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.
The Drummer
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
our little drummer started a band
he played the beat with his tongue n' his teeth
keeping time without tapping his feet
here comes the drummer, drummer in summer
here comes the drummer, drummer of love
our little drummer tried his hand at romance
he played it cool as he wipes off the sweat
that cherub heat fails not to get her wet
here comes the drummer, boy what a wonder
here comes the drummer, can't get enough
of your love....
the drummer came with a kit in his trap
he broke his stick so he started to rap
when asked he picked up an answer
here comes the drummer, thunder n' summer
here comes the drummer, drummer of love
for your love....
keep the time and solicit the beat!
try keeping time without tapping your feet
you be the frontman and i'll be your lover
now let's groove it undercover...
here comes the drummer, we got the drummer
drummer of love
The lyrics to Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's "The Drummer" portray the story of a talented drummer who starts a band, using his tongue and teeth to play the beat and keep the rhythm without needing to tap his feet. The song praises the drummer's skills and charisma, with his groovy clicks attracting women as he tries his hand at romance. The lyrics emphasize the relationship between the drummer and the beat, portraying his drumming as thunder that creates a groove for people to dance and fall in love.
The song can be seen as a tribute to the importance of rhythm and beat to music, as embodied by the drummer. The lyrics suggest that the drummer is a crucial element of the band, perhaps more important than the other musicians in his ability to keep the music flowing and the audience engaged. The song's central message is the power of music to draw people together, as shown by the attraction of the women to the drummer and the call for the audience to dance and fall in love to the beat of the drums.
Line by Line Meaning
contrary to the law of the land
Against the rules of society
our little drummer started a band
The singer formed a musical group
he played the beat with his tongue n' his teeth
He created rhythm by making noise with his mouth
keeping time without tapping his feet
He stayed in sync without physically moving
here comes the drummer, drummer in summer
Introducing the musician with a percussive role
here comes the drummer, drummer of love
Describing the drummer's style with affection
groovy clicks make the chicks want to dance
The music's catchy rhythm makes people want to move
our little drummer tried his hand at romance
The artist attempted to woo someone romantically
he played it cool as he wipes off the sweat
He remained calm and suave despite physical exertion
that cherub heat fails not to get her wet
His attractive appearance made the other person aroused
here comes the drummer, boy what a wonder
Reintroducing the drummer with admiration
here comes the drummer, can't get enough
Expressing an insatiable desire for the drummer's music
the drummer came with a kit in his trap
He brought his drums with him
he broke his stick so he started to rap
The drummer improvised with his tongue, changing genres
when asked he picked up an answer
He came up with a response to a question
here comes the drummer, thunder n' summer
Describing the percussionist's powerful, lively style
for your love....
Expressing that the drummer plays for the sake of love
keep the time and solicit the beat!
Urge to maintain the rhythm and invite participation
try keeping time without tapping your feet
Suggesting that keeping rhythm is difficult without movement
you be the frontman and i'll be your lover
Proposal to collaborate and become a musical duo
now let's groove it undercover...
Let's make music in stealth or secrecy
here comes the drummer, we got the drummer
Again indicating the arrival of the percussive artist
drummer of love
Emphasizing the musician's romantic and passionate aura
Contributed by Penelope D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Craig Harrison
Why is this stuck in my head? I haven’t even listened to it in months. Just popped into my head a couple days ago out of no where and won’t leave. This constantly happens to me with Ariel’s music.
Celium Pictures
That chorus is pure heaven.
da nd
2:05 here comes the drummer, he's got the drummer. here comes the drummer, ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵍᵒᵗ -- can't get enough.
Edward Miller
ARIEL PINKS MUSIC NEVER DISAPPOINTS 🎶
Heat Vaze
Jammed to this lots working late night delivery for Pizza Hut
synthmalicious
Here comes the drummer he's drummin for love
Sean Blair
Drumming for love
Nicolas Moguilevsky
Dream, beat, love
Occupy My Life
such a catchy fucking song
Guilherme Freitas
this <3