NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI: E-BOW THE LETTER

  As the first single released from NAIHF, E-Bow showcases an inevitable collaboration between the band and Patti Smith-Peter remarked that it was surreal to be playing with an icon he had seen live in his youth. Michael has said he flat out stole most of his schtick from Patti and was surprised he was never called on it. The song itself is an atmospheric trip through a letter Michael wrote and never sent. Perhaps Patti's voice is there to balance Michael's self-disclosure, although he is careful enough to keep the character of the piece ambiguous, this feels like the beginning of a deeper and more personal lyricist, a songwriter not afraid to reveal what is bubbling underneath. The haunting use of the E-Bow compliments Patti's voice perfectly, particularly when she launches into the finale of the song. Personally I question the use of this song as the first single for this album, but marketability aside it definitely tells fans what they're in for-another departure for the band, or perhaps its a synthesis of the OOT/ AFTP era and MONSTER era. The track works so well within the context of the album it feels like a major revelation after UNDERTOW even though the album is just getting started.

E-BOW THE LETTER

Look up

And what do you see?
All of you and all of me
Fluorescent and starry, some of them they surprise
The bus ride, I went to write this—4:00 a.m.—this letter

Fields of poppies, little pearls
All the boys and all the girls, sweet-toothed, each and every one

A little scary
I said your name
I wore it like a badge of teenage film stars
Hash bars, cherry mash, and tin foil tiaras
Dreaming of Maria Callas, whoever she is
This fame thing, I don't get it
I wrapped my hand in plastic to try to look through it
Maybelline eyes and girl as boy moves
I can take you far
This star thing

I don't get it

(I'll take you over. There. I'll take you over. There.)
Aluminum, it tastes like fear
(I'll take you over. There.)

Adrenaline, it pulls us near

It tastes like fear

(I'll take you over)

Will you live to 83?
Will you ever welcome me?
Will you show me something that nobody else has seen?
Smoke it, drink
Here comes the flood
Anything to thin the blood
These corrosives do their magic slowly, and sweet.
Phone, eat it, drink
Just another chink, cuts and dents they catch the light
Aluminum, the weakest link
I don't want to disappoint you
I'm not here to anoint you
I would lick your feet, but is that the sickest move?
I wear my own crown

And sadness and sorrow and who'd of thought tomorrow could be so strange?
My loss

And here we go again

(I'll take you over. There. I'll take you over. Take you there.)
Aluminum, it tastes like fear
(I'll take you over. There.)

Adrenaline, it pulls us near

It tastes like fear it pulls us near

(I'll take you over)

Look up

And what do you see?
All of you and all of me
Fluorescent and starry, some of them they surprise
I can't look it in the eyes
Seconal, spanish fly, absinthe, kerosene
Cherry-flavored neck and collar
I can smell the sorrow on your breath
The sweat, victory and sorrow
This smell thing

I got it

(I'll take you over. There. I'll take you over. Take you there.)
Aluminum, it tastes like fear

Adrenaline, it pulls us near

Aluminum, it tastes like fear

Adrenaline, it pulls us near

(I'll take you over. Take you there.)

It tastes like fear it pulls us near

(I'll take you over. Take you there.)

It tastes like fear it pulls us near

(Oh, so sweet, tastes like fear)

Tastes like fear, pulls us near

(Pulls us near)

Near, near, near, near

(Over, over, over, over, over, over there

It pulls oh there)

I’ll take you there

I’ll take you there

I’ll take you there

(Oh, over)

I’ll take you there

(Over, baby)

I’ll take you over

(There, there)

I’ll take you there

(There, baby, oh)

  Not too terribly difficult here, just find the picking pattern and the primary guitar is a go. The e-bow is a little trickier, but the notes below should get you started ... lot's of fun to play even without the e-bow!

E-BOW THE LETTER

Intro/ Middle Bridge (Gm-Em)

e|-0---0--|

B|-0---0--|

G|-0---0--|

D|-5---2--|

A|-5---2--|

E|-3---0--|

Intro/ Middle Bridge (E-bow)

e|-0---0---|

B|-0---0---|

G|-7---4---|

D|-0---0---|

A|-0---0---|

E|-0---0---|

Verse (Picked)

e|-0---0---0---2---0---0---0----|

B|-1---3---0---3---1---3---0----|

G|-0---x---0---4---0---x---0----|

D|-2---5---2---4---2---5---2----|

A|-3---5---2---2---3---5---2----|

E|-0---0---0---2---0---0---0----|

Verse (E-Bow)

e|-----------------|

B|-----------------|

G|-5-7-4-9-7<5-7-4-|

D|-----------------|

A|-----------------|

E|-----------------|

Chorus (Every other time through omit G Chord)

e|-0----------0--3---|

B|-3-3-2------0--3---|

G|-2----2-2-4-0--0---|

D|-0-----4----2--0---|

A|-0----------2--2---|

E|-0----------0--3---|

Chorus (E-bow)

e|-----------------|

B|-----------------|

G|-----------------|

D|-----------------|

A|-5-7-10-5-7------|

E|-----------------|

End on D2