Sci-fi fans may recall the concept of “Ashtar Command” that emerged in the 1950’s – an intergalactic U.N. with the mission of assisting the human race in a time of crisis. Think evolution by enlightenment, which makes the name a fitting metaphor for the band and what they’re trying to accomplish.
American Sunshine, Ashtar Command’s debut album, evolved organically, a labor of love from veteran musicians Chris Holmes and Brian Liesegang, American Sunshine is an expansive and coherent album that defies being reduced to a single genre. Nick Drake could come to mind, as well as the Chemical Brothers. Spiritualized could be seen in there as well as The Beach Boys. There are songs of exquisite beauty and ones that unabashedly rock.
The project features a remarkable group of guest artists. Working in identical studios in Los Angeles and Chicago respectively, the duo sent songs back and forth thereby growing fleeting ideas into full-fledged songs. The group enlisted musicians that seemed to suit the individual songs – people they had worked with or been friends with for years.
They were joined by guest vocalists Joshua Radin (whose debut album was produced by Holmes) on “Mark IV,” Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (“Save Me”), Har Mar Superstar (“That’s How It Is”) and Rachel Yamagata (“Blister of the Spotlight”). The dreamy “Rosa,” already in heavy rotation at Los Angeles’ KCRW, is one of two tracks featuring Priscilla Ahn, while Z Berg’s crystal clear vocals provide a stunning counterpoint to the throbbing groove on “Gravity.”
Other guest artists include: Matt Walker (Filter, The Smashing Pumpkins) on drums, Solomon Walker (Morrissey) on bass, Mike Garson (David Bowie) playing piano, drummer Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.), Oliver Kraus (Beth Orton) on cello, Stewart Cole (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) on horns.
The two met while attending the University of Chicago, where Chris hosted a UFO-themed radio show that fell somewhere between Art Bell’s ‘Coast to Coast AM’ meets Ira Glass’ ‘This American Life.’ It was a platform for an exchange of ideas between interesting people who had a story to tell. Guests ranged from Bigfoot hunters to members of Heaven’s Gate to Communion author Whitley Strieber. Like the radio show that inspired it, Ashtar Command doesn’t simplify, justify or explain, preferring to revel in the process of open-minded exploration.
On Chris Holmes: released his major label debut Dan Loves Patti under his Yum Yum moniker, an album that Rolling Stone said “more than holds it own in comparison with influences as the Beatles, and Beach Boys circa Pet Sounds.” He has since toured and recorded with The Smashing Pumpkins and Felix da Housecat, co-produced tracks for P. Diddy, worked on Billy Corgan’s solo album and written with Rachael Yamagata and Mandy Moore. Also an established DJ, Holmes appeared on URB’s “Next 100” list and was handpicked by Sir Paul McCartney to open for him at 2009’s Coachella Fest and to tour the world with him in 2011. In addition Chris has toured with Radiohead, Atoms for Peace, and Daft Punk.
On Brian Liesegang: began in Nine Inch Nails, working on the multi-Platinum, GRAMMY®-winning albums Broken and The Downward Spiral. He subsequently co-founded the two-man band Filter0 that had hit singles like “Hey Man, Nice Shot” and “Jurrassitol,” and sold millions of albums, toured with The Smashing Pumpkins, Ozzie Osbourne, and others. He was recruited by Billy Corgan for his Future Embrace album and world tour. He has devoted the better part of the last decade to crafting “American Sunshine”.
http://www.ashtar-command.com/
Into Dust
Ashtar Command Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breathless and on again
Inside today
Beside me today
Around broken in two
Till you eyes shed
Into dust
Like two strangers
Till my hand shook with the way I fear
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
It was you breathless and tall
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
And two strangers turning into dust
Turning into dust
The lyrics of Ashtar Command's song "Into Dust" tell the story of a love that has reached its end, where two lovers have gone their separate ways and are now turning into dust. The opening lines, "Still falling/Breathless and on again/Inside today/Beside me today," suggest that both the singer and their lover are falling apart emotionally because of the breakup.
The lyrics then describe the aftermath of the breakup, with the singer feeling as if they are fading away: "Till my hand shook with the way I fear/I could possibly be fading/Or have something more to gain." The imagery of eyes shedding into dust and two strangers turning into dust emphasizes the finality and irreversibility of the lovers' separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Still falling
Continuing to descend
Breathless and on again
Out of breath and repeating the same pattern
Inside today
Existing in the present moment
Beside me today
Next to me in the present moment
Around broken in two
Surrounded by shards of a shattered past
Till your eyes shed
Until your tears fall
Into dust
Disintegrating into nothingness
Like two strangers
As if we were never acquainted
Turning into dust
Slowly dissolving into the air
Till my hand shook with the way I fear
My fear was so intense my hand trembled
I could possibly be fading
I may be disappearing
Or have something more to gain
Maybe there's something to be gained from this experience
I could feel myself growing colder
My emotions are numbing
I could feel myself under your fate
I'm at the mercy of your decisions
Under your fate
Subject to your will
It was your breathless and tall
You appeared breathless and imposing
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
I felt myself disintegrating mentally and emotionally
And two strangers turning into dust
We were becoming strangers to each other and fading away
Turning into dust
Slowly disappearing and crumbling away
Contributed by Colin F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hannahcraven916
Still falling
Breathless and on again
Inside today
Beside me today
Around broken in two
Till your eyes shed
Into dust
Like two strangers
Turning into dust
Till my hand shook
With the way I fear
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
It was you
Breathless and tall
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
And two strangers
Turning into dust
Turning into dust
@J.E.McCoy93
Rewatching The O.C. for the third time has been a completely different experience then the two previous times. I'm sure the majority of fans agree this show is one of if not the best for music. Whoever the Music supervisor was did a fantastic job. Watching this time a thought crossed my mind simply what a time to be alive to be able to experience watching this show and so many other amazing shows that came after it. The first episode is iconic and has a certain magic to it. You know a show is special when a characters death actually hurts your soul and you feel the weight of it as if you knew this person. I thought rewatching and knowing Merissa's fate wouldn't hit me as hard as it did the first time watching it but it hit me even harder this time. Perhaps because between the first time I watched it and now I have had profound loss in my life that has stayed with me since it happened. This particular cover of Into Dust immediately spoke to my soul when I first heard it and I felt an overwhelming sadness which is in my opinion actually a beautiful thing. I wish this song was on Spotify. I realize this was very long and I'm not sure anyone will read this but I think we can all agree what a time to be alive and to have experienced this show.
@Elghast
I think all of us who watched the OC have an unspoken bond. Times change, people move on but for a brief time and everytime we remarathon it we have been part of this cultural phenomenon...
We left the 1900s and entered modernity running... the fall of the Soviet Union, the last tie binding us to the 1900s, and entered true modernity, 9/11, war on terrorism. These little dramas helped us make sense of the monumental paradigm shift we were experiencing.
And at the same time everything in the OC felt big and timeless... that kiss at New Year’s Eve, when time and space slow down, feels like those core values we all hold within, love, family, brotherhood, were being broadcast in front of our eyes...
We will all hold this show in our hearts and I think these characters changed us all for the best
@Gabriela-nc1tz
❤️
@CristianaQuaranta
totally agree with this…every year I rewatch the show, there’s a stronger bond 💛
@santinomolicafranco1997
In quarentine here.
From Italy.
I hope that all the world will destroy the coronavirus. The OC remember me my teen age. ❤️ Forever in my heart .
@janpellegrina29
Santino Molica franco A chi lo dici amico mio !
@Alex-sc4kq
🙏
@monjack8569
Sono fiero che O.C abbia fatto parte della mia infanzia...
@fabinoc
sono anch'io con voi ragazzi. The O.C. ha fatto parte di me quando avevo sui 20 anni e farà sempre parte di me con emozioni indescrivibili. Forever in my soul!
@LeeJaaijMusicTV
i started to watch it again during quarantine