Their self-titled album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. In the Future was a finalist for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize and was also nominated for "Best Alternative Album" in the 2009 Juno Awards. The song "Stay Free" from In the Future was featured on the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack.
In 2005 the band opened for Coldplay on their Twisted Logic Tour for three weeks, with their final opening in San Diego.
In September 2010 Black Mountain performed in an amphitheater located in the woods of Oisterwijk at the Incubate (festival) in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Leader Stephen McBean also heads another similarly named band, Pink Mountaintops, who are the more experimental side of McBean's musical abilities. Black Mountain is the front line band for Black Mountain Army, a collective of musicians, artists and friends in Vancouver. In an interview the band said "Black Mountain is just the five of us. The Black Mountain Army… which has kind of gotten blown out of proportion, it was kind of just a joke, because everybody thought we were this hippie collective, like we all lived in one house. But it’s basically just our friends at home in Vancouver, just our extended family of creative people that we know."
Several members of the band have, for as long as a decade, worked for organizations that meet the basic living requirements of the chronically poor, drug addicted and mentally ill in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighborhood, such as Insite. In an interview, the band said: "After work we all try not to think too hard about the effect it has on our lives. It keeps us grounded."
Wilderness Heart was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.
March 11, 2014 The Black Mountain song "Wucan" was featured on season 2 of the FOX drama "The Following" during the eighth episode entitled "Messenger".
The Black Mountain song "Druganaut" is featured in a June, 2014 Father's Day commercial for J.C. Penney.
Old Fangs
Black Mountain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the sun is electric and sparkles its way through your heart
Is it foolish to know what you want before you've begun?
When they're milking you dry and bemoaning the magical farce
You explain to the law that you're slaving over simple regard
A vow, I'm straight laced forever
When the glory arrives and takes shape over what've become
and your world closes in and the power is all that you love
Is it foolish to know what you want before you've begun?
Bloody visions of a world so torn
I'll play with what can burn
Slowly the empire smashed the din
We'll wait for the open tea
And hold it together man
Until it's time
Bloody visions of a world so torn
I'll play those death wish chords
Slowly the empire smashed the din
We'll wait for the circle storm
Treat this like forever
Is it safe for the cowards to do what they've already done?
When the sun is electric and sparkles its way through your heart
A vow, I'm straight laced forever
A bow, I'm straight laced forever
In the first stanza of Black Mountain's song "Old Fangs", the lyrics seem to refer to the idea of taking risks, and whether it's better or worse to do something despite being afraid of the consequences. The metaphor of the sun being electric and sparking its way through one's heart could represent the energy and excitement of taking a chance, but it's unclear whether the singer sees this as "foolish" or not. The following lines suggest frustration with being used or taken advantage of, with someone having to explain that they're working hard and don't deserve mistreatment. The repetition of "straight laced forever" could imply a desire for purity or self-discipline, but it's unclear what this has to do with the other themes in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it safe for the cowards to do what they've already done?
Are those who have acted cowardly safe from harm and consequence?
When the sun is electric and sparkles its way through your heart
In moments of intense feeling and passion, when your heart is aglow with energy and vitality
Is it foolish to know what you want before you've begun?
Is it unwise to have a clear idea of your desires before embarking on a new endeavor?
When they're milking you dry and bemoaning the magical farce
When others are taking advantage of you and complaining about something that is inherently fantastical
You explain to the law that you're slaving over simple regard
You argue to authorities that you are working very hard for a basic level of respect
A vow, I'm straight laced forever
I promise to always be restrained and sober-minded
A bow, I'm straight laced forever
I am forever committed to showing respect and humility
When the glory arrives and takes shape over what've become
When great success arrives and transforms what you have become
and your world closes in and the power is all that you love
When your surroundings become limited and the only thing that matters is your own influence and control
Bloody visions of a world so torn
Horrifying images of a world rife with conflict and destruction
I'll play with what can burn
I'll take risks with dangerous or volatile things
Slowly the empire smashed the din
Gradually, the ruling power destroyed the noise and chaos of the opposition
We'll wait for the open tea
We'll bide our time and wait for an opportune moment
And hold it together man
And remain strong and steady, despite adversity
Until it's time
Until the right moment arrives for action or change
I'll play those death wish chords
I'll make music that reflects my darkest impulses and desires
We'll wait for the circle storm
We'll wait for a tumultuous and transformative event
Treat this like forever
Approach this situation as if it will last indefinitely
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amber Erica Webber, Jeremy Victor Schmidt, Joshua Mark Wells, Matthew Camirand, Stephen Gordon McBean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paolo Tornaghi
Just discovered this band, pretty good sound!! I can find something of Pink Floyd (a little psychedelic) and ... Smashing Pumpkins (that sort of dark melody) . But all of that in a modern key! Sounds Goooooooooddddd!
Douglas Van Horne
Best song I have heard from Black Mountain. Love the male/female harmonies.
Evan Grimey
HELL YES! ONe of my favorite bands I'm so excited to have the new album!!!
Ruth Ana Aquisio
Haii- I just saw that your comment was 10years ago..I was 2 by then,I just wanted to ask... How's life? Are you doing okay? Are you alive? Do you have kids? What things have changed?
jay lyttle
lovin' this band BIG TIME!
Leo Machado
One of my favorite songs from 2010. Awesome!!
Ruth Ana Aquisio
Haii- I just saw that your comment was 8 years ago..I was 4 by then,I just wanted to ask... How's life? Are you doing okay? Are you alive? Do you have kids? What things have changed?
crashbreakerr
it's a mix of every good music!
Keith Hammond
Found another keeper! These guys rock!
latontolog
This is a great video, but the song is even better! I can't wait for the new album.