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Thrainn Fridriksson
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  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Hamell not only records music, performs live, does independent writing, he also paints. All of the images below, and many you see as the accompanying artwork on the digital releases, are Hamell paintings. These vary in size and price, but are all acrylic on canvas. Hamell paints scenes inspired by the 'underground' and 'disenfranchised' of our society. Ed uses bold and bright colors in his paintings which contrast the darker subject matter, championing the underclass, drawing you into the characters he depicts, endearing you to them and sparking emotions one might not anticipate.Hamell is also available for specific painting commissions. For serious inquiries to purchase Hamell original art contact Emily at hamelltv@gmail.com
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about

I don't know where this bad boy came from...I mean I know where the inspiration came from, it permeates the album, but stylistically it's not really like anything I've done before or since. I know the rhythm of the rhyme scheme had a bit of Eminem in there, and musically maybe Fats Waller...I just wanted something light to underpin it so it didn't get in the way of the words...People loved it live, I STILL get requests for it and it's old old news at this point... go figure.

lyrics

My son, my son, is more than one, he's more than two, he's less than three. He tries to talk to me about this about that about his coat about his hat. About birds, about the weather and he's putting words together, and he's forming little phrases, he's got little verbal phases, and he's challenging me, he's got his own personality. When I tell him, "little boys gotta pick up their toys" what he then said exploded my head.

He said, "Dad, let me get this straight, the President of the United States, from everything I heard is arguably the most powerful position in the world." You could have knocked me over with a feather, listen to him putting those words together. That's pretty advanced noise, all I want him to do is pick up his toys.

He said "We're over in Iraq and there's no sign of turning back, now aren't these people dying? On both sides pain and crying?" Well, that's a lot for a child of three, but i answered him "Yes", honestly. And he said, "Dad, am I out of my mind but the weapons of mass destruction they did not find?" I said, "No, son, no, WMD was a no show." and he said, "Dad they proved that Iraq had nothing to do with the 9/11 attack?" I said, "Son, I can't argue with you because everything you say is true." And then from the mouth of the littlest of boys, he said, "Dad, I ain't picking up my fucking toys!"

I said, "Fine fuck it, it doesn't take a lot of brains to see in this new world chaos reigns, if you can't make sense no more, take off your diaper take a shit on the floor!"

Values, values, values!

I said, "We're getting into a sweat, what do you say we study the alphabet?" He said, "dad, we've been over this before, but let's go over it one time more." He said, "Dad, you ain't no fool, is there some kind of presidential school, some kind of test or exam to show you're the qualified man? I mean from everything I hear, people are voting him in because they want to socialize with him and a beer, that ain't no qualification for a man to be leading a nation.

"What if you saw a guy from the bar emerging, would you say he'd make a fuck of a surgeon? he's a nice guy although no qualifications, I gonna let him do my wife's brain operation?

"Dad, I'm gonna hold off on class, you can stick the alphabet up your ass."

Values, values, values.

So we're down at the playground, running round, safe and sound. the kids are on the slides and the swings, falling down, but they're only 3 or 2 and they fight over toys as little kids do, and when I tell them they've got to share when he comes up with this all I can do is stare.

He said, "I'm an isolationist Dad, that kid made me really fucking mad. i don't need him or NATO, God chose me. It's fate."

Oh, values are tough to teach a child when the president has gone completely wild, i put my kid in his room and i lock the door and I tell my wife I can't take it no more.

Values, values, values.

credits

from SONGS FOR PARENTS WHO ENJOY DRUGS, released October 7, 2013
Hamell: Guitar, Vocals

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HAMELL ON TRIAL Austin, Texas

Hamell on Trial is loud, fast music informed by politics, intelligence and a wicked sense of humor.
1995-Mercury Records-Big as Life, The Chord is Mightier Than the Sword.
1997- Choochtown
2003-Righteous Babe Records-Tough Love
2005, Songs For Parents Who Enjoy Drugs.
2007-“The Terrorism Of Everyday Life,” (Edinburgh Fringe Herald Award)
2012-New West Records -The Happiest Man Alive. ... more

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