It has been seven years since the world was first introduced to the innovat… Read Full Bio ↴It has been seven years since the world was first introduced to the innovative and emotional stylings of A Static Lullaby. They are one of the few bands who can boast that they were there when a genre was being born. Even more special is that they have battled the flood of copycats, survived the test of time, and are are still standing today. Despite periods of loss, internal struggles, and a sometimes unforgiving industry, vocalist Joe Brown and vocalist/guitarist Dan Arnold, who co-founded the band in 2001, refuse to let anything stand in the way of their original dream of writing and playing music. Finalizing their lineup with bassist Dane Poppin and drummer Tyler Mahurin, A Static Lullaby is ready to put the past behind them and charge ahead traveling on the heels of lessons learned, mistakes forgotten, and endless possibilities.

The road to today has been a long and tumultuous one for the Chino Hills, California rockers. Forming in 2001 while still in their teens, A Static Lullaby launched themselves into the local scene of Southern California with a fresh sound that was all at once heavy, catchy, and flat out well-written. ASL found themselves on stage and performing a short two weeks after becoming a band and immediately began to set the bar too high for their peers to reach. In the blink of an eye the band went from writing in their living rooms to being in the radar of the music industry spotlight. Thanks to an intense live show, a strong self-released EP entitled "Withered", and an eye-catching image, the music of A Static Lullaby did not go undetected for very long. In 2003 the band signed to the well-established Ferret Records and released their debut record "...And Don't Forget To Breathe." The creativity of the writing was evident on every track, with each member pulling from their respective interests and musical backgrounds. A genre was born and a story was beginning to unfold.

With record sales climbing each week and the band hitting the road hard in support of their release, it was no surprise that the executive eyebrows of major labels began rising nationwide. In 2004, ASL signed to Columbia Records and were sent back into the studio with producer Lou Giordano (Taking Back Sunday, Goo Goo Dolls) to follow up the huge success of their critically acclaimed debut. The new relationship gave birth to 2005's "Faso Latido", which was a testament to experimentation in a hardcore environment and truly showcased the very core of the band's talent. However, the world of major record labels can be harsh and unfair. Falling short of high expectations, tension began to rise causing a chain of events that would shake free the glue holding together A Static Lullaby.

Arguably, there is no harder time in the life of a band than when members part ways. After drummer Brett Divono made the choice to leave and return to school, creative differences led to an unfriendly separation from bassist Pirrone and guitarist Nathan Lindeman. Five years after forming, Joe and Dan found themselves alone and confused. However, instead of allowing the hard times to turn to self-pity and regret, the pair shone the situation beneath a positive light: a rebirth was in store for A Static Lullaby.

Starting over was a chance for Joe and Dan to find members who truly shared the same vision and desire as themselves. Solidifying their lineup with drummer Jarrod Alexander, guitarist John Death, and bassist Dane Poppin, ASL began to rebuild themselves. In four short months the band wrote and recorded a collection of new songs with a fresh look and a raw attitude. The music was a return to roots and and a fresh sound carefully molded together. In January of 2006, Fearless Records president Bob Becker found signing the band to be a no-brainer. "Fearless has been a great support system enabling us to get back on our feet through some trying times," says Joe. "Everyone is truly professional and have great patience with (me)." The songs were compiled onto a self-titled third record and released later that year to critical acclaim, including a debut on The Billboard Top 200 at #172. The album was living, breathing proof that it was going to take a lot more than member changes and lost record deals to slow the engines of A Static Lullaby.

Despite its glamour and almost dreamlike nature, even the world of music can not hide from the trials and endeavors of everyday life and love. A tough divorce coupled with time spent in rehab led to a rough period for Joe. Its time like these when music can seem insignificant, touring can seem pointless, and the industry as a whole can simply seem too hard. A lesser person may have just drowned in the pressure and let life get the best of him. We should all be very thankful that Joe Brown is not that lesser person. Instead of bowing out and giving up, he picked up the pieces and unleashed his emotion on the much anticipated fourth studio album from A Static Lullaby entitled Rattlesnake!

The music is heavy, the melodies are soothing, the screams are angry, and the lyrics are painfully honest. There is no hiding anything on this record. ASL returned to their friend and mentor, producer Steve Evetts (Senses Fail, Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan, Alesana), to help mold the emotional chaos and the result is a speeding locomotive stopping for nothing in its path. "Steve has been a close friend for many years now, ever since the first record," says Joe. "There was no question about returning to the studio with him. He understands the dynamic of our band...better than any other producer I've worked with." The band wrote as a four piece for the first time and they truly took their time spending two months in the studio. "All in all this is the record I've always wanted to make since starting the band," says Joe. "It showcases everything we worked to create as A Static Lullaby and should be received that way."

There is no hiding the anger and frustration displayed throughout all ten tracks on Rattlesnake! Joe paints a clear picture with lines like "Your girl is safe with me, bound and bleeding the way they all should be", "Someone answer me, I got the steel in my mouth", and "Take a second to see, no one can be as sorry as me." "Most of the lyrics were inspired by poems I wrote after my divorce and during my stay in rehab," recalls Joes. "A lot of the visual side of the lyrics are logs from dreams I had during this time." Despite their depth and importance, there are times on the record when lyrics are not even necessary to portray the ferocity of the subject matter. The high energy attack of the drums and the perfectly orchestrated guitar arrangements speak for themselves. "Tyler (Mahurin) has filled the shoes and out-done any previous works on this record," brags Joe. "It is a blessing to have such talent being the backbone of the rhythm section of our band." Recorded at Omen Room Studios in Garden Grove, California, the record is scheduled to hit store shelves on September 9, 2008.

A Static Lullaby is certainly no stranger to the road having already completed tours with acts as prestigious as AFI, The Used, Sum 41, Head Automatica, Senses Fail, and My Chemical Romance. They have performed on The Vans Warped Tour, were a main stage act at the 2005 Taste of Chaos, played the Take Action Tour in '07, and were direct support for a sold out UK tour with Funeral For A Friend. From the look of things 2008 will be no different for ASL. "I embrace touring," says Joe. "...always staying fresh and playing to new people is all I could ask for." All summer long the boys will be co-headlining the US with Dance Gavin Dance with support from Four Letter Lie, Secret and Whisper, and Lower Definition. They will also be appearing with Maylene and The Sons of Disaster this fall. With nearly 120,000 MySpace friends, 5,000,000 MySpace plays, and a collective 200,000 records sold, room to move will be hard to find once ASL hits the stage.

Through the ups and downs, the good times and the bad, A Static Lullaby has proven one thing: they are not going down without a fight. Rattlesnake! is a clear sign that the boys from Chino Hills have no plans of slowing down. "The most important thing to me is that we are able to continue to make records that satisfy my lunacy and our fans," says Joe. "I believe our band is the best at what we do and as long as I continue to believe that, we will make records and tour." This is a new and improved ASL. One that grabs ahold of you and refuses to let go. One of the originators of their genre, A Static Lullaby has returned to conquer the scene and take back what rightfully belongs to them. To close appropriately, the words of Joe Brown: "I refuse to let this be the last song I sing."
-Shawn Milke

Check Out A Static Lullaby's Websites.
www.myspace.com/astaticlullaby
www.facebook.com/astaticlullaby
www.buzznet.com/astaticlullaby
www.purevolume.com/astaticlullaby
www.ilike.com/artist/A+Static+Lullaby

Annexation of Puerto Rico
A Static Lullaby Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sounding off in revelations
The end is far past near
Falling fast through a concrete passage
Down, down, down

These questions will
My question will
These questions will

My question will I find her
That kiss so sweet, sweet, sweet
That body lies so gently down

As heaven weeps without her
Now heaven weeps without her
As heaven weeps without her now

Do what this beggar pleads and bury me, bury me
Do what this beggar pleads
Do what this beggar pleads and bury me, bury me
So she's the one and I'll search forever

Latch onto the souls of these cliffs
Ask the damned to lend a hand
That body lies so gently down

As heaven weeps without her
Now heaven weeps without her
As heaven weeps without her now

Do what this beggar pleads and bury me, bury me
Do what this beggar pleads
Do what this beggar pleads and bury me, bury me
She's the one so I'll search forever

As heaven weeps without her now
As heaven weeps without her now
As heaven weeps without her
As heaven weeps without her now

Salvation returns as I'm coming undone

Unlock your heart love
And please remind yourself
That breathing's not the same
Since I take in air for you
And I'm pulling fucking through

Do what this beggar pleads and bury me, bury me
Do what this beggar pleads

Do what this beggar pleads and bury me, bury me
So she's the one and I'll search forever

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of A Static Lullaby's song Annexation of Puerto Rico evoke a sense of desperation and longing, as the singer grapples with the absence of a loved one. The opening lines, "Sounding off in revelations / The end is far past near," suggest a feeling of impending doom, as if the singer is aware that something terrible is about to happen. This is further emphasized by the imagery of "falling fast through a concrete passage / Down, down, down," which implies a sense of helplessness and loss of control.

The lyrics then shift to the singer's search for their loved one, as they vow to "search forever" until they find her. The lines "That body lies so gently down / As heaven weeps without her" suggest that the loved one is either dead or unreachable, and the singer is struggling to come to terms with this loss. The repeated plea to "bury me" could be interpreted as a desire to join the loved one in death, or perhaps a metaphorical way of saying that the singer feels trapped and unable to move forward in life without them.

The lines "Salvation returns as I'm coming undone / Unlock your heart love" suggest a glimmer of hope, as if the singer is beginning to see a way forward. The final lines of the song, "And I'm pulling fucking through," suggest that the singer is determined to survive and move on, despite their grief.

Overall, Annexation of Puerto Rico is a poignant and emotionally charged song that explores the themes of love, loss, and desperation. It is a testament to the power of music to capture the complexity of human emotions and experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

Sounding off in revelations
Making a bold declaration, expressing a firm belief

The end is far past near
The end is not close yet but has already happened

Falling fast through a concrete passage
Descending rapidly through a solid and unyielding path

Down, down, down
Continuously going deeper and deeper

These questions will
These uncertainties will

My question will
My one question will

My question will I find her
The one question is whether I will find her

That kiss so sweet, sweet, sweet
The affectionate gesture was incredibly pleasant

That body lies so gently down
The physical form is lying peacefully at rest

As heaven weeps without her
The heavens are mourning her absence

Now heaven weeps without her
Currently, the heavens are shedding tears for her