We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Songs

from Songs by The Van Allen Belt

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Also available for sale in the following record stores:

    -Ann Arbor, MI-
    Encore Recordings
    Underground Sounds
    Wazoo Records

    -Athens, GA-
    Low Yo Yo Stuff Records

    -Boise, ID-
    The Record Exchange

    -Brooklyn, NY-
    Academy Records
    Co-Op 87 Records
    Insound

    -Brussels, BE-
    Balades Sonores

    -Chicago, IL-
    Reckless Records
    Shuga Records

    -Columbia, MO-
    Hitt Records

    -Columbus, OH-
    Magnolia Thunderpussy
    Spoonful Records
    Used Kids Records

    -Frederick, MD-
    The Record Exchange

    -Houston, TX-
    Cactus Records

    -Kansas City, MO-
    Mills Record Company

    -London, UK-
    Norman Records

    -Los Angeles, CA-
    Origami Vinyl
    Touch Vinyl

    -Milwaukee, WI-
    Rushmore Records

    -Philadelphia, PA-
    AKA Music
    Repo Records

    -Pittsburgh, PA-
    Eides Music
    Soundcat Records

    -Savannah, GA-
    Graveface Records

    -Toledo, OH-
    Allied Records
    Culture Clash Records

    -Ypsilanti, MI-
    Café Ollie

    Includes unlimited streaming of Songs via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.     ... more
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • USB Flash Drive

    USB enabled Flashdive with 4 GB storage capacity.

    Includes:
    -Meal Ticket To Purgatory (LP)
    -Superpowerfragilis: Or How I Learned To Stop Caring And Love The Drug (LP)
    -Vancouver And All The Reasons Why (EP)
    -Songs (EP)
    -Heaven On A Branch (LP)

    Includes both high quality .wav and .mp3 compressions with all album artwork, bonus images, & lyrics.
    ships out within 5 days
    edition of 250  5 remaining
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • BUNDLE - Songs 7"/Blackbird/T-Shirt

    Includes:

    "Songs" 7" 45 rpm hand-numbered vinyl with an immediate download from Bandcamp
    +
    1 Blackbird flash drive (4GB) loaded with flac and mp3 format files including album art and lyrics
    -Meal Ticket To Purgatory (LP)
    -Superpowerfragilis: Or How I Learned To Stop Caring And Love The Drug (LP)
    -Vancouver And All The Reasons Why (EP)
    -Songs (EP)
    -Heaven On A Branch (LP)
    +
    1 heather red American Apparel blend T-Shirt with black screen printed artwork.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Memory Of A Free Festival via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Full Digital Discography

    7
    releases

    Get all 7 The Van Allen Belt releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Let It Goddam Be, Heaven On A Branch, Songs, Superpowerfragilis: Or How I Learned To Stop Caring And Love The Drug, Vancouver And All The Reasons Why, Solar Crosses Stolen From The Cemetery, and Meal Ticket To Purgatory. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $36 USD or more (25% OFF)

     

about

"Contextualised loops and fragrance surreal pop curveballs bring in the eponymous opening suite as Tamar swoons and hops between the enchanted awkwardness of Os Mutants and The Dirty Projectors. Progressive and quite ethereal in atmosphere, ‘Songs’ plays around with what we may recall as familiar sounds, collected from the last fifty or more years, to unfurl a quite challenging sensibility. So the west coast psychedelic scene of the late 60s, the production of Spector, the Fifth Dimension, trip hop, Moloko, Bjork, Parenthetical Girls and Debbie Harry can all make redolent appearances at some point during the performance."

Dominic Valvona - Monolith Cocktail

lyrics

LYRICS

I was given something by a something in the air
Or a girl with curly hair
Who had been unaware
That I was learning how to fight the army of despair

If life would send me misery, I’d tell it is was wrong
And then I’d make it sing along
Lost in some melody
You could never get to me
I was so obsessed, you see
I was my own giving tree

Spent the better part of my life writing tunes in vain
Sometimes to kill the pain
Sometimes just to explain
The comedy that never ends inside my foolish brain

When I met you, you were just the perfectest of all
An angel in the sun as I recall
It was you who had a clue
And the interest only grew
So easy to talk to you
But I was still with you know who

Grandeur of delusions is the nature of the job
Our world is in a huff
Is pleasure not enough?
Like I was gonna liberate some country with my stuff

Or somehow I could kill the sadness in somebody else
If I could make a sound cast spells
I’m a shaman in disguise
I will win the Nobel Prize
I’ll defuse bombs with my eyes
And take down all the oil guys

What’s the good in all of that when it ain’t next to you
And in my Xanadu
In the heights of 412
I’m writing lovey-dovey crap instead of something new

I would like to be there when you have a funny thought
I’ll throw on the coffee pot
Do you still take it black?
Maybe I could make a snack
We can laugh at Nickelback
And grab a vinyl from the stack

So, silly me, I thought that I could win you with a song
But songs don’t really work

Call me sometime
If you dare
I don’t care if you’re sorry or something
But in my mind
And on my bike
You’re just the kind
I can’t dislike


How’s your new life?
How’s the job?
I’ve been living in hungrier places
But even with that being said
I feel the best times are ahead

You can see I’m trying
And failure I’m achieving
The world’ll go on dying
Your presence is relieving

Hard for me to say it
I know I have an issue
But, baby, you’re the crazy
If you don’t think I miss you

Can’t shake you from my thoughts
Got a habit of missing shots
Does writing this make me a jerk?
Cuz I know songs don’t really work
And if they did I’d probably…
Lie

credits

from Songs, track released March 21, 2013

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The Van Allen Belt image

The Van Allen Belt Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Van Allen Belt is impossible to categorize, luscious to listen to. This isn't your typical trippy, psychedelic music ― this is unique.

contact / help

Contact The Van Allen Belt

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

The Van Allen Belt recommends:

If you like The Van Allen Belt, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now