Taking their name from the number of Susans in the line up, Band of Susans released one EP - Blessing and Curse - on Poss's own Trace Elements label before being signed to Mute Records's Blast First imprint for their first album Hope Against Hope. After the release, Rogers, Lyall and Tallman quit to be replaced by Karen Haglof (guitar) and Page Hamilton (guitar). After a second album - Love Agenda - and a Peel Sessions EP the two new members quit (Hamilton to form Helmet) and were replaced by Anne Husick (guitar) and Mark Lonergan (guitar), forming the line up which made three more albums and one EP. On the band's final U.S. and European tours a young Jay Braun filled in for Mark Lonergan. The band's final production was a version of Wire's Ahead for a collection of Wire cover versions called Whore, released in 1996.
Musically, BoS organised their three guitarists into providing an overwhelming wail of feedback and guitar noise layered under more conventional song structures (Poss had worked with guitar enemble composer Rhys Chatham and was a big fan of The Rolling Stones - the latter resulting in covers of Child of the Moon and Paint it Black). Although pretty much unconnected with it, Band of Susans are generally included in the New York No Wave scene that produced Sonic Youth and Glenn Branca.
After the dissolution of the band, Poss and Stenger performed with Bruce Gilbert of Wire as GilbertPossStenger. Poss then concentrated on production and solo work whilst Stenger played live with The Creatures for a period. An open-ended promise to reform under a new name has yet to happen.
Trouble Spot
Band Of Susans Lyrics
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My head was bowed
My back was turned
We always knew you'd break
We always hoped you'd change
But we've always known that it was you
We think we know what makes you tick
What made you try
How could you dream that you'd survive
But the speech I'd planned drifted from my brain
What makes you try
Why do you try
Why even try
Because it's there
The lyrics of Band of Susans's "Trouble Spot" examine the internal conflicts and external pressures faced by an individual who is being held accountable for their actions. The opening lines address their surrender, noting how they submitted to authority and resigned themselves to their fate. The chorus echoes sentiments of regret and disbelief, acknowledging that even those around them had hoped that this person would change their ways, but ultimately knew that change was unlikely.
The second verse of the song poses a direct question, asking what motivated this person to take the actions they did. The singer juxtaposes the bleak reality of the situation with a moment of vulnerability, admitting that the prepared speech they had planned had slipped their mind. The final lines of the song offer some commentary on the human condition, providing a cyclical answer to the question posed in the second verse. The reason to try is simply that the opportunity is there.
Overall, "Trouble Spot" is a haunting examination of what it means to be held accountable for our actions and face the consequences of our choices.
Line by Line Meaning
When they came for me I went quietly
I submitted without any resistance when they arrested me.
My head was bowed
I was ashamed and felt guilty for the things I did.
My back was turned
I didn't want to face the consequences of my actions.
We always knew you'd break
We predicted that you would fall apart and fail.
We always hoped you'd change
We wished that you would modify your behavior for the better.
But we've always known that it was you
We've always recognized that you were the one responsible for your actions.
We think we know what makes you tick
We believe we understand what motivates you to act in certain ways.
But what made you try
What inspired you to attempt that action?
What made you try
What motivated you to take that risk?
How could you dream that you'd survive
What made you think that you could survive that situation?
But the speech I'd planned drifted from my brain
I was going to say something, but I forgot what it was because of my anxiety.
What makes you try
What pushes you to keep trying?
Why do you try
What motivates you to keep going?
Why even try
What's the point of even attempting to do something?
Because it's there
I attempt things just because they're available or within my reach.
Contributed by Jack D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.