Chronic Future released their self-titled debut album in August 1997 and a followup, 4 Elements, in August 2000. Both albums gained them local popularity, but the band didn't achieve commercial success until the release of their third album, Lines in My Face, in 2004. They signed their first major label deal with Interscope for the release of the album and it reached #18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The lead single was "Time and Time Again" which saw heavy airplay on MTV, MTV2, and Fuse. The single also reached #40 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and was featured in the video games Burnout 3: Takedown and MVP Baseball 2004. During this time the band recruited Ryan Breen to play rhythm guitar on the road. He joined as a full-time member but quit in the same year to begin a solo project of his own, Back Ted N-Ted. He was replaced by Mike Loy who also left to embark on his own musical ventures.
In 2006, Chronic Future left Interscope to continue as an indie band. Members collaborated with Back Ted N-Ted, Busse began a hip hop side project with Charlie Brand of Miniature Tigers called Future Lords. On October 1, 2006, Ben Collins launched his own label Modern Art which signed Back Ted N-Ted, Miniature Tigers, Brothers Backward, Foxglove Hunt, Gospel Claws, and Future Lords.
In late 2006, Chronic Future released a limited edition album, This and of That. It was available exclusively from their official website in 1000 copies. Demos of some of the songs were uploaded to the website leading up to the album's release. The album showed their change from rap rock to an alternative/hip hop/electronic crossover style; their guitar sounds changed to a more electronic sound as opposed to the normal rock sound of previous recordings. Ryan Breen had also returned to provide programming on the album.
In 2008, Chronic Future performed at Bamboozle for its west coast show in Irvine, CA on April 6. They also toured with fellow Arizonans The Medic Droid later that year after opening for them twice in AZ earlier in the year. On November 11, they released the Modern Art EP. It further demonstrated their crossover style, but with far more melodic music than This and of That. The digital EP featured re-recordings of demos previously uploaded to their official website and MySpace page.
From mid-2009, the band stopped updating their online pages. No information was available until a fan posted an email from Ben Collins who stated that the band members had all moved to New York City and that Chronic Future "isn't over yet." According to his personal Facebook page, he had left the band in January 2010.
On March 12, 2015, Ben Collins tweeted that Chronic Future currently has "no plans to tour, but are having fun together (as we always have) and playing NYC this summer." The band is once again active and will be playing their first show together at Bowery Ballroom on July 18, 2015. Opening the show will be Jangula and Charlie Brand.
Shell Shocked
Chronic Future Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i'm standing shellshocked but i'm still here
and this to you is what i'm saying
all that's false will
fade away
you run away from what you know will surely come
i will remember everything that you have done
all that's false will
fade away
I'll say it again because
who are you
to say to me
that i'm not all right
you don't know what it's like
i'm shellshocked
and ripped apart inside
no i'm not all right
you don't know what it's like
well yeah a change in character is great
and if it's what you need to say
it's probably what i need to hear
but never again in that way
i don't care what i'm doing that's turning you off of me
it's my care for pursuing our friendship responsibly
that's why i need to reconstruct what happens subconsciously
so we don't continue to treat our silence so obnoxiously
lies won't save you from the bomb that you just dropped
i'm standing shellshocked but i'm still here
and this to you is what i'm saying
all that's false will
fade away
shellshocked (interlude)
something better get repetitive
because i'm getting sick of all the same chaos
something better get repetitive
because i'm getting sick of all the same chaos
In the lyrics of "Shell Shocked" by Chronic Future, the singer seems to be addressing someone who has caused them pain or betrayal, likely a friend or partner. The opening lines of "lies won't save you from the bomb that you just dropped" suggest that this person has done something harmful or deceitful. Despite this betrayal, the singer remains "standing shellshocked" but still present and willing to confront the situation. The repeated refrain of "all that's false will fade away" echoes the idea that lies and deceit will eventually be revealed and cannot be sustained.
The second verse further emphasizes the singer's determination to hold this person accountable for their actions. The lines "you run away from what you know will surely come/ I will remember everything that you have done" suggest that the person is trying to avoid facing the consequences of their behaviour. The singer is insistent that they will not forget what has been done to them, and that ultimately, falsehoods will not prevail.
Line by Line Meaning
lies won't save you from the bomb that you just dropped
Your lies won't prevent the damage that your actions have caused.
i'm standing shellshocked but i'm still here
I'm traumatized by what happened, but I'm still alive and breathing.
and this to you is what i'm saying
I want to make my message clear to you.
all that's false will
Anything that's not authentic and genuine
fade away
will disappear on its own.
you run away from what you know will surely come
You're avoiding what you know will eventually catch up to you.
i will remember everything that you have done
I won't forget the actions you've taken and their consequences.
I'll say it again because
I want to emphasize my point once more
who are you
I'm questioning your authority.
to say to me
To tell me
that i'm not all right
That I'm not okay
you don't know what it's like
You can't understand my situation and feelings.
i'm shellshocked
I'm in psychological shock due to my experience.
and ripped apart inside
I feel torn and devastated emotionally.
no i'm not all right
I'm still struggling with the aftermath of what happened.
well yeah a change in character is great
It's good to change or improve yourself as a person.
and if it's what you need to say
If that's what you want to express.
it's probably what i need to hear
It's likely something I need to hear too.
but never again in that way
But I can't tolerate or deal with that behavior again.
i don't care what i'm doing that's turning you off of me
I'm not concerned about what I'm doing that makes you pull away from me.
it's my care for pursuing our friendship responsibly
I want to prioritize our friendship and handle it in a thoughtful and considerate way.
that's why i need to reconstruct what happens subconsciously
I need to examine and work through my unconscious actions and behaviors.
so we don't continue to treat our silence so obnoxiously
To avoid the unpleasant and irritating behavior of ignoring each other without talking about it.
shellshocked (interlude)
A brief musical/lyrical bridge to emphasize the emotional state the artist is in.
something better get repetitive
I require a significant, long-term change to break the cycle of chaos.
because i'm getting sick of all the same chaos
I'm tired of experiencing the same chaos and trauma over and over again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARRY LOUIS COLLINS, BENJAMIN MELAN COLLINS, BRANDON MICHAEL LEE, MICHAEL COOK BUSSE, RYAN MICHAEL BREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind