Prior to starting Assemblage 23, Shear experimented with music under the name "Man on a Stage", beginning in the early 1980s. Most of Shear's music at this point was instrumental, as he lacked the confidence to sing; the quality of the music itself was highly questionable by his own admission. Shear eventually began to add vocals to his music; at the same time, Shear was also playing bass in a punk band called the "Advocates".
Assemblage 23 got its start in 1988, when at a "Depeche Mode" concert, founder Tom Shear heard the opening DJ spinning industrial dance music. Prior to hearing this type of music, Shear had been creating primarily synthpop and post-punk type music.
Hearing industrial music for the first time proved to be something of an epiphany for Shear, as he had finally found a form of music that combined the electronic sounds he loved from his synth-pop background with the heavier, darker aggression punk represented. Even so, the project was more of a hobby for Shear at this point; it took until 1998 for Assemblage 23 to gather enough positive acclaim to attract the attention of record labels.
Shear signed a deal in 1999 with the Canadian label Gashed! for a full-length album, "Contempt" (released in November 1999). A second album, "Failure", followed in March 2001 and was released by Gashed! in North America and Accession Records in Europe. A single from "Failure", "Disappoint", was released on Accession in October 2001. The song dealt with Shear's sense of loss after his father's suicide on October 28, 1999.
After falling out with Gashed Records following "Failure", Shear signed with US label Metropolis Records later in 2001; Metropolis re-released "Contempt" and "Failure" that November. A remix release, "Addendum", was also released in November only on Accession. By this point, Assemblage 23 had become fairly popular within the ebm genre.
The third studio album, "Defiance", was released in October 2002 on Metropolis and Accession, preceded by the single "Document" in September. October 2004 saw the release of a fourth album, "Storm"; two singles were taken from the album, "Let the Wind Erase Me" in August and "Ground" in November.
Almost three years later, in March 2007, Assemblage 23 returned with a new single, "Binary", which debuted at #21 on the Billboard US singles chart. This was followed by the album "Meta" in April.
In September of that year Shear released "Early, Rare, & Unreleased [1988-1998]", which is a limited edition collection of A23 tracks taken from the years 1988 - 1998, on his own label 23db records. This was followed in February of 2009 by a second collection "Early, Rare, & Unreleased: Volume Two", which was also limited to 1000 copies.
Late 2009 saw the release of "Compass". Both regular and deluxe limited 2CD editions were released in October 2009, preceeded in September by the single "Spark".
The latest album "Bruise" was released on June 12, 2012. It is also available in both regular and 2CD versions.
Shear also has a side-project, "nerve filter", which has been running alongside Assemblage 23 since 1995. However, no more albums will be released since the project is now open for remixes only.
Official website: www.assemblage23.com
Naked
Assemblage 23 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost and far from home
I walk without these walls
So there is less to fall
I am naked
I have nothing left
My bones are picked clean
Nothing can touch me
I've nothing left to take
For I am naked
But I can never break
Bombarded by brutal events
Like the rays of a sun
Knocked to my knees
By the waves that continued to come
Each time I rise to my feet
I am knocked to the ground
But I am an element
Nothing can break me down
I am naked
I have nothing left
My bones are picked clean
And riddled with regrets
Nothing can touch me
I've nothing left to take
For I am naked
But I can never break
Link after link in a chain
Pulling hard at my limbs
The search party's lost now
The outlook is growing dim
Praying for wisdom
There's nobody left to impart
But I am an atom
And nothing can take me apart
I am naked
I have nothing left
My bones are picked clean
And riddled with regrets
Nothing can touch me
I've nothing left to take
For I am naked
But I can never break
The song 'Naked' is a powerful expression of emotional and psychological vulnerability. The lyrics describe a person who feels lost and alone, facing life's hardships and feeling emotionally exposed without any support. The lyrics "I walk without these walls, so there is less to fall" convey a sense of isolation and a willingness to take risks despite the fear of failure.
The repeated use of the phrase "I am naked" highlights the theme of vulnerability, with nothing left to lose or hide. The reference to bones being picked clean and riddled with regrets creates a grim image of a person who has been stripped of everything, including their own self-esteem. Despite this, the refrain, "But I can never break" suggests that the person is still keeping a fighting spirit, and while their vulnerability is palpable, they will continue to persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
Awake, aware, alone
Despite being conscious and observant, I am by myself without anyone to accompany me.
Lost and far from home
I am geographically distant from where I belong, and unable to identify where that is.
I walk without these walls
I am not constrained by anything or anyone, physically or metaphorically.
So there is less to fall
By having nothing to hang onto, I reduce the possibility of experiencing further disappointments or failures.
I am naked
I am stripped of everything, with nothing remaining that can provide me with security or comfort.
I have nothing left
All that I once possessed has been taken away or lost, leaving me empty and devoid of possessions or resources.
My bones are picked clean
My being has been depleted and exhausted by previous experiences, leaving little behind to sustain me.
And riddled with regrets
I am plagued by a multitude of remorseful feelings or thoughts concerning my past actions or decisions.
Nothing can touch me
There is nothing left that can harm me, as I am already at my lowest point, having lost everything.
I've nothing left to take
I am past the point of further loss or deprivation, as there is nothing else that could be taken from me.
But I can never break
Despite my current state of vulnerability, I have an internal strength that cannot be destroyed or defeated.
Bombarded by brutal events
I am subjected to a sequence of harsh, unpleasant experiences that continuously challenge me.
Like the rays of a sun
These events are akin to the damaging, intense beams of light from the sun that can burn and injure.
Knocked to my knees
I am repeatedly brought down to the ground, both physically and emotionally, by these confrontations.
By the waves that continued to come
These events repeatedly appear and grow larger, much like powerful waves that keep coming and cannot be avoided.
Each time I rise to my feet
Despite repeated adversity, I find the strength to stand up again and keep trying.
I am knocked to the ground
Despite my continued attempts to remain standing, these events repeatedly bring me back down and leave me feeling defeated.
But I am an element
I possess the same resilient and indestructible qualities as an essential substance or matter.
Link after link in a chain
I am continuously being bound or restricted by a series of connections or events.
Pulling hard at my limbs
These connections or events are putting immense pressure or strain on me, both physically and mentally.
The search party's lost now
Despite attempts to recover or assist me, the efforts have been unsuccessful, and those tasked with helping have lost their path.
The outlook is growing dim
The situation is becoming increasingly bleak or negative, with little hope for improvement.
Praying for wisdom
I am asking for guidance or insight to overcome my challenges and move forward successfully.
There's nobody left to impart
Despite seeking advice or assistance, there is no one remaining who is able or willing to provide it.
But I am an atom
I exist independently as a fundamental unit of matter, and therefore possess innate strength and self-sufficiency.
And nothing can take me apart
Despite external circumstances, I remain whole and intact, and no one or nothing has the ability to destroy or tear me apart.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JON BON JOVI, MARK HUDSON, GREG WELLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind