As Denison Marrs, they crafted their sound primarily from 90's rock with a bit of 80's sheen thrown in - comparisons can be made to early Smashing Pumpkins, the Cure, Radiohead, etc. Denison Marrs took these influeces and ran with them, creating a unique space rock soundscape that pulsed with sheer power. However, the band was also able to utilize elements of delicacy, primarily through the lyrics of frontman Eric Collins.
Denison Marrs was also important for their contribution to Christian music, carrying the torch of the underground movement began by the Prayer Chain, Stavesacre, and Starflyer 59 - the latter two being bands that Denison Marrs were able to tour with.
Their first album, "Holding Hands @ 35,000 Ft.", set the stage for a successful run as a band with a serious cult following. Taking all of the typical traits of the emo/space rock genre and tweaking them just a bit, Denison Marrs presented a sound full of melodic hooks and firmamental lyrics, backed by solid drum beats, innovative bass lines, and elegant guitar work.
"World Renown for Romance" remains their most popular record, and is arguably their best. The songwriting is cohesive - it's a concept album about love, for starters - and the quality of the arrangements and performances are consistent from one song to the next.
For the third record, entitled "Then is the New Now", the band chose to proceed in a different direction. There is more of an effort to bring a brighter, pop production to the songs, and while some of the tracks suffer because of this, the successes ("What Life Has", "This Must Be Love") are certainly noticeable.
The final release from Denison Marrs was an eponymous record that moved back towards darker territory, albeit without long-time drummer Jon Bucklew, who had left the band to join Copeland. His drum seat was a very difficult one to fill, but Dean Lorenz did an excellent job. Long-time fans began reinvesting in the band when they announced their break-up earlier in 2006.
Oxygen
Denison Marrs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grows stale
On this planet my
Breathing fails
Can't you feel me gasping
For just once more from your
Oxygen filled
Breathe in
Sweet breath
Don't fall asleep
I realize completely
My failure will bring their death
Why can't they see they need
Your sweet breath
The lyrics of Denison Marrs's song Oxygen seem to be referring to a situation where the singer is struggling to breathe properly, and is in need of someone else's assistance to get access to clean air. The first verse expresses how the air around them is becoming stagnant and the singer is struggling to breathe. In the chorus, the singer begs the other person to share their oxygen, as they desperately gasp for some more air to fill their lungs. This need for oxygen seems to be a matter of life and death for them.
The second verse suggests that the situation is critical and that the singer feels the weight of responsibility heavily on their shoulders. They know that if they fail, others will perish as well. Despite this realization, they feel that others do not see the urgency of the situation, and they plead with the other person to help them. The bridge of the song seems to be a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the need for clean air and the desperation the singer feels.
Overall, the song seems to be a metaphor for a difficult situation where someone is struggling and in need of help, but those around them are not taking the situation seriously. Denison Marrs uses the imagery of oxygen, which is essential for life, to convey the severity of the situation and the importance of working together to solve it.
Line by Line Meaning
How the air
Oh, how the atmosphere around me
Grows stale
It becomes stagnant and exhausted
On this planet my
On this world of uncertainty and confusion
Breathing fails
I struggle to inhale and exhale
Can't you feel me gasping
Can't you sense my desperation and struggle
For just once more from your
I need to breathe the fresh air you breathe
Oxygen filled
Full of the life-sustaining gas we need
Lungs so pure
So clean and untainted
Breathe in
Take a deep breath
Sweet breath
Inhale the life-giving air
Don't fall asleep
Don't let yourself be unaware of what is happening
I realize completely
I fully understand now
My failure will bring their death
If I cannot obtain what is needed, they will die
Why can't they see they need
Why cannot they grasp that they require
Your sweet breath
The refreshing air that I am unable to find
Contributed by Elliot D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.