Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Purchasable with gift card
$9.99USD or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Comes with:
- LP jacket with embossed lettering
- Printed sleeve w/ hand-drawn lyrics and a drawing by Terry Turtle
- A print of "Bird Brain" drawing by Terry Turtle
- "I Want To Be Alone" rubbing taken from a cabinet in Terry Turtle's house
- "Nailed To A Cross" lyric sheet print
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
edition of 40
Purchasable with gift card
$24.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Vinyl comes with embossed lettering on the jacket, printed sleeve w/ lyrics and drawing by Terry Turtle, and download Code.
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$19.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Red splatter vinyl! Comes with embossed lettering on the jacket, printed sleeve w/ lyrics and drawing by Terry Turtle, and download Code.
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$21.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Limited to 14 copies. All orders come with a print of Terry Turtle's lyric sheet for "Nailed To A Cross" and an additional handwritten lyric sheet from a random song on the album.
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
edition of 14
Purchasable with gift card
$44.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Limited to 14 copies. All orders come with a print of Terry Turtle's lyric sheet for "Nailed To A Cross" and an additional handwritten lyric sheet from a random song on the album.
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
edition of 14
1 remaining
Purchasable with gift card
$44.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Limited to 50 copies, each vinyl comes with a 8x10 inch print of Terry Turtle's "Bird Brain"
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$34.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Limited to 50 copies, each vinyl comes with a 8x10 inch print of Terry Turtle's "Bird Brain"
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$35.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Limited to 20 copies. After Terry passed away Billy ripped off a cabinet in his home that had the words "I Want To Be Alone," which is featured on the back cover of 'Head In A Bird Cage'. Each LP in this bundle comes with a pencil-rubbing made from the cabinet.
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$45.99USDor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Limited to 20 copies. After Terry passed away Billy ripped off a cabinet in his home that had the words "I Want To Be Alone" written on the side. The cabinet is featured on the back cover of 'Head In A Bird Cage'. Each LP in this bundle comes with a homemade pencil-rubbing made from the cabinet.
Includes unlimited streaming of Head In A Bird Cage
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ENTERING FROM DARKNESS
SOON IT’S RIGHT BACK OUT
JOURNEY IN BETWEEN
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
LAUGHTER FROM THE YOUTH
TERROR FROM THE OLD
JOURNEY THROUGH A GAME
INTO WITHERED COLD
OF COURSE WE’RE DOOMED
TO SUFFER IN BETWEEN
NAILED TO A CROSS
WE’RE ALL NAILED TO A CROSS
BATTLE OF THE FLOWER AND WEED
BEAUTY AND RUST DECREE
COLORS AND INSANITY
SOME ELECT EARLY FLEE
UP THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS
ALWAYS TURNING KEYS
THEN IT’S TIME TO EXIT
LIFE WAS BUT A SNEEZE
BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I CLEANED THIS ROOM
STILL NOT ENOUGH COBWEBS TO FILL MY WOUNDS
UH UH
MISERY FOR ALL TO SEE
PAVE IT ALL - PLEASE
SCREAM INTO THE CYMBAL
LET YOUR SOUL SING
EATING GLASS ‘CAUSE IT’S THE ONLY OFFERING
EATING GLASS ‘CAUSE IT’S THE ONLY OFFERING
DIE CRYING
THE WORLD LEFT A SERIOUS WOUND IN ME
MY LIFE IS DEFINED BY THIS INJURY
A SPIDER’S SILK COULD ONLY RECONNECT ME
IF WEBS REPLACED MY BODY
DIE CRYING
I’M NOT A HUMAN BEING
I’M NOT AN ADULT
GRATEFULLY IRRELEVANT
COLLISION RESULT
DIE CRYING
WE LET THE BLOOD OUT OF OUR EYES
AS WE SCREAM INTO THE NIGHT
I KNOW YOUR FACE SO WELL
IT IS BLOOD, IT IS LIFE
WE LET THE BLOOD
WE LET THE BLOOD
HARDEN UP, SCAB OVER, SOLIDIFY
AS WE LEAVE THE PAST THAT HAUNTS US
AND FROM IT REFUSE TO DIE
WE LET THE BLOOD
FOR THE TRUTH TO SHINE
WE LET THE BLOOD
GUIDE US TO HOME IN TIME
HOME IN TIME
WE LET THE BLOOD
OUT OF OUR VEINS
WE LET THE BLOOD
INTO OUR EYES
WE SEE THE TRUTH
AND NOT THE LIES
TUSKS MADE US WHAT WE ARE
WE REPAY TUSKS WITH DUST
LUCY LUCY LUCY LUCY
LUCY CAME OUT OF HER TREE
TO MAKE A LIFE OUT IN THE CLEARING
MANKIND CAN’T BE
WITHOUT BULLDOZERS
TUSKS FIRST PROVIDED THIS NEED, YEAH
TUSKS FIRST PROVIDED THIS NEED, YEAH
BULLDOZER IS OUR ONLY CULTURE
YEAH
EVERYWHERE TUSKS WENT
WE WENT EVENTUALLY
“PAVE IT ALL - PLEASE!”:
OUR BIOLOGICAL CREED
WE’RE JUST FOLLOWING THE TUSK’S LEAD
THEY NEVER KNEW WHAT WOULD HIT ‘EM!
“THESE LITTLE APES GOT OUT OF HAND…
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, MAN?”
WHEN I WAKE UP TO YOU
I’M FEELING FOR DREAMS
MADE REAL
THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN
IS THROUGH YOUR HEART
THE ONLY WAY TO GREET THE DAY
IS TO START
LIKE A PRAYER DAYS KEEP ME SANE
LIKE A PRAYER DAYS
WITH MY HEAD IN A BIRD CAGE
SUFFERING IS A HUMAN CONCERN
…YOU CAN BET
HIS HEAD IS SO FAR UP HIS ASS
IT’S POPPING OUT OF HIS NECK
BUT IN MY NEST NOTHING BUT THE BEST:
SMILES AND ALL THE REST
WAKE ME UP WHEN IT’S ALL OVER!
I’VE DONE ALL I CAN DO
I KNOW ALL I NEED TO KNOW:
THERE’S LESS OF ME THAN YOU
THREE WORDLESS BOOKS I THINK ABOUT
ALL THE TIME
AND NO ONE HAS PAID
FOR THOSE CRIMES
EVEN THE KNIVES ARE BLEEDING
YOUR EYES ARE FALLING
OUT YOUR HEAD
BUT YOU DON’T CARE
YOU DECAPITATED YOURSELF
GIVE THE BOOKS THEIR NAMES BACK
SACRIFICE THE SUN
PULL ITS SOULS OUT
SUN IS BEAMING
BEAMING THROUGH THE CLOUDS
THE ACTUAL BOTTOM IS SUNLIT
A WRAPPED ENGINE
GIGANTIC WHITE WRAPPED ENGINE
LIKE KING KONG’S ARTIFICIAL HEART
LIKE KING KONG’S ARTIFICIAL HEART
SPEEDING AWAY
THE SUN KISSES IT TOO
FIFTY DEGREES AND THE SUN IS BEAMING
SUN IS BEAMING THROUGH
BEAMING THROUGH THE CLOUDS
BEAMING THROUGH THE CLOUDS
ALL LOVE IS KNOWN AND CAN’T BE SHOWN
NOTHING CAN BE DONE
THAT CAN’T BE DONE
ALL LOVE IS KNOWN AND CAN’T BE SHOWN
NOTHING CAN BE DONE
THAT CAN’T BE DONE
SUN IS BEAMING
SUN IS BEAMING
BEAMING THROUGH THE CLOUDS
NO, KURT, I DON'T HAVE A GUN
OR THIS MADNESS WOULD BE DONE
MY COLD HEART IS MADE OF SLEEVE
I'M DYING TO BELIEVE
DYING TO BELIEVE
I'M IN DARKNESS
DYING TO BELIEVE
FROM THE SHADOWS
DYING TO BELIEVE
I'M DYING TO BELIEVE
THERE'S SOME THINGS I WILL NOT DO
TO COMPROMISE MY MUSIC CLUE
SO TODAY I WILL NOT LEAVE
I'M DYING TO BELIEVE
DYING TO BELIEVE
I'M IN DARKNESS
DYING TO BELIEVE
FROM THE SHADOWS
DYING TO BELIEVE
IN SOMETHING
DYING TO BELIEVE
I'M DYING...
NO, KURT, I DON'T HAVE A GUN
NO, KURT, I DON'T HAVE A GUN
NO, KURT, I DON'T HAVE A GUN
NO, KURT, I DON'T HAVE A GUN
I'M DYING TO BELIEVE
about
“When he was dying, and they had to rush him into another room because he was flatlining, Terry was singing.” That’s Billy Brett of Virginia industrial blues band Buck Gooter - he’s relating bandmate Terry Turtle’s last Earthly moments, rocking out as he crossed to the other side. For fifteen years, Buck Gooter has been one of the underground’s hardest working bands, releasing fourteen full-length albums and playing over seven-hundred shows. Buck Gooter is the story of two musicians who went from acquaintances to friends to family, creating a singular discography in the process, and not letting anything stand in the way. At the end of his life, Turtle charged Brett with continuing as Buck Gooter. It has always been in the Buck Gooter DNA to work through the impossible - on new album Head In A Birdcage, this includes death.
Turtle died on November 20, 2019, but worked on new material with Brett until he no longer could. While laid up in a hospital bed, Turtle assured Brett what he really wanted was “get out of this bed and rock with Buck Gooter.” He was pretty much in the hospital from August 30th, 2019 until the end of his life. It’s unknown when the cancer started, but Turtle was admitted after a constant shoulder pain became untenable. Upon performing a CAT scan, doctors let Turtle know that he had a broken neck, spurred by a large, malignant tumor that had eaten away his vertebrae. He wore a neck brace -- a “bird cage” -- until the day he died.
The hospital stay was brutal and the staff was indifferent - Turtle’s sole respite was honing new material. “Send me some beats so I don’t blow my brains out,” he said. Though Turtle was often hopped up on painkillers, when his attention rose out of the opioid fog, he wanted to create and record - his appearances on “Nailed To A Cross,” “Flinch For The Butterfly,” and “What We Do Is Pathological” were recorded while at the hospital.
Due to logistical difficulties, Head In A Bird Cage was created unconventionally. Take lead single “Nailed To A Cross,” a haunting, slow-burner with plodding beats, psychedelic guitar, Brett’s seething growl, and Turtle’s crooning baritone - Turtle insisted that Brett include it on the album, but couldn’t remember the guitar chords. Then Brett found an archived facebook live video where Turtle plays a rudimentary version of the song. “I'm like, ‘Fuck yeah!’” Brett says. “So we cut that into little pieces, dropped it on a grid on the computer. He had chosen the beat before, and then in the hospital, he sang ‘nailed to a cross,’ which is the chorus.”
Head In A Bird Cage functions as a testament to the band’s legacy and ethos - songs like the industrial nugget “What We Do Is Pathological” are up front. “What we do is pathological. That’s all you need to know,” yowls Brett on repeat, atop undulating synth, far-away metallic rhythm, and a Terry Turtle vocal sample. Brett calls this song a “manifesto.” Another song with “manifesto” lyrics is the sneering “Certain Times Of Day,” a song pulled from a tape of Turtle’s riffs - “You don’t listen to me - music is answers, this music makes me hell,” Brett screams, nodding to Buck Gooter’s dogged determination and heart.
That Buck Gooter work ethic, restless touring, and steady output touched a lot of people. Prior to Turtle’s passing, Brett made an announcement via social media that Turtle was not doing great, asking for remembrances and letters. The outpouring was staggering. Those who bore witness to Turtle’s life wanted to pay tribute. Turtle also wanted to establish a memorial fund, which Brett began on Gofundme - once again, people participated, eventually culminating in thousands of dollars raised for various charities. There was also a two-day long tribute concert held in Brooklyn with proceeds benefiting the Terry Turtle memorial fund, as well as a new ongoing project - The Terry Turtle Archives, available through Bandcamp, and which highlights the musician’s visual art. Anyone who knew Turtle knew he was a talented illustrator with a penchant for capturing the colorful, psychedelic, and surreal - monsters, gods, and the natural world collided in his drawings as much as they did in his music. He was also notoriously generous, often giving out prints for free to friends, though always laminating and keeping the originals. “For now, it's a blog,” Brett explains, “but maybe one day it'll expand into a more organized, massive vault.”
Turtle’s presence on Head In A Bird Cage is ubiquitous - so much so that it can be hard to believe he’s no longer alive - but in many ways he’s still here. “There's more to grab Terry samples from,” Brett says. “He wrote other songs that were never finished or released. Buck Gooter will always have Terry in it.” Head In A Bird Cage is far from an epitaph - it’s a metamorphosis, an exercise in persistence after a band member has graduated from their earthly body. It’s Turtle with a sheepish grin, putting an arm around you, reassuring the living that death is not the end.
- Jordan Reyes
credits
released September 3, 2021
REC’D ON 1/18/20 & 1/19/20 AT BIG COIN, DUMBO, BROOKLYN, NY BY ANDY CHUGG
MASTERED BY JAMES PLOTKIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL SOMERS
BUCK GOOTER IS (ALWAYS AND FOREVER):
TERRY TURTLE - GUITAR, VOCALS
BILLY BRETT - ELECTRONICS, VOCALS
OTHER HEADS IN THIS BIRD CAGE:
GRAHAM BROUDER - BASS ON #9, RECORDED TT’S VOCALS ON #12
PATRIK “PAPPY” DOUGHERTY - SAXOPHONES ON #3
JOSH HEBDON - DRUMS ON #14
BRIAN KLIMA - AUDIO HELP ON #6 & #13
ALETHEA LEVENTHAL - SYNTH ON #1
JUSTIN RANDEL - LOOP HELP ON #1
ZACH WILLIAMS - LIVE RECORDING ON #14
THANKS TO ALL HEADS IN AND OUT OF THIS BIRD CAGE FOR YOUR BELIEF AND SUPPORT.
supported by 13 fans who also own “Head In A Bird Cage”
I like this album, especially for the message that it brings that is really powerful and in line with what happened nowadays. The title and the whole album refers to the Black Lives Matter (red summer refers to the summer of 1919 where white supremacists committed a lot of homicide against black community in USA). The whole album speaks about this, with a lot of reference to historical events (e.g.: 20th August 1619 is the date when the first black slaves were deported in USA). losfastidios
supported by 12 fans who also own “Head In A Bird Cage”
A beauty in candor. People who probably never intended to make music, be in a band, or even be cool, are now the greatest asset that we have for good vibes, honesty, & understanding. Favorite Track: The Way that you Do jumesluke
Brilliant experimental outfit Parlor Walls return with a killer new single boasting chest-collapsing digital beats and snarling guitars. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 2, 2023