After years of recording in relative seclusion in the hills of Los Angeles, Ariel Pink (the first non-Animal Collective member on the Paw Tracks roster) made his official Paw Tracks debut with The Doldrums. Recording at home with a guitar, bass, keyboard, and 8-track (the drum sounds were created with his mouth).
Ariel Pink blends Lite FM and warped lo-fi pop into something by turns beautiful and confusing. Some may find his personal yet detached approach highly addictive, while others may be instantly turned off by the obvious lo-fi production and the vocal drumtracks.
In the summer of 2003, Pink passed a CD-R on to New York based band Animal Collective after being introduced by mutual friend Jimi Hey (of All Night Radio and Beachwood Sparks) at one of their shows. Unbeknownst to Pink, Animal Collective had recently started their own record label, Paw Tracks, and several weeks later they contacted him expressing an interest in releasing his music. Pink became the first musician on the label aside from the members of Animal Collective. The next year, the label reissued The Doldrums, an album which had been originally recorded in 1999. Since then, Paw Tracks (now co-owned by Carpark Records) has released two other reissues of Pink's previous recordings, Worn Copy and House Arrest.
Pink has gradually caught the attention of media sources around the United States as well as internationally. As most of his albums are self-made, many of them have never been heard by fans. Almost all of Pink's albums which have been commercially released come from his yet-unfinished "Haunted Graffiti" series and are thus the best known.
Pink's tours have generally been met with much negativity, primarily because his music was never intended to be performed live for commercial audiences. As he explained to LA Weekly:
“People boo me everywhere...They don't even hide their contempt. I'm used to it now...Hey, I'm giving audiences the real thing...For better or worse, I'm out there, and those are the circumstances. People don't like it when it seems like you don't know what's happening, or I'm getting bummed out with certain aspects and I can't hide it. I think people feel that pain and just think it's bad.”
Initially playing shows alone with pre-recorded music, Pink has since employed the efforts of keyboardist Kenny Gilmore, bassist Tim Koh (White Magic), drummer Jimi Hey, and guitarist Cole M. Greif-Neill (Ethnik Klensr) as Haunted Graffiti. However, even with a backing band unfamiliar audiences are generally hostile towards the unrehearsed nature of the live compositions.
In July, the band embarked on Pink's "Thanks Mom, I'm Dead" tour.
One genre that may interestingly define Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is one known as Hauntology.
Beefbud
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
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Beefbud
F Bb
Beefbud
Eb Db
Beefbud
F Bb
Beefbud
Ab Eb
Beefbud behind the patio
Bb Gb
Aooo catacombs
Bb
design a stereo and
Bb Db AbDb
leave the womb now
B Eb
a living beefbuds how
B
i drink the wheatmilk stereo
Ab
a little louder for the week
Ab
week after week no trace of
Eb Db
Beefbud
Eb Db
Beefbud
F Ab
Beefbud
F Ab
Beefbud
The lyrics of the song "Beefbud" by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti seem to be quite cryptic and abstract at first glance. The song primarily repeats the word "Beefbud" over and over again in alternating chords, creating a hypnotic and almost trance-like effect. However, the verse and chorus sections offer some more concrete phrases that can offer insight into the meaning behind the song.
The first verse reads, "Beefbud behind the patio/ Aooo catacombs/ design a stereo and/ leave the womb now." These lyrics could perhaps reference the idea of escaping one's comfort zone and exploring something new and unknown. The image of the "catacombs" suggests a kind of hidden and secretive space, while "design a stereo" could suggest creating something new or innovative. "Leave the womb now" could be interpreted as a call to break free from old patterns and habits, and to embrace change and growth.
The chorus of "Beefbud" repeats the same chords as the verses, but adds in some additional lyrics: "a living beefbuds how/ i drink the wheatmilk stereo/ a little louder for the week/ week after week no trace of beefbud." Again, the meaning behind these lyrics is somewhat elusive, but there seems to be a theme of experiencing something new and unique. The phrase "a living beefbuds how" could be interpreted as an expression of wonder and amazement at the strange and unexpected things in life. "I drink the wheatmilk stereo" could potentially mean indulging in something that's both nourishing and delightful, while "a little louder for the week" suggests that one is pushing the limits and expressing themselves fully.
Overall, "Beefbud" by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is a song that's open to interpretation, but seems to center around ideas of growth, exploration, and the appreciation of the strange and unexpected.
Line by Line Meaning
Beefbud
Mysterious phrase that is repeated throughout the song, may be interpreted as a reference to a certain type of drug or an obscure concept.
Beefbud behind the patio
Possible hidden location or object that is hard to find or access, perhaps used for clandestine activities.
Aooo catacombs
Strange sound effect that could imply fear, danger, or hidden passages, like underground tunnels or catacombs.
Design a stereo and
Phrase that suggests a creative process, inventing something new or improving an existing concept, like making a better sound system.
Leave the womb now
Possible metaphorical reference to breaking out of a comfort zone, an incubation period, or a limited environment, like a birth process.
A living beefbuds how
Cryptic sentence that combines different elements, like life, drugs, and audio, in an ambiguous or poetic way.
I drink the wheatmilk stereo
Possible drug reference, like consuming a hallucinogenic substance, or a metaphorical image, like a surreal sensory experience.
A little louder for the week
Adjustment of volume, intensity, or meaning, to make it more noticeable or effective, especially for a particular audience or purpose.
Week after week no trace of
Possible sense of disappointment, frustration, or confusion, like looking for something that is lost or missing, or expecting a result that never comes.
Beefbud
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Beefbud
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Beefbud
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Beefbud
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Contributed by Lily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.