Fang Island began, oddly enough, as an art school project while the band members were attending the prodigious Rhode Island School of Design (also the foundation for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savy Fav, Lightning Bolt, Six Finger Satellite and the Talking Heads) in 2005. They were later joined by Jason Bartell, Marc St. Sauver, Michael Jacober, and Nick Sadler who was formerly a member of fellow Providence-based band Daughters. According to guitarist Jason Bartell, the goal was to "make music for people who like music." That is, music without irony that harnesses its uplifting qualities. Just like a classic rock song or classical symphony can stir us emotionally, Fang Island exists to unlock that spirit. The band got its name from an article in The Onion. Jason Bartell recalled, "I think it was just a funny blip about Donald Rumsfeld having a secret hideaway, and it was on Fang Island. We like how it was sort of this, like, fictional space that we imagined our music was played on".
Fang Island was released on 23 February 2010 via Sargent House, and was heralded as one of the year’s top albums. MOJO praised the band for being "simply killer fun”, while The 405 described the album as “A joyous stomp with bouncing drums and tightly played guitarmonies... a real winner" and named it one of the best albums of 2010. Pitchfork called the music on Fang Island "honest and life-affirming and infectious", tagging the album with the high praise of “Best New Music”.
In March 2010, the band performed at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas, and were named by social networking analytics site Next Big Sound as the artists who experienced the fastest growth in online fandom during the festival. Following their rapid gain in attention, the band spent the remainder of 2010 playing a plethora of shows including support for The Flaming Lips, Stone Temple Pilots, Matt & Kim and numerous headline shows across the North America, the UK and Europe.
Whereas Fang Island described their debut as "everyone high-fiving everyone", their highly anticipated follow up Major is evermore confident, triumphant and brimming with infectious enthusiasm. Its warm harmonies are given proper berth with more expansive dynamics and focused pop song craft.
Fang Island's Major was released in 2012.
Davey Crockett
Fang Island Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Must [stamp on it]
Like you saw it
Then [move past it ]
If you [block it]
Davey Crockett
Interpreting lyrics can be a subjective exercise, but based on my understanding of this song, I believe it's about overcoming obstacles and taking control of one's destiny. The first line "Hear the []" is intentionally left blank, which could suggest that the listener needs to fill in the blank with their own personal challenge or struggle. The next line "Must [stamp on it]" seems to suggest that the solution to the challenge is to confront it head-on, almost violently - to stamp on it. The following line "Like you saw it" implies that the solution is something that the singer has already envisioned or mentally rehearsed.
The next line "Then [move past it]" suggests that after confronting the challenge, the singer needs to keep moving forward and not get bogged down. The final line "If you [block it] Davey Crockett" is a bit more cryptic, but Davey Crockett was an American folk hero who famously declared "You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas" when he lost his bid for the US Congress. This line could be interpreted as a call to pursue one's own path despite obstacles and setbacks, similar to what Davey Crockett did.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the []
Listen to the silence around you and become aware of your surroundings
Must [stamp on it]
Confront your fears and doubts head-on without hesitation
Like you saw it
Be prepared and anticipate potential obstacles or challenges
Then [move past it ]
After facing your challenges, continue moving forward with confidence and determination
If you [block it]
If you let your fears or doubts control you and hinder your progress
Davey Crockett
A reference to the iconic frontiersman who overcame great challenges and obstacles during his lifetime
Contributed by Aaron K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zachariah McVicker
The album of my spring and summer. How are they so damned happy sounding?
SneedPatch
Its so hard to believe this was 12 years ago. I used to listen to their two albums so much back in high school. Good times, I wish they were still together
Ripz Tubig
Same
mechanizedsin
seeing this live made me believe in god for a second
Kenny S
Amazging, the guitar is actually singing.. Thanks guys!! Keep on rockin!!!
Eric Boyd
This band has a unique style. Never heard anything exactly quite like it before.
Kenny S
Love this video.. One of my favorites on You tube.
Juan A Antoni Raven
seeing this guys live its just UNREAL! puure awesomenes
Echo Park
damn this song is just completely EPIC!
afc1410
Best live band I have ever seen