All of his music up until Oops! I Did It Again were classified as IDM (Intelligent dance music) and had very little vocals or lyrics for the most part. However, Kidwell was not content to stay behind the laptop while on tour, and quickly and openly aspired to become "#1 Entertainer". He started to hone freestyling skills and performing new songs. In 2002, he won a coveted tour spot opening for the East Coast leg of the Death and Dismemberment tour with Death Cab for Cutie and old friends from Washington, DC The Dismemberment Plan. Later that year, Tall, Dark, and Handcuffed, his first album with full vocals, was released.
2003 was a pivotal year for Kidwell - after spending his entire life living in or around Baltimore, he packed up and drove out to Oakland, California. Car malfunctions and a week stranded in the western US became the inspiration for his second album of that year, Maryland Mansions, an album about suicide which pushed the motifs of his previous album Being Ridden further and was modelled somewhat on the Nine Inch Nails EP Broken. Two music videos for Maryland Mansions were released early in 2004, and Kidwell moved again, to Chicago a few months later.
Shortly thereafter, he married Roby Newton (from the band Milemarker), and reorganized Cex as a three-piece: Kidwell, Newton, and Cale Parks (from the bands Joan of Arc and Aloha). This configuration released an EP, Know Doubt, in 2005 on a Chicago label called Record Label. The next Cex album is titled Actual Fucking and will be released July 4th, 2006. The album is heavy on vocals and will be released by Seattle label Automation Records.
Stop Eating
Cex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The streets have secret voices
If they don't shut up, your head will get dirty
So you block out the hum, desensitized, it's not healthy
But the city's like a miniature body
With miniature versions of our universal problems
If I could make dorm rooms and stadiums silent
My record when played will make the whole world more quiet
I want to keep my tissues, eyelashes, and intestines clean
But I can't think, open for business, infected
Every particle pulled in a separate direction
I gotta find away to keep the noises outside
Only one holy hunger will I obey or recognize
This body's mine as its owner I seal it
I'll find out just what this piece of shit is capable of feeling
Food is disgusting it's what they make shit from
You're vomiting backwards
Get poisoned, get cancer
I want to make a record instead of taking drugs
But with the tone of the room
It's more quiet than it was
I'm so out of breath, ungraceful
I'm always running, now can't stop chasing
This something inside of me that doesn't exist yet
I'll need to be aerodynamic to catch it
I can't get comfortable in this mess
Less than the sum of my influences arrested
Weighed down by the bullshit my black hole's collected
Suck it all in (distracted, conflicted, pathetic)
But I will make myself into the shape of a weapon
I'll burn off the fat until I'm all sharp edges
Convey my veins contents
No nonsense, no question, no excess
I very much prefer an early exit
Sensible rebellion, the least embarrassing
Not flailing my fists, I'm not coming apart
And when my body stops moving
I won't be shocked
I'll know exactly the cause
And just who's at fault
Food is disgusting it's what they make shit from
You're vomiting backwards
Get poisoned, get cancer
I want to make a record instead of taking drugs
But with the tone of the room
It's more quiet than it was
The lyrics to Cex's song, "Stop Eating," are rich in symbolism and metaphors. The artist reflects on his surroundings and how they affect him as he records his music. He describes the city as a miniature version of universal problems, with its secret voices and noisy streets that can infect and diminish a person's clarity of thought. The artist wants to keep his mind, body and soul clean and clear, but the noise of the city can be overwhelming. He seeks a way to keep the city's noise at bay so that he can achieve his dream of making music. He sees food as a problematic and disgusting substance that can poison and infest a person. His desire to make music is an antidote to the destructive nature of food, and it is this art that will provide meaning to his existence.
The artist's lyrics express a sense of vulnerability, desperation and hope. He wants to be free from the distractions of the physical world so that he can focus on his craft. He sees himself as a weapon in the making, burning off the fat and sharpening his edges, preparing for his inevitable death. The artist acknowledges his mortality, but he is not afraid of it. He sees it as a fact of existence and wants to channel that knowledge into his music.
The song, "Stop Eating," is a complex work that touches on issues of personal identity, artistic expression and the struggle to overcome limitations imposed by the physical world. Cex's use of extended metaphors and vivid imagery make the song an emotional and intellectual journey. The lyrics invite the listener to reflect on their own experiences and engage with the artist's message.
Line by Line Meaning
The city makes so much noise when you record it
When recording audio, the sounds of the city become very obvious
The streets have secret voices
The sounds of the street can create a unique audio environment with its own character
If they don't shut up, your head will get dirty
If the sounds of the city are too loud or overwhelming, it can cause mental fatigue and distress
So you block out the hum, desensitized, it's not healthy
To cope with the noisy environment, one may become numb to the sounds of the city, but it's not a healthy way to live
But the city's like a miniature body
The city is like a living organism with its own problems and conflicts that mirror those on a larger scale
With miniature versions of our universal problems
The issues present in the city are similar to those that exist across the entire world
If I could make dorm rooms and stadiums silent
If only I had the power to make loud places quiet, like dorm rooms and stadiums
My record when played will make the whole world more quiet
My music will act as a calming force, making the world a more peaceful place overall
My ears are ringing, things deaden me
My hearing is damaged from exposure to loud sounds, and it's causing me to become desensitized
I want to keep my tissues, eyelashes, and intestines clean
I want to keep my body healthy, and free from the damaging effects of external toxins
But I can't think, open for business, infected
I am struggling to focus and be productive, and the noise and pollution has caused me to become ill
Every particle pulled in a separate direction
The chaos of the city is pulling everything in different directions, causing conflict and confusion
I gotta find away to keep the noises outside
I need to find a way to block out the noise and distractions of the city to stay focused and healthy
Only one holy hunger will I obey or recognize
I will only listen to my purest and most divine instincts when it comes to my health and well-being
This body's mine as its owner I seal it
I am responsible for keeping my body healthy and safe, and I take full ownership of it
I'll find out just what this piece of shit is capable of feeling
I will explore the full range of emotions and sensations that my body is capable of experiencing, even if it's uncomfortable
Food is disgusting it's what they make shit from
Processed food is filled with disgusting and harmful ingredients
You're vomiting backwards
Eating unhealthy food makes you feel sick and unpleasant
Get poisoned, get cancer
Eating unhealthy food can lead to serious health problems
I want to make a record instead of taking drugs
I want to create music as a healthy outlet, rather than turning to illicit substances
But with the tone of the room
However, the environment around me is not conducive to creativity
It's more quiet than it was
Despite the general noise and chaos, I have found some solace in the relative quiet of the room
I'm so out of breath, ungraceful
I am struggling physically, feeling heavy and clumsy
I'm always running, now can't stop chasing
I am constantly working and striving, unable to take a break or find peace
This something inside of me that doesn't exist yet
There is an unfinished part of me, a potential for growth and development that has not been realized
I'll need to be aerodynamic to catch it
In order to reach my full potential, I'll need to be streamlined and focused
I can't get comfortable in this mess
I am struggling to adapt to the chaos and noise around me
Less than the sum of my influences arrested
I am not living up to my full potential, held back by my surroundings and my own limitations
Weighed down by the bullshit my black hole's collected
I am weighed down by the negativity and pessimism that has accumulated in my mind over time
Suck it all in (distracted, conflicted, pathetic)
I am taking in all of the negative energy around me, feeling distracted, conflicted, and hopeless
But I will make myself into the shape of a weapon
I will transform myself into a force to be reckoned with, using my experiences and my struggles to create something powerful
I'll burn off the fat until I'm all sharp edges
I will work hard to become lean, agile, and sharp in all aspects of my life
Convey my veins contents
I will express my innermost thoughts and emotions through my music
No nonsense, no question, no excess
My music will be straightforward and honest, with no pretense or unnecessary flourishes
I very much prefer an early exit
I would rather leave this world on my own terms than suffer through a long, painful decline
Sensible rebellion, the least embarrassing
My rebellion against the norm will be measured and sensible, rather than wild or erratic
Not flailing my fists, I'm not coming apart
I will stay calm and collected, even in the face of adversity
And when my body stops moving
When I die
I won't be shocked
I will have accepted my fate and be at peace
I'll know exactly the cause
I will understand the circumstances that led to my death
And just who's at fault
I will not blame anyone else for my life or my death
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind