After garnering critical praise and national buzz from their last album, I'… Read Full Bio ↴After garnering critical praise and national buzz from their last album, I'll Never Sleep Again, Birds & Batteries is gearing up to release an EP called Up To No Good. Best described as a spooky-funky adventure, the EP is heavily influenced by Bowie's "Scary Monsters", John Carpenter films and of course, P-funk. This intriguing new material provides for some of the more climactic moments in the band's live set. In the past two years, B&B has solidified their lineup with Mike Sempert on keys, guitar; Christopher Walsh on guitar; Jill Heinke on bass and synth; and Brian Michelson on drums and these days, everyone is singing. Through persistent touring with this core group, B&B's live show has grown stronger and tighter then ever.

More on the EP. . .
The EP is certainly a new direction for the band, and a step away from the plaintive and lush electro-country of I'll Never Sleep Again. While funkier and more eery, UTNG still demonstrates B&B's detailed attention to song writing, arrangement and production.

The songs from Up To No Good were split off from a full length album, Panorama, which the band plans to release in spring 2010. UTNG explores the more electronic side of the B&B palette, allowing the band to save the more organic material for their next output.

Band leader, Mike Sempert says, "There's a certain freedom that the EP format provides, especially with another full length in the works- a sense that we aren't defining ourselves in any fixed way, and so we can do whatever we want."
The result of that freedom, while playful and somewhat divergent, might be the best thing B&B's done yet.

Lightning
Birds & Batteries Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The storm approached and there I stood
Arms thrown wide like weather vanes
Whether or not I meant it that way
There I was and there I stay
Je voudrais vous tenir
The trees were breaking in the wind
The thunder cracking like a whip
I stood feet planted on the ground

I stood in wonder of the sound
And as you wept upon my face
jolted through my fingertips
I knew I'd never be alone

No more to wander on my own
Vous être ma mort

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Birds & Batteries's song "Lightning" invoke a powerful and intense experience with nature and love. The opening lines paint a vivid scene of a storm approaching, with the singer standing with open arms like weather vanes. This pose suggests a surrender to the forces of nature, embracing the unpredictability that exists around them. The phrase "Whether or not I meant it that way" hints at a certain ambiguity in their actions, perhaps unsure if they truly intended to surrender or if it was just a reflexive response.

The next lines, "Je voudrais vous tenir," which translates to "I want to hold you," introduce a romantic undertone. The singer expresses the desire to hold someone close amidst the chaos of the storm. The reference to the breaking trees and cracking thunder accentuates the intensity of nature's power, contrasting it with the stability of the singer standing with their feet firmly planted on the ground. This juxtaposition highlights a sense of awe and wonder in the face of nature's raw energy.

The song takes an emotional turn with the line "And as you wept upon my face," suggesting an intimate connection between two individuals. The words "jolted through my fingertips" evoke a strong physical and emotional response, as if the electricity of the storm is transferring through their touch. This moment signifies a profound realization that they will never be alone again, that the connection they share brings an end to their wandering solitude. The concluding lines, "Vous être ma mort," which translates to "You are my death," adds a thought-provoking and slightly cryptic quality to the lyrics, leaving room for interpretation. It hints at a transformative and potentially dangerous aspect of love, where it has the power to consume and change an individual.

Overall, "Lightning" captures the dualities of power and vulnerability, surrender and control, and the everlasting impact of a profound connection.

Line by Line Meaning

The storm approached and there I stood
I stood my ground as the storm approached

Arms thrown wide like weather vanes
I embraced the chaos and uncertainty like a weather vane

Whether or not I meant it that way
Regardless of my intentions, that's how it happened

There I was and there I stay
I remained in that moment, unable to move forward

Je voudrais vous tenir
I desire to hold you close

The trees were breaking in the wind
The force of the wind tore the trees apart

The thunder cracking like a whip
The thunder sounded like a powerful whip cracking

I stood feet planted on the ground
I stood firmly, grounded and unyielding

I stood in wonder of the sound
I marveled at the awe-inspiring sound

And as you wept upon my face
Your tears fell upon my face