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.
Cable Access Follies
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me (?)
Tell me what's good about TV
Tell me what's up with that noise?
I don't like no screen TV, that is why I own the cable TV
I don't like no screen TV, that is why I own the cable TV
Show me the way to the nearest cable access follies
Give me the remote control
Cable access follies, cable access follies
Cable access follies, cable access follies, cable access
Show me the way to the nearest cable access follies
Give me the remote control
Show me what's good about you?
Tell me what the fuck's up with that noise?
I don't like those screens, cable TV
I don't like those screens, cable TV
I don't like those screens, cable TV
Cable access follies, cable access follies
Cable access follies, cable access follies, cable access access
Channel Z, channel ZZ Top, channel ZZ Top, channel ZZ Top
Got to get cable, got VH1 now
The lyrics of "Cable Access Follies" seem to be a critique of mainstream television, and a celebration of the obscure, low-budget programming of cable access channels. The repetition of the lines "Tell me, tell me / Tell me" and "Show me the way" suggest a desire for information and guidance, perhaps from those who are in the know about the best and most interesting shows to watch on cable access. The refrain of "Cable access follies" and "Give me the remote control" further emphasize a longing for control over what is being watched, and a frustration with the limitations of mainstream programming.
The line "I don't like no screen TV, that is why I own the cable TV" could be interpreted as a rejection of the homogenization of television content in the digital age, with its reliance on screens and streaming services. By owning cable TV, the singer is able to seek out and curate programming that is not readily available on popular streaming platforms. The repetition of "I don't like those screens, cable TV" further emphasizes this point.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me, tell me (?)
I'm curious and would like to learn more information from someone else.
Tell me (?)
Reiterating the previous statement, expressing a desire for knowledge.
Tell me what's good about TV
Explain the positive aspects or benefits of watching television.
Tell me what's up with that noise?
What is the origin or reason behind the unpleasant, loud disturbance?
I don't like no screen TV, that is why I own the cable TV
I dislike televisions with screens, which is why I have opted to purchase cable television services instead.
Show me the way to the nearest cable access follies
Please direct me to the closest venue to watch locally-produced content on cable television.
Give me the remote control
Pass me the device that allows one to change the channels on the television.
Cable access follies, cable access follies
Repeating the name of the program being sought after for emphasis and memorization.
Show me what's good about you?
Please provide examples of your positive attributes or characteristics.
Tell me what the fuck's up with that noise?
Requesting an explanation for the loud, bothersome disturbance being experienced.
I don't like those screens, cable TV
I prefer to watch television on cable services rather than on screens.
Channel Z, channel ZZ Top, channel ZZ Top, channel ZZ Top
Naming and emphasizing the channels of interest, particularly ZZ Top's channel.
Got to get cable, got VH1 now
Expressing satisfaction with the acquisition of cable television services, and naming one of the channels being enjoyed.
Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.