1. Brazil was a si… Read Full Bio ↴There are four bands with the artist name Brazil:
1. Brazil was a six-man progressive punk group based in Muncie, Indiana. Brazil's style was at the same time psychedelic and intense in nature, conjuring up delicious imagery of sinister sci-Fi scenery with perhaps a dash of post-modernist philosophy thrown in for extra flavor.
The band was originally called "London". When learning that London had been the name of the first incarnation of Motley Crue, they then changed name to Brazil, staying on a geographic theme (also inspired by from Terry Gilliam's 1985 sci-Fi movie of the same name). Their sci-Fi themes and imagery may also be attributed to this same inspiration.
Brazil was also (for unknown reasons) fond of using French phrases and lines in their lyrics. Jonathan Newby's vocals, which are reminiscent of At The Drive-In/The Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala's, often seem to have an unexpected French accent. Tours supporting acts such as Coheed and Cambria, Sparta, MeWithoutYou, Say Anything, Rainier Maria and Forgive Durden solidify the band in the modern rock soundescape.
Brazil has released officially "Dasein" (EP-Fearless Records), "A Hostage and The Meaning of Life" (Fearless Records) and most recently 2006's "The Philosophy of Velocity" on Immortal Records.
The band plan to release a final "post-mortem" ep release of 3 new tracks, 4 reworked versions of older songs and a live track as a digital download this fall titled "Ere I Am J.H." This release will be the flagship release on Newby's homespun label Elefant & Haus.
The final lineup of the band was: Jonathan Newby (vocals, Moog synthesizer, original drummer), Eric Johnson and Aaron Smith (guitars), Nic Newby (keyboards), Phillip Williams (bass), and James Sefchek (drums). The band had at least 8 drummers over time, including Nater Kane and others who were pulled in for tour support.
2. Brazil was an emotive hardcore/punk band from Iowa City that included Matt Davis on vocals/guitars from The Vidablue and Ten Grand.
3. Brazil were a rock band from Leeds, UK active circa 1999-2002. The group released the six-track 'This Is Future Wave' E.P., including songs such as "Pornstar" and "Flatline", followed by the Eatitfightitfuckit E.P. featuring the tracks "School Daze", "Sister Volume", "Charmed" and "Razor Queen", both in 2001.
4. Brazil was a Darkwave/Synth Pop/New wave band from Sisak, active in Yugoslavia in the 80's.
Canon
Brazil Lyrics
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Point only to failed ambition.
Alone in the city of millions,
He walks on the left,
Against the even flow of traffic,
Outwardly pushing but inwardly pulling,
Wanting to connect to the source,
He's too afraid to ask certain dimensions of himself to want,
Like limbs of a dismembered poet,
Rippling veins unhuman crooked through the scars,
Yet just above the internal wounds that never seem to knit completely,
A world made of grey matter housing the city he calls his own,
Standing on a ledge, he surveys the land between his feet and the horizon,
Heat-seeking projectile lines and run through the flame retardant dress of the mob,
And with the even past of rolling steam in time
He is the monolith
They will break,
They will burn,
But if feels honest.
It feels honest
The lyrics of Brazil's "Canon" paint a vivid picture of a lone individual in the middle of a bustling city, feeling disconnected and struggling with his own internal conflicts. The opening line, "mass of rain scaling skyscrapers," sets the tone for the rest of the song, which describes the overwhelming and impersonal nature of urban life. The singer is "alone in the city of millions," and despite outwardly pushing against the flow of traffic, he is inwardly pulling and seeking deeper connections to himself and the world around him. The lyrics suggest a sense of despair and isolation, as the singer is "too afraid to ask certain dimensions of himself to want" and feels like a "monolith" - an immovable and unfeeling object in the midst of a dynamic and constantly changing landscape.
The second verse of the song uses vivid imagery to depict the singer's emotional struggles. The "limbs of a dismembered poet" suggest a sense of fragmentation and loss, while the "rippling veins unhuman crooked through the scars" evoke a sense of inner turmoil and chaos. Despite this, the singer is able to connect with the city on a deeper level, standing on a ledge and surveying the world around him. The image of "heat-seeking projectile lines" and "flame retardant dress" suggests a tension between the individual and the masses, as the singer stands out from the crowd and seeks to break free from the monotony of urban life.
Overall, "Canon" is a powerful and introspective song that delves into the complexities of human emotion and the struggle to find meaning in a large and overwhelming world. The lyrics are open to interpretation and invite the listener to reflect on their own feelings of isolation and connection in the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
Mass of rain scaling skyscrapers.
The heavy rain is climbing up the tall buildings, emphasizing the magnitude of the situation.
Point only to failed ambition.
This scenario only highlights the failure of one's ambitions.
Alone in the city of millions,
Even though the city is full of people, he finds himself alone.
He walks on the left,
He is going against the norm, walking on the left side of the road.
Against the even flow of traffic,
He is moving against the flow of traffic that is moving evenly in one direction.
Outwardly pushing but inwardly pulling,
He is giving an outward impression of pushing forward, but internally he is being pulled in a different direction.
Wanting to connect to the source,
He desires to establish a connection with his true self or the source of his being.
He's too afraid to ask certain dimensions of himself to want,
He is scared to explore certain aspects of himself that might lead him to want more.
He is the monolith
He is a solid, timeless and unchanging figure, with his own presence in the midst of the changing city landscape.
Like limbs of a dismembered poet,
The scattered and disjointed picture of the scene presented is similar to the lost writings of a scattered poet's limbs after dismemberment.
Rippling veins unhuman crooked through the scars,
The scars on the surface show the veins running through and highlight the unhuman and crooked nature of the changes taking place.
Yet just above the internal wounds that never seem to knit completely,
In spite of the physical wounds that are not completely healed, it is the internal wounds that remain unresolved and will never heal completely.
A world made of grey matter housing the city he calls his own,
An imaginary world made out of grey-coloured matter that encapsulates the city he identifies as his own.
Standing on a ledge, he surveys the land between his feet and the horizon,
He is standing on a high point and looking down at the vast expanse between his feet and the horizon.
Heat-seeking projectile lines and run through the flame retardant dress of the mob,
The heat that comes from the people crowded around him seeks out and overpowers him, just as flames run through an object that is able to resist them.
And with the even past of rolling steam in time
The many rolling steam processes that happen over time, create a smooth and even quality that is consistent with the passage of time.
He is the monolith
He is a constant, permanent feature amidst the ever-changing fluidity of life.
They will break,
Everything will eventually break or fall apart.
They will burn,
All things will also be consumed by fire or end in a flame.
But it feels honest.
Despite the eventual end of everything, it still feels like an honest journey.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind