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Don't Put Out

by Soft Targets

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    23
    releases

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Junior Wing EP, Time + Distance, Let's Live in Caves, Don't Put Out, Send Us Fools, Flowers Everywhere, Younger Days, The Dust We Raise, and 15 more. , and , .

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1.
Figure It Out 06:19
lyrics
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Well all right, if you got something to say I’ll shut my mouth, you can say it anyway You’ve got that look, that look that says it all You want everything, all at once, you want it all right now You’re gonna figure it out x2 Well all right, if you got something to say I’ll shut my mouth, but they don't even know your name There goes that look, that look that says it all So full of history and mystery, now the writing’s on the wall We’re gonna figure it out x4 The only thing that matters right now is that I want you And you want me to The only thing that matters right now is that I need you And you need me too
2.
When the Apocalypse Comes 02:54
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When the apocalypse comes Dying is salvation and living’s a curse When the apocalypse comes It’s gonna get bad then its gonna get worse When the apocalypse comes We’ll leave the party a little too soon When the apocalypse comes 1999’s got nuthin’ on you Got nuthin’ on you When the apocalypse comes Air turns electric, it’ll shock you right out When the apocalypse comes Death and Destruction are what’s it’s about When the apocalypse comes I wanna be sharp and looking my best When the apocalypse comes Always wanted to be the last one left Always wanted to say goodbye to the rest Always wanted to lead a group of men to their death Always wanted to save the world with my dying breath Yeah, my last breath When the apocalypse comes Red skies will burn all day and all night When the apocalypse comes We’re gonna take wrong and make it all right When the apocalypse comes Last call for judgment last call for the truth When the apocalypse comes The Lake of Fire’s got nuthin’ on you Got nothing on you When the apocalypse comes I know exactly what I’m gonna do When the apocalypse comes The Book of Names is naming a few When the apocalypse comes I won’t waste time sucking up to the blessed When the apocalypse comes Always wanted to be the last one left Always wanted to say goodbye to the rest Always wanted to lead a group of men to their death Always wanted to save the world with my dying breath Then this is the test And this is the sign That it’s gonna be fine And it’s gonna be swell when were livin’ in hell When the apocalypse comes
3.
I Don't Act Right 03:26
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When I heard the news of what happened I just happened to be happening by (Walking the street) Yeah Since I wasn’t there to see it I couldn’t look you in the eye (Obviously) Yeah I know I ain't perfect I know and I’m not refined (Is that a crime?) No I don’t have much to give but can you give me time? (Give some time) I know I don’t look right, I don’t act right do I? I didn’t start investigating ‘til things had gone for too long (Way too long) Yeah But I can admit I’m right, if you can admit you’re wrong (Don’t sing me a song) No The past is past and if it don’t last it won’t mean a goddamn thing (Don’t mean a thing) Yeah I’m looking at those pretty little fingers, but I don’t see no ring I don’t look right, I don’t act right do I? I can’t walk straight, I can’t talk straight can I? BRIDGE Oh Lord, You gotta beam me up right now Lord, I’m just beggin’ you You gotta believe me You gotta relieve me from this misery VERSE Sometimes you confuse me, make me feel two feet tall Waddaya mean I gotta go uptown to get downtown? That don’t make no sense at all But with your cooperation, we could end this thing right now I forgive you, you forgive me, it won’t matter anyhow CHORUS Cause, I don’t look right, I don’t act right do I? No, I can’t walk straight, I can’t think straight can I? I can’t act right, I can’t dress right can I? No, I won’t act right, I don’t do right do I?
4.
Some Days 06:41
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Some days, I don’t know what to do Some days, I’d rather leave it up to you And you know that I always do Some days, they don’t turn out right Try as you might, some days don’t turn out right CHORUS Shining on the avenue Lighting up the great plains Smiling at my enemies Knowing that I share the blame It's true Sometimes, I got lies running through my head Sometimes, I can’t believe the things I’ve said Sometimes, I got fires burning in my bed Sometimes, I almost wish I was... CHORUS Shining on the avenue Lighting up the great plains Smiling at my enemies Knowing that I share the blame It's true I know a promise is just something you make You know a promise is just something to break We know there’s not too much more they can take They know we’re not going back for their sake CHORUS Shining on the avenue Lighting up the great plains Smiling at my enemies Knowing that I share the blame Feeling like hypocrite Playing out the last game Trying to make them deal with it Knowing that it’s all the same
5.
Public World 03:54
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I gotta get away I don’t have time for anther holdiay Once in awhile, at least once a day I don’t have time for anther holdiay How many more times, how many more ways
6.
Runaround 04:46
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I don't know why you run around I don't know why you burn your house to the ground Is that how you want it to be? I know you want to get away I know there's some place you'd rather stay Stay away from me CHORUS Everybody thinks they got you pegged for something Everybody's trying to nail you to the cross for nothing Everything is falling apart but you're still burning One thing I know for sure is this world’s gonna keep on turning SECOND VERSE I don't know why you run around I don’t know why you wanna get lost then found And why does that include me I don't know why you don't act right I don't know why you take the fifth every night Is that how you want it to be CHORUS Everybody thinks they got you pegged for something Everybody's trying to nail you to the cross for nothing Everything is falling apart but you’re still burning One thing I know for sure is this world’s gonna keep on turning Right now, I’m finding hard to figure out Right now, I’m finding it hard and I can’t say I said, You’re running away, you said, I know I said, You’re running away, you said, I know I said, You’re running away, you said, I know I said, You’re running away, you said, I know I said, You’re running away, you said, I know And if after you’re gone I’ll lie and say I won’t miss you And say so long
7.
Idiot Clause 02:10
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8.
Frustration 02:36
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9.
Western Civ 03:09
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It’s the decline of Western Civilization But it’s not the fault of Hipster Nation It’s just a lack of imagination That’s been the problem since creation CHORUS So what is wrong, and why this song? Through the day and all night long The time may come When all is said and done And don’t you think that we’ve had our fun? Oh no, don’t you even think about it It’s the decline of the Western World With flags held high and banners unfurled We don’t have anyone left to serve We lost way and lost our nerve CHORUS So what is wrong, and why this song? Through the day and all night long The time may come When all is said and done And don’t you think that we’ve had our fun? Oh no, don’t you even think about it Oh no, don’t you even lie about it, you can't live without it It’s the decline of Western Civilization But it’s not the fault of Hipster Nation It’s just a lack of imagination That’s been the problem since creation But I wouldn’t trade it for all the snow in Scandinavia Or for all the tulips in Batavia For all the biscuits in Moravia But I would trade it for the oil in Arabia
10.
Big Cats 04:10
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Big cats, they’re lying in the tall grass They’re waiting for the days to pass They’re waiting to attack you Big cats, I’ve known you such a long time I know we’re of the same mind I know we’re of the same kind CHORUS And that’s no small thing It’s no small thing It’s no small thing Oh, it’s no small thing, for a big cat Big cats, they’re lying in the hot sun They know their race is run They know they've already won Big cats, I’ve known you such a long time I know your heart is mine I know we’re out of time CHORUS And that’s no small thing It’s no small thing It’s no small thing Oh, it’s no small thing, for a big cat Big cats, lying in the tall grass Waiting for the days to pass Waiting to attack you Big cats, I've known you such a long time I know your heart is mine I know your heart is mine Big cats, they're lying in the tall grass Waitng for the days to pass Waiting to attack you Big cats, I've known you such a long time I know your heart is mine I know your heart is mine Big cats, they're lying in the tall grass Waitng for the days to pass Waiting to attack you BIG CATS!!!

about

Having jumped the sophomore slump and gotten over the hump, Soft Targets return with their third full-length for RoosterCow. Some short punk rock blasts co-exist with some stretched-out grooves in typical Softies fashion. This may be their best effort to date. Recorded by Poulin @ Armitage Shanks in Logan Square, Chicago.

WHISPERIN' HOLLERIN' (UK)
Responsible for artists as diverse and seismic as Wilco, Tortoise, Smog and The Handsome Family, Chicago holds an esteemed place in this writer's heart. The fact that SOFT TARGETS also hail from the magnificent Windy City is a good start in itself, but it also means they're up against some inspirational competition.

And, in truth, Don't Put Out (the band's third album after 2007's debut We Hate You Soft Targets and last year's sophomore release 'Soft Targets Must Be Destroyed!') isn't quite enough to see them elevated to the heights we've come to expect from the cream of Chicago's population. It's not bad at all and it certainly has its' moments, but ultimately it's a decent enough garage-flavoured indie album and little more.

You can at this stage say “ok fine” and walk away, because you've heard all this before. And in places you have. Certainly, the album has a bit of a slump mid-way (around the time of the solid, but unexciting 'Public World') and a disappointing conclusion courtesy of the lippy, but disposable 'Western Civilisation' and interchangeable garage action of 'Big Cats'. Yet despite these blemishes, you should still stick around because there's some half decent gear to be savoured here too.

For starters, Soft Targets are clearly in love with the best pop-punk out there. Short, sharp songs like 'When The Apocalypse Comes', Idiot Clause' and 'Runaround' (which comes complete with a gloriously untutored bass solo of all things) are full of nervy riffs and punky aggression a la Buzzcocks or Ash, while the slightly more experimental likes of 'Figure It Out' and the spirited 'I Don't Act Right' have a seat-of-the-pants DIY charm that's truly seductive in selected doses.

The eerie edge of 'Some Days' is another memorable contender, though ironically the album's stand out track is its' cover version (admittedly a relatively obscure one) in the shape of The Mystic Tide's 'Frustration'. I know sod all about The Mystic Tide, save they were a psychedelic-influenced garage-rock outfit, but if their back catalogue harbours more in the tuff, Chocolate- Watch-Band-with-sitars vein of this song, then I'd like to hear it. Very much, actually.

All of which sounds like I'm damning 'Don't Put Out' with faint praise. Possibly I am, because as yet Soft Targets haven't quite sussed out the special formula that will put them ahead of the pack. For all that, there's something at work here which suggests writing Soft Targets just yet could well be a mistake. So let's cut them some slack. They are from Chicago, after all.

credits

released April 22, 2022

Chris Auman: guitar, vocals
Reg Shrader: guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Frustration"
C. Negrete: drums, lead vocals on "Idiot Clause"
Dan Kiss: bass

with Jane Hanna, Scott Shehan, and Tina Finch

Recorded and mixed by Kris Poulin. Mastered by Carl Saff

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RoosterCow Records Chicago, Illinois

Est. 2001.

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