1) Formed by guitarist Brick Williams, Hourglass is a Progressive Metal group from Utah, USA. The band's first effort was the hard-to-come-by "This Lonely Time and Place," followed up by the much more polished "The Journey Into" in 2002 and 2004's "Subconscious." The band released the double album "Oblivious to the Obvious" on February 19, 2009.
54 months is a long time to work on an album. But that is exactly how long it took Hourglass to finish their new double album "Oblivious to the Obvious." Four and a half years of writing, recording, mixing, mastering and the result is 139 minutes worth of music. Even though it is a lot of music, it is only 10 songs. Hourglass has never worried too much about the length of their songs, and epic songs have always been a part of what the band does. "Oblivious to the Obvious" is no exception. The album has a little of everything, from heavy metal riffs and screaming vocals, to laid back piano and acoustic passages, and some very tasteful groove sections. Vocal harmonies are scattered throughout the album as are many guitar, keyboard, and even bass solos. There is something for everyone on "Oblivious to the Obvious."
The band has gone through numerous personnel changes with Williams as the sole constant. Current drummer John Dunston replaced Zachary Taylor for "The Journey Into." Founding keyboardist Eric Robertson and current keyboardist Jerry Stenquist have traded seats twice, with Robertson playing on "This Lonely Time and Place" and "Subconscious," and Stenquist playing on "The Journey Into" and "Oblivious to the Obvious."
Bassist Jon Berrett played on the first two albums, then Clark Woolstenhulme played on "Subconscious," and the bass chair is currently held by one-time Hourglass vocalist Eric Blood for "Oblivious to the Obvious."
A different vocalist has performed on each album, with Jon Shumway on "This Lonely Time and Place," Chad Neth on "The Journey Into," Cody Walker on "Subconscious," and Michael Turner for "Oblivious to the Obvious."
Hourglass takes strong influences from Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Rush, and many other prog metal, prog rock, and classic rock outfits. The band enjoys a local following in the greater Salt Lake City area, and has significant fan bases in Europe and Scandinavia. All their albums have been independently released and financed by the band or individual band members.
2) 90's emo band. Their discography includes a seven inch on Immigrant Sun and a split with New Day Rising on Moo Cow .
3) Hip-Hop producer based out of Los Angeles, California.
Vantage Point
Hourglass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know if I'll find them again
Looking for the doorway of time
I don't know if I'll see it again
Finding all the meaning in life
Can't keep asking my will not to bend
Seeing it's not a matter of time
In the light of the dawn's embrace
I arrive in this time and place
I've searched for now, I've searched for then
It's all been lost and found again
From this vantage point I see
The world spread out in front of me
All that I have searched to find
Has been revealed to keep in mind
And from this vantage point I see
The trials of tomorrow confronting me
All that's left for me to find
Will be revealed and kept in mind
Moving through an ocean of fire
The ship I sail is turning to ash
Standing atop a mountain of sand
Searching for heaven in a desolate land
Believing in the choices I've made
Never asking the question of why
Receiving all that's coming my way
The worst I can do is to try
Welcome to the time of your life
It's been ticking away from the start
And now the highest peak is reached
The best you could do was to play your part
When all is said and done
As you walk into the setting sun
Remember how the wheels have turned
And keep in mind all that you've learned
In "Vantage Point," the singer is on a journey to find the dreams of their life and the doorway of time. Despite the uncertainty of whether they’ll find what they’re looking for or not, they push forward. Along the way, they come to the realization that finding meaning in life isn’t about simply asking when it will come or waiting for it to happen, but rather about accepting what comes their way and deciding to try their best. Despite the challenges, the singer seems to have found some clarity from their vantage point, seeing the world spread out in front of them and all that they've searched to find revealed to keep in mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Searching for the dreams of my life
Looking for the goals and aspirations that will give my life purpose
I don't know if I'll find them again
Uncertainty about whether I'll rediscover the things that used to motivate me
Looking for the doorway of time
Trying to locate the portal to my past in order to make sense of my present and future
I don't know if I'll see it again
Feeling unsure if I'll be able to make sense of my personal history in a way that will help me move forward
Finding all the meaning in life
Seeking a sense of purpose or fulfillment in life
Can't keep asking my will not to bend
Struggling to maintain my resolve and determination in the face of adversity
Seeing it's not a matter of time
Realizing that the answers I seek may not be found by simply waiting or hoping
Can't keep asking the question of when
Feeling the need to take action and figure things out for myself, rather than waiting for life to reveal its answers
In the light of the dawn's embrace
Feeling optimistic and hopeful about a new beginning or positive change
I arrive in this time and place
Feeling grounded and present in the current moment, despite uncertainties about the future
I've searched for now, I've searched for then
Looking for meaning or significance in both my past and present experiences
It's all been lost and found again
Feeling like I've experienced periods of hopelessness and uncertainty, but have also discovered moments of clarity and purpose
From this vantage point I see
Feeling like I have a new perspective or understanding of my life and purpose
The world spread out in front of me
Feeling like there are countless possibilities and opportunities available to me
All that I have searched to find
Referring to the goals and aspirations that previously eluded me
Has been revealed to keep in mind
Feeling like I now have a better grasp on what I want out of life and what will make me feel fulfilled
The trials of tomorrow confronting me
Acknowledging that the future will have its share of challenges and setbacks
All that's left for me to find
Referring to the challenges and possibilities that remain in the future
Will be revealed and kept in mind
Feeling confident that I'll be able to find purpose and meaning in whatever the future holds
Moving through an ocean of fire
Feeling like I'm navigating a particularly difficult or tumultuous period in my life
The ship I sail is turning to ash
Feeling like some aspect of my life is breaking down or falling apart
Standing atop a mountain of sand
Feeling isolated or alone in the midst of trying circumstances
Searching for heaven in a desolate land
Looking for fulfillment or purpose in a situation that seems hopeless or challenging
Believing in the choices I've made
Feeling confident in my past decisions and life choices
Never asking the question of why
Choosing not to second-guess past decisions or seek explanations for every outcome
Receiving all that's coming my way
Taking all of life's challenges and gifts in stride, without resisting or questioning them
The worst I can do is to try
Feeling like I have nothing to lose by putting in effort and attempting to achieve my goals
Welcome to the time of your life
Encouraging the listener to embrace the present moment and recognize its potential significance
It's been ticking away from the start
Acknowledging the inevitability of time passing and encouraging the listener to make the most of it
And now the highest peak is reached
Feeling like a goal or accomplishment has been achieved
The best you could do was to play your part
Feeling content with one's contributions or role in a larger scheme
When all is said and done
Referring to a time when one looks back and takes stock of their life
As you walk into the setting sun
Referring to a time when one nears the end of their life
Remember how the wheels have turned
Contemplating the cyclical nature of life and how things change over time
And keep in mind all that you've learned
Encouraging the listener to reflect on life experiences and how they've contributed to personal growth and development
Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.