A Place to Bury Strangers was formed in 2002 by David Goffan and Tim Gregorio. Current frontman and guitarist Oliver Ackermann had moved to Brooklyn, New York, United States, following the disbanding of his previous group, Skywave to join the group and become the primary songwriter after the departure of Goffan. They played their first show at Luxx in Brooklyn in 2003. Jay Space and Jono Mofo, both from the New York City-based band MOFO, joined the band when Tim Gregorio left. In 2006, APTBS handmade three different untitled EPs with different color schemes; these later become known as the Red, Blue and Green EPs.
In 2006, the band gained some acclaim following its Webster Hall performance with The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The band returned to Webster Hall in 2007 to play with one of their major influences, The Jesus and Mary Chain.
Throughout these formative years, the band's live shows became increasingly chaotic which earned them the title of New York City's "loudest band" from various indie reviewers and bloggers, as well as "the most ear-shatteringly loud garage/shoegaze band you'll ever hear" by The Washington Post. The New York Times applauded their revival of "the ominous, feedback-drenched drones of the 1980s".
In early 2009, APTBS signed to Mute Records. The band also announced another European tour and appearances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Seaport Music Festival, Rock al Parque and Siren Music Festival. Their second album, Exploding Head, was released in October 2009. In early spring 2010, it was discovered that Jono MOFO had decided to leave the band for personal reasons (after recently getting married) rather than tour with the band during their US tour supporting The Big Pink. He was replaced for that spring tour by Dion Lunadon, formerly of the bands The D4 and The True Lovers.
On February 14, 2011, Ackermann stated that the band had begun working on their third full-length album. On January 10, 2012 A Place to Bury Strangers release the iPhone shot all Hipstamatic video for the first single So Far Away of the forthcoming Onwards to the Wall EP. On February 12, 2012, the band announced that Robi Gonzalez was taking over drumming duties for A Place to Bury Strangers. They also thanked former drummer, Jay Space, for his contribution to the band. On May 2, 2012, it was confirmed that the third album of the band, , was scheduled to be released on June 11 in the UK and Europe, and on June 26, 2012 in the US via Dead Oceans label. The band announced plans to support the release with a full North American tour in October 2012.
It was announced in early March 2013, that the band had recorded covers of songs from the Portland band, Dead Moon. They plan to release these covers on Record Store Day 2013 as an EP titled Strange Moon. In March 2013, the band began recording their 4th studio album. They recorded for several days at ABC Studios in Etne, Norway with Emil Nikolaisen of Serena Maneesh. Then, in May, APTBS released a 7" via Sweet Mistakes Productions, free with the Fractal Press Magazine, issue #135. The band also sold them without the magazine during their live shows. In late November, Ackermann and Lunadon had an interview with Drowned in Sound and said that there will likely be a tour following the 4th LP's release.
The band's fifth album, "Pinned", was released in 2018. The band also replaced Robi Gonzalez with drummer and singer Lia Simone Braswell.
In 2021, John Fedowitz (also a former member of Skywave)& his wife Sandra Fedowitz, both from Ceremony East Coast, replaced the rhythm section once again. Hologram EP was released July 16, 2021.
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Deadbeat
A Place to Bury Strangers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now, now you're down, stupid shit, you better run
What, what the fuck, don't play with my heart
I said what, what the fuck, don't play with my heart, who am I?
Dream but dream alone, driving fast and driving thin
Dream and dream you're home, live in fast and live in sin
What, what the fuck, don't play with my heart
I said what, what the fuck, don't play with my heart, who am I?
You're all alone, now you're all alone
Now you're all alone again
I said you're fucked up, girl, you won't come down
Don't take me down, now you're all alone again
Down, I let you in, holding love and hold it in
Feeling bad and looking thin, holding on and holding in
What, what the fuck, don't play with my heart
I said what, what the fuck, don't play with my heart, who am I?
The lyrics of A Place to Bury Strangers's song Deadbeat convey a certain sense of urgency and desperation, highlighted by the use of the words "now" and "again". There is a sense of chaos and confusion in the lyrics, with the singer questioning and demanding answers from someone who may have betrayed them. The first set of lyrics could be read as a warning, with the singer telling someone to run because their actions have consequences, and they won't escape them.
There is also a feeling of disillusionment and fatigue in the lyrics, with the lines "Dream but dream alone, driving fast and driving thin / Dream and dream you're home, live in fast and live in sin" hinting that the singer has lost their sense of direction and purpose. The repetition of the phrase "what, what the fuck, don't play with my heart / I said what, what the fuck, don't play with my heart, who am I?" adds to the urgency and intensity of the lyrics, highlighting the betrayal and heartache that the singer is feeling.
Overall, the lyrics of Deadbeat suggest a sense of trying to hold on to something that is slipping away, and grappling with the grief and chaos that follows.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, hear the sound on the tracks and on the run
Listen to the noise of the tracks while running away
Now, now you're down, stupid shit, you better run
You're in trouble now, you better run away quickly
What, what the fuck, don't play with my heart
What the hell, don't mess with my emotions
I said what, what the fuck, don't play with my heart, who am I?
I'm telling you not to play with my emotions, who do you think I am?
Dream but dream alone, driving fast and driving thin
Dream alone, speeding and living recklessly
Dream and dream you're home, live in fast and live in sin
Keep dreaming you're at home, living fast and sinfully
You're all alone, now you're all alone
You're by yourself, completely alone
Now you're all alone again
Once again, you find yourself completely alone
I said you're fucked up, girl, you won't come down
You're messed up, girl, you won't sober up
Don't take me down, now you're all alone again
Don't bring me down with you, you're alone once more
Down, I let you in, holding love and hold it in
I let you into my life, loving you but keeping those feelings inside
Feeling bad and looking thin, holding on and holding in
Feeling terrible and looking frail, holding onto those emotions inside
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.