Released 1/1998

Absolute Collision CD Cover

"Absolute Collision" was recorded at OBT studios the Fall of 1996 through Winter 1997. It features Scott Berndt playing drums on most of the tracks. Scott played drums with the local band Hero before joining AC. Close to the end of production of "Absolute Collision," Scott left the band to join the Peace Corp. with his wife. Scott is back in the Twin Cities and plays with the Autumn Leaves.

We tried out a few drummers after Scott left, and decided on Kevin Riach the first time he played with us. We decided to re-record "Misguided Hand" and "I Sold My Soul" with Kevin, and add "Claire And Leo" and "By The Light Of The Moon" to complete the album.

Jeff and Mike were splitting guitar, banjo and bass duties, as neither one of them was man enough to handle such a large instrument 100% of the time. Jeff got tendonitis and Mike's soft, girlish mitts were getting ripped to pieces.

The song, "By The Light Of The Moon," was written for Quillan's grandfather, Werner Lowry, who passed away during the production of this album.

The premise of the song "Bye-Bye Pain" was lifted by BR5-49 ("Pain, Pain Go Away" on "Big Backyard Beat Show") after we gave them a live recording of it back in 1997 when they played the Fine Line, or so we suspect. Lacking the funds for a costly court battle, we let them off the hook.

The album was recorded and co-produced by Jeff's brother Jon Tranberry.

The album cover was done by Jeff. Quillan did the illustrations. The logo and art was touched up by Friberg Design, and the band photos were taken by our friend Dave Molnar.

The album is dedicated to the memory of Jeff's cousin Nolan who helped inspire Jeff's pursuit of music.

Bye-bye, Pain Bye-bye, Pain go away / come again another day / And when you do / I'll have said good-bye / I'll not wait for your reply / For to do so / would make me a fool / to wait around / for your kisses so cruel / Bye-bye, Pain go away / come again another day / And when you do / I'll be so long-gone / on the road and feeling strong / My burning heart / a'beatin' in my chest / My beating heart / a'burnin' in my breast / Bye-bye, Pain go away / come again another day / And when you do / I'll be a new man / one immune to your plan / And when you do / I'll be here to say / those magic words / to drive you away Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Bendt: Traps

Claire And Leo If I made you leave me would you like it / if I went away / and you never saw me / after today? / You are a Juliet but I'm not your Romeo / Or so you told me when you let me go / If I really loved you would you like it / if I came back / only in your bad dreams / or would that lack tact? / You are a Juliet but I'm not your Romeo / You are Claire Danes but I'm not / Leonardo DiCaprio / If I made you leave me would you like it / if I left you alone / only to haunt you / inside of your home? / You are a damsel / but I'm not your shining man / Does that sound familiar to you, Honey / well, God Damn Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass Kevin Riach: Drums

Loraine She's my wife / the one I took for life / Married for some years in October / We set off on a honeymoon / pink champagne or was it Boone's? / The cheapest shit I know / but it worked for her / So we set off for the Coast / with a kiss and a toast / and a wish that things / would always be the same / The first years they were fine / 'cause she started with the wine / and she had herself a drink / for all seasons / But as time passed her by / for no reason she would cry / and she started puttin' 'em back / for no reason / Of whiskey she would boast / Fight hang-overs with dry toast / and the wife I knew / would never be the same / Have you seen Loraine / falling down again? / 'cause she's drinkin' / and she's drinkin' / to avoid the same / The same life she's always knew / day in, day out, day through / 'cause she never gave herself / that chance to change / It was all down-hill from there / I got an ulcer and gray hair / and most nights I'd wait / for any information / She would quit and start again / hide that bottle, call a friend / and she finally left me standing / at the station / I never wanted it to be true / but the divorce finally went through / and I wondered how / I could have helped Loraine Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Banjo Jeff Tranberry: Bass, Vocal Scott Berndt: Traps

Pink, Not Blue Ken pops a blood vessel / screamin' at Papa / I guess it's too late / to ignore him now / Alice does dishes / and sips on a soda / as Papa drives Ken / to the emergency ward / I'm gonna wish / I was playin' a game / I'm gonna wish / I was dreamin' / I'm gonna wish / I was pink and not blue / I'm gonna wish I was you / Seems like it's always too bright / for a kiss on the lips / I talk circles around lovin' you / Carry me in your arms / over the door frame / if you can stand bein' / with someone like me Mike Brady: Arch-Top, Vocal Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Berndt: Traps

Vision Wake with a cry in the night / Got some bills to pay / Got some things to say / This vision is a fright / Got places to be; got people to see / And he's running in the night / trying to take flight / Both feet off the floor / but they're still glued to the ground / And he's leaving tonight / Hope the kids will be alright / But he missed the flight / to take him from this town / Crash and burn, turn after turn / There is just no way / But who am I to say / that my way is the way? / So, sweet dreams and fly away / And the vision comes again / At the window sill: gonna throw up still / But the wind picks up just then / Spreads his arms to fly / Mess up another try / And he's running in the night / trying to take flight / but the wind's not enough / to get him off the ground / And he tries with all his might / Tries to get it right / But they still call him / the crazy of this town Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Bass, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Banjo

Speedin' Speedin' / My Baby gets home / about thirty after Ten / and I should be there / but I'm talkin' with my friends / so now I'm Speedin' / My Baby gets home / long time before me / and she's so far away / so now I got to speed / and now I'm Speedin' / I'm pushin' on that pedal / askin' for more gas / I'm drivin' like I got the Devil / climbin' up my ass / I look in the mirror / see them flashin' red lights / but I can't stop now / got to see my Babe tonight / so now I speed / My Baby leaves early / from the honky-tonk show / and she's got them / home-fires burnin' / so now I got to go / and now I'm Speedin' Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Berndt: Traps

Your Angel Above Finally finding out / what it's all about / questions and answers / But what's a boy to do / when one and one is two? / Math equations don't / make good dancers / Run away from the rain / Never trust any gain / Finding someone new / someone just like you / without your problems / But what's a boy to do / when X and Y is you? / You've got your doldrums / When did I become / your angel above? / Where did I sign? / On which dotted line? / Moving back and forth / breath is coming short / Try not to call out / Finally feeling good / wondering if I should / Where is the fall-out? Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Berndt: Traps

Misguided Hand Would you call it a betrayal / I stand coldly at the window / staring down as you avert your eyes / And she grows inside your belly / while I sneak off to the woodshed / back behind trees and bushes / and beneath the swaying blades / It calms me down to think bitterly / and watch without acting / Concentrate on the useless and deny / what's emblazoned on our uniforms / stitched out of the ashes / of years of knowing all too well the signs / And I won't add to that number / I won't walk too far behind / Said a prayer for my beloved unexpected / "Turn out well without my misguided hand" / Quilt the cloth and burn the extra / winter is approaching / She is born into warm fingers / wrapped and fed / Grows into a mixed blessing / the kind of girl that I hold onto / in drunken fits of fortunate release Mike Brady: Arch-Top, Vocal Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass Kevin Riach: Drums

Baby Teeth Oh, Officer please / be good to me / it's been a long, long time / and now my baby's / back in town / and you know that / she makes me smile / Oh, Officer please / have mercy on my / already-rottin' soul / 'cause now my baby's / back in town / and I know that you know / how those baby teeth / can gnaw away the blues / So let me get on my way / 'cause I got plenty / of blues to chew / She'll be good to me / and I'll be good to her / I know that you know / you can trust me, Sir Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Bass, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Arch-Top Scott Berndt: Traps

Queen Of Double-Vision Got a problem, Baby / but only when you're near / The world gets fuzzy / past the limits of your ears / And I know it's true / you're two times two / Queen of double-vision / Went to the eye-doc / and he said I was crazy / I said, "Now, doctor / you ain't seen my baby" / He said, "Now, Quillan, I bet you're right / a woman like that could limit sight" / Queen of double-vision / How can I explain what is happenin'? / How can I explain where my eyes go? / How can I explain / that you're beautiful to me / in all the ways you're supposed to be? / Got a problem, Baby / but only when you're close / You stay in focus / while the rest becomes a ghost Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Bass, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Arch-Top Scott Berndt: Traps

You Are A Sweet Rose Your western style dress / looks good on you / But I'll tell you what / you look pretty good too / all by yourself / Your hair up in tails / looks pretty cute / But I'll tell you the truth / when it's down / it never fails to seduce me / Who holds the line? / If I tell you every / secret I have / could we go / to the Sweet Land? / I'm hopin' by night / that you'll fulfill / every dream that I have / Cigarettes taste sweeter / in your hand / Your guitar fingers / touch my skin / Can't stop the shakin' / I feel my life begin again / You are a sweet rose / I'll be forever true / You're the one that / I've dreamed of / I dreamt of loving you / and I do Mike Brady: Arch-Top, Vocal Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Berndt: Traps

Trash-Talkin' Mama She's the sweetest little girl / that you'd ever meet / 'til you give her four wheels / that are on the street / She's my Trash-Talkin' Mama / but Lord she sounds good to me / Somebody cuts her off / she yells, "Son of a Bitch! / I'm gonna run your ass / into the ditch!" / Now I don't know what she's got / but that cool car of hers / makes her tongue real hot / She's got the Devil's tongue with an angel's mouth on the top / And she's the kind of girl / that was made for me to love her / Sweet pretty face / and a mouth like a trucker / She gets behind that wheel / and she gets so randy / She gets behind that wheel and... Oh, Daddy! / I get in the car / she whispers in my ear / she says, "Go on, Dad / it's your turn to steer" / If you see her comin' / you best plug your ears / 'cause she'll swear so bad / make your ear-drums bleed Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Berndt: Traps

15 Tomorrow In my eyes there are two / Not you and me but him and you / In his way he got you back / on his mind and in the sack / So, okay, I'll let you go / In my way I say so / But in my mind I want to kill / Maybe in time, maybe I will / I found out after the fact / what you two was doing behind my back / Now it's 15 tomorrow, 25 today / decreasing promise / and very little pay Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Bass, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Arch-Top Scott Berndt: Traps

I'm A Killer Well hi-dee-hi-dee-he / now answer me / Do you wanna get / lost with me? / I think you do / 'cause I'm your / wettest nightmare, Baby / I hold fire between my fingers / I suck it into my mouth / Come on and kiss me / Come on and kiss me / I'll put your fire out / 'cause I'm a killer / Well, hey there, little Sugar / this here ain't T.V. / I'm the real thing, Darling / and you shoulda / been afraid of me / 'cause I'm a killer Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Scott Berndt: Traps

I Sold My Soul Feelin' kind of strapped for cash / I had no one that I could ask / 'til a stranger came along / and introduced himself to me / He said, "I go by many names / but 'Satan' is my claim to fame / and I can help you out financially / Because I sold my soul / for a million-dollar bill / and ever since then / my life's been all down-hill / I said he loves to / do bad things for me and you / How the hell will I get back my soul? / I started wishin' for many things / dishwashers and diamond rings / some leather pants and a color T.V. / A sports-car with a turbo-jet / a whirlpool that gets real wet / and a mail-order bride / you know, just for me / But just like that things all went bad / my sports-car had a major crash / and behind the wheel / was my mail-order bride / My leather pants they split the crotch / my diamond ring was stole by cops / and my dishwasher started runnin' / with my baby inside / I went to town to see the priest / to see if I could beat the Beast / He said a deal made was a deal done / And havin' just one last resort / I took the Devil to the court / it seems I hadn't signed in blood Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass, Vocal Kevin Riach: Drums Tim Armstrong: Washboard, Vocal

Engine #9 Went to town to see a peep-hole show / Kneadin' myself like a lump of dough / Head started spinnin' 'round / when I heard that fire-bell / way 'cross town / Engine, engine #9 / Savin' my soul one more time / Breakin' on through that warehouse wall / Doin' some crime and havin' a ball / Got my hands on a bejeweled crown / when I heard that fire-bell / way 'cross town / I'm a volunteer fireman / who does bad things / I always get stopped / when the fire-bell rings / Maybe it's the Lord / tryin' to give me a sign / when I heard that fire-bell / one more time / Went to the bar just to get into a fight / Had twelve beers and a bottle of rye / Fists started swingin' on some poor clown / when I heard that fire-bell / way 'cross town / Now I know I won't go to Hell / on account of that fire-bell Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Banjo, Vocal Jeff Tranberry: Bass, Vocal Scott Berndt: Traps

By The Light Of The Moon By the light of the moon / there is a stranger / riding in to our town / He's come to clothe all our needy / and all our wounds to be bound / And by the light of the moon / I feel Salvation's hand / as It runs It's fingers through my hair / and in the dark I know no strangers / for I know Jesus Christ is there / Strangers have no arms / with which to hold you / Strangers have no tears to cry / Strangers have no sympathy to give you / just strangers in the night who pass by / By the light of the moon / there is a shadow / falling o'er the Stranger's face / and in the dark I know His features / for I feel His divine grace / By the light of the moon / there is a shadow / falling o'er our once proud land / and through the darkness / He approaches / to heal our dying land Quillan Roe: Guitar, Vocal Mike Brady: Arch-Top Jeff Tranberry: Bass Kevin Riach: Drums Dedicated to the memory of Werner Lowry