They were known for their DIY punk ethic, embodied in such actions such as distributing six albums worth of their own material for free on their website, and offering free stencils and paint for fans to create their own T-shirts. They also offered their fans a chance to perform on stage if they learn a song and bring their instrument to the show. Beginning in April 2009, the band would only play all-ages shows with ticket prices of $10 or less. Rosenstock and several other contributors were previously members of The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. As that band was breaking up, Rosenstock recorded the first Bomb The Music Industry! song, "Sweet Home Cananada" using his PowerBook's built-in microphone. "I wrote that song and put it out to see if anybody wanted it. That was how it started, people showed interest and I like recording stuff." Bomb the Music Industry! plays a blend of several musical styles anchored in ska and hardcore punk. The influences go deeper than ska and punk, however, as studio experimentation, synth-pop, and DC hardcore all pop up in the mix. Rosenstock says bands such as Harvey Danger and Neutral Milk Hotel are as much an influence as evidenced by tracks such as "This Graceless Planet" (an adaptation of a song by We Versus The Shark into the musical aesthetic of Bomb the Music Industry!), "Stand There Until You're Sober", and many other songs' meter experiments (which feature, respectively, jarring synth breakouts, backwards looping, and time signatures such as 23/4). In live performances the band has begun using digital technology to create breakdowns that sound like they are lifted from 8-bit video games. Tracks such as "Sweet Home Cananada" and "Future 86" strip down the arrangements to barebones loops and guitar, with the latter (a previously unreleased The Arrogant Sons of Bitches demo) featuring a full brass section but lacking the upstroke rhythms on the guitar, a key element of third-wave ska.
Lyrically, Bomb The Music Industry! songs varied widely from furious rants about corporate rock to ordinary stories about finding a job. They also used a good deal of humor, as in "Can I Pay My Rent In Fun?" and "Sorry, Brooklyn. Dancing Won't Solve Anything." One interviewer described the band as "ska for smart people." Jeff Rosenstock responded, "...you could call us ska music for smart people or indie rock for dumbasses at the same time. That's nice that somebody thinks we're smart." Bomb the Music Industry! has toured as a duo consisting of Rosenstock and Rick Johnson of Rick Johnson Rock And Roll Machine and Mustard Plug. Both carry vocal responsibilities while Rosenstock plays guitar and Johnson plays bass. Both play a variety of instruments as well, such as theremin, tub drum, and saxophone. Additionally, Rosenstock has been known to play keyboard with his feet. Often, this incarnation of the duo performs accompanied by an iPod wired into the venue's PA system that supplies all of the instruments that the duo themselves cannot perform live.
Bomb the Music Industry! has also toured as a duo consisting of Rosenstock and Matt Kurz of The Matt Kurz One. During this tour, Rosenstock fronted the band, playing guitar and saxophone. Kurz sang backup and played bass. As with the Rosenstock/Johnson combo, the rest of the instruments were played through an iPod. Fans were encouraged to join them onstage and play instruments.
In December, 2006, Bomb the Music Industry!, this time as just Rosenstock and Johnson, toured the United Kingdom as part of the Ska Is Dead tour with Mustard Plug and The Planet Smashers. On May 19, 2007, Bomb the Music Industry! headlined Skappleton 2007, the biggest ska fest in Wisconsin. Throughout June 2007, Bomb the Music Industry! embarked on what its website describes as the "Real Bands Tour?". On this tour, the band sidestepped their regular, thrown-together arrangements and opted to perform with a full rock ensemble, consisting not only of Rosenstock as frontman but also of two keyboard players, a bass player, an additional guitarist, and a drummer. The decision to play with this ensemble reflects upon the style of their 2007 album, "Get Warmer", which was recorded with a similar ensemble of live players as opposed to by mainly Rosenstock.
On October 4, 2008 the band entered the studio to record their next album titled "Scrambles", which was released February 15, 2009. The album "Others! Others!" Volume 1 was released on May 7th of 2009, an album of demos, unreleased songs, and bonus tracks. The album "
Adults!!!... Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited By Nothing!!!!!!" was released in early 2010 via their website.
http://www.bombthemusicindustry.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bombthemusicindustry
The band went on an extended hiatus in 2013
Blow Your Brains Out on Live TV!!!
Bomb the Music Industry! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the state of the world
And there's just one solution
That will get you the girls.
Blow your brains out on live TV.
Four more years yeah right.
By a band like Filter.
And you'll become a staple
At the MT&R
Blow you brains out live TV.
Blow your brains out do it do it.
Who cares? Not me!
Who cares? Not me!
Who cares? Not me!
Four more years yeah right.
The lyrics of Bomb the Music Industry!'s song Blow Your Brains Out on Live TV!!! seem to be a satirical take on the American culture of glamorizing death and violence on television. The opening lines suggest that the singer is disillusioned with the state of the world and has decided that there is only one solution to his problems, which is to take his own life on live TV. The next line, "that will get you the girls," is almost sarcastic, implying that people who commit such heinous acts are celebrated in society, which is further highlighted when the singer urges the audience to "Blow your brains out do it do it. Who cares? Not me!"
The second half of the lyrics focus on the idea that if someone were to follow through with this act, they would gain instant fame and become a "staple" at MTV. The mention of Filter – a band that had a hit song in the 90s with "Take a Picture" – is a nod to the power of the music industry, which has the ability to immortalize even the most despicable acts. Overall, this song seems like a commentary on the disturbing trend of glorifying violence and tragedy in American pop culture.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got all kinds of problems
You're dealing with various difficulties
With the state of the world
The current state of the world is a major contributing factor to your problems
And there's just one solution
Despite the numerous problems you're facing, there is only one solution in your mind
That will get you the girls.
This solution is perceived as a way to attract women
Blow your brains out on live TV.
The suggested solution is to commit suicide in a public and graphic manner
Four more years yeah right.
The idea of continuing to live in this world for another four years is deemed unbearable
Get a song written about you
In an attempt to become more famous, a song is suggested to be written about this person
By a band like Filter.
The band Filter is given as an example of the type of band that would achieve the desired effect
And you'll become a staple
The person will achieve a level of notoriety as a result of the song being written about them
At the MT&R
The MTV awards show is indicated as a possible place where this person could make an appearance
Blow you brains out live TV.
However, committing suicide on television is still presented as the ultimate solution to all the person's problems
Blow your brains out do it do it.
The repeated urging to commit suicide demonstrates the severity of the person's mental state
Who cares? Not me!
There is a feeling of apathy towards the consequences of the suggested actions
Who cares? Not me!
This feeling of apathy is reiterated
Who cares? Not me!
For the third time, the singer emphasizes their lack of concern
Four more years yeah right.
The idea of continuing to live in this world for another four years remains intolerable
Contributed by Oliver O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.