The would-be next album, "Dear Tommy" (2016), was scrapped, and was meant to be re-worked for a subsequent release, however the fate of album is unclear, as on August 10, 2021, Ruth Radelet, Adam Miller and Nat Walker announced the breaking up of Chromatics. Later that day the label, Italians Do It Better, and Johnny Jewel's representative, also confirmed the breakup. Their last album is "Closer to Grey" (2019), which has a companion album, "Faded Now" (2020).
The band originally hailed from Seattle and formed in 2002 as a quartet featuring vocalist Adam Miller, drummer Hannah Blilie, guitarist Devin Welch, and bassist Michelle Nolan. That lineup debuted in 2002 with a Calvin Johnson-produced 7" on Gold Standard Laboratories -- a split with Die Monitr Batss -- and followed with the similarly GSL-issued Chrome Rats vs Basement Ruts LP.
While Chrome Rats was critically hailed, Chromatics couldn't keep it together, and Miller was soon the only member in good standing (Blilie, Welch, and Nolan went on to form the similar-sounding Shoplifting). Unworried, Miller added guitar and drum programming to his vocal duties and tapped bassist Nat Sahlstrom for the 2003 GSL 7" Ice Hatchets. That was followed by the February 2004 full-length Plaster Hounds (which featured the percussion work of Get Hustle's Ron Avila), and a repositioning of the Chromatics axis to greater reflect its dub and no wave influences.
This lineup too dissolved and Adam Miller relocated Chromatics to Portland, teaming up with Glass Candy's Johnny Jewel, Ruth Radelet on lead vocals, and Nat Walker on percussion and saxophone. The new lineup of Chromatics had a more lo-fi electronic sound as opposed to the earlier dub and no-wave sounds.
Healer
Chromatics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lazy cries
Lampshades
Doused in gasoline
Healer
Our last goodbye
Waving
From rusted balconies
Healer
Decietful eyes
Witness
The false atrocities
Healer
The poor disguise
Being here's
A lust for vanity
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
The lyrics to Chromatics' "Healer" are intriguing and layered with meaning. The song seems to speak to the idea of false healers or those who claim to have the ability to help others but ultimately prove to be fraudulent. The opening lines of "lazy cries" and "lampshades doused in gasoline" suggest a kind of despair or hopelessness, perhaps referencing those who have already given up on seeking real help and have turned to self-destructive behavior as a result. The "last goodbye" and "rusty balconies" further emphasize a sense of finality and decay.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift to focus on those who present themselves as healers but are truly "deceitful" and perpetrating "false atrocities." The use of the word "atrocities" adds a sense of gravity to the situation, suggesting that these fake healers may be doing real harm to those who seek their help. The line "being here's a lust for vanity" may speak to the idea that some healers are motivated not by a desire to truly help others, but by a desire for recognition or power.
Overall, "Healer" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that explores complex themes related to vulnerability, trust, and deception. While the lyrics are somewhat enigmatic, they invite listeners to reflect on their own experiences and feelings related to seeking help and guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
Healer
The idea of seeking healing from something or someone
The lazy cries
Crying without putting in effort or seeking change
Lampshades
An object that provides light but can also cast shadows and distort reality
Doused in gasoline
A potentially dangerous situation or action that could cause harm to oneself or others
Healer
The repeated desire for healing or a solution to a problem
Our last goodbye
The final farewell to something or someone, often associated with sadness or loss
Waving
The act of saying goodbye, often symbolizing a wish for the other person's well-being
From rusted balconies
A place of decay and neglect, perhaps representing a past that is fading away
Deceitful eyes
Eyes that are untrustworthy or hide something
Witness
To observe or experience firsthand
The false atrocities
Actions or events that are being portrayed as cruel or harmful, but may not be accurate or true
Healer
The persistent search for healing or resolution
The poor disguise
A cover-up that is poorly done or easily seen through
Being here's
The act of existing or being present in a certain place or situation
A lust for vanity
A desire for self-promotion or admiration, often leading to a focus on superficial things
Ooh, ooh
Repetition of a vocalization, perhaps representing a feeling of longing or seeking something
Ooh, ooh
Repetition of a vocalization, perhaps representing a feeling of longing or seeking something
Ooh, ooh
Repetition of a vocalization, perhaps representing a feeling of longing or seeking something
Ooh, ooh
Repetition of a vocalization, perhaps representing a feeling of longing or seeking something
Lyrics © ITALIANS DO IT BETTER INTERNATIONAL, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Adam Miller, John Padgett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@erndog64
When I listen to Chromatics I feel like I'm in an acid trip..slowly fading out of it...then back to reality. Such an awesome song.
@MarcS4R
this is probably my favorite Chromatics song. i keep coming back to it. <3
@FHSBlackSwarm
Same
@julescosta159
absolutely love it all ! can't get enough of all albums !
@patrickmichaelsen8352
my favorite song by these guys so far
@1Technomonster
Awesome track, Guitar riffs remind me of some Joy Division tracks. Her vocals are hypnotic .
@yamisplace1918
i love this song
@samuelmorse784
Reminiscent of alternative post-rock band Mogwai, known for cutting-edge film and tv soundtrack work.
@usedfuzzbox
Love this....
@robertohep6934
......YEEEESSSS.....The hidden MaGIcaL MuSIcaL FrEQUeNciEs ::::....... transport me to another QuANtuM ReALm. .🎶✨🎶✨✨🎶🎶✨🎶✨💠✨....so fantastic. ... thank you 🌠