope you’re happy in the end

So let us drink
Let us drink
Let us laugh until we cry
Let us stroke each other’s
Swollen pride…

If you want it that bad it’s yours
Just take it
I don’t want it back
If you need it so bad
It's yours.
Just take it, just take it.
If it hurts this much
You keep it and hold it
And I’ll wish you luck
If you’d kill for it
Really kill for it, be careful
It might kill you back.

So let us drink, Let us drink
Let us laugh until we cry
Let us stroke each other, stroke each other, choke each other

So let us drink, Let us drink
Let us laugh until we cry
Let us stroke each other, stroke each other, choke each other

So let us drink, Let us drink
Let us laugh until we cry
Let us stroke each other’s swollen
And foolish…  Pride…
Track Name: Sad For The Weather: By the coffee table
You wait
Blue in your eyes
A lock on your gate
In the summer you smile
In the winter you cry
He said
"maybe we'll give England a try"

Your mother, she called it a seasoned depression
Your father can't cry from years of repression
Your youngest of brothers thinks it shouldn't matter
Your friends are inclined to agree with the latter...

But that was months ago
Though he sometimes writes
And in your replies
You would give him your nights
You'd surrender your days
And relinquish control
You'd fill any form
And pay every toll

Your mother, she called it a seasoned depression
Your father can't cry from years of repression
Your youngest of brothers thinks it shouldn't matter
Your friends are inclined to agree with the latter...

Back at the cafe you wait
The table
We'll sit and tell stories
As long as we're able
I'll cry, then you'll cry
We'll all cry together
Sad for the distance
Sad for the weather...
Track Name: The Itch: I felt the chill
My skin grew tired from the motion
I fell to bed
For fifteen years
But couldn't sleep...

I need my rest
My heaving chest, it is still broken
I stuck my fears up all around me
For fifteen hours
But couldn't weep

(so I whisper to myself)

I felt the urge
So I called the strangers to my linen
They held me close
For fifteen minutes
Then they'd leave

I have no church
Not many gods that I can worship
Who will love me back
For fifteen seconds
Without commitment
or need

(So I whisper to the godly stranger)

You feel the itch?
No-one can scratch it like I can
I'll make you weep
Before you know it
You'll be asleep
For fifteen years...
Track Name: Green Paper Heart: The green man is saying
“Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk”
But I don’t walk, I don’t walk
I don’t work anymore
I don’t get what they do it for…

The green fairy’s yelling
“Drink, drink, drink, drink, drink
Drink it down, drink it down”
Though the ship is sinking now
I’m not useful anyhow

There’s a green paper heart
In the space between my lungs
Pull my ribcage apart
For there’s an addict in the attic
Of this house that we built
Beneath the ashes and the silt
So if you search very hard
You’ll find my small green paper heart…

The wizard paints his city in the colour of his envy
In the colour of the wings I fly I away on
For a time I just saw red at all the things that he had said
Until I recognized he’d written them in schoolyard crayon

There’s a green paper heart
In the space between my lungs
Pull my ribcage apart
For there’s an addict in the attic
Of this house that we built
Beneath the ashes and the silt
So if you search very hard
You’ll find my small green paper heart…

She said “you’ve got to stand for something”
“We used to stand for something”
Well you've got to stand for something
Before you can ever sell out…

There’s a green paper heart
In the space between my lungs
Pull my ribcage apart
For there’s an addict in the attic
Of this house that we built
Beneath the ashes and the silt
So if you search very hard
You’ll find my small green paper heart…
Track Name: Ocean Today: I need the ocean today
The rains not wet enough
To wash this dirt away

I need the ocean today
This wind can break my branches
But I won't ever sway

I need the ocean today I need it I need it...

I need the ocean today
This body is still warm
I can't keep the vultures at bay

I need the ocean today
The tide has turned into
A tiring old charade

I need the ocean today I need it I need it...

Beware the cracks
They will break your mothers back
Avoid the lines
They will take your fathers spine
Drain the seas
For they will take you far from me
Put out the stars
They will take you very far… away.
From me

I need the ocean today
To protect this little heart
To keep me from decay…

Beware the cracks
They will break your mothers back
Avoid the lines
They will take your fathers spine
Drain the seas
For they will take you far from me
Put out the stars
They will take you very far… away.
From me

I need it I need it I need it I need it I need it I need it I need it I need it.
Track Name: Miss You Already: I miss you already
And it’s only been five hours
Five hours since I held you tight
Against my mother’s car
Wherever you are
I miss you already

It’s been five hours
And a quarter of a minute
Since I kissed you
And I miss you now
You’ve got the sweetest taste
And a full embrace
I miss you already

Time it waits
For reason to break
When you’re not ready
It fades away
Don’t you wait
For another day
The world moves too fast
It goes on
See you on the other side
Where even stars

They seem different

I hide behind things
A book, a map, a guitar,
A phone call that might distract me
From wherever you are
Under the southern stars
I miss you already

It’s not real to me
That these feelings could be void
That this love could be destroyed
I played my own part
I broke my own heart
I miss you already

Time it waits
For reason to break
When you’re not ready
It fades away
Don’t you wait
For another day
The world moves too fast
It goes on
See you on the other side
Where even stars

They seem indifferent

Time it waits
For reason to break
When you’re not ready
It fades away
Don’t you wait
We won't wait for another day
We'll be a circle
And we'll go on
And on
And on
And on
Track Name: Without Exit Strategy: I've learned to cook for one
And drink for three
Of how to wear a mask
And make it look like its still me
Of how to run so fast
That I can't feel
To distinguish all the differences
Between the fiction and whats real

And I lie all the time...
...you were never mine

I've learned to grit my teeth
And how to take it on the chin
I've learned to bear a grudge
And bear the weight and the waiting
I've learned the stunning truth
That I you are really not so bad
But If you can't see the good in me
Then you really must be mad

and I lie all the time...
...you were never mine

This house is mine
These things are mine
This body's mine
I like it fine
You've left behind
A love of wine
A lack of time
These things are mine
These things are mine
The hurt is mine
Mistakes were mine
The flaws are mine
The house is mine
The things are mine are mine are mine
This house is mine
These things are mine
This body's mine
I like it fine
You've left behind
A love of wine
A lack of time
These things are mine
These things are mine

They're all mine
All this time
You were never...

I'm not responsible
For your inability
To fall for someone fully, without exit strategy
To falter when you're confronted with something more than skin deep
It's not mine. It's not mine. It's not mine.

It was never mine
It was never mine
All this time...
...You were never mine...
Track Name: Half Full Of Ourselves: Spent the day in a laneway
Lost the night in a lame way
Powerless in the same way
As this flat made of scratches and cracks
Lived a week out of boxes
All my food came from boxes
I don’t quite fit any boxes
But can’t fill this box of wood and glass

The next one’s half empty
While I am left half full of myself

The months passed like a lover
Who is ignored but not forgotten
The empty bottles in the kitchen
Are the only indication of time
I house parties like a secret
And give counsel like a father
“Hearts are broken to be mended
And my spare key is in the letterbox”

Your next one’s half empty
While you are left half full of someone else

But you’ll find another
Look, I found a lover
Time is a stranger thing
Than I had ever known

We hold hands with our choices
Then we dance with consequences
Sing the songs that hold the answers
To the questions we’d forgotten to ask
We say goodbye like a parent
To a child on excursion
We make plans with abandon
And make changes when the needs arise

Our next one’s half empty
While we are left half full of everybody else
Our next one’s half empty
While we are left half full of ourselves…
Track Name: Dream Of Waking Up: I had a dream all about you
You held a gun to my head
With eyes of remorse
You said "well, of course
This is how is has to end

I used to dream of the water
Filling our house like the sea
The TV was dead
The waves made my bed
The sky was calling out to me

Calling:
When you wish upon a star…

I dreamed that the sun had exploded
Starting a fire at the school
But we were okay
Hiding beneath the stage
While it killed all the bigots and tools

Then in my dream, this one lady
With a red dress and helicopter hair
Was killing them all
At the shopping mall
With the sentences that you never had said

Like:
When you wish upon a star
The city lights are all they are…

You sometimes talk in your sleep dear
In languages spoken no more
Though you never wake
My only mistake
Is wanting to know what you're longing for

Now I drink too much to sleep softly
So dreams, when they come, are of chores
Of process and work
The monsters that lurk
Are in newspaper headlines once more

When we wish upon a star
It’s just the headlights of a car
So when I wake I'm still dreaming
Of waking up again...

Wake me up again…
Track Name: Dusty Stars: On that dusty wooden floor
We said the things we'd never spoken before
Through the cobwebs on the glass
We saw reflections of a thing that's built to last
And on a mattress on the floor
We saw a ceiling just beginning to crack
And where our younger selves would run
We now were walking hand in hand not looking back.

And in the middle of the night
We fight for honour and for glory and for love.
And there is little hesitation
As we build our little nation from above
This story's just begun

So we took our little boat
Just to see if it could float, but it could fly.
And it took us by surprise
By just how quickly it could rise in the sky
And with little scars or scratches
We had bought a book of matches just to light
And we moved as quick as smoke had spoken
Telling us to flee where we could fight

And in the middle of the night
We fight for honour and for glory and for love.
And there is little hesitation
As we build our little nation from above
This story's just begun
This story's just begun

With little need to speak
We sneak the glances that we need to carry on
You are everything I wanted
Everything I never thought I'd chance upon
So darling take my hand
And dance with me. This night was made for us
And together let us keep on looking up
As we continue to build stars
From the dust.