For Fast Romantics, it has been four … Read Full Bio ↴From Fast Romantics' web site.
For Fast Romantics, it has been four years of adventuring their way through the backcountry of Canadian indie-rock, often attempting to straddle that hazy intersection at the corner of rock n' roll and pop.
Now, with their second full-length album Afterlife Blues, it sounds as though they have -- quite confidently -- found their way home.
While Fast Romantics' earlier work prompted comparisons to Elvis Costello and Blur, Afterlife Blues carves a bit of a different path right through the great cities of American music. From New Jersey to Detroit, and then cutting down through the heartland, they have somehow managed to combine all of these sounds without selling their distinctly Canadian souls.
Singer/Songwriter Matthew Angus says that working with producer Howard Redekopp for a second time meant that they could really relax and just be themselves. Once they got going, it became clear that the ten songs on the new LP would come out a lot easier than on past recordings.
"We did a lot of soul searching over the last few years, and now it feels like we're nothing but soul," he laughs. "It's funny what can happen when you go through enough shit. I was taking stock one day and it suddenly hit me that I'd broken up with a lot of people and never bothered to write about it. It all flowed out from there."
When asked if that means that Afterlife Blues is a breakup album, Angus says not quite. "Well maybe on one level, yeah. There's that cycle of heartache and stumbling upon love, dying and then waking back up. I'm not trying to be all that clever anymore, lyrically a lot of it is dead simple. Like music from the early 60's, when you could just spill your guts, and people would thank you for it, and that would be that.
"It's not all heartbreak. You know, we like it loud, and I think it actually feels pretty playful and even euphoric at times. There's a good blend of blood, guts, and bliss. That's the sort of record we wanted to make."
Such highs and lows are likely what has helped to build the high energy stage show that has attracted such a growing following. The band has played three tours, and many large festivals including Virgin Fest, SXSW, NXNE, and CMJ. They also found themselves winners of Spin Magazine's "Free the Noise" competition that saw them flown to New York City to perform in a temporarily rebuilt CBGB's.
Their music has also found its way onto many TV shows and Films, including Shameless, Breaking In, Vampire Diaries, and Pretty Little Liars, and their first single Funeral Song has already found warm reception in the short time since its online release.
The band formed in 2008 in Calgary during what Angus calls a 'whiskey storm'. Angus and the two other founding members -- bassist Jeffrey Lewis and drummer Alan Reain -- were joined last year by two Australian ex-pats, Shane O' Keeffe and Lauren Heron. Angus says the two "brought exactly what we were missing at exactly the right time" to the group, including what he calls "those dreamy foreign-sounding accents."
Fans can expect a return to the stage in 2013 following the release of Afterlife Blues in September of 2012. Until then, keep an eye on fastromantics.com as well as the band's Facebook and Twitter pages for leaks of new songs, videos, and other special features. You can also join the mailing list at fastromantics.com to receive a free MP3 of Funeral Song.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fastromantics
Twitter: www.twitter.com/fastromantics
Biography written by Brian Wilson. (No, not that Brian Wilson.)
Julia
Fast Romantics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but she was sound and sleeping
so I went sleepwalking
with Mary Magdalene
I woke up, uncrossed my fingers
drugstore love was fun
but you know, it can't be wise
wait, just for a second now
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
Oh, Julia
I've seen a million nights
I sailed 99 seas
saw sightly sights
i gotta get her free
she's the one for me
Old love is blind
it looks behind
all them mean girls mountaineering womankind
I gotta get her free
she came back to me
yes, i see her comin' now
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
So take your heart down to the water
I'll stick a sail in your heart, throw it into the sea
I see it coming back to me
I see it coming back to me
Hey, don't wanna get too sentimental!
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
"Julia" by Fast Romantics is a song about a man who is trying to communicate his feelings to his lover, Julia. The first verse starts off with the man turning on the bedroom light while Julia sleeps, but instead of waking her, he goes sleepwalking with Mary Magdalene. This could be interpreted as the man seeking solace or comfort from a non-threatening presence while Julia is unreachable. The second verse refers to drugstore love being fun, but not wise, and the man realizing that he wants to look into Julia's eyes.
The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, is a declaration from the man to Julia that he thinks he is finally getting through to her. This could be seen as him feeling successful in communicating his love for her, or possibly him convincing himself that he is making progress in their relationship. The bridge tells us about the man's travels and experiences, and how he needs to get Julia free because she is the one for him. The use of the phrase "old love is blind" may suggest that the man has had past relationships that did not work out, but he now knows that Julia is the one he has been searching for.
The final repetition of the chorus is combined with the man's desire for Julia to take her heart down to the water and for him to throw it into the sea with a sail attached. This could represent the man's desire to set their love free and let it take its own course in returning to him. The song ends with the man reminding himself not to get too sentimental.
Line by Line Meaning
I turned on the bedroom light
I switched on the light in my bedroom
but she was sound and sleeping
However, Julia was asleep and snoring
so I went sleepwalking
Thus, I walked around in a trance-like state
with Mary Magdalene
accompanied by a woman named Mary Magdalene
I woke up, uncrossed my fingers
I regained consciousness and unclasped my fingers
drugstore love was fun
I had an enjoyable relationship with an easily available woman
but you know, it can't be wise
However, such relationships are not advisable
to look into your eyes
As I am now doing with Julia
wait, just for a second now
Hold on, wait for a moment
Julia
Addressing Julia
I think I'm finally getting through to ya
I believe I am finally gaining your attention
I've seen a million nights
I have experienced numerous nights
I sailed 99 seas
I have sailed across 99 oceans
saw sightly sights
I have observed beautiful scenes
i gotta get her free
I must free Julia from any entanglements
she's the one for me
Julia is the ideal woman me
Old love is blind
Past love affairs can blind one's judgment
it looks behind
It reminisces about past relationships
all them mean girls mountaineering womankind
All the unkind women who disparage other women
she came back to me
Julia returned to my life
yes, i see her comin' now
I can perceive Julia's arrival nearby
So take your heart down to the water
Let us go by the water
I'll stick a sail in your heart, throw it into the sea
I will insert a sail in your heart and throw it in the ocean
I see it coming back to me
I foresee that it will return to me
Hey, don't wanna get too sentimental!
Hey, let's not become too sentimental
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tamcon72
Loved the video, and the song is fantastic! It's the perfect synthesis of sunshiny 60s Cali pop and 21st century indie angst. Brilliant!
@DanS8204
What an excellent song! The Fast Romantics are spectacular!
@johnhunter2294
This is a technical marvel, the way the band members "watch" Fred as he dances and even move to avoid him. And it's also not a bad little song.
@deborahschroeder5220
OMG!!! Just heard it this morning and I can't get it out of my head. Can't wait to get home and purchase the album. Hope they're all this good.
@ElliotBrownJingles
I LOVE FRED ASTAIRE. You just gave him a big comeback.
@megan2176
How cool to have Fred Astaire groove to your music! This was so fun!! :)
@anoca1958
I found this band through instagram and fell in love instantly! you're honestly so talented omg
@nicholecordell5848
This is an amazing video! And I've had this song on repeat all day. lol. Great job! :)
@erincalvert4038
This is such a great sound!! Love love love it.
@lolalotus8242
Im totally in love with this song! Thanks for this treasure!