Sooty's 2011 Year In Review Countdownmania

[Soot and Stars]

​

Blue October, driven by the mind of vocalist/writer Justin Furstenfeld, may be the most intimate affair you'll ever have with a rock band. That is perhaps a huge part of the bands appeal and why their growing fan base has followed them faithfully from album to album making their newest release "Any Man In America" their best charting album to date. Justin Furstenfeld is the bands focus perhaps not unlike my other favorite group, The Smashing Pumpkins. This is not to say the musicians, including Justins brother Jeremy, don't have merit. Multi-instrumentalists, Ryan Delahoussaye in particular has definitely played a huge part in defining the bands sound with the prominent use of Violins and his own unique techniques he uses. Regardless, it's obvious to everyone that Justin is the show and the music is the backdrop to his words.

Justin Furstenfeld
​

Justin Furstenfeld is not who you'd picture being the type of confessional artist who tells you their every thought, weakness and experience openly. He looks like he could kick your ass with the greatest of ease and at times he looks a little scary. In some ways, Justin is a little scary and when you get inside his head, which you do with each album, you see a very open book of a very layered complex individual. Part of the complexity comes from the fact that Justin has bipolar disorder which has affected him to the point of blackouts and stays at a Mental Hospital which he chronicles on the album "Consent to Treatment". With Justin, you know that the music may be his only outlet. Justin grew up listening and being influenced by a multitude of genres which has had the band experimenting with different sounds throughout their career. Every song within the Blue October catalog has meaning and every album plays as a chapter in Justins life. It's this open discourse to the listener that brings such a loyal audience and in their own way each listener can relate to it in the context of their own lives knowing someone is struggling and working through their lives as well.

From Then To Now
The newest chapter of Justin's life started being displayed in part on the previous album:

"Approaching Normal" was the followup album to "Foiled" which was their breakthrough album with two hit singles. One of those singles "Hate Me" was their highest charting to date and even Justin admits on the new album will be his only Billboard hit. Between the period of time between "Foiled" and "Approaching Normal" Justin got married and had a baby girl Blue. Justins perspective took a turnaround after she was born and reached sobriety. The marriage began suffering regardless because of Justins being away from home due to touring. Justin got hit with a huge pill to swallow when he came home one day to his wife confessing that she had been involved with another man for ten months who his daughter recognized as a father and that she wanted a divorce. All this with the daughter nearby in which Justin did his best to hold his composure for her. Following these events, Justin reached his breaking point and the tour was cancelled for a period of time due to extreme anxiety attacks. With the "Approaching Normal" album you saw glimpses into Justins family life which was mostly positive at the time of writing but one song really takes a harsh reality when you hear it after knowing the events that transpired.

Here's Justin talking about the background to one of the songs on "Approaching Normal" followed by the song itself:

Blue Does
​

As you may have heard Justin describe this song came towards the end of the album and contrast the darker vibe it had towards the beginning. It really reflects the transition he described himself being in before and after he had his child. One song, though chronologically doesn't fit but seems a lot eerier now considering events that transpired, is the closing track "The End". While the album was written before the events of infidelity this track in which Justin said was an exercise in going to the darkest place he could go lyrically seems like an omen especially when you listen to the track "The Flight (Lincoln to Minneapolis" on "Any Man In America". I now listen to this track in a much different light.

The End


Here alone, standing barefoot in our lawn,
Worms squeezing their way through my toes
Tonight that’s how it goes.
I’m at your window kneeling quiet,
I thought at least I’d maybe try to get your head right
Get your heart right
“Let him go!”

Then through the glass I see your dress fall to the floor
As he embraces every inch of you
The woman I adore.
I can’t believe the way you’re bending
Can’t believe this neverending moaning asking him for more
I heard you begging him for more

How far will I go
To make it feel right? “Come home”
I have to fix this on my own

Replace my heart,
Cause I’m convinced mine broke the day I let us end
Replace my heart,
I don’t wanna live by coping, I’m done with hoping…..end

I creeped in close enough to see the way he touched her,
From her feet across her knees, inside her sweetest spot
he pleased and pleased her.
I turned around and tried to take control, but no control was capable
It was a centerfold of how less than low can possibly go.

I squeezed the life into my brain
Like pushing knives into a vein
I’ve gotta get, I’ve gotta get, I said I’ve gotta get inside
So to the back window I crawl in silent standing in the darkness
Of my living room, my living room
This used to be my home

How far will I go
To make it feel right? “Come home”
I’m moving forward to the bedroom door

Replace my heart
Cause I’m convinced mine broke the day I let us end
Replace my heart
I don’t wanna live by coping, I’m done with hoping…end

I turn the doorknob with two fingers to be slow
Enough to sneak into the room among the corner darkness gloom
I had to see this happening.
He pushed himself so deep inside her clapping rang and bounced off every wooden walled room
And that’s when all went silent blank except the color red
As I walked calmly numbing paralyzed beside the bed
I said “I know I’m not allowed to be here. I just had to see
How good this new man really ****s you. Cause you both been ****ing me.”

“So now I planned the last thing you can both do as a pair
I tie both blindfolds tight around your ****ing eyes to blind your stare
I don’t want to alarm you, but I figured we could end this in what seems easy quick and painless
So I’ll get down to business
I choose you first, there’s a gun, its at your head
So laugh at me just one more time but keep your face inside the bed
You sit and watch me while I do this shit and learn from what I’ve said.”
I cocked the pistol pulled the trigger, and all I saw was red

Then the screaming oh the screaming
It’s nice to see you scared
Of such a weak and stupid husband
Who knows you never really cared
I’ll leave you with a question that I need to hear from your head
Was all this worth it knowing u have just seconds left to live?

Now think about your answer, laying face down on the bed
I cocked the pistol pulled the trigger and all I saw was red
I gently stroke her arm as she lies lifeless on her back
Then placed the barrel in my mouth
All I saw was black.​

So all this leads to the main attraction which is the culmination of events in which Justin lost a wife, a large portion of his livelihood and most importantly custody of his daughter. While this is one side of the story it's one the listener will be intrigued by, sympathize with, relate to in parts and overall feel like part of something. It's one mans story filled with accounts and doses of real life as real life phone calls and segments of all the players are filtered throughout the album. Justin sings, speaks, semi-raps, screams and emotes his story to the audience in yet another unfiltered portrayal of his life and psyche at the time. The album is:

Any Man In America

I'll be doing a song by song breakdown and try to relate what I've read of the events and music with anecdotes relating to the past as well as my own personal impressions. I absolutely LOVE this album so I hope I've got everyones interest at this point in following me through this!

 

[Soot and Stars]

The album starts with a short 50 seconds of ambiance that leads to the first track "The Feel Again (Stay)". This despite being the second single, though the first to get the video treatment, was the song that had me anticipating the album avidly. The song vocally has a very Peter Gabriel feel to it especially in the vocals which is not surprise since Justin considers him a huge influence as well as Genesis. The bands second albums cover is actually influenced by the video for "Sledgehammer":



The sparse echoey vibe with the drumbeats also echoes (no pun intended) another Genesis alumni to me with Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight". I think this song is the perfect time to reflect on something I said earlier. No more than ever Justin's vocals and words are the show. One thing that I read that was criticized is the bands push to the background as everything is mixed while Justins vocals are pushed to the forefront more than ever on this album. The album is very synthesizer heavy and the beats sound more part of drum machines than actual drumming. You can hear that very much in this song but in no way is this not a music piece. The structure and storytelling in this song is amazing.

The first time I heard this song I had no idea of the back story. I thought it was a typical breakup song. I didn't even know he was married but by the time he got to the verse:

"There's just three of us to think about now, in our show......"

I got that there was another whole depth to the song to think about. It may be just me but this was the first song I'd heard prominently feature this theme about keeping the family unit together and how much more weight the one in the middle of it all, the child adds. It may be a futile cry but the emotion behind the singer and the importance of rekindling and mending what went wrong is chilling. You hear it in his voice and see it vividly in his face as the whole video is brilliantly just him. The simplicity of that adds more depth to the song than anything else possibly could. This seems to be the early stages when he thought reconciliation was possible as he even holds up the words:

"It's not all your fault"


The song is just beautiful. Every effect paints an inflection and serves as an emotion. The song builds, ebbs and flows and pulses. It's a song you feel and has a vital energy to it. The signature violin comes sweeping in when it's need and serves to bring in my favorite moment of the song. From the echoed verses where he saw the transition happening you feel his feelings of losing control and the world he knew slipping from his grasp. It's a mix of desperation, hopeless romanticism and despair. At times the song just slaps you out of nowhere with an echoed cry and elevates you into false security as Justin delivers glimmers of light and a sales pitch that will fall flat in reality. This song is the most ambiguous on the album but leaves listeners wanting more details. The listener will get plenty as hope turns to sadness, anger and regret as the album unfolds.

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[GROOVESHARK]31262270[/GROOVESHARK]

I see the sun go down on the river
I feel the wind blow out, would've stayed to gray
I feel the air around you, it's kinda closing in
Do you feel it fall, or do you feel at all, I can!

I see the world keep moving as I stumble
They seem to move much faster than me
And while I sit in my four cornered room dividing hearts for a little girl
Well I can't be anything but who I am

And I wish you'd stay
That was the beginning of the two of us, the start of our show
Stay, stay, stay...
Now I would never have let go

And I see the sun go up as your image
And I feel the weight of your eyes as you stare
I feel it all when you, when you first, when you kissed my lips
You used to make me feel at home, you made me feel at home, you made me
Feel again

Oh and that's when you use to say, "Will you stay, and not let go?"
That was just the two of us to think about, the stars of our show
And you would say, "I wish you'd stay and I'd never go"
Oh I would never have let go!

So take this heart of mine
You've taken it a hundred thousand times
But this time, this time, I'm gonna take it with me

I see the door close down behind you
I watch your face turn from glow to straight gray
I see the moon go up and it shines this glory on my face
Who would know? Who would know? Who would know?

How we would stay, and we should stay and never let go, oh hell no
There's just three of us to think about now, in our show, our show, our
Show
I think we'd stay, we'd just stay, and then we'd know
That we should never let go

Something to think about, her heart
Just look into those big brown eyes, and you'd just fall apart
We should stay, at least we'd stay, at least she'd know
That we should never let go
No, no, let go, go, oh...

I wish you'd stay
I wish you'd stay...

 

[Soot and Stars]

The next song "The Money Tree" song starts out in a trance like state as Justin recounts his state of mind regarding the changes he started to make and he states them as if he was giving a voice directly from his boggled mind rather than from his mouth. As his "focus" starts to be on his "beautiful girl" then the song starts to develop it's melody and focus too. The sound of the synthesized plucking strings, static beats and 80's flavor that Kajagoogoo, Men At Work and Flock Of Seagulls would approve of especially during the last minutes breakdown with the sweeping strings leading to the synthesisergasm. Justins knowledge for vocal rhythm more than make up for the flatness of his vocal range and he's so masterful at wrapping around a melody. My favorite vocal part comes at 2:40-2:55.

​

The subject matter hasn't delved into the worse stages yet and it seems to be at the stage where Justin was trying to make his turnaround and thought there was still hope. It's clear that the fighting had started and Justin was on defense with his wife at this point and making efforts for the idea of a family for his daughter. It's an amusing laundry list of financial assists he's given his wife which makes her out to be a gold digger of the worst variety. The critique of his wifes money grubbing ways here and dispersed throughout the album would make itself at home within any Hip-Hop album. That won't be the only hip-hop influenced part of the album as Justin's always been a fan of the genre. More on that later. True or not it's entertaining to read what is my favorite verse:

"With two houses, both cars
I paid off your ****ing credit card debt
Did you already forget?
You threat and threat and threat
Just ****ing leave. Find a man who will put up with you"

Ouch!

While the song slings plenty of mud at his ex like the best writers Justin also pens his own flaws even giving his wife credit for being a great Mom to their daughter and acknowledges his absence. Once again he pleas to mend there problems for the sake of a family for his daughter despite their own flaws. The unfortunate event of doing what you have to do to support a family and having that same thing be what breaks it is a tragic and constant theme throughout the album. This song was a great track to pick up the pace from the last and start developing the story throughout that "The Feel Again (Stay) only alluded to. It's also great in it's own right with catchy hooks that easily attach themselves to the listeners brain once the music stops!

[GROOVESHARK]32371824[/GROOVESHARK]

I'm standing on an open world
I've got to try so hard for myself
Now including the ones that I love
I call my family
It's not hard when your focus is a beautiful girl
A brand new baby. She's a baby girl
And yeah, she's a cutie like her mommy
Uh, yes, yeah, she looks like her mommy
We both know who we are
And I'm not changing a thing I've never changed before
If loving me is work, I'm not a job to take
I think we're heading for the crazy making heartbreak
I'm wondering why I'm sitting here alone again
Why you always crush me
Why it's never easy
Easy, easy, easy. It's not easy
This is you. This is me
You won't be a part of what we need to be
Not for me. For the future of us three
For our daughter, college, family
Sudden health emergencies
You think it's easy picking money off my money tree?
With two houses, both cars
I paid off your ****ing credit card debt
Did you already forget?
You threat and threat and threat
Just ****ing leave. Find a man who will put up with you

We both know who we are
And I'm not changing a thing I've never changed before
If loving me is work, I'm not a job to take
I think we're heading for the crazy making heartbreak
I can't help but think of how great you are with the baby daughter
Half the time a single mother
When I go away, it is so you can always stay home
And let your baby grow. Bring her up the right way
You never take it that way
We both know who we are
And I'm not changing
I need support, not a slap in the face
You have to trust me or I'm sure it'll blow up in your face
I'm in love with such an angel and she doesn't even know
We've taught each other a thousand ways we don't even know
We both know who we are
And I'm not changing a thing I've never changed before
If loving me is work, I'm not a job to take
I think we're heading for the crazy making heartbreak
I can't help but think of how good you are with the daughter
Half the time a single mother
When I go away, it is so you can always stay home
And let your baby grow. Bring her up the right way
I must be the one who has his daughter's future at heart
As you're the one who never wants a family apart
We both know that together we can only believe
That if we could be, there should be no reason to leave

 

[Soot and Stars]

"For The Love" focuses on the stresses that most music artists have to deal with when it comes to balancing their career and their family. From Justins point of view it shows the frustration of supporting a family and giving them a very comfortable life and luxury. While Justin lets his anger convey himself as a good guy here who's trying to keep everything together I also think he's turning the spotlight on his own selfishness as well. While the verses tell how he's using his dream to support his family the chorus tells that's there's a lot more to it than that and the dream is as much an indulgence for him as it is a means of support for his loved ones. Being a writer and performer who exorcises their demons through music the live shows and the energy he puts out and then gets back from the fans is a catharsis he lives off of and needs. When he says he does it for his daughter, his Mom or even his Dad it's not just financial. He needs to release things just like people who exercise in order to keep himself a better person for those close to him in life.

This is the first song that really shines more of a light on the complications involved on both sides and why the relationship is so strained. In the very beginning of the song you hear a heartbreaking recording of him with his daughter in which she longs to be with her father and he tries to hold things together and keep peace by saying that her Mommy loves her. Obviously Justin's wife was accepting of him at the start and enough to have a child with him but things changed over time. Justin futilely wants to keep things together and finds himself with a wall around someone he used to love and trust. Despite his shortcomings you have to feel for him as it seems like he's a man bound to come off as even lonelier than before as he tasted the normalcy of love and fatherhood only to have both being taken away. Once again it's the music and his audience that will always feed him and remain loyal. This song in a lot of ways reminds me of "The Wrestler" and that obsession with ones art that one remains fixed upon passionately despite it's destroying all semblance of a normal life.

Musically this song is pretty straight forward with a steady beat that let's Justin tell his account of things. The vocal has a tone of frustration but also a sense of being removed and confused. The energy is saved for the chorus where Justin accounts all the reasons he performs like he does. It's the account of a man trying to explain something that you'd have to be in his shoes to understand but he tries anyway. It's the position of a man against the wall to defend himself and as he gets lost in the chorus you understand it. The music is the typical drum beats, blended guitars and orchestration but it does have some cool moments. My favorite is the jazz interlude at 3:24-3:50! I think that it's perfect for this group as Jazz is a very emotional genre and would punctuate their sound immensely. Musically their's nothing I don't like about this song but I do think it's one of the songs that could've benefited being a little less mixed together. It had a cool build but perhaps too subtle. I heard little moments here and there that would've been better if focused on more especially guitar wise. Still love the song though and it gets it's story across well.



(Come here... babe why are you crying?
Because I want to stay with you
Your mommy loves you very much)

Communication,
I wait to see if we could ever get together and talk like we used to
We get together and we talk like we used to
But you don't want to
You want a separation
And now that's strike three
I tried everything, I work so hard for you
To constantly hear how I fail and abandon you
I put my heart in a dream
And now that dream it makes sure the baby - she has food to eat-and your fancy house gets paid for you hear me?
You never learned one thing, no, you never believed in me...
So if you're gonna leave-get out - just remember this is what I'm all about;

I do it for the love,
I do it for the rain,
I do it for the passion,
I do it for the pain
I do it for the rush,
I do it for the doubt...
I do it for my daughter, man, 'cause she's what I'm about
I do it for my mom,
I do it for my dad
Do it for my sanity, it's hanging from a thread
I do it for the audience who understands the need
Standing on the stage, cut the shit and let it bleed

So pack it up, pack it in
Write it up, write it down
Just remember I've told you it's what I'm all about
Wait wait wait...

I missed the tour where you told me not to come home again
An ex-boyfriend was taking my place at our first Lamaze
(You've gotta be kidding me)
How hard that was because 'cause your voice so crooked and wrong,
You bury your intentions like mother****ing nuclear bomb (nuclear bomb!)
I lived in a hotel room 'til the day she was born
And I never knew what words to say
That could get us through our first chance at divorce
You promised change and I believed
I walked right back into the same
So if you're gonna leave me ‒ go away

I do it for the love
I do it for the rain
I do it for the passion,
I do it for the pain
I do it for the rush,
I do it for the doubt
I do it for my daughter, man, 'cause she's what I'm about
I do it for my mom,
I do it for my dad,
I do it for my sanity hanging from a thread
I do it for the audience who understands the need
Standing on the stage, cut the shit and let it bleed

I do it for my brother,
I do it for his wife
I do it for my manager, 'cause god he saved my life
I do it for the confidence
I do it for release
I do it 'cause I'm sick of feeling sadness full of peace
I do it for the sunshine
For my friends
I did it for you, for you over and over and over again
But you would never understand
So **** it!
So pack it up, pack it in, write it up, write it down,
Just remember I've told you it's what I'm all about
(Get out! go away!)

I do it for the love,
I do it for the rain,
I do it for the passion,
I do it for the pain
I do it for the rush,
I do it for the doubt...
I do it for my daughter, man, 'cause she's what I'm about
I do it for my mom,
I do it for my dad
I do it for my sanity, it's hanging from a thread
I do it for the audience who understands the need
Standing on the stage, cut the shit and let it bleed

I do it for the love
For the love
Do it for the love for the love
I do it for the love
Do it do it do it
For the love
For my daughter
So pack it up
Pack it in
Write it up write it down
Just remember I've told you it's what I'm all about.

 

[Soot and Stars]

"Drama Everything" is one of many stylistic departures on the album and is a nice contrast to the prior track. This track sounds like Justin was channeling more of an Akon style. This is one of the bridges to Justin's love of Hip-Hop that you'll here more of later in the album. The Hip-Hop style allowed Justin to be more of a storyteller within this album sometimes being more spoken word and sometimes a variation of rapping itself. In this song though the music itself has more of a tone of Pop Hip-Hop with Reggae in it and Justin actually sings more in it. It's actually a more lighthearted happier "sounding" song which matches the songwriting perfectly.



The song is all about keeping face while all the drama was bubbling up between them. The lyrics explain this perfectly. It also portrays again the wife who scorns him but calls for him the second she needs something. This like the prior reveals more about the man who came into the picture. In the prior song an ex-boyfriend was taking her too and participating in her Lamaze classes and one can likely connect that same man to be the one that Justin calls his replacement. Up too this point and more personified here comes a wishy-washy mind**** of a woman who draws a picture of redemption when she feels her neediest and plays on the emotions of those around her. When Justin says "So call him, Don't call me" a lot can relate I think and say "**** yeah!" for him. As much as this in reality is likely more two sided as an album it's Justins story and in any good story the storyteller has to make you see his place. Justin does a great job at this and this album may be more effective in saying **** you to anyone than Eminem has done in his whole career!



Let me start with I've let you go
But you don't get it, though
Politely I've asked you to leave,
But still you follow

It's hard when you're full of heart
When the house you built just falls apart
Well keep the paint fresh, keep the outside clean
Make sure the neighbors see you wear that ring
Don't tell them a thing, they don't know you like me

You're the girl that cries, "Water in the basement"
Everybody stop, wait, look, see
You're the girl that could lie to my face
And fabricate a flood to get through to me
I went away and you found a replacement
So call him, don't call me
To the girl that cries, "Water in the basement"
You drama everything

I heard a good friend once say
"You got one life, live it, 'cause they'll take it away"
From both of us, one day, you know they will
So colour it up, colour it up
Say your last goodbye, I don't give a ****
Bottoms up, just watch me walk away

I'm here to say that -
I don't need your sorry dreaming
What makes you think you can -
Tell me how I to feel or how hard I should fall
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, now you listen

Oh my, you're not anything I need in my life
No, you're not anything I even want
'cause they don't know you like me

You're the girl that cries, "Water in the basement"
Everybody stop, wait, look, see
You're the girl that could lie to my face
And fabricate a flood to get through to me
I went away and you found a replacement
So call him, don't call me
To the girl that cries, "Water in the basement"
You drama everything

Here's what you gotta do

Hold you head high
Shoot first, man, don't ask why
Yeah, you won't feel the pain at all
Well I guess I, grew this mind
I think for myself and I'm fine
No, I don't need anything from you at all
They don't know you like me

You're the girl that cries, "Water in the basement"
Everybody stop, wait, look, see
You're the girl that could lie to my face
And fabricate a flood to get through to me
I went away and you found a replacement
So call him, don't call me
To the girl that cries, "Water in the basement"
You drama everything

(Fabricate a flood to get through to me)
(So call him, don't call me)

You drama everything
Drama
So much drama

 

[Soot and Stars]

"The Chills" was actually the first single off of this album but after a video for "Stay" was released and gathered a strong positive response "The Chills" took a backseat for a bit before finally getting a video released for it. This song definitely has single written all over it and really sticks out on the album as the most radio friendly. That's not a bad thing though. The chorus is as infectious as it gets and listening to it you almost forget that the album is still about him channeling his aggression. This is the only song on the album, like with Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks", that you actually have to pay attention to the lyrics to be like "Damn, this isn't really a cheery topic." Lyrically though it's not the deepest cut n the album. It's main expression is that he believed a lot of his exes lies because he wanted to believe. It clearly expresses the emotions he initially had for who she was are still there and it's made things difficult. Lyrically inferior or emotionally out of context in the album it doesn't matter though as you'll be helplessly screaming "Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh, Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh" along with the band as any great songwriter can switch the vibe at will and make a perfect pop song. I would love to see this live as it's full off energy.

Take my hand
maybe we should run away
maybe we should disappear
leave everything behind
like the useless things
boxes labeled memories
the sudden health emergencies
yeah we could leave those things behind

Show me, show me arms that reach for all we can be
through understanding, I tried forgiveness,
I faced the past, it's what I witnessed

why do I only feel the chills when I'm with you?
I only hear your words that you say are true
but you keep thinking it over, thinking it over,
you can catch me if you wanted to, oh

Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,
Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,

Now, why you gotta say goodbye
when you know you're gonna come with me
no, can't afford to leave and stay
you're gonna have to just build one way

So tell me, tell me all the things you told me we could be
through understanding, I tried forgiveness,
I faced the facts, it's what I witnessed

why do I only feel the chills when I'm with you
I only hear your words that you say are true
but you keep thinking it over, thinking it over,
you can catch me if you wanted to
I only feel the chills when I'm with you
I feel like I'm so high, I'm feeling so high
c-catch me, c-c-catch me

why does a heart always have to break
(when you're trying way too hard), have to break
(yes she'll see right though you), have to break
oh communication, yeah conversation,
it breaks down
Now there will be nothing to talk about,
(absolutely nothing, just blah blah blah)

Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,
Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,
Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,
Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,

Why do I only feel the chills when I'm with you
I only hear your words that you say are true
but you keep thinking it over, thinking it over,
you can catch me if you wanted to
Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,
Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,
Whoa-ah-oh ah-ah-oh,
Can catch me, c-c-catch me
Ohhhhhh.

 

[Soot and Stars]

As I referenced at the beginning of the thread this is the song that made dark tales like "The End" about the fantasy story of a man enraged to see red by his cheating lover and creating blackness for all three a little scary in retrospective. I can't demonize the man for writing anymore than I could with Eminem for writing the even more sadistic "Kim" tale. The difference is that "The End" may or may not be an actual acting out of real life aggression. It's anonymous and the timeline is blurry. Just scary coincidence as "The Flight (Lincoln to Minneapolis)" IS an obvious tale of a man enraged to the point where he questions whether he will draw blood and he stops himself. The details of Justins state are amplified emotionally by his bipolar condition. The phone call at the beginning is brutal. Whether Justin was a perfect father or husband is not something we are privy to but those words from his wife plus the knowledge that he is already being replaced and having his world stripped away is enough to paint the picture. By the time you find Justin in his confused state surrendering himself to the cops you feel for a man who's broken and can't even trust himself let alone others.



The song itself is a dark drama told through a hazy, schizo, spoken word which leans on the hip-hop tendencies here. The song slurs along which a sporadic clutter of beats. Nothing about this song, even the beat is supposed to have a feeling of orientation. Even at the end it builds into an indecipherable muttering. The song is perfect as it really puts you as close to inside this mans head and state as you can get. If I have one qualm it's that the words to the chorus are lame and kind of don't make sense. I mean as a chorus the words sound good coming out and it serves the anthemic anger well. I think though it may work in the context of the song if you are thinking of a man so angry that he'll throw out the most juvenile angry taunt he can. Maybe that was the purpose but with the great description throughout the rest of the song somehow "But you can stand with your dick in your hand.
You're acting like a pussy, man." doesn't quite fit a masterpiece of writing. That said I still love the song and how it switches the gears of the album to it's darkest point!


INTRO:
I'm asking you one question.
Do you want me to sign away the rights as a father to my daughter
So that you'll leave me alone and let Blue be happy?
Everything is...

She's so happy.
I wish you knew that.

She is happy, I know but...

She's such a happy girl.

I'm I'm I'm I'm asking to just...
How do I... ?

I think that your right.
I don't think your ready for a family Justin.

I'm not ready for a... ?

And when you are, I hope that you have one with...
With somebody that...
That you treat much better than you did us.
But I think at this point you should probably acknowledge that fact that...

That... ?

You have failed miserably

VERSE 1:
No joke took a breath and then awoke.
I was standing in an airport looking like a joke.
Saying Sir can you help me, ma'am could you please?
So they lead me to the pay phone flagging down the police.
Mr. officer I know who I am but the rest of me my memory I just don't
Understand.
I do know that I'm unsafe man with a plan
Of getting on a plane, fly away to kill a man.
Like a freight train; threat to myself.
I got a history of blackouts, bad mental health.
Both cops each arm, alarm, no harm, disarm, pat down, do the body
Check.
Next thing I was a walking on the airfield.
Backseat I was a heading to the hospital.
I'm sorry for the drama that I bring through the screen.
He said "Son you did the right thing."

CHORUS:

Please help me understand why you can't talk man to man,
But you can stand with your dick in your hand.
You're acting like a pussy, man.
Hey! Hey!
X2
Huhh

VERSE 2:
I was faithful to my wife and now we're separated.
Use to try and win her back I underestimated.
Like a stone sank down into the complicated.
Despite the fact that she gave that ass up and never ****ing dated.
See your better than that.
You're a diamond, he's a rough
Well he's a rough real tough man going round the back.
Just a pussy with a dick stand up and be a ****ing man.
Hiding from the husband scared I'll make a beating.
Now I'm off to Lincoln
I'm in the deep end.
Think I'll I come and break you smash your ****ing face in.
Cut you up in lemon juice and watch you try to **** then.

(CHORUS) X2

BRIDGE:
Uh oh uh oh oh oh oh uhoh uh oh oh
Uh oh uh oh oh uh uh ohuh uh oh oh ohoh
Uh oh uh oh oh oh oh uhoh uh oh oh
Uh oh uh oh oh uh uh ohuh
Uhhh

VERSE 3:
Is that beat up?
Is that beat up yet?
Please help me understand.
Why you can't talk man-to-man.
Is that beat up?
Is that beat up yet?
Ha! Ha!
Stand up.
Stand on top of.
(Whispered Grunts)
(Unrecognizable)

(CHORUS) X2

(BRIDGE) X4

 

[Lavender10]

I didn't think switchfoot's last album was all that great, but to each their own
Meant to Live is probably what they're most known for, but i think its cool how distinctive his voice is. i'm constantly hearing 2 different vocalists who sound alike and it annoys me, but i find myself not making any connections with Jon and other frontmen. Billy Corgan would be an example of a distinctive voice

 

[Soot and Stars]

I didn't think switchfoot's last album was all that great, but to each their own
Meant to Live is probably what they're most known for, but i think its cool how distinctive his voice is. i'm constantly hearing 2 different vocalists who sound alike and it annoys me, but i find myself not making any connections with Jon and other frontmen. Billy Corgan would be an example of a distinctive voice

I hear a lot of Stephen Jenkins (Third Eye Blind) in Jons voice on this past album. As far as their albums, "Meant To Live" and "Dare You To Move" were definitely their peak airplay wise and were there breakthrough but the album they came from "Beautiful Letdown" was a little bland for my taste. IMO, starting with "Hello Hurricane they've become one of the best pop rock groups today!

 

[Soot and Stars]

The title track, "Any Man In America" is appropriately the official anthem of the album. Justin boldly and perhaps conceitedly projects himself as the voice of every man in America and ignites the gender wars with such a fire and audacity it's a powder keg of dynamite you get get caught up in and pump your fist to. Justin embraces his love of Hip Hop more in this song than in any other and that's not just due to the guest appearance of a rapper you'll never hear anything from again. Ray C!? That's what you get on a budget! Anyway, the rapper is probably the weakest part of the song but harmless enough as it's brief!



Justin's Homage to Hip Hop is one of writing and inspiration based on it's boldness and honesty. Particularly the lyrics in the first verse are about how he was inspired to write about his family through Eminems bold accounts of his life and first account realism. One has to know as vile as Eminem is about it he truly took songwriting a step further and erased the ambiguity and anonymity of personal storytelling. We all knew the vile ex-Kim that enraged him yet also produced his most treasured possession Hailie! You can see why Justin took inspiration from him and in the lyrics justin noted "Mockingbird" which is a great example of the similar situation Justin saw in Eminem with his!




Justin's approach to Hip Hop is more through rhyming in a slow methodical spoken word but his rhyming skills are far better than Ray Cs short part where he rhymed bitch with bitch! In fact, I really like Justin's storytelling here. The part where he admits his bands success banks on his one hit is only one piece of brutal honesty. This mixed with the profane punch of Hip-Hop attitude really nails that whack ass bitch ex his to the wall and makes you hate the man and maybe in this case "the woman" when it comes to the court systems. That's what good song writing does. Projects the purpose of the message onto the listener and brings them into their world. With the catchiest rallying chorus of 2011 I hear Justins case while I pump my fist in their air like "Any man In America" and "take back control"! You know what? I don't even have kids or an ex-wife to bitch about! It doesn't matter because for 6 minutes and 26 seconds I do!



I only note spending time away
I only note the truth is spoken
Best when brutally so honestly.

I'll let you know you set
The standards lyrically for me
One single middle finger
Say raise it up
My speech will always be free
Like Martin Luther King
You had meaning to me
Single-handedly saving music starving industry
A hip hop legend with skin like invisible ink
Black even though he was whiter than me
He was the first to be colorless
Speaking for all of us
Then you let us into your family
Mother father brother sister wife daughter
Damn right in front of me

That's when I miss my daughter desperately
Your mocking bird puts dents in me
While touring press and reliving my song hate me
I was losing custody
I never even saw that shit.
How she played me
And planned and sought it fit
To turn that trick and financially she would benefit
My first and probably only billboard hit
Was gonna pay for my two year old's college
I should have hid that shit
So she couldn't spend that shit
It took twenty years of working
Just to earn that shit
Now word for word I've listened,
Heard and I'm done.
Done.

[Chorus]
Like you don't know.
You act like you believe it.
That you're in control.
It's just your legal system though
They don't think about you
No they don't care about you.
Now every man in America take back your control

Like you don't know.
You act like you believe it.
That you're in control.
It's just your legal system though
They don't think about it
No, they don't care about it
Now every man in America take back your control.

So I kept my business quiet
Just like my lawyer said.
And I tried to focus all
My anger in my work instead.
I was succeeding at self reliant
But inside my soul is dead.
I had to be the sole provider
But not allowed to be the dad.
Literally they took her from me.
Legally they did! They did!
But I'm not a ****ing book
So **** your book in Lincoln I said
**** the judge. **** that county
**** your family too.
Yeah **** everybody that took my baby girl, Blue
I'm way too strong
I work my ass off all day long.
And I'm gone for months at a time
And you keep sitting there and lying
Bitching "Come back home"
I hate you, hate you god.
And then you came back home
And filed for another ****ing divorce.
I'm sick of crying I'm sick of you instead
I'm not sick, or stuck in my head.

Any other man in American can get screwed just like me.

[Chorus]

You won't understand, probably never will.
Listen slowly I'll let you know the deal
Lying ass play the judge with your crying ass
You had your nose wide open when you saw the cash.
Grimy bitch growing tired of you trying shit.
Women run the courts, men provide the chips.
Well eat up bitch until you had enough bitch.
But take my kids; you can kiss both my nuts bitch.
Telling lies cause daddy's always on the road.
But you the one ****ing like a groupie at a show.
Money hungry so you try to take my youngest from me.
You a dummy honey I'll chase you across the country.
Bring the drama to you mama and you mama's mama
Cause we all know you chasing after commas.
Couple checks few houses and Gucci blouses
You changing dicks like you changing outfits.
Constitution now a day's got the daddies losing.
Lot of fathers getting ****ed like prostitution

[Chorus 3x]