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.
summer song
Atmosphere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause in some ways, Minneapolis is more real than L.A.
But I won't go to the triple-rock on a tuesday
Too many people pop out of they pimples and play
And at night, we can watch these people in these bars
They're all insane, they all know my name
Who won the game? no one's in pain
And if the elements and irrelevance I strain
Hair's wet, who cares if it's sweat or rain
As long as it doesn't leave a permanent stain
It's all in vain if there's nothing left to gain
And somethin's in the way she looks at her prey
There's no way she'll allow you to live
Swallow the fight, inhale the night
There's not much else left for you to give
Who's leaving (who's leaving) ? there she goes
Who's leaving (who's leaving) ?
Who's breathing (who's breathing)
As opposed to who's bleeding (who's bleeding)
Caress the rooftop and stare at the space
For the flesh that you gave just to get a taste
It goes... nothing comes close
Scream of the smile and choke boy choke
Passion come death, and death bring power
At the top of the hour we sing for the monster
And here she goes, with that look in her eyes
The souls of those that got took by surprise
Crooked little smile that clings to her lips
On a night like this I sing for the bitch
[Chorus]
Just a lonely summer
Slowly dying
I was smiling hard
But I was lying
So what's the time? it's almost time for her to go to work
The sun is shining but I'm the shadow of my smirk
I keep my breathin' under my breath
Tucked within the untrimmed bushes next to her front steps
And when she leaves to make treck towards the bus stop
My love erupts (POPS) a thousand tiny blood clots
Damn I wish that she was mine but time and time over the discretion
On my right shoulder whispers to my ear
Advising me to admire from way over here, play the rear
And struggle for the view to clear
It's been 2 years and quite a few beers
Too many loose tears and a few souvenirs
And if she only knew, how long I've waited for her
How her smiles enough to make my winter warmer
If she knew the way she walks could take away my storm
She'd probably call the cops and get a restraining order
As much as I hate myself, I hate you more
But I still smile when you come through that door
And as much as I hate my life, I hate yours too
Just can't seem to teach myself to ignore you
This is for the ladies, not every lady
Just the ones that drive me crazy, the ones that scream SAVE ME
I want to thank y'all for everything you gave me
Now lean in and taste me (kiss)
[Chorus: x2]
Right up to your face and kiss you!
Atmosphere's song "Summer Song" is about a woman who came back to visit Minneapolis, admitting that in some ways, it feels more real than L.A. However, the singer won't go to the Triple Rock on a Tuesday because "too many people pop out of their pimples and play." Instead, they spend their nights watching the insane people in bars who all know their name. They're glad she came because there's something about the way she looks at her prey that he can't resist, even though it's clear she won't allow him to live.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "just a lonely summer, slowly dying, I was smiling hard but I was lying," indicating that the singer's loneliness is an ongoing issue. The second verse describes his obsession with the woman, how he wishes she was his but time and time again, discretion prevents him from making a move. The song ends with a message to women who drive him crazy, thanking them for everything they've given him, and inviting them to "lean in and taste me (kiss)."
Line by Line Meaning
She came back to visit, she says
The girl visits Minneapolis because she cherishes it more than L.A.
‘Cause in some ways, Minneapolis is more real than L.A.
Minneapolis feels more authentic than L.A.
But I won't go to the triple-rock on a tuesday
The singer dislikes visiting the Triple-rock on Tuesdays.
Too many people pop out of they pimples, and play
The bar becomes crowded with amateur performers who aren't that good.
And at night, we can watch these people in these bars
They can observe people at the local bars at night.
They're all insane, they all know my name
The people at the bar all seem crazy, and the singer is a regular.
Who won the game? no one's in pain
No one is hurt, and a game has just ended.
But either way girl, I'm glad you came
The girl is welcome and the singer is happy to see her.
And if the elements and irrelevance I strain
Despite the weather or setbacks, the singer goes on.
Hair's wet, who cares if it's sweat or rain
It doesn't matter if the moisture in the singer's hair comes from sweat or rain.
As long as it doesn't leave a permanent stain
As long as the moisture doesn't cause permanent damage, it doesn't matter.
It's all in vain if there's nothing left to gain
It's pointless to continue if there's nothing left to achieve.
And somethin's in the way she looks at her prey
The woman looks at men like they are her prey.
There's no way she'll allow you to live
She won't let anyone survive.
Swallow the fight, inhale the night
The singer recommends dealing with the situation head-on and embracing the darkness.
There's not much else left for you to give
Nothing else can be beaten out of you.
Who's leaving (who's leaving)? There she goes
The singer watches a woman leave.
Who's breathing (who's breathing)? As opposed to who's bleeding (who's bleeding)
The singer asks about the woman's current state.
Caress the rooftop and stare at the space
The singer touches the rooftop and faces the sky.
For the flesh that you gave just to get a taste
The song refers to sacrificing one's body.
It goes... nothing comes close
The song implies that nothing comes close to the taste of the flesh.
Scream of the smile and choke boy choke
The singer describes a terrifying scenario.
Passion come death, and death bring power
The song touches on the link between death, passion, and power.
At the top of the hour we sing for the monster
The women in the song are described as monsters.
And here she goes, with that look in her eyes
The singer watches another woman leave.
The souls of those that got took by surprise
The souls of those who didn't expect to be taken away
Crooked little smile that clings to her lips
The woman's smile is crooked and seductive.
On a night like this, I sing for the bitch
The song is about how the singer feels about women.
[Chorus]
Just a lonely summer
Slowly dying
I was smiling hard
But I was lying
The singer experiences loneliness during the summer and is pretending to be happy.
So what's the time? It's almost time for her to go to work
The singer notes that the woman he's observing is about to leave for work.
The sun is shining but I'm the shadow of my smirk
The singer is not feeling happy despite the sun shining.
I keep my breathin' under my breath
The singer tries in vain to avoid breathing loudly.
Tucked within the untrimmed bushes next to her front steps
The singer is hiding in the bushes near the woman's home.
And when she leaves to make trek towards the bus stop
The woman is walking to the bus stop.
My love erupts (POPS) a thousand tiny blood clots
The singer's intense love for the woman affects him physically.
Damn I wish that she was mine but time and time over the discretion
The singer regrets not acting sooner and waiting too long.
On my right shoulder, whispers to my ear
The singer hears a voice advising him.
Advising me to admire from way over here, play the rear
The voice tells the singer to admire from afar and not to take action.
And struggle for the view to clear
The singer can't get a good look at the woman.
It's been 2 years and quite a few beers
The singer has been watching the woman for two years.
Too many loose tears and a few souvenirs
The singer has shed many tears, but has some mementoes.
And if she only knew how long I've waited for her
The singer has been waiting for the woman for a long time.
How her smiles enough to make my winter warmer
The woman's smile makes the singer feel better.
If she knew the way she walks could take away my storm
The way the woman moves can help the singer forget his troubles.
She'd probably call the cops and get a restraining order
The singer believes the woman would report him to the authorities if she knew how he felt.
As much as I hate myself, I hate you more
The singer loathes himself and also hates the woman he's been watching.
But I still smile when you come through that door
The singer still feels happy when the woman shows up.
And as much as I hate my life, I hate yours too
The singer hates his life, and the woman he admires must feel similar.
Just can't seem to teach myself to ignore you
The singer can't help but keep his attention on the woman.
This is for the ladies, not every lady
The singer is addressing women in general, not just one specific woman.
Just the ones that drive me crazy, the ones that scream SAVE ME
The singer is referring to women who have a sense of danger and excitement.
I want to thank y'all for everything you gave me
The singer thanks the women who inspire his music.
Now lean in and taste me (kiss)
The song encourages women to take a chance and get closer to him.
[Chorus: x2]
Right up to your face and kiss you!
The singer desires to embrace the one he admires.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Clive Metcalf, David Stuart, Keith Noble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind