I've been told:  Cheap Trick, Enuff Znuff, Weezer, The Offspring, Ben Folds, The Kinks, Chuck Prophet, and a long-haired, rock-n-roll Randy Newman

Putting a happy face on bad times. That's the mission Spud Davenport has been on for years (with songs in major movies and on hundreds of terrestrial radio stations).

The drummer / singer / songwriter / satirist / cartoonist's new album, Songs For The Cynical drops January 27, 2023 featuring the singles "Home For The Headaches", "Enjoy Every Sandwich" and "You'd Love Me Now (If You Knew Me Then)".

spud@spuddavenport.com 

About Songs For The Cynical:

• "Songs for the Cynical more than anything highlights the strength of Davenport’s songwriting. It’s a cohesive set, but the songs are strong enough to also sound like 14 singles.  ...He is an impressive tunesmith, through his use of counter melodies and harmonies, to the length of the tunes (most in the three-minute-plus range) and varied rhythms, you can tell Davenport put a lot of work into this album and it yields plenty of rewards." - Bart Mendoza / San Diego Troubadour magazine

• "The SoCal-based satirist, singer, and songwriter Spud Davenport is back with his second full-length release. A healthy meal of 13 songs of varying styles, directions, attitudes, and personalities, with a few things that tie them all together. Spud’s humorous lyricisms are refreshing, the singing is characterful, the arrangements are inventive, and the fantastic production is always trying to utilize them as best as possible. The result is a truly captivating listen."  - Hany Nabil / Rock Era Magazine

• “An informal, unpretentious and candid album radiating good vibes and pure happiness.” - AliceInHell, reviewer

• “Oddly wonderful” - Logan at SpiderHands Productions

• "...an undeniably memorable and enjoyable listening experience which many who hear it are sure to resonate with.” - Authentic Audio

• “This song (Enjoy Every Sandwich) is one that features a very pure sound. It also features fun-loving lyrics for sure.” - Ratings Game Music

• "Songs For the Cynical serves up songs that will quickly remind you of The Cars, Ben Folds Five, They Might Be Giants, etc. There's some hyper catchy, clever pop gems here and as the album title implies, a cynical, and satirical take on romance and the state of life in modern times with a good dose of introspection."  - Garry Limuti / Songwriter-Musician 

 

Come Inside!

It’s such a crazy world out there
Nothing’s simplified
It’s so upside down out there
Makes ya wanna stay inside

Well, there’s one place you can go and be OK
Where nothing is impossible today
Oh, it’s such a crazy world out there
So come inside
Won’t you come inside?
Hey, won’t you come inside?

 

Enjoy Every Sandwich

I'm not sure what "happy" means
I live my life like a dumb machine
Workin' hard until I overload
Now I'm wonderin' what I hold dear
and what I will be leavin' here
When it's time for me to go 

oh, there's no time to waste
no, there's no time for hate
There's no time, no time to waste

Enjoy Every Sandwich
Love every day
We may not think it's important now
but time sneaks up on us somehow
That's why I say...
Enjoy Every Sandwich

Dreams are often out-of-reach
You're in the Alps, they're at the Beach
That's how we think
'n' Love is always lost or found
It's up, it's down, it's all around
'n' that's a good thing
oh there's no time to waste...

Enjoy Every Sandwich
It's loud 'n' clear
I gotta make the most of every day
Before I hear someone say, "Hey, your ride's here!"
Enjoy Every Sandwich

No, there's no time to waste...

Enjoy Every Sandwich
Love every day
I think I know what "happy" means
I won't live my life like a dumb machine
Now it's easy to say
There's no time to waste, No time for hate
At the risk of sounding so Mraz
With all this optimistic jazz
Repeat after me... 

Enjoy Every Sandwich!

 

You’d Love Me Now (If You Knew Me Then)

A free-lance Journalist, lookin' for inspiration
got up early one December morning
He hailed a cab and went down to the City's Eastside
where the homeless live in cardboard boxes

He was searchin' for a subject and found
a shaggy-haired, dirty man willing to talk
Man said, "Yea, I made a few mistakes, but
it was bad luck that really did me in...

"You'd love me now if you knew me then
I had a good job, wife 'n' kids, I was an honest man
But some things happen we may never understand
You'd love me now if you knew me then"

The writer looked up from his notes
and gave the man a knowing smile
He had just been let go by the City's biggest newspaper
They're cuttin' back, ya know
And last year, he lost his high school sweetheart
to some guy with a better job
Now, when he goes to single's bars,
this little voice inside his head wants to scream out...

"Yea, you'd love me now if you knew me then
I was 40 pounds lighter, a Football Captain, I was in a band
But some things happen we may never understand
You'd love me now if you knew me then"

Oh my my my, Life was sure sweeter back then
Oh my my my, if we did it all over again…
Would we live it any differently?

Suddenly the sun showed its face
and the early morning traffic ritual began
The Journalist jotted down a few last notes
and pulled a twenty-spot from his pocket
He said, "Thanks for your time, I've got a good story goin' here..."
The homeless guy shook his hand and said
"Best of luck to ya, but ya know,
If I was a bettin' man, I'd bet all I own on you,
bein' back here,
next year,
singin' this same ol' song...." 

"You'd love me now if you knew me then
I worked real hard, followed all the rules, yea, I had a plan
But some things happen we may never understand
You'd love me now if you knew me then
You'd love me now if you knew me then
...if you knew me then"

 

Car Wreck

I just saw a car wreck and it made me think of you
All the lamebrain, sudden pain you put me through
While most of it could be avoided any given day
just like that car wreck, I couldn't look away...

I just saw a car wreck and it made me think that I
could get my shit together 'n' be a better guy
But I hate to say that fate's the way we make up our minds
Lookin' at that car wreck, I can't be far behind

Oh, don't look now
but somehow
I'm not the Immortal I thought I was
Because
Nothin's real, I've been told
There's no gold
at the end of the rainbow
Yet I know, there's a smiling guy with a pitchfork
and a halo
hosting a Reality Game Show
waiting down there for me

Sitting in this gridlock made me think of you
How we're all connected in this overcrowded zoo
And maybe, with some patience, we live another day
Lookin' at that car wreck, I couldn't look away...
I couldn't look away
I just saw a car wreck and it made me think of you

 

I’m The Only One

I’m the only one who really loves you
I’m the only one who understands
I’m the only one thinkin’ of you
even tho’ you think you’re in demand 

I’m the only one who knows your secrets
I’m the only one who feels your pain
I’m the only one who believes it
when you say the whole World has gone insane 

Yea 

You’re the only one holdin’ the car keys
You’re the only one who makes my bail
You’re the only one I try to please
You’re the only reason I won’t fail 

I’m the only one who waits for you
I’m the only one standin’ in the rain
I’m the only one who’ll defend you
even tho’ I’m pretty sure you are insane 

Yea

I’m the only one who will forgive you
I'm the only one who won't walk out
I’m the only one tryin’ to teach you
what love is all about 

I’m the only one who really loves you
I’m the only one who understands
I’m the one standin’ at the edge of the ledge
so you better not say you’ve got better plans! 

Oh, Yea
I’m the only one for you

 

Paper Maps

She said she couldn't get there from here
Where that was still isn't quite clear
Maybe Xanadu, Krypton, or Aberdeen
Or some place she saw in a dream

She said,
"Paper Maps are so unreliable
Folded and torn, too pliable
If I'm lost, I'm liable to drive off the edge of the world"

She said the boredom brought her to tears
'Lived in the same town, same house for years
And Hollywood was no good for affection
What she needed was a little more direction 

She said,
"Paper Maps are so unreliable
Old and outdated, they're no Bible
If I'm lost, I'm liable to drive off the edge of the world"

She said she couldn't get there from here
Where that was still isn't clear

Paper Maps are so unreliable
Folded and torn, too pliable
If she's lost, she's liable to drive off the edge of the world

Paper Maps are so unreliable

If she's lost, she's liable to drive off the edge of the world
drive off the edge of the world
drive off the edge of the world

 

Roommates

Once upon a time in Salem ’93
You & I had absolutely nothing
and that was alright
Music was our drug, flannel our religion
We’d walk and talk in our beat up Doc Martens
and it sure felt right

but just like trends, love can easily end
ain’t that the way it goes?

We’re just roommates
We go our own way and we share the rent
We’re just roommates
Wond’rin’ where the love and the sex went - Hey!

A Kurt Cobain Memorial is overdue
and now I realize, except for tribal tattoos
nothing lasts forever
Maybe if I rhymed, you’d like me better
There is no chance I’ll be Eddie Vedder
no, not ever

yea, I’m outta fashion and you lost the passion
‘Guess that’s the way it goes…

We’re just roommates
We go our own way and we share the rent
We’re just roommates
Wond’rin’ where the fun and the sex went - Hey!
We're just roommates

 

If I Had The Time

If I had the time I might feel real sad
Thinking’ ‘bout you and the good times we had
But this fast world forgets and I might have regrets
If I had the time

If I knew the words I was supposed to say
I might stick around and try it for another day
But talk is cheap you know, I might let my feelings show
If I had the time

If I had the time, you’d say I’m lazy
If I’d half a mind, you’d call me crazy
That’s alright with me, it ain’t no crime
If I had a clue, would I share it?
If I still had you, could you bear it?
Good thing I’m almost outta time

If I had the time I might reminisce
And second guess myself with fool thoughts like this
But as you know by now I’m a slave to what time allows
and I don’t have the time

If I had the time, you’d say I’m lazy
If I’d half a mind, you’d call me crazy
That’s alright with me, it ain’t no crime
If I had a clue, would I share it?
If I still had you, could you bear it?
I’d like to hear your answer sometime
If I had the time

 

Love Frustration

Love frustration isn’t my occupation
and I’ll never ever go pro
Love frustration has been our reputation
It’s cold and I’m no eskimo
yea, I’m lettin’ you know

I don’t wanna go on like this
But I’m always drawn to the hit ’n’ miss
Maybe a song we can’t resist could bring us together

Love frustration isn’t my destination
so I might be be hittin’ the road
Our love frustration is a lethal combination
There’s tension by the boatload, yea
We’re about to explode

Love frustration is a true collaboration
and it feels like we’ll win an award
‘cause love frustration gives no compensation
It’s something we can’t afford
Maybe it’s back to the drawing board

I don’t wanna go on like this
But I’ve always been drawn to the hit ’n’ miss
Maybe a song like this could bring us together

Love frustration isn’t my occupation
It’s hard to believe but it’s true
I don’t love frustration any more than you

 

Don’t Flip Your Lid

My advice:  Keep your lid on
Keep your lid on
Keep your lid on
My advice:  Keep your lid on
Keep your lid on
Keep your lid on 

Don’t flip your lid
Don’t flip your lid
Don’t flip your lid   

My advice:  Take a deep breath
Take a deep breath
Take a deep breath
MMMmmmm my advice:
Take a deep breath
Take a deep breath
Take a deep breath    

Don’t be stupid
Don’t be stupid
Don’t flip your lid

 

Home For The Headaches

Better days have come and gone
I’m feelin’ dead as my front lawn
And I’ll never write another happy song
if we all can’t get along

Families are a complex bunch
Call me crazy, but I’ve got a hunch
The key to peace ’n’ harmony is lunch
Don’t forget to spike the punch

I’ll be home for the holidays
I’ll be home for the heartbreak
I’ll be home for the headaches

The holidays arrive so fast
Those pumpkins and trees never last
Not like the stupid ugly words from seasons past
Who’ll win the prize for this year’s ass?

I’ll be home for the holidays
I’ll be home for the heartbreak
I’ll be home for the headaches
yea, I’ll be home

For the gossip and confessions
All the hateful concessions
Bad jokes, cold turkey and warm beer
If I had one wish
Holidays would skip a year

Could it be I’ve got this whole thing wrong?
I’m not as dead as my front lawn
Why can’t this be a happy song?
Won’t you sing along?

I’ll be home for the holidays
I’ll be home for the heartbreak
I’ll be home for the headaches
and the mistakes and the fruitcakes

I’ll be home for the holidays
I’ll be home for the heartbreak
I’ll be home for the headaches

and the handshakes
and the nonsense makin’ no sense
Every low low and the high highs
All the little fibs and the Big Lies
I’ll be home

 

Let’s Lead Together

Today we're strangers / but not for long
We know the dangers / They keep us strong
We know who we are, where we belong

I don't want to fight alone / I'm not so sure I'd make it
The road is rough but I can take it
if you ride along

Take my hand
Let me know
That wherever I'm headed, you'll want to go
Take my word
It's all I've got
With your help, I think we have a real good shot
Let's lead together

Today we're silent / with a lot to say
No need for violence / It never ends well that way
We know what we need, what we can live without

Could that be a cry for help I hear out in the distance ?
The path of least resistance
will get us where we want to go,
really help us out

Take my hand
Let me know
If you're feelin' what I feel, then let it flow
Take my word
I promise you
I'll do everything that I can do

Let's lead together

 

(c) 2023  Spud Davenport - PuppyNoPlay Music / ASCAP

 

 

Recorded by Andy Machin at BigRock Studios, Escondido, CA

Produced and mixed by Andy Machin, Charlie Recksieck, and Spud Davenport

Mastered by Christopher Hoffee at Chaos Recorders, San Diego, CA

All drums, pianos, keyboards, acoustic guitars, kazoos, percussion and vocals by Spud Davenport

All electric guitars including solos and bass guitars by Andy Machin 

Vocals on Let's Lead Together by Mary Grasso

Blues Harp by Dan Byrnes

Bass Guitar on If I Had The Time by Paul Denton

Trombone by Eric Murray

"SuperSpud" photos by Steve Covault

Album design & graphics by Jeff Eaton and Spud

All songs written by Spud Davenport except Hot For Teacher - E. Van Halen, A. Van Halen, M. Anthony, D. L. Roth / Warner Music

(c) 2023 PuppyNoPlay Music / ASCAP