Although born in California, frontman Mark Eitzel spent his formative years in Great Britain and Ohio before returning to the Bay Area in 1980. After a brief stint with the punk band The Naked Skinnies he founded American Music Club in 1983 with guitarist Vudi, bassist Dan Pearson, keyboardist Brad Johnson, and drummer Matt Norelli. This lineup would change over the next several years but Eitzel always remained the core of the band in terms of its vocals, lyrics and thematic focus.
Their 1985 debut, The Restless Stranger, offers a rough outline of their increasingly eclectic sound and firmly established Eitzel's worldview, a harrowing vision of life as seen through the bottom of a shot glass. 1987's Engine honed the formula: the addition of producer Tom Mallon as a full-time member expanded the group's sonic palette.
American Music Club earned a solid cult following on the strength of 1988's California. Their next LP, 1989's United Kingdom, appeared only in the nation which lent the record its name and consisted of leftover material and live tracks.
In 1991 American Music Club emerged with the record that is widely considered their masterpiece, Everclear. Critical acclaim attracted the attention of several major labels. Eventually AMC -- now consisting of Eitzel, Vudi, Pearson, multi-instrumentalist Bruce Kaphan, and drummer Tim Mooney -- signed with Reprise in the U.S. and Virgin throughout the rest of the world.
1993's Mercury followed and, despite positive reviews, Mercury fared poorly on the charts and earned virtually no recognition from radio or MTV. In 1994, AMC issued San Francisco, an erratic collection which balanced confessional tunes like Fearless and The Thorn in My Side Is Gone alongside slick pop constructs. Like Mercury, the record found critical acclaim yet foundered commercially and American Music Club disbanded as result.
Eitzel eventually explored a solo career, and purchased a Pro-Tools set up to record solo material, some released through Reprise and other albums through Matador. Vudi joined Swans for their last album and farewell tour, documented on Swans are Dead (Black Disc)/Swans are Dead (White Disc).
In 2003, American Music Club reunited to record a new album, Love Songs For Patriots, which was described by reviewer Mark Deming as "a stronger and more coherent effort than the group's last set, 1994's San Francisco, and while it's too early to tell if this is a new start or a last hurrah for AMC, it at least shows that their formula still yields potent results. Here's hoping Eitzel and Vudi have more where this came from."
The Confidential Agent
American Music Club Lyrics
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High above the water, feel disconnected and free
Tired of hopes that I just can't run from
I travel in secret, I know they're pursuing me
Morning that falls represents a weak link
After is after night's work is done
There's no sun, just a grey horizon
Watch the ship hold to its course
As an act of devotion
And me, I'm lost at sea
Going through the motions
Gave all my passion to the ocean
She holds it for me in reserve
My word is gone into remission
Your love's a tragedy that I don't deserve
She said, "You're only growing now."
She said, "Soon have we begun, then she can have you.
But until then, you're mine."
I watch her hold to her course
As an act of devotion
And me, I'm riding high
Going through
Seems like every flash in her eye's
An act of devotion
And me I'm lost in her hands
Going through the motions
Shore far away off the port side
Shore far away off the bow
Shore far away off the starboard side
Shore far away from now
The Confidential Agent by American Music Club is a song about escaping from one's problems and responsibilities to find comfort and freedom. The singer takes a metaphorical 'velvet line', which gives him comfort, and travels high above the water, which symbolizes the challenges and difficulties he faces. He is tired of his hopes and fears that he cannot run from, so he travels in secret, knowing that he is being pursued. The morning is a weak link, representing his vulnerability, and the grey horizon shows his isolation from the rest of the world. He is hiding from heaven, which means he is disconnected from any sense of divine intervention and searching for meaning in life.
The singer seems to have given up his passion to the ocean and finds comfort through it. His love is gone into remission and has become a tragedy he doesn't deserve, perhaps because he knows he hasn't treated it well. Despite this, somebody else loves him and tells him that he is growing. However, this love is temporary, and until it ends, the singer belongs to this person. The shore is far away, illustrating that the singer has a long way to go before he can get back to reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the velvet line for comfort
Choosing the easy path for comfort
High above the water, feel disconnected and free
Feeling liberated and detached from society
Tired of hopes that I just can't run from
Exhausted by unattainable aspirations
I travel in secret, I know they're pursuing me
Traveling incognito and running from someone or something
Morning that falls represents a weak link
The vulnerability of the morning hours
After is after night's work is done
The end of the day after a night's hard work
There's no sun, just a grey horizon
A bleak and hopeless outlook
Hiding from heaven another frozen world
Escaping reality for a cold and unfeeling existence
Watch the ship hold to its course
Observing the ship's steadfastness
As an act of devotion
Out of loyalty and commitment
And me, I'm lost at sea
Feeling adrift and uncertain
Going through the motions
Merely going through the necessary actions
Gave all my passion to the ocean
Giving oneself entirely to the sea
She holds it for me in reserve
Preserving one's passion for the future
My word is gone into remission
One's pledge or promise is in a state of recovery
Your love's a tragedy that I don't deserve
Feeling unworthy of another's affection
She said, "You're only growing now."
Being told that one is still developing
She said, "Soon have we begun, then she can have you.
Being promised to someone else in the near future
But until then, you're mine."
Claiming temporary ownership
Seems like every flash in her eye's
A sign of extreme devotion
An act of devotion
A display of loyalty and affection
And me I'm lost in her hands
Feeling helpless and under someone else's control
Shore far away off the port side
The distant hope of escape
Shore far away off the bow
The far-off possibility of freedom
Shore far away off the starboard side
The unreachable dream of salvation
Shore far away from now
The distant future or hope of release
Contributed by Leah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.