Almost every night, some Bound Stems get together… Read Full Bio ↴Ye olde Press Bio:
Almost every night, some Bound Stems get together for something or other. A lot of times it's for practice, but sometimes it's for a barbecue, with a lot of friendly friends around. A lot of times it's at the studio, and songs are underway. Sounds unspooling in the background: El train, northwest bound; cicadas; a stick gnawed by a puppy; now a chorus of cicadas; sidewalk conversations; giant whirring air conditioning stacks; airplanes approaching O'Hare; fat car tires, and the polite beep of a car in the mouth of an alley.
Bound Stems started making music together in late 2002, but they were already up in each other's business. Bobby Gallivan (guitar, vocals, lyrics), Dan Radzicki (bass, keys, vocals) and Dan Fleury (guitar) played basketball on the same team in high school. When they met Evan Sult (drums, tapes), they'd been playing together for a long while. He'd been in Harvey Danger (London/Sire, Polygram) in Seattle, but just moved to Chicago.
Three years later, they present their EP, The Logic of Building the Body Plan (Flameshovel Records). It was a lot of work in seclusion, really: a practice space and a studio and back and forth for six months, pretty much every day. That's what made their album, Appreciation Night, such a complex, beautiful composition, full of tricky time signatures and memorable lines. Bound Stems released Appreciation Night in September 2006: to celebrate in advance, they made an EP, The Logic of Building the Body Plan, which features seven tracks, including two from their debut record; three new songs; and two song compositions created by Bound Stems and co-producer Tim Sandusky, with whom they recorded both releases at Chicago's Studio Ballistico.
Bobby's a high school history teacher. Fleury's a financial whiz kid. Radz is a lab scientist, no shit. Evan's an art director at a comic book publisher. Czech that out. Another voice on the EP is Kate Gross, who graced both the studio and the stage with Bound Stems for a while. Newest member Janie Porche sings harmony and plays an SP606, an acoustic guitar, a keyboard or two and an electric named Sweet Tones. The Logic of Building the Body Plan is an intricately arranged 26 minutes of pop music founded on secretly complicated rhythmic structures. Male vocals and female harmonies build narratives off scenes summoned by the instruments and by a library of stolen sounds that emigrated to their songs: grandmas, crafty cabbies, trains, party laughter, turnstiles, storytellers, and a field's worth of crickets. It's approachable music; it sounds like they knocked themselves out, which they did, and it also sounds like a pleasure to dive headfirst into.
Passing Bell
Bound Stems Lyrics
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We find that all of our days are stacked up with the rest of 'em here. The stewards of sport, they need a lesson from the pit bosses they used to jeer. Though it unravels--oh it unravels!--to the core of the character kids.
"Insofar as we're concerned, a knock-out punch is well deserved!"
Mirror images blur:
"All fall in line! Take what you earn, it all has a price! Right where you tread, full speed ahead!" with furious might (pardon my speech). We're waiting to leave, we're waiting to leave...
She says she's tired. Well, we're all tired; kindly refrain. I'll draw you a map, we'll get there today.
"You're not too late. Come inside! You're not too late. Cheer up, it's your lucky day."
I know exactly what it means to tightrope. She says she's here to stay. It's all talk talk talking, bitter observations--damn the dosage, let it fizzle out! The Drawback Difference: listen to the cadence, stumble stumble forward--
Gun-shy jokesters home from college, knavish in behavior, mind the manor for the glory hounds. Ready-made victors, law-abiding fighters tremor, tremor. "I'm not saying it's fine!"--it's just a job or a joint resolution, selling our house so we can leave this town.
Around-the-world summer! Funny how we wonder if it's worth the risk of leaving tonight... Curveball craft, caught in a snag, working hard to put up a fight. Shutterbug vets in the powder room making a mess! But Janie's in the back cleaning up, making so much sense.
("Bobby?")
"All fall in line! Take what you earn, it all has a price! Right where you tread, full speed ahead with furious might!" (Pardon my speech--we're waiting to leave.) We're waiting to leave, changing the tide. It's just what we're told: "Now go get it right!"
Bargain: a plea (a throwback, it seems). Now quiet comply...
The song "Passing Bell" by Bound Stems is a complex and layered criticism of society's expectations and the struggle to conform to them. The first verse describes a person waking up early and going to breakfast during tough times. The second verse talks about the pressure to excel in education and the disconnect between different classes of people. The chorus "We find that all of our days are stacked up with the rest of 'em here" suggests feeling trapped in a monotonous routine with no escape. The following verses touch on themes of conformity, disillusionment with societal constructs, and the struggle to find one's own identity.
The line "I know exactly what it means to tightrope" could mean that the singer understands the delicate balance between conforming and trying to stand out in a society that values both. The repetition of the phrase "It's your lucky day!" seems almost sarcastic, as if saying that the chance to break free from societal expectations is rare and fleeting. The song ends with the message to comply and accept the bargain, indicating that sometimes it feels like there is no other choice but to conform for survival.
Overall, "Passing Bell" is a thought-provoking critique of society that highlights the pressure to conform, the struggle to find oneself, and the pursuit of individuality in a world that values conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up early, hustle up to breakfast: those were the grim days, taking out time.
In the past, we had to work hard and sacrifice our time in order to achieve our goals.
High profile (private education) heathen insider in an outside town.
A person who is wealthy and well-educated, but does not align with the values of the community they live in.
"A" students mingle with blue-collar workers--they couldn't do it if they tried.
Smart and successful individuals are able to interact with everyday people, but it is difficult for those who lack these traits.
A stern line, certainly appealing; damaged agenda when it bores the crowd.
Being strict and forceful can be attractive, but if it becomes monotonous or tedious, it can cause harm and disinterest.
Tough crusader, boy he gets results though! I'm refined, I get to liste them all.
A forceful advocate can make progress, but a more sophisticated listener can understand and appreciate the nuances of the situation.
Oh so resilient, more fun than brilliant: sticking around until they kick you out!
Being resilient and persistent can be more enjoyable than being brilliant, and it can also lead to success.
We find that all of our days are stacked up with the rest of 'em here. The stewards of sport, they need a lesson from the pit bosses they used to jeer.
Our daily lives are filled with mundane routines. Those who manage sports could benefit from learning from their former despised colleagues, who are now pit bosses.
Though it unravels--oh it unravels!--to the core of the character kids.
Even when things fall apart, it reveals the true character of those involved.
"Insofar as we're concerned, a knock-out punch is well deserved!"
We believe that a significant and deserved victory is imminent.
Mirror images blur:
Reflections become unclear and distorted.
"All fall in line! Take what you earn, it all has a price! Right where you tread, full speed ahead!" with furious might (pardon my speech). We're waiting to leave, we're waiting to leave...
Conform to the norms and pay what is owed, move forward quickly without hesitation. The singer is itching to leave.
She says she's tired. Well, we're all tired; kindly refrain. I'll draw you a map, we'll get there today.
Even though everyone is tired, the artist wants to guide someone to their destination.
"You're not too late. Come inside! You're not too late. Cheer up, it's your lucky day."
It's not too late to engage or enter, and the singer wants to encourage someone to be cheerful because they are lucky.
I know exactly what it means to tightrope. She says she's here to stay. It's all talk talk talking, bitter observations--damn the dosage, let it fizzle out!
The singer understands the difficulties of a precarious situation. Someone claims they will not leave, but they're making negative comments that will eventually fade.
The Drawback Difference: listen to the cadence, stumble stumble forward--
Pay attention to the rhythm and keep moving forward, even if you stumble along the way.
Gun-shy jokesters home from college, knavish in behavior, mind the manor for the glory hounds. Ready-made victors, law-abiding fighters tremor, tremor.
Immature and cowardly people who just returned from college are misbehaving and guarding the place where they desire fame. Worthy and lawful champions tremble with anticipation.
"I'm not saying it's fine!"--it's just a job or a joint resolution, selling our house so we can leave this town.
The artist wants to clarify that the situation is not okay, but it must be done for employment reasons or as a group decision. The sale of their house is necessary for them to depart from the area.
Around-the-world summer! Funny how we wonder if it's worth the risk of leaving tonight... Curveball craft, caught in a snag, working hard to put up a fight.
A summer trip around the world is exciting, but the possibility of leaving right away is uncertain. Unexpected problems arise, yet the singer is putting forth a lot of effort to overcome them.
Shutterbug vets in the powder room making a mess! But Janie's in the back cleaning up, making so much sense.
Older and experienced photographers are making a mess in the restroom. But Janie is in the rear, making sense and taking care of business.
"All fall in line! Take what you earn, it all has a price! Right where you tread, full speed ahead with furious might!" (Pardon my speech--we're waiting to leave.) We're waiting to leave, changing the tide. It's just what we're told: "Now go get it right!"
Conform to the norms and pay what is owed, move forward quickly without hesitation. The artist is impatient to leave and the tide is turning. They are urged to succeed.
Bargain: a plea (a throwback, it seems). Now quiet comply...
Negotiate a deal while appealing for leniency, though it may seem outdated. Now follow orders quietly.
Contributed by Lily I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.