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Strange Encounters

by Opel

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    The download of this album comes with the original album art work and liner notes. Plus a bonus track you can only find here! Included in the album download is the original recording of Fully Loaded, featuring the original cast and crew of Opel.

    Remember, your money for purchasing this album goes directly to Opel, so thanks for funding our next recording session!
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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Towers of Secrecy, The Fifth Measure, and Strange Encounters. , and , .

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1.
Reciprocity 03:38
If you want love, then you gotta give it up. If you wanna live, then you gotta live it up. I was taught to walk alone and hold it with my right hand, yeah. I was tempered in a basement talkin’ to a dead man. (Chorus 1) Wild eyes lose their fortune Under depths of self defeat, While I breathe her perfume Her physicality. If its all you ever know, how do you learn to change. When you’re down life throws ya’ rock slides. When you’re up it offers games. And if you want your love to hold, then ya’ gotta give it all away. It’s the paradox of old: What’s here must go to stay. Wild eyes lose their fortune Under depths of self defeat, While I breathe her perfume Her physicality. On that desert road Love ignites the flames that guide you Love will keep us whole Enter a better life, love binds you
2.
Goin' places I've never been Meetin' friends along the way Hope they'll stay Or maybe we'll catch up another day Over the horizon We're spinin' round Sunsets, Sunrises, Some lost, Some found, Some never leave this town There's a place where you can go In the hills or the valley below Chasin' ancient tigers Makin' strange encounters Travelin' down another road Find a guitar everywhere I go Another gift, Another town, Another pal Another chance to work on my sound Came upon a stroke of luck Bought this axe for twenty bucks She taught me six or seven rhymes Now I sing em' all the time I get by on what I find There's a place I like to go In the hills or the valley below Findin' hidden treasure Makin' strange encounters
3.
Letting Go 03:13
Comin’ down I’m breathin’ It hurts to dream away from you And this space station I’m fallin’ back to earth Out of isolation Into familiar thirst I was clinging, gliding, hangtime I lost my grip on the atmosphere Then you made it clear I was not holdin’ Onto this space station It was mere debris Spinnin’ faster, whirling dervish Cycling closer to the ground I turn around Wave goodbye to Venus, Mercury, and Mars, And our relations I’m not sayin’ you were wrong or any of that In fact you’re right I couldn’t breathe out there Beyond the stars And this space station Now I live alive Cancel my reservation For another ride
4.
Attempts to stretch reality Faults that make no sense to me. A bit disheveled I admit Alone and laughing at my wit The key it fits the lock it turns Embrace or waste the time, I’ve learned. Now here I sit outside the door Wasted wanting something More. Well, while I lie in open air and feel the pressures everywhere The outside world is callin’ me, “get out, come back, see what I see.” Starrin’ through the fish eye view The world’s inviting but askew. And all the fishes in the sea Are strangers though not strange to me. I’d like to be swimmin’ free But I fear my sight’s betraying me. Again I sit outside the door. Again I ache for something More. Well, while I lie in open air and feel the pressures everywhere The outside world is callin’ me, “get out, come back, see what I see.”
5.
What she said, well, it got me down. Bringin’ up them ole’ demons; they comin’ back around. Around and down, all inside out. Talkin’ to The Devil. He talkin’ about All them ways a takin’ me out: wine and women, fear and doubt. When its gotta change I say, “No Way, can’t I stay just one more day?” Just one more day. I could turn away the sun and moon to hold this pain, to fight the change. I would teeter of the edge to soon. I’d settle for the ash and rain. All them ways a takin’ me out: No hope, No love, Alone I shout. When its gotta change I say, “No Way, can’t it wait just one more day?” Just one more day. Just one more day. I don’t doubt where you come from, hey, Just try and say you’ll be okay if you Just flow within the change for its comin’ down fast. Nothing stays the same. All them ways’ll take ya’ out: Tire, toil, loneliness, without. When its gotta change don’t say, “No Way!” Can’t we say this’ll be the day. This’ll be the day.
6.
The Flood 04:31
The flood came to my door last night and I got an awful fright I strapped my body to an old oak raft and so began my plight so began my plight Waves crashed down upon my head I was cast away chained to the storm on a wooden board Well the rest, I can not say The rest I can not say What have I lost What have found in your eyes Certain demise No reprise Once upon a dream On a golden reef Coral caressed your feet so sweet Its just a memory Its just a memory So take me by the hand or take me by the knife but lay down beside me your life It never was my plan to tread your wake Your shallow's too deep Your shallow is to deep What have I lost What have found in your eyes Certain demise No reprise
7.
Fully Loaded 03:50
Sittin’ at the bar, no one seemed to notice. Starrin’ at the wall, I couldn’t keep my focus. Somethin’ movin’, where? Reminds me of a lotus. I think I’m almost there, almost fully loaded. Fully Loaded Strange as I can be, burnt completed toasted, A girl walks up to me. She says, “why don’t we get rollin’?” Wait a second there, perhaps you didn’t notice Or maybe you don’t care, that I come fully loaded. Fully Loaded Had another round, ‘nother round it had me. Pound a few more down, I hit the ground and I couldn’t see. Woke up home alone, rockin’ and a rollin’ Wishin’ I was stone Stoned and fully loaded Fully Loaded
8.
Heroin 03:43
Don’t get too serious. I betcha’ think you got a mind you can trust Think she’ll teach ya’ how ta’ rock that band? She’ll take you to a place you’ll never understand. A sense of danger and a senseless life Relief of anger in a plastic knife Pull the plug and plug the cork Who’s the stranger? Who do you endorse? Gonna shoot that woman tonight. She’s the one that I think I like. (She’s the only way to make it right.) Because I think I love her, you best take cover (Because I think I love her, there’s never any other) As I shoot her as I take my life (But a lover who will help me die) When we’re together I feel at home. We trip to where we’re never known. Though in this sensation I will lose creation, I don’t wanna leave me alone. This love is sharp son. You’re living under an assumption. And she’s a livin’ under your skin. Your favorite enemy, you let ‘er in. You mixed her with your blood kid. Into the veins of an invalid Out of the ids of a chrysalis Your moth is flown and your hearts in recess. Gonna shoot that woman tonight. She’s the one that I think I like. (She’s the only way to make it right.) Because I think I love her, you best take cover (Because I think I love her, there’s never any other) As I shoot her as I take my life (But a lover who will help me die) When we’re together I feel at home. We trip to where we’re never known. Though in this sensation I will lose creation, I don’t wanna leave me alone. Shiver off that thought boy. Better learn her loves a decoy A plastic version of a real good time An imitation of a child’s dream, feelin’ fine Gonna shoot that woman tonight. She’s the one that I think I like. (She’s the only way to make it right.) Because I think I love her, you best take cover (Because I think I love her, there’s never any other) As I shoot her as I take my life (But a lover who will help me die) When we’re together I feel at home. We trip to where we’re never known. Though in this sensation I will lose creation, I don’t wanna leave me alone.
9.
The Nile 04:22
Haven’t seen you lately man. Have you got any friends to tell? Last time we really chilled you were pumpin’ gas at that shell. Later we hooked up and you borrowed my books. I haven’t touched base cause I’m scared to look. –You’re Not here. Have you seen any ghosts lately? Not here. Are you blowin’ your life away? Not here. I’ve been there before. –You’re Not here. Even The Nile will dry up some day. Remember that mouse you drew, or was it a bear? We loved that picture, but did you really care? I don’t know. There were some days when we really had a time. Well then he died and then everything changed. –Now you’re Not here. Have you seen Noah’s ghost lately? Not here. Are you blowin’ your life away? Not here. I’ve been there before. –You’re Not here. Even The Nile will dry up some day. I’d like to see you, man, throw the twenty sided die around Just one thing I’ll ask, you gotta stomp it out and put it down. Have you a dream or an inspiration? I know I’ve seen it shine in your imagination. Not here to join in the role playing game. Not here to draw like you did that way. Not here. I’ve been there before. –You’re Not here. Even The Nile will dry up some day. Remember when you sang “Okinawan Sunrise”? I know the words today “red sun sets across the skys.” It’s like the way you show your goodness to everyone, But like Neil Young said, “every junkie’s like a setting sun.” Not here to record another timeless, funny tune. Not here to read my aura. Is it red or blue? Not here. I’ve been there before. –You’re Not here. Even The Nile will dry up some day
10.
Broke down on the highway With a dollar in my hand Can't even buy a gallon Like I did back when I was 17 Still livin' on a dream as my thoughts roll back like the wheels on 91 I realize I'm a fortunate one Order gives way to entropy Wisdom yields to symmetry Social inequality Held in earth's divinity With all I owe, who can carry this load? If we all lift together we can hold the whole weight of this world People can you see the writing on the gun People what we need to know is we are one Its not for sale No change is not for sale Look all around this world and you will know That war can only fail They call me when I'm sleepin' They call when I'm awake I say "how much do you need?" They say "your life is all you'll stake" and I say "No, My freedom won't be sold." Revenge is no solution Let the government know, We have no delusions
11.
Sitting in the system I view my captive visions from this observation tower a slum in paper city A vacant kingdom Graffiti road Prisoner of my own decisions Above the devil's market Watching all his pawns, I pity City of the dark trade We're locked in by the same devices Red brick ruins Plywood panes Our longing for the wings of Isis If I had a way I'd soar above it all I'd glide so far away So far beyond recall Upon this turquoise scarab with wings that take me higher and higher and higher Locked inside is where I'm hiding Like Rapunzel waiting idly Lonely yet excited For someday someone comes to find me Over cot with plastic pillow Lying, waiting for intrusion Hoping for a lapse of time to wake me from this grand illusion If I had a way I'd soar above it all I'd glide so far away So far beyond recall Upon this turquoise scarab with wings that take me higher and higher and higher
12.
Blue River 04:48
Blue River You got me dancin’ along Travelin’ on Towards another dawn Dig that weather when the leaves are turnin’ brown I see the blues fallin’ all around Blue River You got me singin’ your song Not alone You help me carry on High above the trees They’re all dressed in fire These blue wings will never tire No-- They’re glidin’ fine Beatin’ time on the sky line Ya’ know the autumn breeze Will send them leaves a flyin’ I know the summers gone But my blue river girl she keeps a rollin’ on I’ll be there with her tonight Livin’ the life Blue River You got me rockin’ on It’s been a long run Since I sang this song Soon the trees will be bare I’ll still be here Anywhere or way I flow with you In this blue canoe Yes, we’re paddling all the way To a new day Dip, dip, sway away the autumn blues You know the summer’s gone But my blue river girl she keeps a flowin’ on I’ll be there with her tonight Livin’ the life Yes, I’ll be there with her tonight Livin’ the life
13.
Outro 01:49

about

Recorded in 2007 and released in early 2008, Strange Encounters was the first official album by Opel. The band had gone through numerous changes to its line up during the production of Strange Encounters. As a result, many of the parts were performed by friends who happen to be available during the recording sessions. Around this time, Jonas Cain (then Toutant) joined the band. With the unique and surprising addition of his saxophone, Opel had begun to define the sound that would become their signature.

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credits

released March 1, 2008

Recorded & Mixed By: Michael Stitsinger
Mastered Up In The Basement By: Dan Richardson

Opel is:

James Fiore • Lead Vocals, Vocal Harmonies, Rhythm Guitar, & Harmonica. Lead Guitar on “Fully Loaded”, Bells on “The Nile”,
Drums & Whistling on “Outro”, Hand Drum on “The Flood”

Bill Szafarowicz • Bass, Keyboards on “Outro”

Jonas Toutant • Saxophone

Josh Gunther • Keyboards, Ukulele on “Blue River”

Guest Appearances and Other Instrumentation:

Jason Dimitropolis • Drums on “Reciprocity”, “Letting Go”, “Just One More Day”, “The Writing on the Gun”, “The Outside World”, and “Fully Loaded”

Mark Ottani • Drums on “Strange Encounters”, “Heroin”, “The Nile”, and “Turquoise Scarab over the Kingdom of Isis”

David Brown • Lead Guitar on “Letting Go” and “Outro”

Rachel Duboise • Flute on “The Outside World”, Vocal Harmonies throughout

Crickets • Chirping on “Blue River”

Mike Stitsinger • Lead Guitar on “Strange Encounters”, Tambourine on “Heroin” and “The Flood”, Singing Saw on “The Flood”, Bells on “The Nile”, Cymbal Swells on “Turquoise Scarab over the Kingdom of Isis”, Whistling on “Outro”, Vocal Harmonies, Special Effects, Synthesizers and Trippy Stuff throughout

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Opel Springfield, Massachusetts

Driving bass, complex percussion, dark melodic keyboards, and intense electric guitar leads define the sound that Opel claims as their own. Springfield, Massachusetts based rock band, Opel began writing and performing songs about love, life, loss, and addiction back in 2005 when bassist Bill Szafarowitz and song writer James Fiore (formerly of the band Project Fuzz) joined forces. ... more

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