After several personnel changes, Kano and Brown recorded an eight song EP in 1995 with bassist Alex McKinney and lead guitarist Grey Brewster. The "Green Album," as it is widely known, sold about 10,000 copies.
In 1996 the band was signed by Atlantic Records. They released their major label debut, Radiance, in 1998. The first single, "What I Didn't Know," was a minor hit. During the recording phase for their next album, Brown left the band to attend college. He was replaced by Jeremy Vogt, who performed with the likes of Tonic and The Connells. Brewster also dissolved his membership with the group and was replaced by Mike Garrigan, the lead singer and songwriter of Collapsis.
This new line up played their first show on March 31, 2001, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The new set included Garrigan's Collapsis anthem, "October". [correction they actually played their first show with this lineup in Boone, NC]
Athenaeum's sophomore album Athenaeum was released on September 18, 2001. However, it received little promotion in the wake of the September 11th attacks.
Athenaeum was eventually dropped by Atlantic Records. They toured for an additional three years and released their final record, Hourglass, a collection of rare outtakes and demos, before performing their last show at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on December 28, 2004.
Kano and Garrigan subsequently formed the band mg4 (with Alex McKinney, the original bassist for Athenaeum and Jeremy Vogt), who released an EP in the summer of 2004 titled Gravity Affects Me. "mg4" continues touring to date and information on shows can be found at Mike Garrigan's official website.
Discography and stand-out tracks :
- Radiance (1998): "What I Didnt know", "Flat Tire", "Radiance"
- Athenaeum (2001) : "Comfort", "Frozen in time", "Suddenly"
- Hourglass (2002) : "On Her Way", "Family Tree", "One Day at a time"
Hourglass
Athenaeum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lost everything
I failed miserably
All these things I can't complete
They encompass me
They bark at my feet
And the days go by
And these moments pass me by endlessly
If I live for a hundred years
I'll still want you here
I'll still need you dear
Let me whisper in your ear
Let me love you now
Before we disappear
CHORUS (x2)
And if these things pass
I would break the hourglass
Just to make the moment last for you
And if I had one wish
I would take us both from this
To a place where only you and I exist
But this life crashes down on me
If I lose you this time I lose everything
And one day when my ship comes in
I'll miss you my darling
You were my best friend
The lyrics to Athenaeum's song Hourglass express a sense of regret and desperation as the singer reflects on their life and the passing of time. The first verse describes a sense of overwhelm, as the singer is surrounded by tasks and responsibilities that they cannot complete. They feel as though they have failed and lost everything. The second half of the verse describes the passing of time and the feeling of being stuck in moments that pass endlessly.
The second verse is a plea to a loved one. The singer acknowledges that even if they were to live for a hundred years, they would still want this person by their side. They express a desire to love and be loved in return, as time is running out. The chorus repeats the idea of time slipping away and the singer's desire to make the moment last for their loved one. They would break the hourglass, a symbol for time, just to extend the moment they have with this person. The last verse expresses the stakes of this desire. If the singer loses this person, they feel as though they will lose everything. Even if they are successful in the future, they will miss and long for this person who was once their best friend.
Overall, Hourglass is a poignant song that showcases the emotional depth of Athenaeum's music. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and the desire to make the most of the time we have with the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Nighttime crashes down on me
The singer feels overwhelmed and burdened by the darkness of their situation.
I lost everything
The singer has experienced a significant loss, possibly of a person or a dream.
I failed miserably
The singer has faced a significant failure or disappointment.
All these things I can't complete
The artist is struggling to accomplish their goals or fulfill their responsibilities.
They encompass me
The artist feels trapped or surrounded by their struggles and failures.
They bark at my feet
The singer's struggles are relentless and overwhelming, like dogs barking at their feet.
And the days go by
Time passes quickly and without pause or consideration for the singer's struggles.
Without warning or reply
The passage of time is indifferent to the artist's desires or needs.
And these moments pass me by endlessly
The artist feels stuck in a cycle of unfulfilled moments and experiences that seem to go on forever without resolution or progress.
If I live for a hundred years
The artist contemplates the idea of a long life.
I'll still want you here
The singer deeply desires the presence of the person they love, regardless of the passage of time.
I'll still need you dear
The artist's love and need for the person they love is eternal.
Let me whisper in your ear
The singer wants to express their love and desire for the person they love in an intimate way.
Let me love you now
The singer desires to express their love and affection for the person they love in the present moment.
Before we disappear
The singer recognizes that life is fleeting and that it is important to express love and affection while you can.
And if these things pass
The artist contemplates the idea of their struggles and challenges passing or resolving.
I would break the hourglass
The artist would do anything to make the moment last, even if it means disrupting the natural flow of time.
Just to make the moment last for you
The singer's desire is to make the person they love feel cherished and special.
And if I had one wish
The singer contemplates the idea of having a wish granted by circumstance or magic.
I would take us both from this
The artist desires to escape the struggles and challenges of their current situation with the person they love.
To a place where only you and I exist
The artist desires a perfect, idealized place where they can be with the person they love in peace and happiness.
But this life crashes down on me
The artist feels crushed and overwhelmed by the difficulties of living and surviving in their current circumstances.
If I lose you this time I lose everything
The singer recognizes the importance of the person they love, and fears losing them could mean losing everything.
And one day when my ship comes in
The artist contemplates the idea of good fortune or success coming in the future.
I'll miss you my darling
Even if the singer has success in the future, they will miss and long for the person they love.
You were my best friend
The person the singer loves is also their trusted and cherished friend.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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