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.
Rock Play
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they just wanna play all all day
they just wanna play all day (x5)
they just wanna play all all day
they just wanna play all day (x2)
they just wanna play
i can realise
yeah they just wanna play all day
they just wanna play all day (x7)
they just wanna.. play all day
they just wanna play.. all day
yeah they just wanna play
they don't wanna work all day
yeah they don't wanna work
yeah they just wanna play
they just wanna play all day
yeah they don't wanna work all day
yeah they just wanna play
The lyrics of Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's song "Rock Play" seem to be about the desire to escape the mundanity of everyday life and just have fun all day long. The repetition of the phrase "they just wanna play all day" reinforces this idea, emphasizing the simplicity and single-mindedness of the desire. The song seems to suggest that there is something pure and joyful about this desire, and that those who just want to play all day are in some ways more in touch with their inner child and more true to themselves than those who are consumed by the demands of work and adult life. The song suggests that maybe, just maybe, it's actually better to prioritize play and fun over work and responsibility.
The lyrics of "Rock Play" are simple and straightforward, but they carry a powerful message about the importance of fun and playfulness in life. The song seems to be advocating for a more carefree and spontaneous approach to life, one in which we prioritize our own happiness and enjoyment over anything else. Whether intentional or not, the song feels like a breath of fresh air in a world that often feels weighed down by expectations and obligations. It reminds us that it's okay to let loose and have fun, and that sometimes, that's exactly what we need in order to feel truly alive.
Line by Line Meaning
they just wanna play all day (x3)
All they want to do is play and have fun throughout the entire day, without any interruptions.
they just wanna play all all day
Playing is what they want to do constantly throughout the day without any break or no activity of working.
they just wanna play all day (x5)
Playing is the only thing they want to do for a prolonged period, without getting bored or feeling any need of change.
they just wanna play all day (x2)
All they want to do is have fun and play with no other obligations or duties to take up their time.
i can realise
The artist acknowledges the desire to play all day and might relate to it in some way.
yeah they just wanna play all day
Their only goal is to have fun and keep playing for an extended period, with no urge or need for any other activity.
they just wanna play all day (x7)
The song emphasizes a repetitive portrayal of the utmost desire to play continuously and fully throughout the day.
they just wanna.. play all day
Playing is what they want to do continually, without any change or alteration in this activity.
they just wanna play.. all day
Their only longing is to play unrestrictedly without any responsibility or rules governing their playtime.
yeah they just wanna play
All they want to do is have fun, and their only intention is to play.
they don't wanna work all day
The desire to play comes in contrast to any work or responsibilities that they might have since they are not willing to do anything but play.
yeah they don't wanna work
They have no care for any obligation involving hard work or dedication.
yeah they just wanna play
Playing is their passion, and they want to keep playing without any disturbance.
they just wanna play all day
Their only longing is to keep playing as much as they can without interruption or disruption.
yeah they don't wanna work all day
No matter how enticing or profitable work might be, it still cannot take away from their desire to play all day.
yeah they just wanna play
Their only aspiration and dream is to play all day without any care in the world.
Contributed by Reagan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.