As a teenager, Slug (Sean Daley) became entranced with hip-hop, graffiti, and breakdancing, forming the Rhymesayers label and collective (originally known as Headshots) with two high-school friends, Siddiq Ali (Stress) and Derek Turner (Spawn). After some early gigs as Urban Atmosphere -- where Slug DJed behind Spawn's rhyming -- the pair hooked up with producer Ant (Anthony Davis), as well as like-minded locals such as MC Musab, Mr. Gene Poole, and the Abstract Pack, forming an underground hip-hop clique dedicated to freestyling and clever lyricism. In 1997, Atmosphere released their debut album, Overcast!, which received college radio airplay and earned an underground hip-hop following thanks to Slug's deeply personal, poetic musings, as well as Ant's bare-bones -- but inventive -- production.
Atmosphere participated in the supergroup the Dynospectrum (who released a self-titled album on Rhymesayers in 1998) and Slug contributed to another supergroup, Anticon's Deep Puddle Dynamics (whose full-length The Taste of Rain...Why Kneel appeared in 1999). The Headshots collective concluded their series of underground cassettes with a seventh volume in 1999, later reissued as an Atmosphere release called Headshots: Se7en. The group also began a series of limited releases (often sold exclusively on tour) titled Sad Clown Bad Dub, beginning with an extremely scarce 1999 cassette.
A year later, Atmosphere (then down to the duo of Slug and Ant) released the Ford One and Ford Two EPs, followed by the Lucy EP in 2001. Collected as the 2001 full-length Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs, the three EPs were built around the theme of Slug's complicated relationship with his ex-girlfriend, the lost love of his life. As Atmosphere's following increased beyond underground hip-hop circles, they toured consistently, both at home and overseas; while Ant usually didn't accompany the group on the road, Mr. Dibbs of the group 1200 Hobos often joined in behind the turntables while Slug was assisted on the mike by young rappers like the teenaged Eyedea. In June 2002, Atmosphere unleashed God Loves Ugly, an 18-track effort that returned to previous themes ("F*@k You Lucy"), but also contained the group's pop-friendly single "Modern Man's Hustle," which reached the Top 20 of the U.S. rap singles chart.
By this time indie rap superstars, Atmosphere returned with their fourth album, Seven's Travels, in 2003, followed two years later by You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having. Following the record's success, Ant began regularly touring with the group. They continued to put music out during the next couple of years, including the free download Strictly Leakage in late 2007, a near-party album that they followed up with When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold in April 2008. The record featured plenty of live instrumentation and guest background vocal spots from Tom Waits and TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe; it was also their highest-charting album, hitting number five on the Billboard 200. The "double EP" To All My Friends: Blood Makes the Blade Holy appeared in 2010, with the full-length album The Family Sign following in 2011.
In 2014, the group released the album Southsiders, which featured the single "Bitter" and became another Top Ten-charting hit. The following year, Atmosphere celebrated the ten-year anniversary of You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having by reissuing the album as a four-LP set (including instrumental versions of all the album's songs), in addition to The Fun EP, a picture-disc vinyl issue of an EP of You Can't Imagine outtakes that was originally released as a promo CD in 2006. In 2016, they returned with Fishing Blues, an album that featured the single "Ringo" along with guest appearances from MF Doom, Kool Keith, and Aesop Rock. While the set peaked just outside the Top 20 on the Billboard 200, it became their second album to top the U.S. indie chart. Mi Vida Local, an urgent reflection on middle age, appeared in 2018, followed a year later by the full-length Whenever. The Day Before Halloween arrived on that exact date in 2020, with Atmosphere unexpectedly switching to sci-fi/horror-informed themes over spooky, synth-heavy backdrops. Nearly a year later, Ant and Slug swerved back to their signature sound with Word?, which included guests such as Evidence, Aesop Rock, Sa-Roc, and MF Doom.
Biography by Dan LeRoy
There are other artists with the same name:
2) A Polish rock group, established in 1993 in Leszno, Poland, with Marcin Rozynek as a vocalist. In 1994 the group appeared at Mokotowska Jesień Muzyczna, where they were runners-up just behind Myslovitz. Two years later they won competition Marlboro Rock In. In 1997, Atmosphere released their self-titled debut album, Atmosphere, and in 1999 released Europa Naftowa. Atmosphere was awarded the Album debut of the year 1997 by magazine Tylko Rock and was nominated for the award Fryderyk in 1998 in the category Debut of the Year. In 1998, Atmosphere appeared at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole with song Niewielki Skrawek Ziemi. Disbanded after Marcin Rozynek departure for a solo career. However, Atmosphere regrouped recently with a new line-up and is recording a new album.
3) An obscure one hit wonder Italo-disco group of the early 80’s. The group was produced by Franco & Venise Scopinich, and their one single “Swede’s Scandal” was realased on Superradio Reccords (label owned by Franco & Venise Scopinich).
4) A thrash metal band of the same name from Vietnam who have released two demo's.
Angelface
Atmosphere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she loved me more than I could imagine
So I waited till she slept then I stepped into traffic
Pan away from the backyard to drift some more
Woke up in Texas next to a liquor store
With a woman who don't even drink alcohol
Big letters IRONY tagged on the wall
We had a strong back then
In common we had a bond
That would never see the break of dawn
To damn afraid of the queen trying to take the pawn
Threw that away
Yes, yes headed out west
And got undressed
With the nurture that she gave me made me trip and get obsessed
There was a lady in Los Angeles
That handled this the way the manual suggests (the way the manual suggests)
She turned me on to music that I never heard before
She told me stories from a cup I had to learn to pour
And I don't know what hurt it more
Professional journals or perpetual burn holes
Scarring up the dirty floor
Peace
Found a hollow hole in the Colorado snow
It's like I follow anywhere el Diablo go
Took a stroll with a feline
And sat silent while the snow flakes fell into the design
Can't let her dance up on top on the top floor
Been there done that what do you think it's locked for?
I've lost more to my traveling soul
Then I care to talk about so I'll be out I'll be on the road
Down, down, down in Gainesville
No stranger to shame, Coletrane, and pain pills
Sometimes the ceiling is to easy to stare at
But it keeps me from a forest full of snare taps and bear traps
And it can't come clean without the sun beams
And it ain't complete without the drum beats
I can tell she don't want me as is
Time to climb back into the van and make the back stiff
I had to add one more story to the infinite
Already interwoven through a New York cigarette
Ex-lover and a best friend
Best lover and an ex-friend hoping for alcoholic sentiment
Sentimentalism and the rhythm of religion on the PA
Make the people here say
God bless the DJ
She stays to wait for a replay
While I wonder if I'll be able to hear it from the freeway
Chicago inside of an empty bottle
There's a thin line between gossip and gospel
There's a house over there near Wicker Park
Where I found out Smart was afraid of the dark
Had to break her heart just to help me heal up
Tie a knot in the stomach just to help me seal up
And make sure them demons stay beneath the core
Pray for you and yours and whoever you believe in more
Look around you there's angels amongst us
Look around you there's angels amongst us
Sitting in the rain at some sidewalk cafe
Half of her wet cigarette in the ash tray
Just trying to find a lost soul to save
And I'm a lost soul trying to find a road that's paved
Keep faith in my suitcase pack my beliefs
Angels exist I've even seen some sleep
I love this fucking country
And she loved me more than I could imagine
So I waited till she slept then I stepped into traffic
The song "Angelface" by Atmosphere is an introspective reflection on the singer's travels across the country, following a breakup or loss of sorts. The first verse details the singer's love for their country, which is reciprocated, but ultimately results in the singer feeling lost and unsure of their purpose. They find themselves in Texas, with a woman named Irony who doesn't drink, and a common bond that won't survive the dawn. The second verse finds the singer in Los Angeles with a woman who introduces them to new music and stories. However, they are plagued by burn holes and scars, perhaps a result of drug addiction or unhealthy coping mechanisms.
The third verse tells of the singer's travels to Colorado, where they find solace in the snow and a feline companion. They reflect on their past mistakes, lost relationships, and struggles with addiction. They continue to travel, to Gainesville and then Chicago, where they confront their demons and find a way to move forward. The theme of angels pervades the song, with the singer acknowledging that there are angels amongst us, trying to find their way and save lost souls.
Overall, "Angelface" is a deep and reflective song that explores themes of love, loss, addiction, and redemption. The singer's travels serve as a metaphor for their internal journey to find peace and meaning in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
I love this fucking country
I have a strong fondness for this country.
And she loved me more than I could imagine
I had a strong bond with this country that was greater than I ever expected.
So I waited till she slept then I stepped into traffic
Despite my love for this country, I put myself in harm's way by stepping into traffic when she was asleep.
Pan away from the backyard to drift some more
I was leaving my familiar surroundings to wander aimlessly.
Woke up in Texas next to a liquor store
I found myself in Texas near a liquor store after waking up from sleeping.
With a woman who don't even drink alcohol
I was with a woman who did not consume alcohol.
Big letters IRONY tagged on the wall
The wall had irony written on it in large letters.
She was named for another flat land
The woman was named after a different flat area of land.
We had a strong back then
At that time, we had a strong bond.
In common we had a bond
We shared a common bond.
That would never see the break of dawn
Our bond would never end or break.
To damn afraid of the queen trying to take the pawn
We were too afraid of losing what we had to take any risks.
Threw that away
We let go of our bond.
Yes, yes headed out west
I was moving towards the western region.
And got undressed
I removed my clothing.
With the nurture that she gave me made me trip and get obsessed
The care she provided me with made me infatuated and obsessed.
There was a lady in Los Angeles
I met a woman in Los Angeles.
That handled this the way the manual suggests (the way the manual suggests)
She dealt with the situation in the way it should be handled based on the manual.
She turned me on to music that I never heard before
She introduced me to new music I had never listened to before.
She told me stories from a cup I had to learn to pour
She would tell me stories over coffee which I had to learn to serve myself.
And I don't know what hurt it more
I am unsure of what caused more pain.
Professional journals or perpetual burn holes
I do not know if the pain came from reading professional journals or the constant cigarette burns.
Scarring up the dirty floor
The floor was left with burn marks from the cigarettes.
Peace
I found peace.
Found a hollow hole in the Colorado snow
I discovered an empty space in the snow in Colorado.
It's like I follow anywhere el Diablo go
It seemed like I followed where the devil went.
Took a stroll with a feline
I went for a walk with a cat.
And sat silent while the snow flakes fell into the design
I sat quietly while the snowflakes fell and made designs.
Can't let her dance up on top on the top floor
I cannot let her dance on the top floor again.
Been there done that what do you think it's locked for?
I already experienced it before, why do you think it is locked?
I've lost more to my traveling soul
I lost more as a result of traveling.
Then I care to talk about so I'll be out I'll be on the road
I lost a lot, but I do not want to talk about it, so I will leave and continue traveling.
Down, down, down in Gainesville
I am currently in Gainesville, traveling southward.
No stranger to shame, Coletrane, and pain pills
I am familiar with shame, John Coltrane, and pain pills.
Sometimes the ceiling is too easy to stare at
The ceiling is sometimes too tempting to look at for a long time.
But it keeps me from a forest full of snare taps and bear traps
The ceiling keeps me away from danger.
And it can't come clean without the sun beams
The ceiling cannot be cleaned without sunlight.
And it ain't complete without the drum beats
The music cannot be complete without the beat of the drums.
I can tell she don't want me as is
I can sense that she does not want me as I currently am.
Time to climb back into the van and make the back stiff
It is time for me to get back into the van and pack everything tightly in the back.
I had to add one more story to the infinite
I had one more story to add to the endless collection.
Already interwoven through a New York cigarette
The story was already intertwined with a cigarette from New York.
Ex-lover and a best friend
The person was both an ex-lover and a best friend.
Best lover and an ex-friend hoping for alcoholic sentiment
They were my best lover and ex-friend, both hoping for a drunk emotional response.
Sentimentalism and the rhythm of religion on the PA
There was sentimentalism and religious music playing through the PA system.
Make the people here say
The people around me would say.
God bless the DJ
They would ask for God to bless the DJ.
She stays to wait for a replay
The woman stays to wait for a repeat of the music or songs.
While I wonder if I'll be able to hear it from the freeway
I was wondering if I would be able to hear it from the freeway as I leave.
Chicago inside of an empty bottle
Chicago was within an empty bottle I had.
There's a thin line between gossip and gospel
There is a thin difference between gossip and the teachings of religion.
There's a house over there near Wicker Park
There is a house near Wicker Park.
Where I found out Smart was afraid of the dark
I found out that someone named Smart was afraid of the dark while at the house.
Had to break her heart just to help me heal up
In order to feel better, I had to hurt someone else's feelings.
Tie a knot in the stomach just to help me seal up
I had to make myself physically ill to help cope with my emotional pain.
And make sure them demons stay beneath the core
I wanted to ensure that my inner demons were suppressed and kept hidden.
Pray for you and yours and whoever you believe in more
I prayed for others and their beliefs regardless of what they believed in.
Look around you there's angels amongst us
There are angels among us if you look closely enough.
Sitting in the rain at some sidewalk cafe
I was sitting in the rain at a sidewalk cafe.
Half of her wet cigarette in the ash tray
Half of her cigarette was in the ashtray and was now wet from the rain.
Just trying to find a lost soul to save
She was trying to find someone who was lost and needed saving.
And I'm a lost soul trying to find a road that's paved
I am also lost and trying to find a clear path to follow.
Keep faith in my suitcase pack my beliefs
I carry my beliefs with me wherever I go.
Angels exist I've even seen some sleep
I believe that angels exist and have even seen some sleeping.
Lyrics © UPSIDEDOWN HEART MUSIC, ANT TURN THAT SNARE DOWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind