The Long Afternoon commemorates a change in figureheads that heralded a new dark age. Songs about mutual obsessions, ersatz entitlement, and the great equalizer. The sounds may soothe the wounds but the damage inflicted by an overeducated, emotionally stunted man-child can’t be so easily reversed. In the wake of the golden goose’s emergency surgery the eggs come out streaked with tin, and so they always will. A precursor to the fifth album by The Long Afternoon, released by Problematic Audio recordings.
For this document, The Long Afternoon comprised:
Eston Martz: guitars, keyboards, vocals
Jeff Edmunds: bass, vocals
Greg Elliott: drums, vocals
Jean-Pierre Mulley: guitars, vocals
Recorded primarily at Problematic Audio and 5 Spruces. Mixed and mastered by J.-P. Mulley at the Hobbit House, April 2023.
All songs by Eston Martz.
the weight of the world
They told you nice things
You said such nice things
Seeing it all as just profit and loss is the lens that you chose
when they gave you the chance
You wanted nice things
You bought some nice things
But you’ll still end up checking out.
Sticking the blade in the backs that you broke ‘cause a couple of baubles
weren’t quite in your grasp
You need such nice things
They owed you nice things
Crossing the country to go see a woman who won’t ask you questions
about how it feels
You give her nice things
She likes your nice things
But you’ll still end up checking out
But you’ll still end up checking out
No more nice things when you check out
You’re never wrong
Rotting in the fields
The weeds grow through the bones
Hiding in the vaults
Your papers steal the show
Friends and family sing songs
For the people who are gone
But you cannot wait that long
When you know you’re never wrong
You’re never wrong
You’re never wrong
Paying brand new kids
To act like they’re you’re friends
They pretend they’re blind
But they’re not innocent
And your family is gone
No one’s left to string along
Only those who know the song
And tell you you’re never wrong
You’re never wrong
You’re never wrong
But if you’re on the fence I won’t insist
The place is underlined but you can’t dedicate the time
I’m smart enough to see how it all fits
Just because I’m interested in
Interesting things
It doesn’t make me interesting
The mirror looked like stone when your friends got me on the phone
And I heard them ask me how things are now
I’m in a new terrain and even if things look the same
The fury isn’t equal to the sound
Just because you’re interested in
Interesting things
It doesn’t make you interesting
Common focus minimized
Every difference amplified
Every action justified
You’re just looking for a ride
Pathetic parting shots, the ones I gave and some I got
But none that ever needed to exist
These things are broken now but I wish you well, anyhow,
You can keep the pieces that still fit
Just because we’re interested in
Interesting things
It doesn’t make us interesting
