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.
Mature Themes
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
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For I solemnly devote myself to thee
I'm sorry but it's true
True but shameful and vile
So I'm not real and I won't call you
And I wanna talk about mature things daily
And I wanted to be good, I wanted to be good
I wanted to be good, to be good, to be good
And I wanted to be good, baby
Now let's take steps to rectify your whole life
Take this gift I gave to thee
A promise to be true
Embrace, imagine imaginations that suit you
Yeah I wanna talk about mature things, and blue things
And I wanted to be good, I wanted to be good
And I wanted to be good, my baby
I wanted to be good, to be good, to be good
And I wanted to be good, baby
I don't care at all bout the big or the small
The skies and the air between me
I don't care about you
I wish I was taller than 5 foot 4
35 years of my life spent computing it all
And I wanted to be good, I wanted to be good
And I wanted to be good, my baby
I wanted to be good, to be good, to be good
And I wanted to be good, my baby
The lyrics of Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's song "Mature Themes" explore the complexities of the human experience, particularly in relation to maturity, growth, and desire. The opening lines, "To be young as a girl with a boy to be one / For I solemnly devote myself to thee," suggest a longing for innocence and an idealized form of love, while also acknowledging the singer's own desires which they perceive to be "shameful and vile."
As the song progresses, the singer seems to be grappling with the need to grow up and embrace more mature themes and experiences. The repetition of the line "And I wanted to be good" suggests a desire for self-improvement, but also hints at a certain amount of self-criticism or dissatisfaction with the singer's current state. Meanwhile, the line "Take this gift I gave to thee / A promise to be true" could be interpreted as either a sincere expression of commitment or a sarcastic comment on the idea of making promises.
Ultimately, the song seems to be about the struggle to reconcile conflicting desires, impulses, and expectations, and the challenge of figuring out how to navigate the complex, messy business of being alive.
Line by Line Meaning
To be young as a girl with a boy to be one
Yearning for a time when innocence and simplicity reigned, when the line between genders was so thin and blurred, that it was difficult to tell where one ended and the other began.
For I solemnly devote myself to thee
A formal promise of loyalty and faithfulness to someone, possibly a higher power or a divine being.
I'm sorry but it's true
An admission of guilt or wrongdoing, despite knowing that it is true.
True but shameful and vile
Acknowledging that the truth is not always pleasant and can often be something that is shameful or vile.
So I'm not real and I won't call you
Disassociating oneself from reality and refusing to connect with someone who may expose the truth, either to protect oneself or the other person from the consequences.
And I wanna talk about mature things daily
Desiring to have discussions about more sophisticated and complex subjects on a regular basis.
And I wanted to be good, I wanted to be good
Expressing a strong desire and intention to do what is right or moral.
And I wanted to be good now baby
Urging oneself or another to take action and make changes to become a better person immediately.
Take this gift I gave to thee
Offering a present or a token of affection to someone, possibly as a symbol of gratitude or love.
A promise to be true
Making a solemn commitment to always tell the truth, and to act in good faith towards oneself and others.
Embrace, imagine imaginations that suit you
Encouraging oneself or another to embrace their creativity and to imagine a reality that suits their needs and desires.
Yeah I wanna talk about mature things, and blue things
Reiterating a desire to engage in discussions that are both deep and sensual, touching on topics that are considered taboo or risque.
I don't care at all bout the big or the small
Emphasizing a lack of concern for things that are insignificant or inconsequential.
The skies and the air between me
Highlighting the vast and seemingly insurmountable distance between oneself and others, and the expanse of space that separates us all.
I don't care about you
Stating a lack of interest or concern for someone, possibly as a means of self-protection or as a sign of apathy.
I wish I was taller than 5 foot 4
Expressing a desire to be physically different, to stand out or to blend in, and to be perceived as more powerful or attractive.
35 years of my life spent computing it all
Reflecting on the years spent analyzing and processing information, and possibly suggesting a need to break free from the rigidity and limitations of one's own mind.
And I wanted to be good, to be good, to be good
Repeating the desire to be a better person, and emphasizing the importance of putting in the effort required to achieve that goal.
And I wanted to be good, my baby
Addressing oneself or another as a term of endearment, while reiterating the desire to improve oneself and to be a good person.
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ARIEL ROSENBERG, JOE KENNEDY, KENNETH GILMORE, TIM KOH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind