Demons Dance Alone

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Demons Dance Alone is a 2002 concept album by The Residents about the emotional effects of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The album is split into three main parts, "Loss", "Denial", and "The Three Metaphors", bookended by "Tongue" and "Demons Dance Alone", and broken up by various untitled transitional instrumentals.

The CD booklet contains the section "The Residents Have Left The Building", which at first might be taken to indicate that none of the original members are still in the band. It does state that "a few" of those involved are "the flesh and blood residue of our mythical heroes, maintaining appearances for mostly sentimental reasons. But can any of these shadowy sidemen truthfully call themselves THE RESIDENTS? No more than you or I, but if no one claims to be a RESIDENT, doesn't that mean everyone is a potential RESIDENT?"

"Demons Dance Alone" was reissued on CD by Cryptic / MVDaudio in 2016 (MVD8235A).

Track listing

1. "Tongue" – 1:11

Loss

2. "Life Would Be Wonderful" – 3:50
   • Occasionally listed as "Mr. Wonderful"
3. "The Weatherman" – 3:06
4. "Ghost Child" – 2:56
5. "Caring" – 3:50
6. "Honey Bear" – 4:14
7. "The Car Thief" – 3:59
8. "Neediness" – 4:08
9. – 0:25¤
10. "Tongue (Part 2)" 0:44¤
11. – 0:06¤

Denial

12. "Thundering Skies" – 2:54
13. "Mickey Macaroni" – 2:44
14. "Betty's Body" – 3:31
15. "My Brother Paul" – 3:07
16. – 0:17¤
17. "Baja" – 2:29
18. – 0:27¤
19. "Tongue (Part 3)" 0:32¤
20. – 0:04¤

Three Metaphors

21. "Beekeeper's Daughter" – 2:53
22. – 0:08¤
23. "Wolverines" – 2:58
24. – 0:04¤
25. "Make Me Moo" – 2:41
26. – 0:35¤
27. "Tongue (Part 4)" 1:03¤
28. "Demons Dance Alone" – 3:43

¤Not listed.

Limited Edition Bonus CD

1. "Sleepwalker" - 2:55
2. "Hidden Hand (Instrumental)" - 1:44
3. "Black Cats" - 1:18

Early Scratch Recordings From Demons Dance Alone

4. "Weatherman" - 2:02
5. "Make Me Moo" - 2:15
6. "The Car Thief" - 1:32
7. "The Brother Paul" - 1:25
8. "Caring" - 1:11
9. "Honey Bear" - 1:39
10. "Wolverines" - 1:33
11. "Mickey Macaroni" - 2:03
12. "Demons Dance Alone" - 1:08
13. "Happy Thanksgiving" - 2:22
14. "Hidden Hand (Vocal)" - 2:23
15. "Vampire" - 3:07
16. "Tortured" - 3:12

Vocals

Credited guest artist Molly Harvey plays an expanded role on this album. She leads entirely on "The Weatherman", "Caring", "The Car Thief", and "The Beekeeper's Daughter", as well as partial leads on "Life Would Be Wonderful" and "Ghost Child".

Another notable voice is that of a child, who sings on "Mickey Macaroni" and "Make Me Moo".

Most of the songs are led or partially led by The Residents' main singer, a man with a low, "hard whisper" singing voice.

References