Break Mirrors is Mills’ debut solo album and the latest step in a remarkable musical career that has seen everyone from Kid Rock to Cass McCombs solicit his services as a guitarist. Mills’ trip began with Simon Dawes, the young L.A. rock outfit he formed with his childhood pal Taylor Goldsmith. They made an album, Carnivore, and eventually shared stages with some of the biggest bands in America, cranking out a fresh yet classic sound the Los Angeles Times called “exhilarating.”
After his collaboration with Goldsmith ran its course, Mills moved into the next phase of his career, as sideman to the stars. He moved quickly, too: In only a few short years Mills has become one of the most in-demand session guitarists in all of Los Angeles, touring with Cass McCombs, Jenny Lewis, Band of Horses and Julian Casablancas and recording with Weezer, Kid Rock, Jakob Dylan , Andrew Bird, and Jesca Hoop, among others.
“When it comes to playing guitar for other people,” he says, “...a lot of my dreams have already come true.”
Now Mills is taking center stage with a set of tunes that reflect that extraordinary wealth of experience. Recorded in casual bursts between other gigs over the course of much of 2009, Break Mirrors strikes a perfect balance between talent and tastefulness: You won’t miss Mills’ impressive playing—check out the fuzzy slide guitar solo on “Hiroshima,” for starters—but what sticks with you is his songwriting, which hits a bittersweet coming-of-age note.
In “It’ll All Work Out” he analyzes his parents’ marriage and comes to some surprising conclusions, and “History of My Life” ponders the best way to celebrate one’s privileges. (“It’s about a humility that comes with the transition into adulthood,” Mills says with typical thoughtfulness.) Elsewhere, “Cheers” documents a painful breakup, while “Hey Lover” celebrates the healthy relationship Mills is in right now.
“I wrote that song while I was on a tour and showed it to her when I got back home,” he says. “And then we actually ended up singing it together on this record.” With a laugh Mills describes the track as “my first song of having someone after one too many songs of longing.”
“Hey Lover” may only be rivaled by the album's artwork, for which Mills sought the help of acclaimed artist Sage Vaughn; together, the two collaborated in creating a collage that represents each song.
The music on Break Mirrors comes out of a long tradition of mellow Southern California rock. Yet, perhaps thanks to Mills’ work for other artists, the songs also reveal traces of something entirely different.
There’s also a sly sense of humor in much of the material that Mills credits to his time with Ben Bridwell and Ryan Monroe (Band of Horses). “There's a humor in some people's music that is not kitschy,” he explains. “And in some of those cases it ends up uncovering a certain kind of despair.”
The result is a record that feels as expansive as it does intimate, as forward-looking as it is nostalgic. Blake Mills is much more than the session guy, the band member, or the solo artist. Break Mirrors is the proof.
Cheers
Blake Mills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to spinning around in the fall
it's hard enough to remember the way you were
oh, the way you are, the way you are
here's to coming home and falling on the floor
here's an arm sliding down the bedroom door
everyone has their reasons
the way you are
and cheers to everything we watched to every show
and then to any sleeping in my arms and nothing more
nothing feels so familiar anymore
the way you were, oh, the way you are
the way you are
here's to taking the year to call it off
to whatever it is that you've become
and I've forgotten more than he'll ever know
about the way that you were and the way that you are
the way you are
In Blake Mills's song Cheers, the lyrics reflect on memories, both good and bad, and the passing of time. The first verse speaks of reminiscing over moments of playing and falling, but acknowledges the difference between how things used to be and how they are now. The second verse continues this reflection on the past, with an image of someone collapsing onto the floor and sliding down a door. The lyrics acknowledge that people change, and that the person being referred to is not the same way as they were before.
The chorus brings up other memories, such as watching TV shows together and simply being together without anything else. The lyrics suggest a sense of sadness or nostalgia that nothing feels as familiar as it used to be, and once again comments on the difference between the past and present. The last verse is somewhat cryptic, describing taking "the year to call it off" and forgetting more than "he'll ever know" about the way things used to be. It hints at a falling out or change in the relationship, but leaves much to the imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
here's to jumping off the roof to catch the ball
Here's to taking risks and going for it, even if it may seem dangerous or foolish.
to spinning around in the fall
To finding joy in the little moments and taking time to appreciate the beauty around you.
it's hard enough to remember the way you were
It's difficult to recall the exact person you used to be, as time and experiences can change us in various ways.
oh, the way you are, the way you are
Acknowledging and accepting that the person you are now is different from who you used to be.
here's to coming home and falling on the floor
To finding comfort and solace in the familiarity of one's own home, even if it means collapsing in exhaustion.
here's an arm sliding down the bedroom door
A small, specific detail that serves as a reminder of a memorable moment or experience.
everyone has their reasons
Each and every person has their own unique motivations and justifications for their actions and decisions.
and the way you were is not the way you are
Reiterating the idea that individuals change and evolve over time, and that one's current self may not reflect their past self.
and cheers to everything we watched to every show
Toasting to shared experiences and memories, such as watching favorite TV shows together.
and then to any sleeping in my arms and nothing more
Finding comfort in the simplicity of just being with someone and holding them close without needing anything else in return.
nothing feels so familiar anymore
Expressing a sense of displacement or unfamiliarity with one's current surroundings or life situation.
here's to taking the year to call it off
To making a difficult decision, but taking the time to do it thoughtfully and deliberately over the course of a year.
to whatever it is that you've become
Acknowledging that individuals may change and evolve over time, even if it's not always in a predictable or desired way.
and I've forgotten more than he'll ever know
Having experienced more and gained more knowledge than someone else, even if it's not always immediately apparent or acknowledged.
about the way that you were and the way that you are
Reflecting on how one's memories and understanding of a person can change over time as they themselves change and evolve.
the way you are
Reiterating the message that it's important to accept and embrace one's current self, even if it's not always in line with past expectations or ideals.
Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.