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.
http://www.aplacetoburystrangers.com/
The Light
A Place to Bury Strangers Lyrics
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And do you remember
The blackest moment
Those blackest thoughts that rush?
And do you remember
When too much time
Oh, these days
Oh, they're all mine
And do you recall
When you walk
Talk to yourself
In the street?
In your autumn
In your winter
In your wintertime, time
And do you recall when you fall?
I can't help notice
No light in our eyes, in our eyes
I give you my armour
I give you my glory
I give what's truly mine
And if you want
Give me, ooh, heaven
Because heaven should be mine
The lyrics to A Place to Bury Strangers's song The Light embody feelings of nostalgia, introspection, and a sense of giving. The opening lines "Heaven, heaven" can be interpreted as a longing for a state of peace and contentment. The next verse "And do you remember the blackest moment, those blackest thoughts that rush?" could be referencing a low point in the singer's life, where they felt overwhelmed by their negative thoughts.
The following lines "And do you remember when too much time was mine? Oh, these days, oh, they're all mine" express a sense of ownership over their time, which may be a new perspective for the singer. The next verse "And do you recall when you walk, talk to yourself in the street? In your autumn, in your winter, in your wintertime, time" could represent a state of introspection, where the singer is evaluating their life and possibly finding comfort in solitude.
The final lines "And do you recall when you fall? I can't help notice, no light in our eyes, in our eyes. I give you my armour, I give you my glory, I give what's truly mine. And if you want, give me, ooh, heaven. Because heaven should be mine" suggest a desire to share what they have with others, even if it means sacrificing their own happiness. The singer is willing to give their "armour" and "glory," but also acknowledges that heaven, or inner peace, is something that they too deserve.
Overall, the lyrics of The Light by A Place to Bury Strangers showcase a deep understanding of the human experience, and portray the importance of self-reflection and generosity towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven, heaven
Referencing the idealized concept of heaven, or an unattainable utopia.
And do you remember
The blackest moment
Those blackest thoughts that rush?
Reflecting on a past experience of intense darkness and despair, where even thoughts were consumed by negativity.
And do you remember
When too much time
When too much time was mine?
Recalling a time when there was too much time to dwell on negativity, and how that can deepen the experience of darkness and despair.
Oh, these days
Oh, they're all mine
Recognizing that the present is now also a space of possession, and that negativity has become an all-encompassing hold on the present.
And do you recall
When you walk
Talk to yourself
In the street?
Reflecting on the experience of being so consumed by negativity that communication with oneself is the only option for processing thoughts and emotions.
In your autumn
In your winter
In your wintertime, time
Alluding to seasons where darkness lingers and growth is limited or non-existent, relating to emotional states of negativity and despair.
And do you recall when you fall?
I can't help notice
No light in our eyes, in our eyes
Acknowledging the reality of falling into a state of darkness, with both speaker and the listener having losses of hope and light in their eyes.
I give you my armour
I give you my glory
I give what's truly mine
Offering anything of value to the listener in exchange for their willingness to help the artist find a way out of the darkness.
And if you want
Give me, ooh, heaven
Because heaven should be mine
Proposing a trade of sorts, where the listener can offer heaven - an unattainable ideal - and in return the artist offers their own suffering. Implies that neither can have true ownership of heaven, and that it's a shared experience.
Contributed by Benjamin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
abstractwater
that mary chain feel
CHANNELJUDGE
Cheers