Formed in 2009, the act was originally a means to expand the solo project of Dustin Payseur. That same year bassist John Peña and guitarist Christopher Burke were recruited as the lineup for their initial tour. Their debut single, Daydream / Desert Sand was released in February 2010 on Captured Tracks. In May 2010, their debut album Beach Fossilswas released and met with favorable reviews.
The following years saw a number of changes to their lineup, including when John Peña left the band in 2011 to form Heavenly Beat, and guitarist Cole Smith, who left for his solo project, DIIV. In 2012, Tommy Gardner stepped in as the drummer to form their current lineup.
Clash the Truth was released in early 2013, peaking at number 40 on the Independent Albums chart. Paysuer described it as being an album about what happens after you've solved the immediate problems that come with moving away from home - "something that just doesn't feel like it makes sense yet".
In 2017, after a long break, the third album Somersault was released
Generational Synthetic
Beach Fossils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you love and do you feel?
All your working inspiration
Systematic exploration.
Words are great, words are real
Words are desperate and conceal
All your words are so poetic
And I will do it on my own again
I will say what I will.
And I will do it on my own again
And I will say what I will.
All my friends are far away
Knees my head in disobey,
I can help but to forget
What is now and what is next
Train a fortune for a soul
What we wanted all along
All your words are so magnetic
Generational apathetic
And I will do it on my own again,
I will say what I will.
And I will do it on my own again,
I will say what I will.
And I will do it on my own again
And I will say what I will.
The lyrics of Beach Fossils' song "Generational Synthetic" speak to themes of youthful ambition and frustration with the societal systems that young people are expected to navigate. The first verse refers to the hustle and hard work of a young person, questioning whether they feel passionate about what they are doing. The line "systematic exploration" suggests a feeling of being limited or confined by the usual paths of success that are laid out for young people.
The second verse delves into the power of words, acknowledging their ability to both inspire and deceive. The line "generational synthetic" implies a sense of inauthenticity or artificiality, perhaps commenting on the manufactured expectations placed on younger generations. The repeated refrain of "I will do it on my own again, I will say what I will" speaks to a desire for independence and autonomy, to break free from the expectations of others and make one's own path.
The final verse touches on themes of isolation and forgetfulness, with the singer feeling disconnected from their friends and unable to keep track of what comes next. The line "generational apathetic" hints at a sense of disillusionment or lack of motivation among young people. Overall, the lyrics of "Generational Synthetic" speak to the complex and fraught experiences of young people trying to navigate a world that often doesn't seem made for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Hustle in the five old years
Trying to make the best out of the past five years
Do you love and do you feel?
Are you capable of loving and experiencing emotions?
All your working inspiration
The inspiration that comes from your job
Systematic exploration.
Exploring in an organized manner
Words are great, words are real
Words have power and are a reflection of reality
Words are desperate and conceal
Words can be used to hide the truth out of desperation
All your words are so poetic
You have a poetic way of expressing yourself
Generational synthetic
But your words lack authenticity and originality
And I will do it on my own again
I will take control of my life once again
I will say what I will.
And I will speak my mind freely
All my friends are far away
Feeling alone without close friends nearby
Knees my head in disobey
Feeling guilty about breaking the rules
I can help but to forget
I cannot help but forget
What is now and what is next
What the present and future hold
Train a fortune for a soul
Wealth cannot buy happiness and fulfillment
What we wanted all along
Our desires can change over time
All your words are so magnetic
You have a persuasive way of speaking
Generational apathetic
But your lack of passion and interest in life is a generational issue
And I will do it on my own again
I will continue to take control of my life
I will say what I will.
And I will continue to speak my mind freely
And I will do it on my own again
I will not rely on others to determine my path
And I will say what I will.
And I will continue to express myself authentically
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jasmine
One of my favorites off Clash the Truth!! With each album, they just get better (:
Pete Magallanes
Agreed
Fionn McLaughlin
so much joy division packed into this song
Jacey P.
Fionn McLaughlin the demo version sounds more like joy division
Mozzyforest
Sad and happy memories are brought up with these entire album such a 💎
Aram Ledezma
Esta canción ayer en México fue una verdadera locura.
Carla Martinez
I saw them about 4 days ago for the first time ( #MusicWinsFestival , Buenos Aires ), and that was amazing! They sound so fucking good! Miss them!
Andreza Cardoso
Essa música sempre toca na Playlist do cinema do dragão do mar, aqui em Fortaleza, antes de começar o filme. Simplesmente uma delÃcia.
MatthewSchulerofficial
I love how post-punk this is ✊
F.O
AHHH the memories, used to listen to this band in high school. Still great after all these years!