The recording of Dark Mean’s debut album began sometime in 2007. It’s now 2… Read Full Bio ↴The recording of Dark Mean’s debut album began sometime in 2007. It’s now 2011.

During this period band members Mark Dean, Billy Holmes, and Sandy Johnston released two “work in progress” EPs without expectation. Little did they know Frankencottage and Music Box would become the toast of the blogging community, downloaded in over 100 countries, lectured upon by music professors in Brazil, and find the band rousing audiences into massive sing-alongs in cities reaching far beyond the steel cast borders of a hometown, Hamilton, Ontario – all of which motivating the trio as they emerged from the secluded lodgings of Algonquin Park and headed back into the studio, barely aware of the surrounding anticipation for their debut album.

An almost eerie level of mystery has built around the band donning such a simple name and even simpler song titles. A contradictory nature begins with the music: whimsical while monumental, traveling between overt classical pop to dream-like ambiance, the band manages to juxtapose sounds and styles without sacrificing personality or coherence, and, perhaps most notably, with uncanny ease.

Sandy Johnston and Billy Holmes, who seem to play anything and everything, are both essential to the band’s sound. Unassuming yet intricate acoustic sections, banjo riffs that will make you smile, driving drum patterns that don’t hide behind unnecessary flash, and well-crafted arrangements that are nearly impossible to fault are just some of their contributions. Mark Dean’s vocals draw the pieces together, and his phrasing and sense of melody on the record is something truly special.

Perhaps the band’s secret is simply how well they complement one another both musically and personally. Mark’s wide-eyed passion, Billy’s reserved thoughtfulness, and Sandy’s genuineness, that is so clearly reflected in his playing, all fuse into harmonious balance on the record. Dark Mean are first and foremost great friends, which is instrumental to them being a great band.

Most notable records have a duality, allowing the listener to grow and evolve with each additional play. Produced by Michael Keire (Apostle of Hustle) and mastered by Brian Lucey (Black Keys), Dark Mean’s self-titled debut is that type of album. It’s a record built over time with precision, patience, and perseverance. It’s a record that stays with you - as a good friend should.

Frankencottage
Dark Mean Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Heard your name
And I called it, and said it
Time we changed
Our hearts moan, often

? Recently?, we said silently
And I watched the walls
Beside your, TV

And I'll wait off in space
Leave you staring straight
As I float away like smoke
Don't know where it goes
The ceiling I suppose

And I'll see staring you straight
As I float away like smoke
Don't know where it goes

Heard your name
Echo from somewhere
Time I've lost
My ear (?) what sounds the same

And I'll wait off in space
Leave you staring straight
As I float away like smoke
Don't know where it goes
The ceiling I suppose

And I'll see you staring straight
As I float away like smoke
Don't know where it goes

Home, I left so long ago
Wait, for me
Home, I left so long ago
Wait, for me

Home, I left you long ago
Wait, for, me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dark Mean's song "Frankencottage" sound like a meditative reflection on a past relationship. The song opens with the singer hearing the name of someone from their past and calling it out, almost as if they are trying to conjure up memories of this person. The line "time we changed our hearts moan, often" suggests that something was not working in the relationship and that it was time for a change. The next verse seems to suggest that the singer and this person have not spoken in a while and that they are reflecting on what has been unsaid between them. The line "I watched the walls beside your TV" suggests a feeling of detachment or distance.

The chorus of the song is where the lyrics become more abstract, with the singer imagining themselves floating away like smoke. The image is both peaceful and unsettling, almost as if the singer is imagining themselves evaporating into nothingness. The repeated line "don't know where it goes" emphasizes the uncertainty of this image. The final lines of the song suggest that the relationship was once a home for the singer, but they left a long time ago. The line "wait for me" suggests that there is still hope for reconciliation, despite the distance between them.

Overall, the lyrics to "Frankencottage" are poetic and introspective, with a sense of detachment and longing woven throughout.

Line by Line Meaning

Heard your name
I heard your name somewhere

And I called it, and said it
I pronounced your name out loud

Time we changed
It's time for a change

Our hearts moan, often
Our hearts often ache

? Recently?, we said silently
We recently communicated nonverbally

And I watched the walls
I looked at the walls

Beside your, TV
Next to your TV

And I'll wait off in space
And I'll float away into space

Leave you staring straight
Leave you looking straight ahead

As I float away like smoke
As I drift away like smoke