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"
Spotlight
Athenaeum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Better than your favorite book on that shelf,
'Cause you are more than what you seem to be.
You can be
Stronger than the biggest ship out at sea,
But you'll move on and sail through me.
I believe.
Goodnight, step into the spotlight.
And my fear.
Bad dream cover of a magazine,
Idol to a million teens.
Perfect life.
But we can't part,
'Cause you have put an arrow straight through my heart.
I'm a basket case with a shopping cart.
Incomplete.
But it's too late my brother,
For I've been watching you.
It's too late to discover,
Your life is almost through.
Goodnight, step into the spotlight.
Overcoming stage fright,
And my fear.
Bad dream cover of a magazine,
Idol to a million teens.
Perfect life.
But we can't part,
'Cause you have put an arrow straight through my heart.
I'm a basket case with a shopping cart.
The lyrics of Athenaeum's song "Spotlight" speak to the notion of self-awareness and the idea that we are all more than what we appear to be. The opening lines encourage listeners to know themselves better than any book on a shelf, suggesting that the key to understanding ourselves lies within and not in external sources. The following lines speak to the power and potential we all hold within ourselves, using the metaphor of a ship at sea to convey the idea that we can be stronger than we know, capable of weathering any storm.
The chorus of the song centers around the concept of the spotlight, which can be interpreted as both a literal and figurative representation of fame and attention. The lyrics describe the struggle to overcome stage fright and fear in order to step into the spotlight and achieve success. The singer of the song is described as a bad dream cover of a magazine, an idol to a million teens with a seemingly perfect life, but also as someone who has put an arrow straight through the singer's heart, leaving them feeling incomplete and like a basket case with a shopping cart.
Overall, "Spotlight" is a song that encourages listeners to look within themselves, embrace their potential, and not get caught up in external measures of success and achievement.
Line by Line Meaning
Know yourself,
Understand your true nature and personality.
Better than your favorite book on that shelf,
You should have a deeper understanding of yourself than your most beloved books.
'Cause you are more than what you seem to be.
You have hidden depths and abilities beyond what others might see.
You can be
It is possible for you to become something greater.
Stronger than the biggest ship out at sea,
You can be incredibly powerful and resilient.
But you'll move on and sail through me.
You can overcome any obstacle in your path and succeed.
I believe.
The singer has faith in your potential.
Goodnight, step into the spotlight.
It's time for you to take center stage and shine.
Overcoming stage fright,
You can overcome your fears and anxieties about performing in front of others.
And my fear.
The artist is afraid of how you will change or grow.
Bad dream cover of a magazine,
The image you present to the world might not be authentic or genuine.
Idol to a million teens.
You might be adored and worshipped by many people.
Perfect life.
You might seem to have it all, but there could still be struggles and challenges you face.
But we can't part,
The singer and the subject are inextricably linked and cannot be separated.
'Cause you have put an arrow straight through my heart.
The subject has had a profound impact on the singer's emotions and thoughts.
I'm a basket case with a shopping cart.
The artist is struggling and feeling lost and overwhelmed.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARK KANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind