Rest it Straight, by The Mother Z's

Rest it Straight

by The Mother Z's

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dynovinyl It's like they went into a Rock n Roll time machine and did it again.

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1.	Non, Merci! 02:40	lyrics	buy track
I’ve never been to Paris I’ve never been to France I’d like to go there someday I may never get the chance But I can speak the language Oui J’apprend le francais I’m learning lots of phrases Here’s one I plan to say An awful lot Well, More often than not When I’m put on the spot I say: Non merci! Non merci! Non merci! Non merci! My parents paid for college I took out some student loans I’m thankful for the knowledge But I can’t pay the debt I owe Ive always been a little bit self-conscious Heres a brief history: I started as a business major But I loved music secretly How young i was How dumb I was Should have spoken up And said: Non merci! Non merci! Non merci! Non merci! Now I am 37 im learning to say no It’s like another language Feels like it’s coming slow Still ain’t been lots of places Still learning who I am Still going through lots of changes I’m not sure if they ever end I’m all grown up And I know when enough is enough Don’t ask me because I’ll say: Non merci! Non merci! Non merci! Non merci!
2.	Rest it Straight 03:57	lyrics	buy track
(Andy) I got a Handful of half-written lines A Hatful of trouble Troubled times - Man they really come for us all We’re Worn out Nickle and dimed hearts full of sorrow Sorrow finds us all Like we’re Shuffling along in a line, we’re Stumbling blind In these half written lines I’m trying to find some comfort is all (Becca) You gotta Come down to earth sometimes Calm down and ease your troubled mind Even as you stumble and fall So write down your anxious rhymes If it helps you struggle Cuz all i can do is help you turn em into a song Since I ain’t got the time Since I can’t read Minds I’ll leave you with some comfort: (Both) Its always dark Before the morning Breaks and sparks Dawning, dawning Cold and dark Before the morning All those stars Before the morning comes
3.	Sheboygan 03:49	lyrics	buy track
Andy: Way out ‘Cross the lake I saw a light house From a state away And Somehow thought I could wave To my house Andy: This was Way back On a visit up to grandad’s I remember he had this big laugh Oh man I miss him so bad… Both: Memories! If Sheboygan misses me I’m just a little hard to see But I’m still hanging around standing in a cloud Andy: It’s gone so fast I remember Where we played last Punk rock coffee shop with poor Pat He almost knocked me flat on my ass Becca: Man I still laugh Ever time I think about that Since then we took our own paths But we’ll always have Sheboygan Both: Oh please If Sheboygan misses me Tell her I’m just hard to see I’m standing in a crowd But I’m still hanging around Andy: So how about now? How are you doing in your new town? How’s it going with the new house? What’s your favorite place to hang out? Well, me, I’m downtown Staring at the lake It’s grey out And I can’t really see the light house But I’m gonna wave anyhow Both: Oh Please If you’re ever missing me I am never out of reach I’m still hanging around So Please If you’re ever missing me I’m just a little hard to see But I’m still hanging around Reach out Reach out Reach out
4.	Meredith 02:56	lyrics	buy track
Meredith Both: Meeeeredith Andy: I’ve got so much to ask you But I guess you don’t understand Both: any of these words Both: IIIII confess Andy: I’m scared to death my Meredith But I’ll give my best Both: for Whatever that’s worth Andy: For Whatever it’s worth, Both: I just want you to know you’re the apple of my eye Both: Ooooh what a world, what a world is this! Ooooh what a world, what a world is this! Andy: I don’t care about money And I’m not trying to be funny But you mean more than anything money can buy, my… Both: Meredith Andy: I’ve got so much to tell you but I can tell you don’t understand… Both: any of these words Both: IIIII confess Andy: I’m scared to death my Meredith But I’m also the happiest man Both: on the earth Andy: For whatever it’s worth… Both: I just want you to know you’re the reason I want to try Both: Oooooh what a world, what a world is this! IIIII wish a better one could exist Andy: But you’re the joy in it honey I’d give my music, my money I’d give My right arm To keep you from harm, my Both: Meredith Andy: I just can’t wait to meet you, teach you, treat you to a pizza… Both: at Aurelio’s Both: IIIIII confess Andy: I’m scared to death my Meredith Cuz I can’t control… Both: how anything will go Andy: But now I really know that loving you so is the ultimate sacrifice But I want you to know youre the reason I want to try Both: Yeah I want you to know you’re the apple of my… Andy: eeeeeye
5.	Postcard from Chicago 04:00	lyrics	buy track
Andy: I got a narrative in my head… A&B: Says I’m not good enough Says I’m not good enough Uh huh Andy: And I don’t know how to shake it Don’t know how to fake it till I make it A&B: I never have, I never will Andy: Don’t wanna wait until I’m over the hill Andy: I got an arrow straight through my heart A&B: I must be good enough I’m good enough to love someone Andy: But I don’t know if I can take it I don’t know how to fake it till I make it A&B: I never have I never will Andy: keep it together write a letter, better still… Chorus (A&B together): I see buildings lake and the sky Lake and the sky beyond I see buildings lake and the sky Lake and the sky beyond Sending all all all my love Andy: I got the shit beat out of me Each week at work at my old gig I came home and dumped it out on you But that didn’t work like I was hoping I’m ready now to finally do some Standing up for myself for a change Cuz Im finding out despite my doubts I’m good enough I just didn’t realize my own strength A&B together: And you will never know what you mean to me You will never know what you mean to me I never knew just how much you believed in me You will never know what you mean to me Andy: I know I know I know I know You’re gonna say I told you so When you finally read this note Chorus (A&B together): I see buildings lake and the sky Lake and the sky beyond I see buildings lake and the sky Lake and the sky beyond I see billions of red break lights Blink in time to this song Traffic building out on lake shore drive I’m late yeah but life goes on Sending all all all my love Sending all all all my love Sending all all all my love Sending All all all
6.	Holy Smokes! 03:45	lyrics	buy track
Becca: I needed to clear my head I wanted everyone to shut up for a sec I needed to get out on my own I needed to leave to find my own way home Andy: (Ahem) I needed to clear my throat Now I’m singing, hitting those high notes Ive been eatin’ and breathing rock n’ roll Since I was seventeen years old Was that 20 years ago? Holy smokes! Both: Holy smokes Andy: (By golly) Both: Holy smokes Andy: (By gosh) Both: Allelujah great Caesar’s ghost and holy smokes Andy: Little sister Before you say “I do” I wanted to send a little song to you And I hope it doesn’t make you wanna puke But Im hoping you know I’m so damn proud of you Becca: I needed to clear my throat I admit it that was a little gross Big brother, change is coming your way too New baby? holy smokes I’m so happy for you! Both: Big changes are Headed your way and mine Big deal they always are They always were It’s always hard (Rockin sax Solo) Andy: Ive been meaning to propose a toast To living, health and to us both To living through hell and to rock and roll To what we can and can’t control To saying 20 years from now, “Holy smokes!” Both: Holy smokes Andy: (By golly) Both: Holy smokes Andy: (By gosh) Both: Allelujah great Caesar’s ghost and holy smokes

about

We're... BACK! It's been almost 10 years since The Mother Z's ended, and - holy smokes! - so much has happened since then. We grew up, had kids, moved away, lived through a pandemic and some freaky deaky times. This one's about looking back and toasting to whatever's next.. .with some pukey sibling mushiness thrown in for good measure. Z's forevaaahh!!

Oh and if you don't know, here's the story of the Z's:

In 2007 Andy graduated from college and had big plans to start a punk/motown band. He recruited his sister Rebecca to play drums … and then no one else wanted to join. As a duo, they conquered the early aughts Chicago indie pop music scene (or at least open mic nights at Ashbary Coffee House), recorded lo-fi EPs in their mom’s basement, went on two midwestern tours and played shows in Chicago without staying for the other bands, opting instead to get Steak and Shake at 11pm (sorry about that!). In 2014 they released their 'best of' album, “Permanent Collection," recorded their swan song, “Rock & Roll Time Machine” and went their separate ways…. Until now...

"The Mother Z’s are a brother and sister duo that have the DIY punky immediacy of Jonathan Richman or The Violent Femmes. It’s been almost ten years since they waved goodbye to fans with a variety of acoustic collections and b-sides. Since then brother Andy released a host of work as ARP! while sister Becca exited the music scene. But now they’re back together with a new EP Rest It Straight and the results are less frenetic, more acoustic, but no less engaging than their earlier work. “Non, Merci” launches things with a cool strut, evincing a Replacements kind of rough band togetherness. “Rest It Straight” offers up an alluring swing featuring a Spoon-like rhythm section. “Sheboygan” and “Meredith” have a country rock-folk feel akin to Rank and File while “Holy Smokes!” has the makings of an Americana classic. And don’t miss the tender openness on display within “Postcard from Chicago,” definitely the should-be single."

-- Dennis Pilon, Pop/Rock Record Blog poprockrecord.com

credits

released October 6, 2023

The Mother Z's are and will always be:

Andy Palmer - Guitar/Vocals
Becca Palmer - Drums/Vocals

This album was recorded at Andy's house in Chicago and Becca's house in Portland, OR.

Mixed & Mastered by Colin Schlegel at Sumthins Recording in Joliet, IL.

The Mother Z's would also like to thank Ian, Molly, our family and friends, and everyone who knew us as the Z's!

Special thanks to Sean & Liz for playing our old tunes on the "Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid to Know About" radio show in 2022 and inspiring us to write some new tunes.

This album is dedicated to Elwood & Meredith, our first-borns!

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The Mother Z's Chicago, Illinois

Bro/Sis, Rock/Roll.

REUNION + NEW MUSIC OUT IN 2023!!

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