Their debut album, The Airing of Grievances, was released on the Troubleman Unlimited record label on April 14, 2008 to many positive reviews. The album's loud, heavily distorted guitars are influenced by shoegaze, while the lyrics and song titles are references to various books and other forms of entertainment (such as the album title, from the Seinfeld episode, "The Strike", about Festivus). The Airing of Grievances was reissued on January 20, 2009 on XL Recordings.
The band's second album, The Monitor, was released on March 9, 2010 through XL Recordings to wide critical acclaim, and was cited as one of the best indie albums of the year.
The band has a sizable list of former members, the latest of which, Amy Klein, left the band on October 24, 2011.
Just Like Ringing A Bell
Titus Andronicus Lyrics
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Fitting it with a different name
Now we're cutting our own incisions
And inserting their hurting pain
There's another innocent victim shivering in the frigid cold
They're making a dirty fortune
Selling something that's barely working
An inferior version of rock and roll
Or whatever else ever has touched your soul
Call it what you will
There's a billion of them they sold
They're taking credit that they're not earning
Any good thing they ever sold they stole
Oh yeah
They're making a television
Different than the old one was
A limited deluxe edition
It's a superior version of
The previous week's installment
But ain't it all the same? (pretty much)
Yet I comfort myself at night with
Transmission by satellite
It's like a good enough facsimile of real love
I guess I got a habit same as everyone else does
We're all banging down doors
Trying to grab that stuff
But we never should have left it up to the judge
That passed the bill that illegalized us
They illegalized us
Oh yeah
The inferior version (ooh ooh)
It isn't really rock and roll (ooh yeah)
It's but a shallow imitation (ooh ooh)
It doesn't really get ya going (ooh yeah)
And there ain't no good explanation (ooh ooh)
Why it's flying off the shelves (ooh yeah)
It's a sorry situation (ooh ooh)
The entire world's going to hell (ooh yeah)
But I in no way blame myself
Though I helped those bastards to sell that inferior version we love so well
An inferior version of rock and roll
An inferior version of rock and roll
They're making a dirty fortune off an inferior version of rock and roll
Whoa yeah
The lyrics of "Just Like Ringing A Bell" by Titus Andronicus touch upon the themes of cultural appropriation, exploitation, and the longing for authenticity in the face of commercialization. The song criticizes the way old traditions and values are being twisted and rebranded with different names, and how this new version is marketed for profit. The line "They're taking an old religion, fitting it with a different name" suggests that something sacred or meaningful is being commodified and exploited.
The lyrics also highlight the contrast between the original and genuine experiences and the inferior imitations that are being sold to the masses. The reference to "rock and roll" can be seen as an emblematic representation of a form of art that holds deep emotional significance to many. The inferior version being sold is seen as a shallow and diluted imitation that fails to replicate the true essence and impact of the original.
The mention of television and the constant need for new and improved versions reflect the consumerist mentality in society. The "limited deluxe edition" refers to the idea of constantly upgrading and seeking better versions of existing things. However, all these new versions, including the television itself, are essentially the same. The satirical line "I guess I got a habit same as everyone else does, we're all banging down doors, trying to grab that stuff" criticizes the human tendency to fall into patterns of consumption and constantly seek the next best thing.
The lyrics also express a sense of frustration and resignation. While recognizing the negative impact of the inferior versions being sold, the song's narrator distances themselves from responsibility, stating, "I in no way blame myself, though I helped those bastards to sell that inferior version we love so well." This line suggests that even though we may be aware of the exploitation and lack of authenticity, we still participate in and contribute to the cycle by consuming and enjoying these inferior versions.
Overall, "Just Like Ringing A Bell" serves as a commentary on the ways in which culture, art, and tradition can be appropriated, diluted, and commodified for profit. It highlights the longing for genuine experiences and expressions, and the frustration with the proliferation of inferior versions that fail to capture the true essence and impact of the originals.
Line by Line Meaning
They're taking an old religion
They are appropriating an existing belief system
Fitting it with a different name
Giving it a new label
Now we're cutting our own incisions
We are deliberately causing harm to ourselves
And inserting their hurting pain
By adopting their ideas, we are subjecting ourselves to their suffering
There's another innocent victim shivering in the frigid cold
There are more people being harmed and left vulnerable
They're making a dirty fortune
They are making a dishonest, unethical profit
Selling something that's barely working
Selling a product or concept that is ineffective
An inferior version of rock and roll
A substandard imitation of authentic rock music
Or whatever else ever has touched your soul
Or any other form of art that has deeply resonated with you
Call it what you will
You can label it however you want
There's a billion of them they sold
They have sold a tremendous number of these imitations
They're taking credit that they're not earning
They are falsely claiming ownership or accomplishment
Any good thing they ever sold they stole
They have obtained and profited off of any valuable item through theft
They're making a television
They are producing a new type of TV
Different than the old one was
Not like its previous version
A limited deluxe edition
A high-end, exclusive release
It's a superior version of
It is claimed to be an improved, superior form of
The previous week's installment
Last week's TV program episode
But ain't it all the same? (pretty much)
Isn't it essentially identical?
Yet I comfort myself at night with
However, I find solace in
Transmission by satellite
Watching TV broadcasts via satellite
It's like a good enough facsimile of real love
It is a substitute that is passable, though not genuine
I guess I got a habit same as everyone else does
I suppose I, like everyone else, have a routine or behavior
We're all banging down doors
We are all trying desperately
Trying to grab that stuff
To obtain that desired item
But we never should have left it up to the judge
We should not have entrusted the decision to the authority figure
That passed the bill that illegalized us
Who enacted the law that made us illegal
They illegalized us
They made our actions against the law
The inferior version (ooh ooh)
The substandard imitation
It isn't really rock and roll (ooh yeah)
It lacks the essence of true rock music
It's but a shallow imitation (ooh ooh)
It is merely a superficial copy
It doesn't really get ya going (ooh yeah)
It fails to inspire or excite
And there ain't no good explanation (ooh ooh)
And there is no satisfactory reason
Why it's flying off the shelves (ooh yeah)
Why it is selling quickly and in high demand
It's a sorry situation (ooh ooh)
It is a regrettable circumstance
The entire world's going to hell (ooh yeah)
The world is deteriorating or facing disaster
But I in no way blame myself
However, I do not hold myself responsible
Though I helped those bastards to sell that inferior version we love so well
Even though I assisted those individuals in promoting the substandard version of rock music
An inferior version of rock and roll
A substandard imitation of authentic rock music
They're making a dirty fortune off an inferior version of rock and roll
They are profiting dishonestly from a subpar copy of rock music
Lyrics © AUDIAM, INC
Written by: Patrick Stickles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind