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.
The Telephone Call
Chromatics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, it's me
Hey babe, what's going on
I'm just leaving the club right now
Oh, how was it tonight?
Good, the DJs were alright
Oh, good. Do you want to come over?
Yeah, I'll be there in about an hour - I'm going to go for a drive
Sure
Ok, I'll see you soon
Ok, I love you
I love you too
The lyrics to Chromatics' song The Telephone Call seem to be a mundane conversation between two people who are in a romantic relationship. However, a closer look reveals that the lyrics are more complex than that. The song begins with a phone call where the man on the line tells his partner that he is leaving the club. This suggests that he has been out partying and possibly cheating on his partner. The woman on the line then asks how the night was, and he replies that the DJs were alright, implying that he was more interested in the music than anything else that was happening at the club.
The woman then invites him over, and he agrees, but he also says that he wants to take a drive first. This could be seen as another egregious act because he is delaying his arrival and could use the time to commit more offenses. The woman then asks him to pick up a bottle of wine, perhaps hoping to create a romantic mood to counteract the negative things he has done.
The song ends with both of them saying "I love you" to each other. This could be seen as a way to maintain the illusion of their relationship or as an attempt to ignore the issues at hand. Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the cycle of lovers forgiving their significant others despite repeated betrayals.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello?
Answering the phone call
Hey, it's me
Introducing oneself as the caller
Hey babe, what's going on
Inquiring about the listener's current state
I'm just leaving the club right now
Informing the listener of the caller's current location and activity
Oh, how was it tonight?
Asking about the success of the event or experience
Good, the DJs were alright
Responding positively to the inquiry and providing feedback about the music
Oh, good. Do you want to come over?
Inviting the listener to visit the caller
Yeah, I'll be there in about an hour - I'm going to go for a drive
Accepting the invitation and informing the listener about the estimated arrival time
Hey, can you cop a bottle of wine on your way
Requesting the listener to purchase a bottle of wine before visiting
Sure
Agreeing to the request
Ok, I'll see you soon
Confirming the visit and expressing anticipation to meet
Ok, I love you
Expressing love towards the listener
I love you too
Responding with love towards the caller
Writer(s): John Padgett
Contributed by Kaylee A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.