They are signed to the Wichita Recordings label, and have currently released 5 albums through this imprint - 'The Cribs' (2004), 'The New Fellas' (2005), 'Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever' (2007), 'Ignore The Ignorant' (2009), and 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull' (2012).
Despite starting off as an underground band, The Cribs have experienced commercial success with 'Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever' charting at #13 in the UK album charts, and 'Ignore The Ignorant' achieving the band their first Top Ten album, charting at #8. They also have 7 top 40 hit singles to their name, the most successful of which being 'Men's Needs' (#17). In 2008, Q magazine described The Cribs as "The biggest cult band in the UK".
The Chi-Town Songfacts says that The Cribs' fifth studio album, In the Belly of the Brazen Bull, was recorded at London's Abbey Road and Chicago's EAR studio with famed lo-fi rock engineer Steve Albini and Tarbox Road studio in New York with David Fridmann (Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips).
After some hard times during which they were (according to an interview in DIY Magazine) "nearly losing the rights to their entire back catalogue, and coming close to calling time on the group entirely," in 2020 they released the album "Night Network."
Men's Needs
The Cribs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By your friends from New York and London
I'll level accusations like the press
Till you realize that you've dressed yourself in tatters
Because the man's needs
Man's needs are full of greed, are full of greed
A man's needs, man's needs
Are lost on me
A man's needs, man's needs
Are full of greed, are full of greed
A man's needs
I'm not bothered, what you say or how you dress
I'm a mess, so you've always seemed inviting
But really, this all seems quite meaningless
And I remember that you never seemed to see
The fact that man's needs
Man's needs are full of greed, are full of greed
A man's needs, man's needs
Are lost on me
A girl's needs, girl's needs
Just don't agree, just don't agree
With man's needs
Have you noticed, I've never been impressed
By your friends from New York and London
But really this all seems quite meaningless
And I remember that you never seemed to see
The excuse, that man's needs, man's needs
Are full of greed, are full of greed
A man's needs, man's needs
Are lost on me
You say your man's needs, man's needs
Have lots on me
I don't agree
A man's needs, oh, oh
In The Cribs's song Men's Needs, one can sense a tone of resentment towards the typical masculine ideals and the superficiality of society. The opening lines showcase this as the singer declares that they have never been impressed by their partner's friends from New York or London. These friends are seen as emblematic of the shallow materialism of contemporary society and the singer levels accusations at them akin to the press. The chorus repeats the phrase "a man's needs, man's needs are full of greed" which speaks to the sense of entitlement that masculinity breeds in society. It also implies that the singer sees through this shallow ideal of a man's needs, and perhaps believes in something more meaningful or substantial.
Throughout the song, a dichotomy is drawn between the needs of a man and a woman. The singer suggests that they are not bothered by their partner's appearance or behavior and that girl's needs "just don't agree with man's needs." This rejection of the gendered stereotype of masculinity is further emphasized in the line "man's needs are lost on me." The song speaks to a deeper desire for authenticity and genuine connection in contrast to the pretense and superficiality of masculine ideals.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you noticed, I've never been impressed
I want to tell you that I don't care about your wealthy and influential friends.
By your friends from New York and London
I'm not intimidated by their reputation, nor am I influenced by their presence.
I'll level accusations like the press
I won't hesitate to criticize or point out flaws in your behavior, just like how the press scrutinizes celebrities.
Till you realize that you've dressed yourself in tatters
I want you to recognize that you have compromised your values and principles, and that your current lifestyle is unsatisfactory.
Because the man's needs
I'm going to speak about the selfish and materialistic desires that men have.
Man's needs are full of greed, are full of greed
I believe that men are never content with what they have, and are always pursuing more worldly possessions.
A man's needs, man's needs
I am expressing my indifference towards the wants and desires of men.
Are lost on me
I don't care about what men want, and I won't let their expectations dictate my actions.
I'm not bothered, what you say or how you dress
I don't judge you based on your appearance or actions, as they are irrelevant to me.
I'm a mess, so you've always seemed inviting
I am not a perfect person, and I'm attracted to things or people that may not be good for me.
But really, this all seems quite meaningless
I am starting to realize that this relationship may not have any real significance or purpose.
And I remember that you never seemed to see
I recall that you were never able to understand my perspective or priorities.
The fact that man's needs
I'm going to reiterate that I'm talking about men and their desires.
Are full of greed, are full of greed
I assert that men are never satisfied with what they have, and will always want more.
A girl's needs, girl's needs
I am pointing out the differences between the wants and needs of men and women.
Just don't agree, just don't agree
I believe that the expectations and desires of men and women are fundamentally incompatible.
With man's needs
I am reiterating that I don't share the same values or desires as men.
You say your man's needs, man's needs
I am acknowledging your assertion that men have certain needs and desires.
Have lots on me
However, I don't believe that those desires should dictate my behavior or priorities.
I don't agree
I disagree with the notion that men's desires should be prioritized over my own.
A man's needs, oh, oh
I am ending the song with a repetition of the idea that men's desires are not important to me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GARY JOHN JARMAN, ROSS ANTHONY JARMAN, RYAN JAMES JARMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind