Together, these contradictory characters have combined their strengths to deliver their sophomore album Distraction – a collection in which their love of pop hooks is filtered cohesively through an eclectic collection of genre elements ranging from psychedelic to punk. “Giants” is perhaps the track that best encapsulates everything that makes Bear Hands special, as it flows from a manic verse full of hollered stream-of-consciousness lyrics into an infectious chorus, in which the universal emotion of “I’m loving you more” is set to a cascading riff.
Rau and Feldman first met as film students at Connecticut’s Wesleyan University, an institution that has become well known for turning out a steady stream of talented musicians due to its focus on the arts. They became fast friends, bonding over a pot brownie and a shared taste in music. However, as Feldman was already in another band at the time, it would be several months before the two would begin to collaborate musically.
After going through an unpleasant breakup, Dylan discovered that his ex-girlfriend had taken up with one of Ted’s bandmates. When he found out that the band had also been offered a record deal, Dylan decided that they would not ride off into the sunset with both his ex-girlfriend and the guitarist he wanted to join forces with. “I said, ‘this isn’t how I’m going to go down.’ I confronted Ted and said, ‘Alright, that’s it – we’re starting a band!’” Once Ted had been convinced to abandon his previous band and form a new one with Dylan, it was time to complete the lineup.
Rau quickly identified the ideal rhythm section for his new band: bassist Val Loper and drummer TJ Orscher of Glastonbury, CT’s In Pieces. “TJ was definitely one of the best drummers in the area,” explains Rau. “I remember Val playing a show at my school, and him spinning around really, really fast and getting his bass stuck in the ground, and then he tripped over it and knocked over a PA speaker. It was super boss.”
Knowing that he’d need to recruit them as a team, Rau used some mini-Machiavellian tricks to convince each member that the other was already interested. Once they’d come around to the idea, the first session together displayed an almost telepathic connection. As Feldman remembers: “Everyone was pretty surprised at how easily it came together. We put four songs together in the first two rehearsals. In retrospect, it was our honeymoon period.”
After Rau’s master plan came together (“You’ve got to poach people from other bands – you scout them and pick people off like weak antelope”), Bear Hands signed to indie label Cantora Records. Bear Hands’ debut album Burning Bush Supper Club was released in 2010, but their progress faltered due to legal complications and daily distractions. This, combined with some inspiration from Jonathan Lethem’s novel Chronic City, led to the band naming their new album Distraction. “It’s about losing touch with reality,” states Rau. “Many things distract us: doing drugs; drinking; reality television; good food; the Internet.”
Frustrated by this protracted hiatus, Bear Hands decided to take the initiative and fund the making of Distraction themselves. Working on a tight budget meant that Feldman, already the director of the band’s videos, would also take the role of producer, with engineering assistance courtesy of their friends Yale Yng-Wong and Jake Aron. To record the drums and the basic tracks, they headed to Feldman’s parents’ house, which was transformed into a makeshift studio for a week. “Luckily my parents weren’t there because they probably would’ve freaked out. It looked awesome to me, but maybe not their style,” laughs Feldman. Overdubs and vocals were completed at Yng-Wong’s studio, Doctor Wu’s, in Brooklyn.
Numerous songs on the album are based on real life experiences. “Agora” addresses Rau’s experiences with agoraphobia. “Mixed with a couple of other mental health issues, it was pretty bad,” he admits. “I still have trouble and I have to force myself to leave the house. Socializing and exercise are the two things that I’m trying to work on improving. Sometimes I have little interest in either.”
Another common theme is failing romance. "Thought Wrong" is based upon a time when two of the band members were simultaneously involved in intense break-ups, while "Vile Iowa" reflects Rau’s experiences visiting his ex-girlfriend’s family – conservative, teetotaller Mormons. “I don’t think they really liked me and I don’t think they trusted me,” he sighs. “I have a history of dating girls from the Midwest whose families don’t like me. It’s a habit I need to get over.”
With character, creativity and pure songmanship in abundance, the global appeal of Distraction should ensure that Rau will have a new chance to broaden his horizons way beyond the Midwest. “We’ve always aimed to write pop songs because that’s just what we like, but we also like all sorts of different styles,” affirms Feldman. “There hasn’t been a huge paradigm shift in genres. I think it’s been an evolution of quality.”
Bear Hands is a post-punk/experimental/indie rock act hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Forming in 2006, the band consists of Dylan Rau, Ted Feldman, Val Loper and TJ Orscher.
www.bearhandsband.com
Tall Trees
Bear Hands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They are easily pulled
Palm trees
I am easily bored
Full lights on a green screen
Light up like a machine yeah
Beep read hum compute
Something's coming through,
Sunset sunrise
Dark circles or light eyes
I eat cats for their nine lives
And I'm building a third eye yeah
Beep read hum compute
Something's coming through
Through, through, through
The lyrics of “Tall Trees” by Bear Hands seem to be speaking of the duality of human nature and the human experience. The metaphor of tall trees that are easily pulled down may symbolize the fragility and vulnerability of human beings, who despite their strength, can easily be brought down by life's challenges. On the other hand, the reference to palm trees, which are often associated with paradise and relaxation, could be interpreted as a longing for something more exciting and adventurous.
The line “Full lights on a green screen, light up like a machine,” suggests a detachment or distance from reality, possibly alluding to modern technology and its constant presence in our lives. There is also a sense of anticipation or foreboding in the repetition of "through" at the end of the verse, emphasizing the unknown but impending nature of what is coming.
The latter half of the song delves into more surrealistic imagery, with references to eating cats and building a third eye. The line "I eat cats for their nine lives" could represent a thirst for knowledge or the desire to live life to the fullest, while the idea of a third eye symbolizes heightened consciousness or an expanded perspective on the world.
Overall, the lyrics of “Tall Trees” may suggest a search for deeper meaning and understanding in the face of the world's complexities, as well as a willingness to embrace the unknown and surreal aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Tall trees
The singer is drawing attention to the tall trees around them.
They are easily pulled
The singer is noting that the tall trees can be easily uprooted or manipulated.
Palm trees
The singer is now drawing attention to palm trees.
I am easily bored
The artist is expressing that they are prone to boredom.
Full lights on a green screen
The artist is describing a bright, artificial light.
Light up like a machine yeah
The bright light is compared to a machine.
Beep read hum compute
These phrases are used to emphasize the mechanical nature of the light and the potential for a message to come through it.
Something's coming through,
The artist believes that a message or signal is about to be received from the bright light.
Through, through, through
This repetition emphasizes the state of anticipation and the repeated possibility of a message coming through.
Sunset sunrise
The artist is observing the cycle of the day.
Dark circles or light eyes
The singer is noting the contrast between dark and light, perhaps as a metaphor for good and evil.
I eat cats for their nine lives
This line is likely meant to be provocative or nonsensical, without a clear meaning.
And I'm building a third eye yeah
The singer is claiming to be developing a heightened ability to perceive beyond the physical senses.
Beep read hum compute
Again, these phrases emphasize the mechanical or digital processes involved in the singer's perception.
Something's coming through
The singer again senses that something is about to be revealed or communicated.
Through, through, through
The repetition underscores the persistence of this anticipatory feeling.
Contributed by Sadie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.