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More Than Animals

by Mark Stoney

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Beautiful gatefold digipack CD of Stoney's new album "More than animals" With 12 page lyric booklet.

    Includes unlimited streaming of More Than Animals via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
I've got your hurt upon my lips. Choke on your words, ventriloquist. Roll back my eyes, feed me the lines take all that you want from me. Touch my every open wound, to meet your every broken need. My sweet release, come to me. I know that you'll never let go once you're in control. You wave your cross above my head like I'm a puppet on your thread. Like a voodoo child, paint me a smile then hang me up on a tangled string. My hips will twist at your fingertips, but you know it don't mean anything. My sweet release, come to me. I know that you'll never let go once you're in control I can't meet your needs or fulfil your prophecies I can't meet your needs or fulfil my promises. My sweet release, come to me
2.
The Score 03:21
I was sitting cut, spitting blood with my pride collapsed. Sickened to the gut, lit one up, Let my mind relax. I once thought that I could walk away. But I was fitted up, slid n shut, you knew I'd react. I know I'll never get the last laugh, only the blame And I should never let my dark heart blacken my name but I'm addicted to the hard part of playing the game and never settle for a draw but you're forever levelling the score. Doubled up and clawing the floor as the comedown came. Shivering like a whore turning tricks in the London rain. I once thought that I could walk away. Never should have fought in your war in that dumbed down state. I know I'll never get the last laugh, only the blame And I should never let my dark heart blacken my name, but I'm addicted to the hard part of playing the game and never settle for a draw, but you're forever levelling the score. Still living with the curse, we've a hell of a history I'm driven by a thirst for your delicate twist. For bringing out my worst, you're the first on my list. You got me cos you knew I wouldn't run. I know I'll never get the last laugh, only the shame that I should ever let my dark heart blacken my name but I'm addicted to the hard part of playing the game and never settle for a draw but you're forever levelling the score.
3.
There's hounds behind me, for the blood upon my hands. No crowd will hide me now they've found the path I ran. I pound the backstreets, fear numbed my aching bones. Feet don't fail me take me home. Faster, faster, you know time's not on my side. The truth I harbour is getting harder now to hide. A child abandoned coming present in my skin, still unforgiven for giving in. But so defiant, defiant, defiantly loved by you, defiant, defiantly loved, loved loved. Your eyes unblinded as the lies were boldly sworn, I guard a proud heart and my silver tongue was drawn. Our lives divided, but we steel our nerve and spine. I for your own sake, and you for mine. So defiant, defiant, defiantly loved by you, defiant, defiantly loved, loved, loved. The river rolls on with a grace upon it's shame. A faithful white swan, loyal to it's poisoned veins. A thousand secrets that have drowned within those depths, bound and silenced on a stone cold bed. So defiant, defiant, defiantly loved by you, defiant, defiantly loved, loved, loved. When I was locked in paranoid, involuntary choices, I was loved, loved. When I was screaming but was one in a cacophony of solitary voices, I was loved, loved. Forever screaming in the void. Forever screaming at the void. Defiant, defiant, defiantly loved by you, defiant, defiantly loved.
4.
We Belonged 03:49
In the winter's crystal whisper hangs the heartache of your quiet song. I can hear ya draw me nearer. Echo of ya still going strong. I can't believe you're gone. Come the springtime, when the windchime sings a warm breeze from the barren miles, from the oak tree where you broke me with a kind word, and a knowing smile. I hear you breathe a while. And you shone so damn brightly, and all that you awoke inside me is dancing in the dark without a song. You shone so damn brightly, and you beheld and recognised me tho I was standing two feet in the wrong, you knew where we belonged. And the light found never died down open eyed now, I've been looking hard. Are you aching, like I'm aching? Trying to make your peace and take another chance to make it right at last? You shone so damn brightly, and all that you awoke inside me is dancing in the dark without a song. And you shone so damn brightly, I know you fought a war to find me and I was standing two feet in the wrong, you knew where we belonged. And you shone so damn brightly, you shone so damn brightly.
5.
I kill the lights, but the lies are sleepless. Night heaves with the bleakest secrets. A shadow waits in the black, and I awake with a devil on my back. I'm contesting my reckless weakness, desperately wrestling restless demons, but all the odds are stacked, guess I'm no match for the devil on my back. And I plead for my peace, like a dead man walking and I plead for my peace and I can't stand more of this. But still I pretend I can mend this and ascend this hopelessness, then end this but then the whip gets cracked. I get knocked flat by the devil.... And I look into the eyes of the love of my life, and swear blind that the darkest times are behind, but it's another fucking lie just to cover my tracks, another part of her dies, for the devil on my back. And I plead for my peace like a dead man walking, I plead for my peace cos I can't stand more of this. So I regress to the cesspit, friendless. Too breathless to defend, I descend to the depths of the mess I've amassed. I get no rest from the devil on my back And I plead for my peace like a dead man walking, I plead for my peace and I can't stand more of this. I plead for my peace as the darkness taunts me, and I plead for my peace from a past that haunts me.
6.
I've disengaged, nothing's rattling my cage and my colour's paled. All my words turn stale, hanging in the static air. Another blank page, I've got nothing new to say. Where's the hunger gone? Well it's been too long stuck in automatic, and not moving, not moved And we lose ourselves in a house of mirrors, in a house of mirrors, and the walls are closing. Hide from the world in a house of mirrors, where the fear will kill us, and the walls are closing.... Cos I'm dead until I'm fighting for life, until the fear of the end is in the whites of my eyes. Cos I've got to need something, to take it further. I'm dead until I'm fighting for life, until I'm near to the edge, or hanging over the side. Cos I've got to find something to push against, to take it further. Got a question mark, and a shot into the dark from the comfort zone into the great unknown. Show me what I've got to lose? Time comes then leaves, like the subtlest of thieves. A clock counts down and when you turn back round, everything has moved along. So get moving, get moved or we'll lose ourselves in a house of mirrors, in a house of mirrors, and the walls are closing. Hide from the world in a house of mirrors, where the fear will kill us and the walls are closing.... Cos I'm dead until I'm fighting for life, until the fear of the end is in the whites of my eyes. Cos I've got to need something, to take it further. I'm dead until I'm fighting for life, until I'm near to the edge, or hanging over the side. Cos I've got to find something to push against, to take it further.
7.
Bedpost 04:15
There in her restless bed, she filled a glass and tempted my emptiness. Laid down our self respect, what's left of it. It's best if we just forget. Spare me the regret. Cos I'll be sleeping as you creep out of the door. And I won't be woken, won't be spoken of no more. And will you even mark a notch into your bedpost, darling? Or add me to the tally on your wall? Will you leave before your scent has left my starving skin? and I carve you on my heart just like a fool. Here's to you. Here's to the futile truth; your beautiful, but brutal and ruthless youth. Here's to the new pursuit; the hunger and the hunt for the substitute I'll be sleeping as you creep out of the door I won't be woken, won't be spoken of no more. And will you even mark a notch into your bedpost darling? Or add me to the tally on your wall? Will you leave before your scent has left my starving skin, and I carve you on my heart just like a fool? Here's to you. Keeping believing, we're no more than animals is keeping us feeling the pain of it, the shame of it Don't you ever let love sweep you off the floor? To leave you lost, and leave you washed up on the shore? Will you even mark the notch into your bedpost darling? Or add me to the tally on your wall? Will you leave before your scent has left my starving skin and I carve you on my heart just like a fool? Well here's to you.
8.
Let It Go 03:54
I was watching you slowly drifting out of view. Lying in the dark, wide eyes and heavy heart. There was nothing I could say. Bound to bridled words, you swallowed your unspoken hurt and tried to hold the space with amazing wasted grace, but nothing seemed to change. I let it all just fall away. And it crashed, and I broke. Collapsed, and I woke. Oh Lord, I didn’t know that I’d found love until I had to let it go. Holding all I’ve left and desperate in my hopelessness, dying to believe, I persevered to breathe on the ashes of the burnt out flame, trying to bring it back again. And it crashed, and I broke. Collapsed, and I woke. Oh Lord, I didn’t know that I’d found love until I had to let it go.
9.
Albatross 04:14
My heart was cast to greener grass there in your garden walls. I laid my plans to trade my hand in answer to your call. Was heading for your warmer shores there on my sinking ship. I raised the mast to race my past, your name upon my lips. There in the storms, illusions formed around my guiding stars. The sirens call, they tug and pull on the strings of wounded hearts. Then I saw the trail of second chances lying wasted in my wake. I saw that every heart I’d ever held, I’d never failed to break. Forsaking grace for shame, I sailed away, and became a drifting wreck with the saviour's cross, an albatross, to hang around my neck. I got lost in the tempest, drowning in doubt. Tossed by the rapids, my last hope devoured. My will had surrendered, my soul a slave, to the raging waves, Because I stopped believing it could change Because I stopped believing it could change
10.
Thought "Better the devil" Forever a settler ever regretting not betting for better. Forever indebted and shuffling tethered and shovelling shit, trying to get it together. But whatever. Never did want to be one of the herd, you heard me. Whatever. Never did want to be one of the herd. The worm will turn Stripped of the passion, the pattern got cyclical. Trapped by the rational, slapped with a typical schtick and a carrot, with cash as the catalyst, sat in the saddle and cracking the cattle whip. Whatever. Never did want to be one of the herd, you heard me. Whatever . never did want to be one of the herd. The worm will turn. And the bland are leading the bland, all heeding to safety and all reaching their hands out for you. Caught up in the chain gang and bound by throat, you're damned if you do now, and damned if you don't. A chip off the block at the top of the field, the cock of the walk is a cog in the wheel. Oh what have you done? It’s becoming so cumbersome dumbing it down just to drum up the numbers. Sucking the fun, but you're getting number, just rum-pa-pa-pa-pummeling run after run and you're bored of the walls, and you're bored of the floor, and you're bored of the wolf always clawing your door. Bored of the formula, bored of conformity , good Lord, I'm bored of applauding the ordinary.
11.
Wanderlust 03:32
Go to trust your wanderlust. Sow your wild oats, if you must. Taste it all, and take the fall. Then look at me like I don't know that hope is cruel, and there is nothing you can do but wait. You'll make it through. No humble pie for puppy eyes. It falls to pieces, I'll act surprised. You prodigal, you lost control. But I won't say I told you so cos hope is cruel, and there is nothing you can do, but wait. And I'll wait. And you'll make it through.
12.
Round Here 04:01
All that I've lived for, worked, toiled and slaved, all that I care for, I can't take past the grave. But til I leave Hades, She serves me well. She's the closest thing to heaven in this living hell. In this kicking, screaming hell. You look like you lost your way, look like you lost your way. You like you lost your way, you ain’t from round here are you boy? They know who’s who, and they’ve never seen you; new blood comes through once in a blue moon. If you’re trying to blend in, you pick a bad night. You’re a chicken in a wolves den, rabbit in a headlight. Who are you? Who are you? You look like you lost your way. Who are you? Who are you? You ain't from round here, are you boy? You moved a little too soon. No-one wants to listen to you whistling a new tune. And now you’re trapped in the middle of the sticks with a jackdaw black-eyed, slack-jawed pack of hicks. Who are you? Who are you? You look like you lost your way. Who are you? Who are you? You ain't from round here are you boy? You’re way off track, Jack, you’ve been caught. Your mind got trapped in my back forty. You’re gonna wish that you’d never been born, gonna curse the dawn that you first saw me. Better button up, better hold your tongue, better batten down all your hatches son. Locked on crosshairs watch you run, with a finger on the trigger and a bullet in the shotgun Round here I’m your iron fist, your siren song, your silent witness. The crimson lips of the devil you kiss, your sick, sadistic, bitter little twist, kid.

about

Following my departure from Bobby Jealousy in early 2013, I turned my focus back to finishing off a solo record I'd been working on for some time from my home in Austin. It was a difficult chapter in my life, and this is reflected I think in the darker overall tone of the record. I was privileged to get to team up with producer/mixer Warren Huart in L.A to help bring all the diverse ideas together and get it out into the world.


Critic Snippits:

“...And I thought baroque pop was dead. Austin-via-Sheffield musician Stoney has created the most grand and courtly record in years, completely unlike anything else being made today...”
— the Big takeover Magazine

"..More Than Animals is poetic, diverse, the mellow up against the eerie. Songs like "We Belonged" and "Albatross" are compassionately heartfelt while "Devil On My Back" and "The Score" are devilishly menacing..."
- Huffington Post

“... A concise, brilliantly arranged 12-track effort void of filler. Stoney is back with his strongest and most diverse LP to date..”
UrB.com

"..Ladies and gentleman, may I present to you the best album of 2014. Stoney’s album, More Than Animals is an album that should grace the top of everyone’s “Must Listen” list...."
- Wordkrapht

“...With explosions of influences and its shape-shifting mentality, More Than Animals is one of the most diverse and enjoyable records I’ve heard in a long time..”
— Absolute Punk

credits

released September 21, 2014

All songs written & produced by Mark Stoney. Mixed by Warren Huart/Mark Stoney

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Mark Stoney Sheffield, UK

Sheffield based Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, general noise maker. lover, fighter, procrastinator.
Former Bobby Jealousy singer/guitarist.

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