The band released their self-titled debut EP in 1989 (they were on Nettwerk in North America and Zoth Ommog in Europe). Centered on two mixes of the industrial-rap "Consolidated!", the EP is a statement of purpose, a foreshadowing of the bands' ideas and politics. While embracing rap and sampling, its jerky rhythms aren't far from late-period Devo.
Their first full-length record, The Myth of Rock, is also aggressively political, but its complex and intricate instrumental backing--recalling, at once, Tackhead, Public Enemy, late-80s sampledelica, and the brutal industrial of Test Dept.--would impress even the most conservative listeners. Sherburne does more speaking on the record than rapping or singing, but his anger and conviction come through on every track. Not as heavy-handed as it could be, this is an underrated dance record.
Friendly Fascism is more stripped-down and less compelling, relying less on heavy sampling and Bomb-Squad-esque production. Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto mixed the album, which does stylistically recall MBM's 99%. This foregrounds the politics--and Sherborne's gruff vocalizations--a bit more.
Play More Music returns a bit to the sonic aggression of Myth of Rock. The record, like Friendly Fa$cism, features spoken-work snippets from the group's concerts--the band would end shows by having a dialogue with their audience, which (the records demonstrate) sometimes became contentious. "Tool and Die", an pro-gun control song, is one of the band's most powerful (look for the MBM remix on the CD single), and "You Suck"--which strongly resembles Lords of Acid--remains a club favourite.
Consolidated signed to a major label, London/Polygram Records, and released Business of Punishment (their tribulations with the record industry are recalled in on of the record's standout tracks, "Dog & Pony Show"). The band mostly abandoned their rap and industrial influences in favor of a guitar-oriented, grunge sound, much to the album's detriment. Only the pro-choice anthem, "Butyric Acid", retains the punch and energy of earlier efforts.
London/Polygram dropped the band, Pistel (who had become an in-demand producer and remixer) left soon afterwards, but Consolidated continued recording. A recently released compilation, More Music Please: The Best of Consolidated, 1988-1993, contains most of the singles from their Nettwerk years and is an excellent introduction to the group.
Ventana
Consolidated Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this really what you're worth
Pacifier in your mouth numbs all the pain away
Some don't get caught when they steal
A couple hand jobs no big deal
Twenty years before you feel
Now I want to feel the pain
When you survive there were times you lied
To stay alive you can cry and it makes you strong
For so long put others down
Confrontations danced around
Been so lost could you be found
Looking for coincidence
How you lost your innocence
Been so hard to convince
I should be here today
When you survive sometimes
You get high and it won't be wrong
To stay alive you can cry
'til the pain is gone
Coping skills get in the way
Misconstruing what you'd say
Are you ready to be here now today
You can't take all those years away
Falling down like rain
I could have killed you the first time
Didn't know it was a crime
Looking for some kind of sign
I didn't need you
It feels so good to be free of this prison memory
You have no power over me
I made my peace with you I'm free
When you survive sometimes you want to die
You feel so wronged
To stay alive you get to cry
You can cry all night long
So glad you survived
The lyrics of "Ventana" by Consolidated explore themes of survival, pain, and personal growth. The song speaks to the idea that the challenges and traumas one faces throughout life can be difficult to confront and overcome, but by learning to cope with the pain that arises from these experiences, one can ultimately become stronger.
The opening lines of the song suggest that many people begin to learn about survival from the day they are born, and that they may at times feel as though they are not valued by others. The use of a pacifier to "numb all the pain away" is a metaphor for the coping mechanisms that people often rely on to avoid dealing with difficult emotions. However, the song suggests that it is only after facing one's pain head-on that true strength and personal growth can be achieved.
The lyrics also offer a glimpse into the ways in which past experiences can shape an individual's outlook and behavior. The references to lying, putting others down, and avoiding confrontation all speak to the idea that the pain of past traumas can manifest in negative ways that hurt both oneself and others. Yet, through the process of learning to cope with these experiences and confront one's pain, the song suggests that healing and personal growth can be achieved.
Overall, "Ventana" is a powerful and introspective exploration of what it means to live through pain and come out on the other side stronger and more resilient.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems like lessons learned from birth
From the very start, you have been taught certain things that set a precedent for your life.
Is this really what you're worth
You are questioning your self-worth.
Pacifier in your mouth numbs all the pain away
You use coping mechanisms to numb the pain you feel.
Some don't get caught when they steal
Some people can get away with doing wrong things without being caught.
A couple hand jobs no big deal
Some people think certain things aren't a big deal when they really are.
Twenty years before you feel
It can take many years before you start to feel the consequences of your actions.
Now I want to feel the pain
You want to confront the pain you have been avoiding.
When you survive there were times you lied
When you have gone through difficult times, you may have lied to protect yourself.
And it felt so wrong
You have a sense of guilt for lying.
To stay alive you can cry and it makes you strong
Crying is a way to cope with the pain and can make you stronger as a result.
For so long put others down
You have been putting others down for a long time.
Confrontations danced around
You have avoided confrontations.
Been so lost could you be found
You have felt lost and unsure of yourself.
Looking for coincidence
You are searching for meaning or purpose in events that may have no correlation.
How you lost your innocence
You have lost your innocence, whether by circumstances or actions.
Been so hard to convince
It has been difficult to convince yourself of certain truths.
I should be here today
You are grateful to still be alive.
When you survive sometimes you want to die
Surviving can be difficult and may make you question if death would be easier.
You feel so wronged
You feel that life has been unfair to you.
To stay alive you get to cry
Crying is a way to continue living and coping with the pain.
You can cry all night long
Sometimes, you need to cry for extended periods of time to fully process your emotions.
Coping skills get in the way
Your coping skills may have negative consequences that impede your progress.
Misconstruing what you'd say
You may misinterpret what others say or their intentions.
Are you ready to be here now today
You are questioning if you are truly present in the moment.
You can't take all those years away
You cannot erase the past and must come to terms with it.
Falling down like rain
You feel like everything is crashing down around you.
I could have killed you the first time
You may have had negative thoughts towards yourself or others in the past.
Didn't know it was a crime
You may not have known the severity of how harmful those thoughts/actions were.
Looking for some kind of sign
You are searching for guidance or direction.
I didn't need you
You have moved on from a toxic relationship and no longer need that person in your life.
It feels so good to be free of this prison memory
You feel liberated and relieved to no longer be held back by past experiences.
You have no power over me
You have taken control of your life and will not let anyone else have power over you.
I made my peace with you I'm free
You have forgiven someone or something and have moved on from it without any burden or grudges.
So glad you survived
You are happy to have made it through difficult times and still be alive.
Contributed by Aaron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.