The first Atlas Genius single, “Trojans”, was released on May 4, 2011.
Andrew Hwang reviewed the single on Neon Gold Records (New York) and posted the following review, June 4, 2011.
“Like an invitation you weren’t expecting to get, Atlas Genius knocks on your door and creeps into your peripheries in stealth mode. Fair warning: “Trojans” will invade your head, all dressed up in a clever disguise of earnest vocals riding a hooky riff that easily approaches Phoenix-esque levels of infectiousness. And then there’s that driving bassline gliding over a frenetic bridge with athletic ease, the kind of thing cruise control dreams are made of. It pulls up outside your window, blasting from a fully functional boombox, shouldered by some dude in a trenchcoat holding the weight of the world. It won’t leave. And then you realize you never want it to. If you need protection from generic brand “party indie”, try this one on for size.”
Within hours of Andrew’s review, the Atlas Genius inbox started filling with mail from, record companies, music lawyers and radio promoters, as well a whole new community of bloggers and tweeters.
In the 24hr period following the review, “Trojans” had in excess of 2000 downloads.
The band is committed to releasing individual tracks as soon as they are recorded, and playing the songs live.
On February 19, 2013, Atlas Genius released their major label (Warner Bros.) debut "When It Was Now".
Molecules
Atlas Genius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We liberate inanimate objects
Is this a path of will up ahead?
Or are we just destined to get what we get?
True to your face like never before
Even the mistakes aren't really mistakes at all
And we don't rest if we're lonely
There's innocence in the moment
Maybe now's the time to be alive
We steal the molecules from the dead
We liberate inanimate objects
Is this a sign of will in our head?
Or are we predestined to get what we get?
True to your face like never before
Even the mistakes aren't really mistakes at all
I wanna confess that you own me
And we don't rest if we're lonely
There's innocence in the moment
Maybe now's the time to be alive
We've been dressed as humans
We've been kings and homeless
Still, we're just fragments of a great collide
I wanna confess that you own me
And we don't rest if we're lonely
There's innocence in the moment
Maybe now's the time to be alive
There's innocence in the moment
Maybe now's the time to be alive
Maybe now's the time to be alive
The lyrics to Atlas Genius's song "Molecules" explore themes of destiny, ownership, and the search for significance in existence. The chorus repeats the phrase "We steal the molecules from the dead, we liberate inanimate objects" which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the human desire to extract meaning from the world around us, even if it means taking it from things that cannot object or protest. The following line "Is this a path of will up ahead? Or are we just destined to get what we get?" further reinforces these themes, suggesting that while we may have free will, there may be forces beyond our control guiding our actions.
The verse "True to your face like never before, even the mistakes aren't really mistakes at all" seems to suggest that there is no point in regretting our choices, as each decision has brought us to where we are. The following lines, "I wanna confess that you own me, and we don't rest if we're lonely, there's innocence in the moment, maybe now's the time to be alive" suggest a desire for connection and belonging, but also a recognition that the present moment is all we have.
The final verse "We've been dressed as humans, we've been kings and homeless, still, we're just fragments of a great collide" speaks to the universal human experience of searching for purpose and significance in a chaotic world. The chorus is repeated twice more at the end, emphasizing the idea that perhaps now is the time to embrace life and find meaning in it.
Line by Line Meaning
We steal the molecules from the dead
Taking elements from those who have already passed away
We liberate inanimate objects
Freeing objects that do not possess life
Is this a path of will up ahead?
Is the future determined by our own actions?
Or are we just destined to get what we get?
Or does fate control our future?
True to your face like never before
Honesty is displayed in a way never seen before
Even the mistakes aren't really mistakes at all
Even errors have something to be learned from
I wanna confess that you own me
Admitting to being under another's control
And we don't rest if we're lonely
We cannot find solace in being alone
There's innocence in the moment
A sense of naivete and purity present in the current time
Maybe now's the time to be alive
Perhaps this is the moment to truly live
We've been dressed as humans
We exist in human form
We've been kings and homeless
We experience both high and low points in life
Still, we're just fragments of a great collide
Regardless, we are only small pieces of a larger event
There's innocence in the moment
A sense of naivete and purity present in the current time
Maybe now's the time to be alive
Perhaps this is the moment to truly live
There's innocence in the moment
A sense of naivete and purity present in the current time
Maybe now's the time to be alive
Perhaps this is the moment to truly live
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@atlasgenius
Check out our new track 'Elegant Strangers' - https://atlasgenius.ffm.to/elegantstrangersplaylist
@Film_guy_project_1286
I already checked it out 😮
@ethancornell3095
You gotta make a whole song dedicated to that bass line!
@MillennialJesus
one of the most underated rock bands
@TheJuanPabloSoy
Ethan Dennis says who.? They're super well known!
@alexzelaya5982
Juan Pablo Palacios Faiad are you serious?
@atlasbot7103
Ethan Dennis seriously
@swimsvg1855
They only have 50k subs. This song doesn't even have a million views. This needs to be WAAAAAYYY more popular.
@lopey5035
Glad you guys are still making music. You aren't as popular as you deserve to be. That makes your music even more special to me though.
@charlenemack7040
My favorite radio station just played this song on July 18, 2023. Thank you DJ Mark. 😊❤