AM Conspiracy (AMC for short) arose, phoenix-like, out of the ashes of Orlando-based rock group Canvas. Their nascent sound so impressed vocalist Jason "Gong" Jones, who'd just come off three years on the road as lead singer for Platinum act Drowning Pool, that he jumped at the opportunity to front the group. Two years and one name change later, AM Conspiracy's "While You Were Sleeping" is the ultimate end-product of the quintet's determination, patience and creative expression.
Jones, a South Carolina native, initially moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the music industry. He soon befriended Ming "Lucky" Cheng, brother of Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who bestowed upon Jones the nickname "Gong." Jones quickly established himself in Los Angeles, both as a respected tattoo artist in the daytime and while performing with bands along the Sunset Strip at night. In 2002 he signed on as lead singer of the Platinum-selling metal band Drowning Pool in the wake of the tragic death of original vocalist Dave Williams. Scarcely missing a beat, over the next three years he helped the group earn a pair of top "Billboard" singles.
Despite the success, all was not well. "The situation was making me miserable," confesses Jones, detailing his decision to split from Drowning Pool. "While it did give me the opportunity to meet some really great musicians, such as Dimebag Darrell, I found myself sickened by the feelings of selling out. I didn't get into this business for the purpose of being a one-dimensional songwriter. That's not what true rock & roll is about and that's not what I'm about."
Happily, after completing his final tour with Drowning Pool Jones found his next musical passion: AM Conspiracy. The dual-axe attack of guitarists Brian Diemar and Clint Campbell, complemented by a rockin' rhythm section comprised of bass player Kenny Harrelson and highly acclaimed drummer Dean Andrews, proved to be an irresistible lure for the well-traveled singer.
In January 2007 Jones and Diemar commenced producing debut album "While You Were Sleeping," collaborating with co-producer Rae DiLeo (Filter and Army of Anyone). "Rae DiLeo has been a personal friend of mine for over 15 years; we go way back," observes Diemar. "When Jason and I discussed producing our debut album, we instantly thought about asking Rae if he would be interested in our project. We went over to his studio and played him the demos. He loved what he heard and agreed that we had something really special going on. From that point on Rae was involved in the complete process, traveling coast to coast to record and working around the clock."
"AM Conspiracy is bringing back the rock," enthuses DiLeo, "with big guitars and heavy, melodic vocals--things that are desperately needed on modern radio today. They go from sublime sonic tapestries to heavy guitars that will tear your head off, while Jason's voice adds the perfect finishing touch. I enjoyed the entire process and am so pleased to say I was a part of it."
AM Conspiracy's first single, "Far," has already been favorably received by the listeners of XM Radio's premier Rock station, SQUIZZ, where it currently resides in regular rotation--weeks prior to its official release. Unconcerned with being glued to any genre and determined to stay true to the type of music they want to make, AM Conspiracy is certain to appeal to a wide range of the music-loving masses.
Pictures
AM Conspiracy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd throw it all away, yeah
'Cause everything that I have lost,
Has brought me right here, to this place
And nothing lasts forever,
'Least that's what they say
The scars are there remindin' me
And now it won't, go away
I keep a little picture, in my head
Just somethin' to remind me
The bitter words you said
Now I hear it's all my fault
Or 'least that's what you say, yeah
Well misery loves company
I guess that's what kept you with me
And nothing lasts forever,
'Least that's what they say
The scars are there remindin' me
Of the pain I felt that day
And now it won't, go away
I keep a little picture, in my head
Just somethin' to remind me
The bitter words you said
And now that it's over, an' it's all good
I hope that you will see...
That i'm better off
That i'm better off ...yeah
I keep a little picture, in my head
Just somethin' to remind me
The bitter words you said
And now that it's over, an' it's all good
I hope that you will see...
That i'm better off
That i'm better off
That i'm better off
That i'm better off
The lyrics of the song 'Pictures' by AM Conspiracy speak about looking back on past experiences and feeling a mix of regret and acceptance. The singer states that if they had the chance to live their life again, they would throw it all away because all the losses they've experienced have led them to this present moment. The pain that they felt in the past is still present, as evidenced by the scars on their body, but they have learned to live with it. The singer acknowledges that nothing lasts forever and that scars serve as a reminder of past pain. Despite the hurtful words that were said to them in the past, they still keep a mental picture of the words to remind them of the painful past.
As the singer talks about the past, they mention that they've been told that everything’s their fault. However, they suggest that misery loves company, and that may be what drew the person who said those hurtful things to them to stay. The singer has come to terms with the fact that the past is not something that can be changed, and they have moved on to a better place.
The chorus repeats the phrase 'I keep a little picture, in my head, just something to remind me, the bitter words you said' to emphasize the significance of the past pain in shaping their present mindset. The song's conclusion focuses on the fact that the singer is now better off without the hurt and pain they experienced in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
And if I had it all again,
If I could relive my life, starting from scratch
I'd throw it all away, yeah
I'd abandon all the things that I've accumulated up till now
'Cause everything that I have lost,
Because all the things I've lost and gone through
Has brought me right here, to this place
Led me to where I am right now, in the present moment
And nothing lasts forever,
Everything in life comes to an end eventually
'Least that's what they say
At least that's what people commonly believe
The scars are there remindin' me
The physical or emotional wounds I've endured remind me of that past experience
Of the pain I felt that day
The pain I experienced on that specific day
And now it won't, go away
The pain and its effects linger, and won't fade away easily
I keep a little picture, in my head
I hold a mental image in my mind
Just somethin' to remind me
Just to refresh my memory
The bitter words you said
The unpleasant or harsh language that was spoken to me by someone else
Now I hear it's all my fault
I'm being blamed for everything now
Or 'least that's what you say, yeah
At least that's what the other person is claiming and insisting upon
Well misery loves company
People in similar situations often seek solace and comfort from one another
I guess that's what kept you with me
Perhaps that's why you decided to stay with me
And now that it's over, an' it's all good
Now that it's all done and settled, and things are fine
I hope that you will see...
I wish for you to recognize
That I'm better off
That I'm in a better position now
That I'm better off ...yeah
That my current state is an improvement from my past
That I'm better off
Once again, I am in a better situation now
That I'm better off
I can't stress enough that I'm much better now
Contributed by Benjamin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.