1991 - 2000
Brian, Paul, Dom and Damien Rice form Juniper, having met in school. They go to college, play some weddings, 21st's and Bar Mitzvahs... and for a while have a Sunday night residency in the Kildrought Lounge and Bar, Celbridge. They meet Dave, who weans them off the Neil Diamond and Roxette covers. Band move into house in country, release EP, Manna, and two singles in Ireland. Damien leaves band, the others read about Chuck Yeager and his Right Stuff. They call the new band Bell X1. Bell X1 support Elliott Smith and Bon Jovi in the same 1 week period, leading to severe identity crisis, making small music with big hair. They make their first album, Neither Am I, in the summer/autumn of 1999 with Nick Seymour of Crowded House and release it in Ireland a year later, after much touring and a couple of old singles.
2001
Band take some time to indulge musical differences. Paul records and tours as drummer with Tipperary siren Gemma Hayes, Brian's away with Offaly hearthrob Mundy, and Dave and Dom join Richie Mullen of Lino Richie Carpets, Finglas, in touring cabaret show. Bell X1 regroup in late summer and write songs for what would become Music in Mouth in a house by the sea in Wexford.
2002
Second album recording starts in Ridge Farm studios in Surrey, with producer Jamie Cullum. After 4 weeks they move to the Fallout Shelter, London. The studio has no teapot!! Some moaning. The band take turns to make dinner. Some of it is shit. The world Cup happens. Mixing finishes in July and everyone goes away for a while. Come back and mix it all again. Borrow a friend's house in Kilkenny, record some more songs, play hurling, are laughed at by locals. Music in Mouth finally finished in December, a few days after the birth of Jamie's daughter Ellie, who was both conceived and born during the making of the record.
2003, 2004
The album Music in Mouth is released on July 21st 2003, to tremendous applause, and the band play with all sorts to try to flog it. Tom McRae, Keane, Starsailor, Aqualung and Snow Patrol show them the highways and byways of the UK and continental Europe. Songs from the record appear in many TV series, from Teachers to The OC, and at home the album goes double platinum, with four top 40 singles. In July 2004, the band gather in yet another house in Wexford to write a new record.
2005
Flock is recorded in Dublin and mixed in London, with Roger Becherian producing and Phil Hayes knob twiddling. A shrine to Daniel O' Donnell (Irish singing deity, ref Cliff Richard without ever having had a brush with cool) is created in the green room, Dave creates Pistachio Nut Shell Installation and mustaches are grown. The band take a break from recording and sell out a mini tour in the USA, where they record a live session for Nic Harcourt’s essential show on KCRW in L.A.
Flock is released in Ireland and hits the heights of #1 in the album charts. The band leaves Island Records and sets up its own record label called BellyUp records. A live album called Tour De Flock is released - it is a 2-disc compilation featuring 16 tracks from their sold-out gig at The Point Theatre, Dublin on December 1, 2006.
In 2008, Flock is released in the USA and the band appears on the St. Patrick's Day edition of the Late Show with David Letterman.
On 2nd October, Brian Crosby quits saying "It's been an extraordinary privilege to be in a band with your mates for more than 15 years. I'm really grateful for everything I got to do with Bell X1, for all the adventures we had and for the great support of our fans. It's been particularly wonderful to have connected with so many people and to have got to meet people all over the world doing what I love. I look forward to continue making those connections. At the same time I'll be applauding the boys continued success."
As well as promoting Flock in the USA, the band gets busy recording a new album Blue Lights On The Runway. It finally sees the light of day in 2009, with lead single The Great Defector becoming their biggest hit to date (no. 3 in the Irish charts).
2011
The band will release its newest album Bloodless Coup in stores and online on April 1 in Ireland, April 4 in the UK, April 8 in Germany and Benelux, April 12 in the USA and Canada, and April 26 in France. The album's lead single is “Velcro,” which the band performed on The Rachael Ray Show on St. Patrick's Day.
Feint Praise
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's never getting stronger
No matter how much shit I throw
For it is flawed and dangerous
Hollow ringing in my ears
And the bitter aftertaste, like rust
Anything to dance around a fight
I need to say it aloud
That life is short
And days filled
With rictus smiles
Are wasted, and bring
Dishonour on this house
You must never squeeze
The teabag
Leave it alone
What did it ever do to you?
Trying to be al things to all men
You end up being none
So no more hand wringing
No more anything for an easy life
Call it when I see wrong
So when I am done and wheezing
On my last bed
I won't wish I'd done
Something else instead
In Bell X1's song "Feint Praise," the singer expresses the frustration he feels when he is not able to speak his mind and instead heaps on "feint praise" that is never sincere, no matter how much he tries. He acknowledges that this behavior is flawed and dangerous, causing a bitter aftertaste and a hollow ringing in his ears. He recognizes that life is short and filled with rictus smiles, and he refuses to waste his days on superficial niceties that bring dishonor to his house. He realizes that his attempts to please everyone end up making him a non-entity, so he resolves to stop being a people-pleaser and confront wrong when he sees it. In the end, he hopes that he will be free of regret for not having spoken his mind, even when it was difficult.
The lyrics of "Feint Praise" reflect the common struggles many people face in their daily interactions with others. Many people struggle to prevent conflicts and maintain a good impression with others, often resulting in insincere pleasantries and vague compliments. The song's message urges listeners to be true to themselves and take a stand, rather than living a life of "feint praise" that is not genuine or meaningful. Ultimately, it begs the question of whether it is better to avoid conflict or speak up and potentially change the outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
I heap on feint praise
I offer compliments that are not genuine
That's never getting stronger
My praise will not become more meaningful with time
No matter how much shit I throw
Regardless of how much criticism I offer
For it is flawed and dangerous
The thing I am praising is defective and hazardous
Hollow ringing in my ears
My praise sounds empty and meaningless
And the bitter aftertaste, like rust
There is a negative consequence to my insincere compliments
I make the nice, and sidestep
I pretend to be friendly and avoid conflict
Anything to dance around a fight
I will do anything to avoid an argument
I need to say it aloud
It is important for me to speak my mind
That life is short
Our time on Earth is brief
And days filled
Our days are filled
With rictus smiles
With forced smiles
Are wasted, and bring
This is a pointless and detrimental use of time
Dishonour on this house
This reflects poorly on us as a society
You must never squeeze
One should not compress
The teabag
A small, porous sack filled with tea leaves
Leave it alone
It should be allowed to steep on its own
What did it ever do to you?
There is no reason to harm the tea bag
Trying to be al things to all men
Attempting to please everyone is impossible
You end up being none
One will not be successful in pleasing anyone
So no more hand wringing
I will no longer fret or worry
No more anything for an easy life
I will not compromise for a simple existence
Call it when I see wrong
I will acknowledge injustice when I encounter it
So when I am done and wheezing
When I am near death
On my last bed
Lying on my deathbed
I won't wish I'd done
I will not regret
Something else instead
Wishing I had pursued a different path
Contributed by Victoria V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vin Soko
It's funny...listening to the song for a while, and realising that here on YT, it has 25 000 views only. It is like a little secret, yet you know that, whether now, or 5 or 10 years down the line, through another medium, people will find it. Floods of people all of a sudden. Because this song is that good. Excellent in fact.
But for now, as said, it's a secret....
Martin Murphy
The most underrated band I just can't get enough of them
Sharon Usher
im so happy i found this song heard it played a couple of times on the radio and didnt know the name of it took me two days to find it :( my new obsession now :)
conor doherty
jaysus I thought I was the only header who was searchin for this!
oluachra
...remember..leave that t-bag alone!! ..what did it ever do to you!
Sharon Usher
me too went trough their albums its just ssooo good :)
oluachra
Same..I was searching for 2 days to find this! Had to look up radio playlists etc...glad I did..a classic..great band!
strange brew
I seriously love this guys voice.
strange brew
The first time I heard this was yesterday while switching serious satellite. What a surprise! I absolutely LOVE this song! Im normally a metal head but DAMN THIS IS GOOD! I pulled this up as soon as I got up this morning. Thanks!
Toot Toot
Out of all the excellent songs on the album this one for some reason stands out, mash repeat