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
Depression Is No Fun
Bomb the Music Industry! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop until we're dead
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop, it's not gonna stop
It's never ever ever gonna stop until we're dead
Got a lot of shit on my head
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop until we're dead
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop, it's not gonna stop
Ian Graham says it's a temporary solution
To a permanent problem
Even when locations change the imbalance stays the same
And you just run out of cities, states and countries you can blame
So you just keep running away
You're running away, you're running away
Running away, running away
You're running away
Got a lot of shit on my head
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop until we're dead
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop, it's not gonna stop
It's never ever ever gonna stop until we're dead
It took her to the hospital and then her parents' house
I'm walking home at 3 AM alone
When the bartender's asleep, you gotta think things through yourself
And when it gets this late it's hard to find someone to call for help
I got my hands in my pockets and a hood tight over my head
I couldn't deal with anti-depressants but now I'm anti-depressants
I'm all out of smokes and I'm wishing that I was dead again
I couldn't deal with anti-depressants but now I'm anti-depressants
I'm drunk and alone and I'm thinking about how
I couldn't deal with anti-depressants but now I'm anti-depressants, I guess
'Cause it just makes a different mess
Running away, you're running away, you're running away
'Cause it just makes a different mess
Running away, you're running away, you're running away
'Cause it just makes a different mess
Running away, you're running away, you're running away
'Cause it just makes a different mess
Got a lot of shit on my head
The lyrics of "Depression Is No Fun" by Bomb the Music Industry! depict the struggle of dealing with depression and the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed. The recurring line "Got a lot of shit on my head" signifies the heavy burden that the singer is carrying. The song highlights the need to pull oneself together and deal with the problems at hand before they become too much to handle. However, the lyrics also suggest that running away from the problems is not a solution either. The line "Even when locations change the imbalance stays the same" emphasizes the fact that the problems will continue to manifest themselves no matter where one goes.
The reference to anti-depressants in the lyrics suggests that the singer has attempted to seek medical help but has ultimately opted-out. The line "I'm drunk and alone and I'm thinking about how I couldn't deal with anti-depressants but now I'm anti-depressants, I guess" is a nod to the self-medication habits that individuals often resort to when dealing with depression. The song implies that while there may not be a permanent solution to depression, one must learn to cope with it and not let it consume them.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a lot of shit on my head
There's a lot of stuff weighing on my mind and causing me stress
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop until we're dead
We need to find a way to cope and deal with our problems because they won't just magically disappear
You know we got to pull it together 'cause it's not gonna stop, it's not gonna stop
We can't just keep avoiding our problems because they will continue to persist
It's never ever ever gonna stop until we're dead
Our problems will continue to exist until the end of our lives if we don't confront them
Ian Graham says it's a temporary solution
Using avoidance to deal with our problems is only a temporary fix
To a permanent problem
Our issues won't go away on their own and can't be solved by running away from them
Even when locations change the imbalance stays the same
Our internal struggles follow us no matter where we go
And you just run out of cities, states and countries you can blame
Eventually, we can't keep pointing fingers at external factors and must look within ourselves for a solution
So you just keep running away
We continue to avoid our problems rather than facing them head-on
You're running away, you're running away
Our avoidance has become a habit and a pattern
Running away, running away
We're stuck in a cycle of avoidance
You're running away
We're still avoiding our problems
It took her to the hospital and then her parents' house
Someone else had to deal with their mental health problems instead of seeking professional help
I'm walking home at 3 AM alone
The singer is feeling isolated and alone
When the bartender's asleep, you gotta think things through yourself
When there's no one to talk to, we have to reflect and analyze our own thoughts and emotions
And when it gets this late it's hard to find someone to call for help
During late hours, it can be challenging to find someone to turn to for support
I got my hands in my pockets and a hood tight over my head
The artist is physically closing themselves off from the world
I couldn't deal with anti-depressants but now I'm anti-depressants
The singer has gone from avoiding medication to over-relying on it
I'm all out of smokes and I'm wishing that I was dead again
The singer is experiencing suicidal thoughts and wishes they were dead
I guess
The artist is unsure of their current mental state and how to move forward
'Cause it just makes a different mess
Avoiding our problems only leads to more issues and chaos
Running away
We're still avoiding our problems
Contributed by Madison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.