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Vernus

by Rswll

supported by
Big Ian
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Big Ian It's a bit unfair to just select one track; they're all excellent. Rswll is as appealing to the ears as he is to the eyes. This is great 21st century queer pop music. I can't wait to hear and see a lot more from him. Favorite track: potluck.
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  • Cassette + Digital Album

    The Sabotage Montage on tape, containing all four Quadrants:

    • Vernus
    • Estivus
    • Autumnus
    • Hibernus

    Packaging, pad print artwork and slipcase designed by Rswll. This special release is limited to only 96 copies and will not be reproduced. Each copy is numbered in black Sharpie by Rswll's hand.

    ••••

    Info

    - Wrapped in a Double Cassette Slipcase (w/ Thumbholes)
    - Clear Cassette with Metallic Red Liner
    - Super Ferro Normal-Bias Tape
    - Unique Pad Prints on Each Side of the Cassettes
    - Professionally Real-Time Duplicated

    Includes unlimited streaming of Vernus via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 96  19 remaining
    Purchasable with gift card

      $44.44 CAD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

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

      $4 CAD  or more

     

1.
This Spring I buried a man Inside my head as I held his hand Malevolent tongue snaked out Soft palms napalm southpaws now Fireworks and smokescreens The belle-of-the-ball or GHB? A neon-lit reverie Far from the bitch he’d breed I’ll just give it thanks And you can turn to crank, man A gram of love left never grand enough Instead of filling blanks Well, I’d rather keep it frank, man You can keep gruff with a heart so tough but I’ll be Calling you out on your shit I’m just Calling you out on it I’m just Calling you out on your shit I’m just I’m waiting for karma’s kiss Boy I’ll be your masochist Boy Calling you out Oh, I Wonder if he’s still cruel and dismissive Finicky tempest-tempered and capricious So pitiful, his little criminal Rebuffed till he fucked me a little, well... Fireworks and smokescreens The belle-of-the-ball amphetamine dreamin’ A neon-lit reverie Far from the bitch I’d breed So I’ll just give it thanks And maybe turn to crank, man A gram of love left never grand enough And ‘stead of firing blanks Well, I’d rather keep it frank, man You can keep gruff with a heart so tough but I’ll be Calling you out on your shit I’m just Calling you out on it I’m just Calling you out on your shit I’m just I’m waiting for karma’s kiss Boy I’ll be your masochist Boy Calling you out Oh, I Yeah I know you wanna screw me better But I’ll be in my head forever No I won’t be your scarlet letter But I hope there’s someone worth your pain Yeah, I hope there’s someone worth your pain And I hope I’m someone worth this pain ‘Cause I’m just Calling you out on your shit I’m just Calling you out on it I’m just Calling you out on your shit I’m just... Yeah, I know you wanna fuck me better! But I’ll be in my head forever So maybe I am just too tender But I hope there’s someone worth this pain Yeah, I hope there’s someone worth this (Pain!)
2.
potluck 03:17
Honestly, I don’t know what it is about people Can’t relate most days in a free fall when Being equal is harder than it looks Narrating the story but Who the fuck wrote this book? I’m gonna need more Drugs if I keep living I’m gonna need to Pick up my slack I’m gonna need more Love if I keep giving out Gonna need my stupid body back Oh, suck it up! Write it down and forget it I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetics Suck it up! Ride it out like I’ve read it I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetic Oh, I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetic Yeah, I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetic Honestly, I don’t know what it is about myself Carved an epitaph then a toast to my health In a suicide note from a murderous plan All so insignificant but isn’t life just grand? I’m gonna need more Drugs if I keep living I’m gonna need to Pick off your slacks I’m gonna need more Love if I keep giving out Gonna need your stupid body back Oh, suck it up! Write it down and forget it I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetic Suck it up! Ride it out like I’ve read it I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetic Sometimes I forget to tell myself I’ve done nothing to justify this cruelty, yeah Times I get to tell myself I’ve done Everything to die more brutally Oh, suck it up! Write it down and forget it I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetic Suck it up! Ride it out like I’ve read it I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetic I’m gonna need more Drugs if I keep living I’m gonna need to try to not crack I’m gonna need more Love if I keep giving I’m gonna need that knife in my back (Oh, suck it up! Write it down and forget it I’ll pop a potluck of anaesthetics Suck it up! Ride it out like I’ve read it I’ll pop a potluck and just drop dead)
3.
rain dancer 03:49
I’m a wrecking ball of a broken heart You’re an easy match; I’m a wildcard It’s a stupid game I never win Find my trigger fingers itching for this killing to begin Flashing a deadpan Dazzle with ease Reeling you in Slashing the leash I am a stopgap gimcrack whore But lately I’ve been looking for One more foot in the door No, I don’t take much to come crawling back again I won’t fall on my sword But I’ll be just fine till I’m firing rapidly “Fuck you! I hate you!” We still hook up when I’m outta self-love Might be token But I’m still hoping for Rain Rain Dreaming of you when I’m hard—on luck I get roughed around till I toughen up Then I’m cursing these cutpurses stealing my heart Rolling my eyes as I’m not that hard I’m a flash in the pan Spitting up grease Come in your mouth but I piss in the breeze I am a stopgap gimcrack whore But lately I’ve been looking for One more foot in the door No, I don’t take much to come crawling back again I won’t fall on my sword But I’ll be just fine till I’m firing rapidly “Fuck you! I hate you!” We still hook up when I’m outta self... Might be token But I’m still hoping for Rain Rain All it takes is softly holding your hand And all it takes is being the bigger man And all it takes is someone else in my bed All it takes is gently kissing your head ‘Cause I’m still open I’m still hoping for rain I’m still hoping I’m still open to change I’m still open I’m still hoping for rain I’m still hoping I’m still open to All that I require is (I won’t fall on my sword But I’ll be just fine, I swear!) ‘Cause it might be broken But I’m still hoping that I might be coping though I’m Likely joking when I’m Nightly smoking something Might be going insane Might be token but I’m still hoping to Change Fuck you, I hate you We still hook up when I’m outta self-love Might be token but I’m still hoping for Rain I’m still hoping for... (When I’m outta self-love When I’m outta self-love When I’m outta self-love When I’m outta self-love When I’m outta self-love When I’m outta self-love When I’m outta self...)
4.
I cradle a catty reputation “Sticks and Stones” when I’m up for lapidation Laughing off all the scrubs I’ve dated Kinda difficult when they insist “We didn’t” Crawling along the snakes of the land I am the wicked You are the Man I have the knowledge I am the fruit But I’m not the wino Eyeing the flute The rush Of flying through the Forest Good luck According to the Chorus I’m stuck According to the Fables Good lord I’m running with all the Werewolves Awoo Awoo Awoo I flex my eerie meditations Patiently waiting, fear flipping faces These days, no agenda around Sucking me off and spitting me out, I'm Crawling along the snakes of the land I am the wicked You are the Man I have the knowledge I am the fruit But I’m not the wino, no, no I am the flute The rush Of flying through the Forest Good luck According to the Chorus I’m stuck According to the Fables Good lord I’m running with all the Werewolves Awoo Awoo Awoo I know I’ll figure out Some reason to make you leave Then I can hunt you down Once again between my teeth I’ve got this penchant for Letting all the good ones bleed Dancing in the moonlight Till I’m begging for some goddamn sleep (Sleep) Sleep ‘Cause I’m a werewolf! ‘Cause I’m a werewolf! ‘Cause I’m a werewolf! Oh, I’m running with all the werewolves! Running with all the werewolves! I’m running with all the werewolves! Running with all the werewolves! I’m feeling like I’m a werewolf! Oh, I’m feeling like I’m awoo Awoo!
5.
stone fruit 04:53
I stake myself on a mine again On guard, I’m gardening, I Climb supine men, I’m vining Find surprising silver linings Sanctuary, sanctuary Body is a temple, so I’m fucking missionaries Maybe bury them in my epistolaries, but Soliloquies are better than obituaries so I could be your sweet summer son I could be your peaches and plums Scraping flesh off the pit of the pain All of my heartache in haste we’ve abated You taste it and waste it away Stone fruit I’m stone fruit I’m stone Stone fruit I’m stone fruit I’m stone Stone fruit I’m stone fruit I’m stone (Stone fruit, I’m stone fruit, I’m) Oh, suck away my heart, why don’t you? Sell me your magenta shades Don’t do the math, won’t solve my issues Just leave me where I‘m lain And if I never grow emotional Would you believe I still get hurt? I still marvel your proportions so Come twist my head off Let me show you how I turn Soliloquies are better than obituaries though Soliloquies are better than obituaries so I could be your sweet summer son I could be your peaches and plums Scraping flesh off the pit of the pain All of my softness is gravely degrading but I could be your sweet summer sun I could be your peaches and plums Scraping flesh off the pit of the pain All of my heartache in haste we’ve abated You taste it and waste it away Stone fruit I’m stone fruit I’m stone Stone fruit I’m stone fruit I’m I could be your sweet summer son! I could be your peaches and plums! Scraping flesh off the pit of the pain All of my softness is gravely degrading! But I could be your sweet summer son! I could be your peaches and plums! Scraping flesh off the pit of the pain All of my heartache You taste it and waste it away! All of my heartstrings are rotted away (Stone fruit, I’m stone fruit I’m stone fruit, I’m stone Stone fruit, I’m stone fruit I’m stone fruit, I’m stone Stone fruit, I’m stone fruit I’m stone fruit, I’m stone...)
6.
vae victis! 05:06
Good enough to fuck so I’ll never be good enough To be your friend Good enough to start so I’ll never be smart enough To see the end Good enough to play but I’ll never be number one I know the game Dumb enough to win, thinking pawns are bound to change Well, the king’s the same
 Tallies on the wall, gotta face that final score Thought I was a hero but I’m not sure anymore (Oh) I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, huh? I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain so Screw my stupid feelings If I’m the supervillain in the end In the end I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, huh? I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain so Maybe you might kill me If I’m the supervillain in the end In the end Good enough to fight so I’ll never need a hand to hold, no Entirely enough when I have a half painted gold You’re good enough to love but I’ll never love you that way Bad enough, I think of myself just the same Well the tally’s on the wall, gotta face that final score I could’ve been a hero but I’m not that anymore, no I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, huh? I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, so Screw my stupid feelings If I’m the supervillain in the end In the end I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, huh? I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, so Maybe you might kill me If I’m the supervillain in the end In the end Afraid to explain why Divinities never save my case Shape the matrices of my own damnation Rather than the victim I guess I’m your supervillain in the end In the end In the end In the end, end, end In the end, end, end In the end I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, huh? I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, so Maybe you might kill me If I’m the supervillain in the end In the end (I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, huh?) I’m your supervillain I’m your supervillain, so Maybe you should kill me If I’m the supervillain in the end In the end
7.
whoring 04:50
I met my ex on a streetcar yesterday He recognised me, I him Tried to grab his gaze I looked up from my phone too late He was already looking away, well I’ll see him ‘round here once again And in my head, I do something Then reality hits: I’ll say nothing But in my head, ooh, I feel glad, I guess Then reality cuts like a knife right through my chest I don’t even know myself Choking on a wishing well Whoring for a little hope Starving stupid for the ropes Never get filled by seas so full of fish I confess my endless loneliness These men I fuck somehow keep showing up Skyline nor horizon ever wide enough I looked up from my phone too early Now I’m leaving in a hurry I’ll see him ‘round here once again And in my head (In my head) I do something 
(I do something ) Then reality hits
 (Reality hits) I’ll say nothing (Say nothing) But in my head (In my head) Ooh, I feel glad, I guess Then reality cuts like razors through my chest I don’t even know myself Choking on a wishing well Whoring for a little hope Starving stupid for the ropes I’ll never get filled by seas so full of fish I confess my endless loneliness I’m a misanthropic Humanist at heart This silly scum’s my favourite part I’m a misanthropic Humanist at heart This city scum’s my miserable art I’m a misanthropic Humanist at heart This silly scum’s my favourite part I’m a misanthropic Humanist at heart The city scum’s my personal, miserable art And why I don’t even know myself Choking on a wishing well Whoring for a little hope Starving stupid for the ropes Never get filled by seas so full of fish I confess my endless loneliness When I don’t even know myself I don’t! I don’t even know myself No I don’t! But I’m still here! I won’t disappear! No, I’m still here! I WON’T DISAPPEAR! I’m still here I won’t disappear I’m still here I won’t disappear I’m still here I won’t disappear (I’m still here) I’m still here I won’t disappear (I’m still here) I’m still here No, I’m still here I’m still here I’m still here
8.
(You) You made me wait up in the rain I’m always bathing in the blame So how does it feel, huh? Tugging on my leash Oh I’m tracing all your moves and plays Pacing every night, stuck in place So how does it feel, uh? Tugging on my leash I can never sweep you off your feet Fleeting first impressions you believe So how does it feel? Tugging on my leash Oh I forever fuck up all I say Can’t we lay this down before the day? ‘Cause I know how it feels Hanging on the leash I’m too young to take you anywhere You’re too old to ever fucking care I know how this feels Dangled on the leash I will never stop trying to change, try to change, try to Failing all the rules of this old game, your old game ‘Cause I know how it feels, yeah Dangled on the leash Oh, all the way All the way All the way Oh, all the way All the way All the way (You know it feels I know it feels You know it feels I know it feels like You know it feels I know it feels You know it feels I know it feels like You know it feels I know it feels You know it feels I know it feels...) You made me wait up in the rain I know he left you in a hurricane Yeah, you know how it feels, baby So I know how it heals, too Now I do

about

“Vernus” is the first Quadrant of ‘The Sabotage Montage’ tetralogy.

'The Sabotage Montage' is informed by a cornucopia of styles: the dynamism of classical music; the roughly hewn, DIY ethos of punk; the rhythms and cadences of hip-hop and R&B; the meticulous studio programming of neurotic electronica.

None of this would float without the buoyant pop hooks lending levity to Rswll's otherwise grim subject matter. Rswll frames his vignettes of drug abuse, suicidal ideation, and debilitating isolation with colourful melodies and a sardonic humour. As an autobiographical lyricist, uncomfortable intimacy is his focal goal.

Given patience and an attentive ear, the project's internal logic rewards in spades: both lyrics and sounds allude to psychic bruises and unresolved guilt as Rswll's narrator develops, as heralded themes soon overstay their welcome.

But this deeper reading is hardly demanded. On the surface, these are sturdy pop gems built for headphone-listening, for introverts flailing alone in bedrooms, for laughing, wailing, singing along.

credits

released March 19, 2021

WRITING
PRODUCTION
RECORDING
MIXING
MASTERING
PHOTOGRAPHY
DESIGN
• roswell greeniaus

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Rswll Montreal, Québec

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