Maladroid

Maladroid

In late 1996, I began working at Casa Nueva and Matt Hanrahan and Andy Zboralski graduated and moved away. 100 Book Club/Protozoa disbanded, and I had lots of newer material I was working on, some of which I had wanted to play in that other band. I decided to form a new art rock project with some of my new co-workers, specifically an interesting guy named Ian Mykel. I had little idea what a superstar he was when we formed Maladroid with drummer and fellow Casatron, Josh Brown. This recording of "Star Destroyer" is all I have left of a studio session we recorded at my house. "Star Destroyer" is a song originally slated for Protozoa, a space rock tribute to my favorite Sci-Fi movies, including Star Wars, Blade Runner and Dune. I really wanted to be Han Solo. Lyrics and Music by Robert Rial Lyrics: "Star Destroyer Who was it that said 'crime doesn't pay'? It's kept me well fed throughout the galaxy I'm cruisin' my rig through hyperspace They can't catch me, they don't even know my real face Lock in the auxillary power Maneuver through the asteroid shower A space smuggler, you know I got the spice I know you want it but can you-- She's a high maintenance girl visiting from another world With all the money I spent Sure hope she's not a replicant But I'm gonna take her with me We'll camp on the Dune sea We'll drift off into the void Just her and me and my droid 'The faster you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers'--Robert Rial 1997

In 1998 Josh Brown left Athens to head to Chicago with his Athens band Sylph. Maladroid went on temporary hiatus, but headed back into the T-Com studio in 1999 to record this other masterpiece of mine, "Automaton". This time, Ian Mykel and myself enlisted the help of drummer Jeff Amon. This is arguably the best guitar I have ever recorded, Frippy and masterful. "Automaton by Robert Rial I can't meander far on my own Can't scale the walls of my only home Staying so calm sometimes is so hard Playing within the cage of my yard, which isn't mine The more I give the more I'm taken You think you're real--You must be faking This is pretentious so I've been told, but I'm for sale, I'm selling, I'm sold To the dark Caught in the gears you have been set free to Forget the things that once did please thee & sometimes when I look into your eyes It's just an empty hole with nothing Inside Now you are just a lone Automaton You can't remember where you came from Stripped of your home and of community You drift alone without a family. - R.Rial 1999

Maladroid

Robert J. Rial

1999

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