Beginning as a solo recording project by Toledo in 2010, Car Seat Headrest self-released 12 albums on the music platform Bandcamp, before signing to Matador Records in 2015. Car Seat Headrest would begin touring as a full band the following year.
History
2010–2014: Lo-fi and solo releases, from 1 to How to Leave Town
Car Seat Headrest began as the solo project of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Will Toledo (born William Barnes) shortly after he graduated high school. Toledo had previously released music under the alias Nervous Young Men, but after struggling to establish an audience, he decided to change tactics, choosing to try and release more experimental songs anonymously. Toledo chose the name "Car Seat Headrest" as he would often record the vocals to his early albums in the back seat of his car for privacy.
Throughout the summer of 2010, Toledo released his first four albums under the Car Seat Headrest name: 1, 2, 3, and 4. 1 and 2 incorporated less traditional song structures, with stream-of-consciousness lyrics, whereas 3 and 4 would begin to cement his lo-fi indie rock style. Following the numbered albums, Toledo began attending classes at Virginia Commonwealth University, releasing the Sunburned Shirts EP during his first semester. The Sunburned Shirts EP would later be partially combined with his fifth LP, 5, to create his first titled album, My Back Is Killing Me Baby, released in March 2011. Songs culled from 5 would later appear on the b-sides compilation album Little Pieces of Paper with "No" Written on Them.
After a difficult and lonely semester at VCU, Toledo transferred to the College of William & Mary, where he would release his next project, Twin Fantasy, a concept album centered on a relationship he was in at the time. Twin Fantasy would later be followed up by 2012's Monomania and Starving While Living EP.
Around this time, Toledo began performing live shows with fellow students Katie Wood, Austin Ruhf, and Christian Northover, recording and releasing a short live album in July 2013 entitled Live at WCWM: Car Seat Headrest at the university's studio. Toledo would release his next project the following month; a two-hour long double album entitled Nervous Young Man. Three of the songs, and the title of the album, were taken from his original project, Nervous Young Men, but had been heavily reworked and re-recorded. Released alongside Nervous Young Man, for those who paid $5 or more, was the outtakes compilation album Disjecta Membra.
Toledo's final solo release was 2014's How to Leave Town, an hour long EP with heavy electronic instrumentation and more ambitious song structures.
2015–2017: Matador Records, Teens of Style and Teens of Denial
Ethan Ives.
In September 2015, Car Seat Headrest announced on Facebook that he had signed an album deal with Matador Records. Toledo, who had recently graduated and moved to Seattle, recruited bassist Jacob Bloom and drummer Andrew Katz through Craigslist to record and tour his next album. In October 2015, Car Seat Headrest released the compilation album Teens of Style, their first to not be self-released exclusively via Bandcamp. Shortly after the album's release, Bloom left the group to attend medical school, and was replaced by bassist Ethan Ives.
Ives played bass throughout most of the recordings for the band's following release, but would later switch to guitar and other instruments, with Seth Dalby taking over on bass. Ives and Dalby were later cemented in these positions during live shows and future releases. The new album, created with traditional studio processes, Teens of Denial, was released on May 20, 2016. The album received universal acclaim, and brought the band a new wave of popularity.
In 2017, Car Seat Headrest released an alternate mix of their single, "War Is Coming (If You Want It)" through Bandcamp for one day, with profits going to the Transgender Law Center. The original mix of the track was released ten days later.
On December 13, 2017, the band released a re-recorded version of "Beach Life-In-Death", the second track on Twin Fantasy, through Spotify without prior announcement. This sparked fan rumors that the album would be re-recorded and released the following year. On December 27, 2017, an Amazon listing detailing a re-recorded version of Twin Fantasy was found by fans, and subsequently uploaded to the Car Seat Headrest subreddit. This was followed up by a listing on SRCVinyl.com with the date February 16, 2018.
2018–2019: Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) and Commit Yourself Completely
On January 9, 2018, Matador Records formally announced the release of the re-recording, entitled Twin Fantasy (Face to Face), alongside a re-release of the original album. Twin Fantasy (Face to Face) was released via Matador on February 16. The original, which has been re-titled Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror), was released on vinyl as a part of Record Store Day on April 21. On February 15, 2018, the band released a cover of "Fallen Horses" by Smash Mouth, who returned the favor by covering "Something Soon". Around the same time, they began touring with fellow Seattle-based band, Naked Giants, as a part of the group's expanded live lineup.
In August 2018, when asked about new material, Toledo confirmed that he was “demoing out stuff in Ableton,” adding “there might be some stuff that surprises people who only know us as a rock band, but I don’t think it will come as a surprise to people who are checking out all the deep cuts.” In January 2019, Andrew Katz confirmed the band was recording new music through a video uploaded on Instagram.
Following the tease of new music, the band began experimenting with new material at various live shows in December 2018, debuting the tracks "Weightlifters", "Hollywood", "Stop Lying To Me", and "You Know There's Someone Out There", soon followed by "Can't Cool Me Down" in February and March 2019 performances. All were officially released on the next album except for "Stop Lying To Me" and "You Know There's Someone Out There".
On June 12, 2019, Car Seat Headrest announced a new live album titled Commit Yourself Completely, featuring official recordings of performances from the Twin Fantasy tour from 2018. It was released the following week on June 17.
2020–present: Making a Door Less Open
On February 26, 2020, Car Seat Headrest announced their first studio album consisting of wholly new material since 2016's Teens of Denial, Making a Door Less Open. This announcement coincided with the release of "Can't Cool Me Down", the first single and second track off the album, and a release date of May 1, 2020. It marks a stylistic divergence from previous material, Toledo describing the album as containing elements of EDM, hip hop, futurism, doo-wop, soul and rock and roll. Three more singles were released to promote the album between March and April of that year: "Martin", "Hollywood" and "There Must Be More Than Blood". The release also coincided with the introduction of Trait, an alternative persona of Toledo's, featured prominently wearing a modified gas mask with blinking LED lights for eyes. The character had originally been created for the group's "comedic" side project, 1 Trait Danger, featuring Toledo alongside drummer Andrew Katz.
Making a Door Less Open was released with three separate versions across different formats: vinyl, CD and streaming, each with variations in track-list and specific musical elements. The album received a mixed reaction from fans, which pointed out the many divergences from the band's previous works, but received an overall score of 77 on review aggregate site Metacritic. Toledo noted that he and the band were working on a companion album for their latest release, while also looking for ways to improve the Trait mask to incorporate it into live performances.
Style
AllMusic biographer Mark Deming wrote that Car Seat Headrest created "moody and introspective lo-fi pop tunes that are melodic but structurally ambitious at once." Writing for Pitchfork, Jeremy Gordon stated that on Teens of Denial, "Will Toledo reaffirms that he is ahead of the pack as an imaginative singer-songwriter, capable of crafting dynamic indie rock." Ian Cohen of Pitchfork also described Toledo's music as "dense, confounding music that most often captures the giddy thrill of having access to recording equipment, of finally put a sound to the voice in your head."
Car Seat Headrest's influences include Radiohead, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Daniel Johnston, Destroyer, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Leonard Cohen, of Montreal, Modest Mouse, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sufjan Stevens, Swans, They Might Be Giants, Why?, R.E.M., the Who, Nirvana, the Blackout, Neil Diamond, William Onyeabor, the Clash, the Cars, James Brown, DEVO, Queen, Rod Stewart, and Green Day.
something soon
Car Seat Headrest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
taking pills to keep from dreaming
I want to break something important
I want to kick my dad in the shins
I was referring to the present in past tense
it was the only way that I could survive it
I want to close my head in the car door
heavy boots on my throat, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
I can't talk to my folks, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
All of my fingers are froze, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
Only one change of clothes, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
my head is my head is my head is
stay inside all this winter
filling out forms from a working printer
I want to talk like Raymond Carver
(an advertisement cries out)
I want to turn down the goddamn tv
(he should have gone to Jared's)
binging on the latest sitcom
feeling guilty every second it's on
I want to put my foot through a window
(I document my mind loss)
I want to romanticize my headfuck
(through instruments of wordplay)
heavy boots on my throat, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
I can't talk to my folks, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
All of my fingers are froze, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
Only one change of clothes, I need
I need somethin soon I need somethin soon
my head is my head is my head is my head is my head is my head is
Let's burn this house down (x a lot)
The opening lines of "Something Soon" by Car Seat Headrest convey a sense of desperation and frustration. The singer is struggling to contain their emotions, using physical pain and medication to control their thoughts and feelings. The desire to break something important and kick their dad in the shins reveals a deep-seated anger and resentment that is simmering just beneath the surface. The reference to the present tense in past tense indicates that the singer is recounting a recent experience in retrospect, possibly to gain a sense of distance and perspective.
The next verse of the song continues this theme of emotional turmoil and disconnection. The singer describes a sense of suffocation, both literal and metaphorical, with heavy boots on their throat and fingers frozen with cold. The repetition of the phrase "I need somethin soon" suggests a desperate search for relief, something to break through the numbness and despair. The lyrics also contain references to literary figures such as Raymond Carver, suggesting a desire for intellectual stimulation and artistic expression.
Overall, "Something Soon" is a powerful and intense expression of the pain and confusion of adolescence. The song captures the raw emotions and inner turbulence of the teenage years, with a sense of urgency and intensity that is both unsettling and cathartic.
Line by Line Meaning
biting my clothes to keep from screaming
I am so frustrated and angry that I am physically hurting myself to avoid yelling.
taking pills to keep from dreaming
I am trying to avoid dealing with my problems by sleeping and avoiding reality.
I want to break something important
I am so upset and desperate that I feel like destroying something valuable for a sense of release.
I want to kick my dad in the shins
I have a lot of unresolved anger and resentment towards my father.
I was referring to the present in past tense
I am struggling to deal with my current reality and it feels like it would be easier to pretend it's already done.
it was the only way that I could survive it
Focusing on the past has been a coping mechanism for me.
I want to close my head in the car door
I am so overwhelmed by my thoughts and emotions that I'd do anything for them to go away.
I want to sing this song like I'm dying
I am pouring all of my emotion into this song and expressing myself as honestly as possible.
heavy boots on my throat, I need
I feel suffocated and helpless and I need something to help me cope.
stay inside all this winter
I am isolating myself from the world to avoid dealing with my issues.
filling out forms from a working printer
I am trying to distract myself with mundane tasks that don't require much thought.
I want to talk like Raymond Carver
I want to communicate my inner turmoil with the same raw honesty that Carver did in his writing.
(an advertisement cries out)
Advertising is everywhere and it's hard to escape its influence.
I want to turn down the goddamn tv
I am sick of being bombarded by meaningless noise and distractions.
(he should have gone to Jared's)
Even our romantic ideals are dictated by consumerism and advertising.
binging on the latest sitcom
I am using TV as a way to escape from my feelings and thoughts.
feeling guilty every second it's on
Watching TV isn't really providing the relief that I need and I feel bad for wasting so much time.
I want to put my foot through a window
I am so frustrated and angry that I wish I could act out destructively.
(I document my mind loss)
I am trying to keep track of my thoughts and emotions as they spiral out of control.
I want to romanticize my headfuck
I want to find beauty and meaning in my pain and struggles.
(through instruments of wordplay)
Writing and music are my ways of expressing myself and finding meaning in my experiences.
Let's burn this house down (x a lot)
I am so fed up with everything that I want to just burn everything down and start fresh.
Contributed by Sarah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Yael Durbach
Biting my clothes to keep from screaming
Taking pills to keep from dreaming
I want to break something important
I want to kick my dad in the shins
I was referring to the present in past tense
It was the only way that I could survive it
I want to close my head in the car door
I want to sing this song like I'm dying
Heavy boots on my throat, I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
I can't talk to my folks, I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
All of my fingers are froze, I need
I need something soon I need something soon
Only one change of clothes, I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
My head is, my head is, my head is
Stay inside all this winter
Filling out forms from a working printer
I want to talk like Raymond Carver
(An advertisement cries out)
I want to turn down the goddamn tv
("He should have gone to Jared's")
Binging on the latest sitcom
Feeling guilty every second it's on
I want to put my foot through a window
(I document my mind loss)
I want to romanticize my headfuck
(Through instruments of wordplay)
Heavy boots on my throat, I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
I can't talk to my folks, I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
All of my fingers are froze, I need
I need something soon I need something soon
Only one change of clothes, I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
My head is, my head is, my head is
My head is, my head is, my head is
Let's burn this house down
Let's burn this house down
Let's burn this house down
Let's burn this house down
Let's burn this house down
Let's burn this house down
Let's burn this house down
Let's burn this house down
maryam m
Biting my clothes to keep from screaming
Taking pills to keep from dreaming
I want to break something important
I want to kick my dad in the shins
I was referring to the present in past tense
It was the only way that I could survive it
I want to close my head in the car door
I want to sing this song like I'm dying
Heavy boots on my throat I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
I can't talk to my folks I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
All of my fingers are froze I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
Only one change of clothes I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
My head is my head is my head is
Stay inside all this winter
Filling out forms from a busted printer
I want to talk like Raymond Carver
(an advertisement cries out)
I want to turn down the goddamn TV
("He should have gone to Jared's")
Binging on the latest sitcom
Feeling guilty every second it's on
I want put my foot through a window
(I document my mind loss)
I want to romanticize my headfuck
(through instruments of wordplay)
Heavy boots on my throat I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
I can't talk to my folks I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
All of my fingers are froze I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
Only one change of clothes I need
I need something soon
I need something soon
My head is my head is my head is
Julia Richards
I'm just now discovering that Will dancing in his dorm room is not the official video for this song
Fishm0nger
it was for like 5 years
korunaandlime
it is for the version on my back is killing me baby, this is the video for the remake of it
Axeties
im the 3rd comment tihihihi haiii :3
INN
"I didn't actually die during the making of this video." -Will Toledo
shampoo
please tell me he actually said that in an interview or smth
INN
@shampoo it's in the description lol
Hasti Thakkar
legendary
Joseph M
sounds like something that someone who died during the making of this video would say
Lu Godfrey
I love how the video's so serious and angsty meanwhile Andrew's just got a goofy-ass smile in the background