The band's fifth album shows influences of the Arizona desert with producer Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Neko Case) to create a compendium of short stories inspired by the varied moments the band experienced since the release of A Mad & Faithful Telling (Anti-, 2007).
Like many bands, DeVotchKa spent much of their early years traveling the highways and byways searching for gigs and a musical direction. As time went on, the band began to foster important musical collaborations with the unequivocal Calexico and the seminal gypsy punks Gogol Bordello. International tours with Gogol and recordings with Calexico have helped spread the band’s sound around the globe.
Originally a backing band for burlesque shows, in their early years DeVotchKa also toured with fetish model Dita von Teese. Numerous nationwide tours in support of self-released records earned the band an underground following. Their song "How It Ends" introduced the band to a wider audience after being featured in the trailer for Everything Is Illuminated, in a Gears of War 2 trailer called "The Last Day", and in an episode of Everwood (Season 4).
Arcade Fire singer Win Butler suggested to DeVotchKa that they cover the Siouxsie and the Banshees song "The Last Beat of My Heart". The musicians found the idea interesting and they recorded that song for the now critically acclaimed Curse Your Little Heart EP. The band did a world tour in support of their previous album, A Mad & Faithful Telling (released March, 2008). The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 29 on the Top Independent Albums chart.["New World" and "Head Honcho" were featured in a season 4 episode of the Showtime television show Weeds.
DeVotchKa's first big break happened when Nic Harcourt, former music director for KCRW, introduced his listeners to a then unknown rock band of worldly sounds on his daily radio show, "Morning Becomes Eclectic". Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, who were listening that day, stumbled upon the sound for their movie, "Little Miss Sunshine". A critical and box office hit, the film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and, for DeVotchKa's soundtrack, a Grammy. The little gypsy wedding band from Denver was suddenly known all across the US, playing large venues and major music festivals, including Coachella, Bumbershoot, Lollapalooza, and Mile High Music Festival. After years of toiling in obscurity, the band was selling out shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco and First Avenue in Minneapolis, with breakout performances at Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits Music Festival. The love spread to Europe, which has become a yearly destination for the band.
"100 Lovers" is the album DeVotchKa had always wanted to make. "How it Ends" was recorded and mixed in only nine days, mainly due to lack of funds. On "A Mad and Faithful Telling,” the band had more time and conducted complex arrangements and experimental recording techniques. For "100 Lovers", DeVotchKa spent over a year defining their sound, taking multiple trips to the desert studio to craft twelve new recordings. The final product is the bands strongest album to date, filled with songs fans will love, songs to draw in new listeners, and exciting numbers that fit nicely into their rousing live sets. Guests on the album include members of Calexico and Mauro Refosco, David Byrne and Thom Yorke’s go-to percussionist. With a full tour lined up for the spring and dates booked all over the world, 2011 is gearing up to be the biggest year for DeVotchKa yet.
DeVotchKa is:
Nick Urata: Vocals, guitars, Theremin, trumpet, piano
Jeanie Schroder: acoustic bass, sousaphone
Shawn King: drums, percussion, trumpet
Tom Hagerman: violin, viola, accordion, piano
Transliterator
DeVotchKa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They stretch before you come inside
There's room enough, she's generous
Come on, come up, while we're still young
You want to love your life from a prison?
Of all this uninvited altruism
The homemade weapons you're fashioning
You never mean what you say
Why don't you say what you mean?
I never get anywhere
I get the space in between
Beautifully mutilated
Instantly antiquated
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
You better mean what you say
Why don't you say what you mean?
I never get anywhere
I get the space in between
Beautifully mutilated
Instantly antiquated
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
Let's begin at the beginning
Let us revisit the past
Like when the houselights are dimming
Like silver screen photograph
It makes a beautiful sound
When nobody else is around
It has a wonderful way
Of eating up entire days
We'll go swimming in libations
Forgive unexplained lacerations
The otherworldly manifestations
I could live in the breath you're wasting
You never mean what you say
Why don't you say what you mean?
I never get anywhere
I get the space in between
Beautifully mutilated
Instantly antiquated
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
You never mean what you say
Why don't you say what you mean?
I never get anywhere
I get the space in between
Beautifully mutilated
Instantly antiquated
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
You better mean what you say
Why don't you say what you mean?
I never get anywhere
I get the space in between here
We go over again beautifully mutilated
Instantly antiquated let's wash our hands
Of everything
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
You don't owe them anything
No, you don't owe them anything
No, you don't owe them anything
You never mean what you say
Why don't you say what you mean?
I never get anywhere
I get the space in between
Beautifully mutilated
Instantly antiquated
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
You never mean what you say
Why don't you say what you mean?
I never get anywhere
I get the space in between
Beautifully mutilated
Instantly antiquated
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
The song "Transliterator" by DeVotchKa talks about the concept of living life to the fullest and breaking free from societal norms and expectations. The lyrics touch on the idea that the future is waiting and there is enough room for everyone to live their lives as they please. However, the song talks about the struggles of doing so, as there are always homemade weapons being fashioned to bring people down. The lyrics go on to say that people often don't say what they mean, and this can lead to miscommunication and a lack of progress. The singer admits that they often underestimate the power of their actions and thoughts.
The song encourages listeners to revisit the past to find inspiration and beauty in their lives. It suggests going swimming in libations, forgiving unexplained lacerations, and embracing otherworldly manifestations. The lyrics also touch on the idea of not owing anything to anyone, implying that people are free to live their lives on their own terms.
Overall, "Transliterator" is a song about seizing the moment, being true to oneself, and embracing life's complexities.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady future's arms are lily white
The future seems pure, welcoming, and bright
They stretch before you come inside
The future holds endless opportunities and potential
There's room enough, she's generous
The future can accommodate all and is kind
Come on, come up, while we're still young
Let's seize the moment and make the most of our youth in pursuit of happiness
You want to love your life from a prison?
Are you content living a confined and limited life?
Of all this uninvited altruism
Of all this unwelcome selflessness
The homemade weapons you're fashioning
The negative thoughts and actions you produce
Are hellbent on doing us both in
Will destroy us both in the end
You never mean what you say
You lack honesty and sincerity
Why don't you say what you mean?
Communicate your true intentions
I never get anywhere
I don't make progress
I get the space in between
I am stuck in a state of limbo and indecision
Beautifully mutilated
Tragically flawed, yet still appealing
Instantly antiquated
Obsolete and outdated in mere moments
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
I often don't fully grasp or appreciate the situation
Let's begin at the beginning
Let's start over and revisit the past
Let us revisit the past
Let's look at our history again
Like when the houselights are dimming
Like the end of a movie theater screening
Like silver screen photograph
A nostalgic and picturesque memory
It makes a beautiful sound
It is stunning and impressive
When nobody else is around
When there is no one else to interrupt
It has a wonderful way
It possesses a fantastic quality
Of eating up entire days
Of consuming a vast amount of time
We'll go swimming in libations
We will indulge in alcoholic drinks
Forgive unexplained lacerations
Overlook and move on from any hurt or harm
The otherworldly manifestations
Supernatural occurrences and phenomena
I could live in the breath you're wasting
I value and cherish every moment we spend together
You don't owe them anything
You have no obligation to anyone else
No, you don't owe them anything
No, you are not indebted to anyone else
You better mean what you say
You need to be sincere and genuine
You don't owe them anything
You are free to be true to yourself and not cater to others
Let's wash our hands of everything
Let's forget and move past our troubles and mistakes
I will admit I almost always underestimate it
I often don't fully comprehend or value what's in front of me
Contributed by Camden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.