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.
Miracle
Elliott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bright feels like a miracle feels like the sound
You're talking's right feel like the sound
You're making loosens the ties on the comfort files
Feels like a miracle feels like
A can't sell sign suit
Sells the line no matter the clothes you wear suit
Since your design I've answered my only chance
Suit sells the line no matter the clothes you wear
Since I learned the miracle
Since I earned the cardinals right
Feel your words a miracle feel
Like the sound you're talking right
Feel like the sound you're making
Loosens the ties on the comfort files
Feels like a miracle feels like
A can't sell sign since your lines
Comfort me ill sit here as a spiritual
Since your lines comfort me ill sit here
While the sinner comes since your lines
Comfort me ill sit here as the centerfold
Since your line comfort me ill sit here l
Ike a miracle feels like the sound you're making
Feels like the sound made something right
feels like a miracle feels like a can't sell sign
The lyrics of Elliott's song Miracle are open to interpretation, as they feature imagery that is often abstract and difficult to fully understand. The song talks about selling sin and soft injections, possibly alluding to the allure of addictive substances and destructive behavior. The title of the song suggests that there is something transformative and miraculous about these experiences.
The chorus of the song points towards a sense of salvation and redemption that comes through words, possibly through the words of a trusted person or spiritual guide. The lines "Feels like a miracle feels like the sound you're making/Like the sound made something right" suggest that this person's words have a healing effect on the singer's wounds and maladies.
The song also touches on the idea of selling oneself or one's image, as seen in the line "Suit sells the line no matter the clothes you wear". This could be interpreted as a commentary on the shallow nature of the entertainment industry, where success often hinges on appearances rather than talent or creativity.
Overall, the lyrics of Miracle convey a sense of struggle, redemption, and transformation that is both personal and spiritual in nature. There is a feeling of weight and importance to the words, which suggests that they hold a deeply personal significance for the songwriter.
Line by Line Meaning
Sin cells sold attractive tinsel soft injections
The allure of sinful behavior is marketed with attractive packaging and soothing appeals
Bright feels like a miracle feels like the sound
Positive experiences can feel like a miraculous and harmonious sound
You're talking's right feel like the sound
Your words convey a sense of correctness and harmony
You're making loosens the ties on the comfort files
Your actions make it easier to let go of habitual comfort and routine
Feels like a miracle feels like
The experience is overwhelming and seemingly miraculous
A can't sell sign suit
An outfit that represents a refusal to conform to commercial and societal pressures
Sells the line no matter the clothes you wear suit
The marketing pitch will be made regardless of personal attire
Sells the line to comfort the scars you bare
The marketing pitch tries to assuage the emotional wounds you carry
Since your design I've answered my only chance
Since following your guidance, I have taken the opportunity I otherwise may have missed
Since I learned the miracle
Since discovering the amazing experience
Since I earned the cardinals right
Since gaining a special privilege, earned through personal effort
Feel your words a miracle feel
Your words seem miraculous and awe-inspiring
Like the sound you're talking right
The way you speak feels perfect and harmonious
A can't sell sign since your lines
An indication of non-compliance with commercial interests, now guided by your teachings
Comfort me ill sit here as a spiritual
Feeling comforted, I will remain here as a spiritual being
While the sinner comes since your lines
Even as temptation may arise, your teachings still guide me
Comfort me ill sit here as the centerfold
Feeling comforted, I will remain here as a central focus of spiritual growth
Feels like the sound you're making
The experience feels similar to the harmonious sound you create
Feels like the sound made something right
The feeling of harmony suggests that something previously wrong has been made right
Feels like a miracle feels like a can't sell sign
The experience feels miraculous and free from commercial influence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM ASHTON, SIMON DENBIGH, LAURENCE HUGH ELLIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind