Since then, Elliott have toured every inch of North America, building a substantial and loyal fanbase, playing on every type of bill imaginable. Metal/hardcore to alt/emo bands, Elliott have played with all of them and to much commendation. In fact, the band welcomes and often times prefers the opportunity to play with bands as dissimilar to them as possible. From the success of their debut 7" and the massive buzz that the band had created, the attention of Revelation Records was caught. Elliott's Rev debut was recorded in two halves. One at Easley Studios in Memphis and the other at Rondor Studios in L.A. The two sessions were mastered together and melded into U.S. Songs which now has Elliott as a shoe-in to inherit the title of "best new band." The album is a masterpiece, displaying Higdon's memorable, emotional vocals and the band's talented songwriting capabilities. Higdon's voice and the dynamics of Elliott's music embody the band's sound on U.S. Songs: melancholy and bliss simultaneously.
False Cathedrals
With the release of their second full length False Cathedrals, Elliott has earned their place within the genealogy of Louisville bands that have broken with tradition and disregarded conventional formulas (Slint, Squirrel Bait, etc.). Indeed, the reverberations of such non-KY bands as Fugazi, Quicksand and Radiohead can be felt in their music. If stylistic similarities to such contemporaries as Jimmy Eat World or No Knife can be made, it can also be stated that Elliott has successfully constructed a sound that can only be described as their own. Though that sound is most definitely planted in the guitar-oriented standards of post-punk, it is through the elegantly understated use of electronics and piano, the fluid bass lines interweaving its way between staccato-tribal drum work and vocalist Chris Higdon's impassioned performances that Elliott creates their latest, a masterpiece of subtlety.
The LP's opener of "Voices/Calm Americans" is about as close to perfect as a band can get; its staggered bass-piano structured beneath a steady crescendo brewing behind the deceptively simple guitar lines. As powerful as any hardcore band out there, it is the more subdued pieces that showcase the incredible songwriting skills and technical abilities that make Elliott so special. "Blessed By Your Own Ghost" showcases the strongest use of electronic gadgetry on the album creating as evocative a sound as anything Brian Eno has ever done. The eerily commanding "Dying Midwestern" is floor-room model of restraint and quiet beauty, culminating in a guitar blowout of meaty proportions. On the other side of the coin, "Drive On To Me" rocks from start to finish with its anthemic chorus, pensive lyrics (shades of such authors as J.G. Ballard perhaps?) and beautifully layered vocal harmonies. With production credited to Tobias Miller (False Cathedrals is the first album he's produced, though work with such varied artists as Fiona Apple, The Wallflowers and Korn must have come in handy), False Cathedrals is a landmark recording in the field of post-punk bands. Clean, but not polished, innovative, yet, unassuming in its glory, the overall sound is as solid as it is diverse.
With the release of False Cathedrals, Elliott has opted to stride right on past the brink and into the open fields of greatness. Now its just time for the world to catch up. Expect heavy touring and consistently inspiring live performances to take care of that end.
Song in the Air
After touring Europe and the US in 2000 and 2001, a slightly dirty but enriched Elliott came home, rebooted, and in July of 2001 - began recording and investigating the new songs they had been making together. Song in the Air, Elliott's third full length, is the first record they have made with the addition of Benny Clark on guitar and Jason Skaggs on bass. The idea was to make a quick and easy EP but the ideas kept coming and songs kept growing. At times the prospect of insanity didn't seem too far off... But, finally, in November of 2002 the project was finished. Song In The Air had been created.
Tracks from Song in the Air are some of Elliott's best yet. These songs are infused with an immediate - urgent, feeling.... and that gives us, the listeners, a view of something that hasn't been cleaned up and fabricated.
In the process of recording it (which, in itself, is a fairly big story about running their own home studio and deciding to handle all of the recording duties of the record themselves) they enlisted some great musicians and others from the Louisville area to help out, including a string quartet assembled by Christian Frederickson of The Rachel's.
Photorecording
Photorecording, Elliott's finale, comes at first with a feeling of loss - the depth and meaning that so many associated with this band is immeasurable. But you'll find it's more of a fond farewell than just a band breaking up. The legacy left behind by one of Louisville's most beloved is one that will endure, and this release closes the door with a close look into the final days (and hours) of the band in 2003.
Photorecording is a live studio album recorded directly after their last performance, and also included is the never before seen DVD documentary of Elliott's last tour. The CD+DVD set compiles the aforementioned live studio recording and documentary as well as bonus footage of live shows during the last two years of Elliott's existence. Anyone who is familiar with the band will tell you that the live show is a big part of what made Elliott amazing. The shows not only complemented their prolific recordings, but also enriched the experience for even the most casual fans of Elliott - to miss their live show would be considered a crime. Photorecording is a monument to this great band that still has fans looking forward to each member's future projects.
Kevin Ratterman is currently in a new band called Wax Fang. He also runs an independent studio in Louisville, KY called the Funeral Home Studios.
Benny Clark did a tour with a band called Unwed Sailor.
Chris Higdon is currently working in Louisville, KY on his small photography business, Kriech-Higdon Photography, which focuses primarily on bands and weddings. He is also in a new band named Frontier(s).
http://www.myspace.com/frontiersband
Billy Bisig is now playing in a band called Wolverine Brass in Louisville, KY.
Lie Close
Elliott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born to serve, born seductive to regulate our surges.
You will lie close. you will lie covered.
I won't stare and I won't stall you as you turn to make your stand among the walking apparitions that
fade among the living.
You will lie close.
You will lie covered.
Here were stand striped and starving as a stopped and tailored man.
We buy our lives and learn to spend it with swift and held hands. we're the answer that came before the goal (refrain). we're no answer at all.
You and I were made for each other,
Like heroes fall we will fall,
You and I have made the mistake to hear the call hear our call.
I'm a dreamer and you're a taker.
Sin for the soul and savor the labor.
Why are the kids and the cowards all in line?
Elliott's song, Lie Close, may be interpreted with different meanings, but its themes of dependence, seduction, and sacrifice make it a commentary on relationships and society. The first stanza may imply the singer's conflict between following the path of the other person and asserting their own independence. The words "used and makeshift" may suggest a sense of dismay over how people conform to societal norms that may not be authentic. The second line refers to the seductive power of the other person, who may regulate the "surges" or emotions of the singer. The following lines indicate that the other person will lie close and covered, perhaps implying that they will be dependent on the singer's presence and protection, while the singer refrains from imposing their will or scrutinizing the other person's choices. The reference to "walking apparitions" who fade could imply that people who conform to society's norms may lose their individuality and meaning.
The second stanza may echo the first in its reference to revelation and evolution, but introduces the idea of buying and spending lives with "swift and held hands," perhaps suggesting a rapid and shallow way of living. The line "we're the answer that came before the goal" and the subsequent correction that "we're no answer at all" suggest the futility of trying to find ultimate meaning or solutions to life's problems. The lines "You and I were made for each other/Like heroes fall we will fall" may express a fatalistic or romantic view of the relationship, as if the two people are destined to suffer together. The following lines suggest a darker side to the relationship, as the singer identifies themselves as a dreamer and the other person as a taker, perhaps implying a power dynamic or one-sidedness in the relationship. The final line, "Why are the kids and the cowards all in line?" may question the validity or morality of societal norms and suggest a desire to rebel or challenge them.
Overall, Elliott's Lie Close is a complex and thought-provoking song that delves into the themes of independence, conformity, and sacrifice. Its ambiguous lyrics may imply different meanings, but its emotional intensity and poetic imagery make it a powerful commentary on human relationships and society.
Line by Line Meaning
You won't move so I won't follow this used and makeshift path.
I won't follow this path as you refuse to make the first move.
Born to serve, born seductive to regulate our surges.
We're naturally inclined to control our impulses and desires.
You will lie close. you will lie covered.
You'll be close and safe, protected from harm.
I won't stare and I won't stall you as you turn to make your stand among the walking apparitions that fade among the living.
I won't hold you back or judge you as you take your place among the crowd.
I will force aside the common revelation that we'll formalize this constant evolution.
I'll ignore the idea that progress must conform to certain norms.
Here were stand striped and starving as a stopped and tailored man.
We're standing together, stripped of everything, and hungry like someone who has been stopped and searched by the authorities.
We buy our lives and learn to spend it with swift and held hands. we're the answer that came before the goal (refrain). we're no answer at all.
We rush through life without taking time to appreciate it. We believe we have the answer to life's questions, but really we're just lost.
You and I were made for each other, like heroes fall we will fall,
We're meant to be together, but like great heroes, we're destined to fall.
You and I have made the mistake to hear the call hear our call.
We've fallen prey to the illusion of our own importance.
I'm a dreamer and you're a taker.
I have lofty ideals while you're more practical and driven by your own desires.
Sin for the soul and savor the labor.
We indulge in pleasures that are bad for us but enjoy the hard work that goes into it.
Why are the kids and the cowards all in line?
Why do the young and the fearful always follow the crowd?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind