Hearing Assembly of Dust has the flush of meeting a stranger who will inform your life in profound & happy ways, someone whose wise counsel might help you see the world in a fresh light. They possess the same tuneful philosophizing as storytellers like The Band, Paul Simon and Crosby, Stills & Nash, giving the listener good songs playing on a daydream radio.
Led by Reid Genauer, they make great homespun music. Parts are gentle and tempered with an earthy wisdom that understands whiskey and tears are often the best cures. Other moments find a more forceful voice supported by top-notch musicianship & blistering emotion. Formed in 2002 after Genauer left cult jam stars Strangefolk, AOD is made up of some of the finest East Coast musicians going. Along with Reid's perfect pop vocals and acoustic guitar, there's keyboardist and co-songwriter Nate Wilson, bassist and backing vocalist John Leccese, drummer Andy Herrick, and guitarist and backing vocalist Adam Terrell. Together, it's a holy sound that speaks to modern life amongst tall buildings and cell phones.
The result is a collection of beautifully constructed songs where each chorus and verse is right where it needs to be. The songs are played with professional flair and electric country kick. You can hear how their sound has quickly coalesced into some of the purest organic pop out there today on their second album, The Honest Hour (Hybrid Recordings). Taken from an early 2004 show at Revolution Hall in Troy, NY, it betters many studio releases in its pristine production and carefully nuanced performances. The single Man With A Plan hit the Top 40 on AAA radio charts and was nominated for a Jammy Award. The album also breaks with live tradition by featuring mostly brand new material as opposed to just a rehash of old songs.
The sharply tuned, kinetic energy one picks up on during The Honest Hour is evident in every AOD live show. The band made their Bonnaroo debut in 2005 and received high marks from critics & fans, as well as having their whole set broadcast on XM radio. Other radio nods include an appearance on the celebrated World Caf with David Dye that ran on NPR stations nationally and a Sirius in-studio session from Summer 2005.
A growing following has them selling out legendary venues like the Knitting Factory in NYC, Higher Ground in Vermont, and the Paradise in Boston, where they were also nominated for a 2005 Boston Music Award.
They've shared a stage with members of such luminaries as Phish, The Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead, The Talking Heads, Cake, Spearhead, Keller Williams, Edie Brickell, Peter Rowan, and Chuck Berry. Their thoroughbred rock n roll pedigree that has earned them spots on bills with Ratdog, The Dead, Bruce Hornsby, The Who, Susan Tedeschi, David Crosby, and Govt Mule.
The road figures prominently in their work, and one feels all the miles they've traveled in the maturity and impact of their delivery. As Genauer is singing and searching for himself, the listener gains fresh perspectives on their own journey. Sung in a voice as pure as anything rock has ever produced, this music is, in the words of Dirty Linen magazine, surprising, exciting, and satisfying. These are tall tales grounded in universal truths, enlightened folklore for today's 9-to-5 denizens. One has to look back to albums like the Grateful Dead's American Beauty & Workingman's Dead, Paul Simon's One Trick Pony, and the Steve Miller Band's Brave New World to find anything like the Assembly of Dust. They share the spirit of the greats in a framework of something new, a vital body with many more honest hours to come in the years ahead.
Songs We Sing
Assembly of Dust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I am feeling food I sing about what's right
[Chorus]
Songs, songs we sing of life and love
Every little thing that your thinking of
He walked the rest, left his cucle broken down
Hair unkempt and shoes undone
A second lost a moment's won
A secont lost a moment's one
The song begins the day's begun
Some sing of visions of a life to live
Some sing about the way they feel -
and I believe that's all there is
The lyrics to Assembly of Dust's song "Songs We Sing" are essentially about the power of music to connect us with our emotions and our memories. The opening lines describe the role that music plays in the singer's life - when they are feeling lonely or down, they turn to music to help them through. The chorus of the song then goes on to talk about the universal nature of music, and how it can speak to all of us, no matter what our individual experiences may be. The last verse tells a story about a stranger who comes into town with a broken bike, and how the act of singing brings everyone together and creates a sense of community.
The song can be interpreted as a celebration of the human experience and the way that music can unite us despite our differences. We all have moments of loneliness or despair, and we all have things that we care deeply about, whether it be love, family, or the pursuit of a dream. Music has the power to tap into those emotions and to create a sense of shared understanding and empathy.
One interesting aspect of this song is the way that it blends different musical styles and influences. Assembly of Dust is known for their unique blend of rock, folk, and Americana, and "Songs We Sing" incorporates elements of all of those genres. The lyrics are also notable for their simplicity and directness - there are no complicated metaphorical images or obscure references to decode. Instead, the song speaks directly to the listener's heart and invites them to join in the shared experience of making music together.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it was written by the band's lead singer, Reid Genauer, while he was still a member of the popular jam band Strangefolk. He recorded the song with Assembly of Dust when he formed the band in the early 2000s, and it has since become one of their most beloved tracks. The song has been covered by a number of other artists over the years, including Seth Yacovone and the Brooklyn-based indie rockers the Hold Steady.
Overall, "Songs We Sing" is a testament to the power of music to bring people together and to help us all find meaning and connection in our lives. It is a simple, heartfelt song that speaks to the universal human experience in a way that is both powerful and uplifting.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for this song are not publicly available at this time.
Line by Line Meaning
When I am lonely I sing about the night
When I am alone, I express my emotions through singing about darkness and solitude.
When I am feeling good I sing about what's right
When I feel happy and content, I sing about the positives in my life.
He walked the rest, left his cycle broken down
He chose to continue his journey on foot after his mode of transportation failed him.
He came from Virginia all the way to this little town
He traveled a great distance to reach a small, unpopulated area.
Hair unkempt and shoes undone
His appearance was disheveled and unkept.
A second lost a moment's won
Time is fleeting, and a loss of just one moment can be crucial.
A second lost a moment's one
A fleeting moment lost can never be regained.
The song begins the day's begun
Starting each day with a song can start the day off right.
Some sing of visions of a life to live
Some individuals have goals and dreams that they express through song.
Some sing about the way they feel
Others choose to express their feelings and emotions through music.
and I believe that's all there is
The belief that self-expression through music is the most important aspect of life.
Songs, songs we sing of life and love
Music is an outlet for life experiences and emotions.
Every little thing that you're thinking of
All thoughts and emotions can be expressed and shared through music.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
EMignault
Man....I wish these guys toured more.
alfio susti
Wowwwwww this is just amazing.... best version ever......
Collin Finegan
one of my favorite solos.
Rallabhandi Prabhakar
This band makes rock music come alive and this song forever plays in mind
Howard Riesel
Great band. Love that lead guitar.
Alan H
Adam Terrell has the longest pinkie finger I have ever seen! LOL
Alan H
And look at Lecesse's haircut!! Whoa!
Sh3rMaN420
AMAZING
Dave G
Best version I have ever seen and or heard WOW!!
TheLuxuriousHippy
these guys just kill it! Damn I hope AOD hits the road & starts touring again . . .