Hannah Levin's review of the Black Angels album, Passover, described them as "Walking in the shadows cast by Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized mastermind Jason Pierce" and compared them to The Warlocks and Black Mountain, also invoking "dirges" reminiscent of both The Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. The band's icon is a stylized image of Nico.
In December 2007, the group announced on their blog that their second album would be released in Spring of 2008. In March 2008 a release date of May 13th was announced for their second album, Directions to See a Ghost. Their third album was "Phosphene Dream" released in 2010. This record is slowly starting to give Black Angels international recognition.
http://www.theblackangels.com/
Currency
The Black Angels Lyrics
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Currency means nothing
How are they to spend us next
Do you want a stake in us?
How you have a stake in us
One day it'll all be over
One day it'll all be gone
I can see born asleep all these things in motion ours
All the debt and lives you've sold
There's no truth in who we trust
Print and print the money that you spend
Spend and spend the money that you print then
One day it'll all be over
One day it'll all be gone
I can see currency how it always sanctions us
All these paper lives you've sold
There's no God in who you trust
Print and print the money that you spend
Spend and spend the money that you print
Print and print the money that you spend
Spend and spend the money that you print then
One day it'll all be over one day it'll all be gone
And you will all be gone one day
Yeah you will all be gone one day
You've paid with your life
A slave from nine to five
You're spent through us
You take from us when we die
So claim the diamonds in your eyes
The Black Angels’ “Currency” is a song that reflects on humanity’s relationship with money and how we have become enslaved to it. The opening line of “Currency carry me everyone is held hostage” sets the tone for the rest of the song. The idea that we are all held hostage by currency suggests that money has become the driving force behind our lives. However, the line “Currency means nothing” contradicts this idea and highlights the fact that money is only valuable because we believe it to be.
The lyrics raise concerns about what the future holds and how people will continue to be exploited by the system. The line “How are they to spend us next” brings up the idea that people have become commodities and raises concerns about the ethics of the society. The song asks the question, “Do you want a stake in us?” which suggests a system that is built on exploitation rather than cooperation.
The line, “All the debt and lives you've sold, there's no truth in who we trust” captures the essence of the song. It speaks to how society is built on lies and how people have been convinced to value money over their own lives. The repetition of the line, “Print and print the money that you spend, spend and spend the money that you print then” is a criticism of the circular nature of the system.
Overall, the song “Currency” warns the listeners about the dangers of the system built on money and how it is perpetuating itself. It encourages the listener to question their own values and motivations in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Currency carry me everyone is held hostage
The power and importance of currency affects and controls every individual, holding them hostage to its use.
Currency means nothing
Despite the power it holds over people's lives, the actual value of currency is arbitrary and subjective.
How are they to spend us next
Exploitation and dehumanization are ongoing issues, with the possibility of further manipulation and abuse by those in power.
Do you want a stake in us?
Is there anyone who truly has the best interests of people in mind, or is everyone seeking to gain a profit or advantage in some way?
How you have a stake in us
Even the seemingly benevolent or well-intentioned individuals or organizations have ulterior motives and potential for exploitation.
One day it'll all be over
One day it'll all be gone
Despite the tenacious grip currency has on society, ultimately it will fade away and lose its power.
I can see born asleep all these things in motion ours
All the debt and lives you've sold
There's no truth in who we trust
The system is rigged against the common people, who are born into a world where they are already in debt and subject to manipulation and exploitation by the powerful, who cannot be trusted to act in their best interest.
Print and print the money that you spend
Spend and spend the money that you print then
The creation and use of currency is an endless cycle that benefits only those in power, leading to an unequal distribution of wealth and resources.
I can see currency how it always sanctions us
All these paper lives you've sold
There's no God in who you trust
The use of currency perpetuates the systems of oppression and control that harm people daily, with no sense of morality or justice guiding those in power.
You've paid with your life
A slave from nine to five
You're spent through us
You take from us when we die
So claim the diamonds in your eyes
Living under these oppressive systems, people are forced to work tirelessly and die without ever experiencing true freedom or enjoyment, while those in power continue to profit and benefit at their expense.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Jacob Garcia, Kyle Hunt, Stephanie Bailey, Geary Christian Bland, Alexander Maas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind