As part of the long build up to the release of Transit Transit, they made available, "Audience No.2", as a 'pay what you will’ track on their website. Soon after, they joined PJ Harvey for a tour of Russia. During this time they also continued to play their own shows, trying out new songs live, and in some cases revisiting the recorded versions to make necessary alterations or, in some cases, total deletions. In the summer of 2009, they collaborated with the painter, Kill Pixie (Mark Whalen) for 'Future Spa', an art exhibition/sound installation in Los Angeles. In more recent months, the band has toured extensively, including an appearance at All Tomorrow's Parties in upstate New York and an opening spot with Thom Yorke's Atoms For Peace.
Now, the much-awaited follow-up, Transit Transit is finally here. It begins no less uniquely than its predecessor, although this time the subtler concussion of rhythm that starts the title track is an announcement of change, and the following mood and vocal-- a metaphysical sorbet. If you have been waiting, somewhat impatiently, for this record, Transit Transit has yielded an unexpected mix of material, but has everything you had hoped for. And if Autolux is a band you are just discovering, here is a deep and profound world of noise and emotion to immerse yourself in.
The band produced Transit Transit themselves with guitarist/vocalist Greg Edwards serving as engineer. The record was recorded - at Space 23, the bands makeshift studio in their rehearsal room near downtown Los Angeles. The title track "Transit Transit" (the last song to be recorded) was started in Denmark by Edwards, using a virtually unplayable upright piano and a sample of a coffin-style freezer found in a nearby basement, and then finished back in Los Angeles. There is a notable sonic progression to Transit Transit: samples, vintage synthesizers, and manipulated ambience glue central song components together. There are a lot more vocal harmonies and piano driven songs, even a bit of trumpet. Vocal duties are shared by all three members throughout the album - their voices strangely similar - but each having a definite emotional character. Bassist/ singer, Eugene Goreshter continues to innovate his bass style, effortlessly modernizing the instrument's melodic role on songs like "Census" and "Supertoys", while still providing an on-edge rawness and groove-filled momentum. Edwards' guitars serve to modulate the moods throughout the record, constantly evoking feelings found in the space between emotions. And Carla Azar's sturdy, creative drumming (a phenomenon to behold on stage) continues on record with plenty of hook beats - ferocious and orchestral, at once.
The majority of the album was mixed by Kennie Takahashi, three of the tracks being mixed by Dave Sardy, and then mastered by Bob Ludwig. Artist Kill Pixie and Carla created the artwork for Transit Transit.
Anonymous
Autolux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just shut your radioactive mouth
It's time to decide
While my heart mourns my open mind
Anonymous
With your average love
The more you've cried
Just shut your radioactive mind
It's time to decide
While my heart mourns my open eyes
Anonymous
With your average love
You had it all
You could not give her
The song "Anonymous" by Autolux is a reflection on the emotional turmoil that a person goes through while experiencing a difficult breakup. The lyrics talk about shutting down one's emotions and trying to bring some clarity to the situation. The opening lines of the song, "Let's go for a ride, just shut your radioactive mouth" suggests that the person is trying to find a way out of the relationship by going on a drive and keeping the emotions at bay. The line "It's time to decide, while my heart mourns my open mind" indicates that the person is trying to sort out their feelings and come to a decision about the relationship while dealing with emotional pain.
The chorus of the song, "Anonymous, with your average love, the more you've cried, the more you give her" suggests that the person has given their all to the relationship but is not receiving the same in return. This is further emphasised in the second verse, "Anonymous, with your average love, you had it all, you could not give her". The overall mood of the song is sombre yet introspective, with the lyrics conveying the sense of sorrow and regret one feels after falling out of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's go for a ride
Let's embark on an adventure or journey together
Just shut your radioactive mouth
Stop expressing your harmful thoughts and opinions
It's time to decide
It's time to make a choice or come to a conclusion
While my heart mourns my open mind
My emotions are in a state of grief because of my willingness to consider and explore new ideas
Anonymous
An unknown or unidentified person
With your average love
You have a typical or common type of love
The more you've cried
The more emotional pain you have experienced
The more you give her
The more you have given yourself to her emotionally and mentally
Just shut your radioactive mind
Stop having harmful and toxic thoughts that lead to negative behaviors
It's time to decide
It's time to come to a resolution or make a decision
While my heart mourns my open eyes
My emotions are in a state of sadness because I am seeing things clearly for the first time
You had it all
You had everything you needed to be happy or successful
You could not give her
You were not able to provide what she needed emotionally or mentally
Writer(s): Greg Edwards, Carla Azar, . Boots, Eugene Goreshter
Contributed by Natalie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.