Their first album, Relayted, was released by Jagjaguwar and garnered positive reviews for its unique vocal stylings and retro-but-contemporary sound. The songs, inspired by 10cc's I'm Not In Love, were written at 69 BPM and recorded over the course of a year. The Guardian called the album "a triumph" and listed it as "the album of the year". The Onion's The A.V. Club called the album "big and beautiful".
One of the tracks on Relayted is a cover of the 1985 Godley & Creme hit "Cry". The video for the song is a remake of the original video, featuring a cameo by Kevin Godley himself.
In May of 2010 the band played their first show at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Billed as "The Last Prom on Earth", the concert featured all 23 members of the band, prom-themed decorations, a balloon drop, and a surprise appearance by audience member Prince.
The band has been booked for a ten-show tour in September and October of 2010, culminating with a performance at Austin City Limits in October. On October 4, they played on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. They also performed at Coachella on April 15, 2011 and Sasquatch Music Festival May 27, 2011.
Ride
Gayngs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We leave tonight and Ride
3, 4, 5 keep me alive and Ride
All my life
Tying knots to make it through
Pushin' hard better me than you
Here I stand
Closing eyes, Heart in hand
Gonna fall where you let me land
If you here sing
The lyrics to Gayngs's song Ride seem to be about escapism and surrendering oneself to the uncertainties of life. The first line, "Get in and drive," can be interpreted as an invitation to leave everything behind and embark on a journey. The phrase "We leave tonight and Ride" emphasizes the urgency of the escape and the need to start moving. The subsequent line "3, 4, 5 keep me alive and Ride" suggests that the singer needs this escape to keep them going and stay alive.
The following lines seem to convey a sense of struggle and resilience. "Tying knots to make it through" alludes to the difficulty of overcoming challenges and the determination to keep going. "Pushin' hard better me than you" implies that the singer would rather take on the challenges themselves rather than let someone else struggle in their place.
The last few lines leave room for interpretation. "Here I stand, Closing eyes, Heart in hand, Gonna fall where you let me land" can be interpreted in different ways. It could be a reference to vulnerability and the willingness to surrender oneself to the unknown. The line "If you here sing" can also be interpreted in more than one way, but it might be a nod to the power of music and the sense of connection it can create among people.
Line by Line Meaning
Get in and drive
Let's start this journey by getting into the car and driving towards the unknown.
We leave tonight and Ride
We're not waiting anymore, we're leaving tonight and we'll figure out everything else along the way.
3, 4, 5 keep me alive and Ride
Counting down from 3 to 5 gives me the push I need to feel alive and embark on this ride.
All my life
My entire existence has led to this moment, this journey that we're about to embark upon.
Tying knots to make it through
I've been struggling to keep everything together, doing whatever it takes to make it through this journey (whether that's tying knots, metaphorically speaking, or something else).
Pushin' hard better me than you
I'm pushing myself hard because I'd rather struggle and overcome obstacles than let someone else do it for me.
Here I stand
I'm at the starting point, ready to take on whatever comes my way in this journey.
Closing eyes, Heart in hand
I'm ready to surrender myself completely to this journey, with my heart in my hand and my eyes closed to whatever may come.
Gonna fall where you let me land
I'm trusting the journey and whatever or whoever is leading it, and I'll accept whatever destination or experience they have in store for me.
If you here sing
If you're with me on this journey, join in and sing along.
Contributed by Owen E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.