Coming out May 3, 2011, on Dovecote Records, True Loves builds on Hooray for Earth's acclaimed debut EP, Momo, and captures both the personal and universal anxieties that have such a footing in contemporary times. Lead single "True Loves" thumps along neck-snapping drums, awash with blips and synths, surprising breakdowns and Heroux's soaringly languid vocals. Pitchfork has already compared the track favorably to artists like MGMT, Yeasayer and Passion Pit, while saying that "all the right elements are in place...[it] floats along and pounds forward at the same time, and one way or another it wants to carry you along with it." Meanwhile, Stereogum labeled the band one of "CMJ's heroes," taking particular note of Hooray for Earth's "nimble but unpretentious guitars" and "sense of progressive psychedelics and percussive progressions." The sound that has indie-culture's gatekeepers fawning is one that springs directly from Heroux's imagination into a climactic reality.
"I don't write music with an instrument, I usually just get an idea of what the whole song sounds like in my head, kind of like an earworm that stays with you after listening to the radio. My task is to recreate what's stuck in my head in actual audible form, as quickly as possible," he says. "I wish I could just plug a cord into my head...I think that's why the music tends to be a little dense, because I think of all these things at once."
Heroux wrote, recorded, and produced about 90% of the new album, with bassist Christopher Principe and guitarist/live synthist Gary Benacquista peppering parts in a few sessions, and drummer Joseph Ciampini adding two days of rooftop drum tracking. Mixed by Chris Coady (Beach House, Blonde Redhead, Delorean, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio), the album might as well be a direct link to the exciting mind of Heroux. Hooray for Earth's progression is apparent everywhere on the record and boasts exciting things for a band that has already appeared onstage with Mission of Burma, Holy Fuck, Surfer Blood, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Oh No Ono, and many more. Recorded over five weeks in New York, it's at once specific to the summer of 2010 and transcendent of time itself. Once again, a happy set of extremes.
"Most of the [recording] process is just me getting lost and trying to get things done. I feel like I'm on autopilot sometimes. I'll finish a song and wonder, 'When did that happen?' I don't spend a lot of time stressing about what instruments to use or what's missing, I just kind of let it be."
Bring Us Closer Together
Hooray For Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not alarmed
It feels right
(follow sirens)
found a path but it's sealed off with a vine
cut it down
it feels right
it's clear and coming to me
it's clear and coming to me
it's clear and coming to me
It's bringing us closer together
changing the weather
It's bringing us closer together
make it forever
would you follow me into a dark tunnel
down into the ground
it feels right
(follow sirens)
the dream had told me if I need it enough it's fine
I'll make it mine
it feels right
(follow sirens)
to the end of a narrow little cave I came upon
it's really not where I am
it's a game
it plays you on
it was faking you and
Bringing us closer together
changing the weather
It's bringing us closer together
make it forever
Bringing us closer together
changing the weather
It's bringing us closer together
make it forever
Bringing us closer together
changing the weather
It's bringing us closer together
make it forever
Bringing us closer together
changing the weather
It's bringing us closer together
make it forever
Bringing us closer together
changing the weather
It's bringing us closer together
make it forever
The lyrics to Hooray for Earth's song Bring Us Closer Together are quite abstract, but can be interpreted as an exploration of the unknown and the feeling of being drawn towards something, even if it seems risky or dangerous. The first two lines describe a peaceful moment in a park, where a beetle lands on the singer's arm, and although it may seem insignificant, it feels right. This sense of intuition informs the rest of the song, as the singer follows sirens, cuts down vines that block their path, and enters a dark tunnel, all because it feels right to do so.
The dream referenced in the lyrics implies that the singer is chasing after something elusive, but if they need it enough, they can make it theirs. This determination and sense of purpose lead them through a narrow cave, where they realize that what they thought they were chasing was just a game playing tricks on them. Despite this realization, the singer is still committed to the journey, to the point where they want to make it forever.
Overall, the song seems to be about taking risks and following your intuition, even if it leads you somewhere unexpected or ultimately futile.
Line by Line Meaning
In a park where a beetle lands on my arm
I am in a park and a beetle has landed on my arm but I am not scared or alarmed. It feels like a natural occurrence.
Not alarmed
I am not frightened or panicked by the beetle on my arm.
It feels right
The presence of the beetle feels like it belongs there and is a natural part of the environment.
(follow sirens)
I am following the sound of sirens, possibly out of curiosity or a sense of adventure.
found a path but it's sealed off with a vine
I have found a path, but it is blocked by a vine or obstacle.
cut it down
I have decided to remove the obstacle in my path by cutting down the vine.
it's clear and coming to me
Suddenly, I am gaining clarity and insight about the situation at hand.
It's bringing us closer together
This experience is connecting us and bringing us closer in some way.
changing the weather
Metaphorically, this experience is altering the emotional climate in some way.
make it forever
I want to hold onto this moment and make it a permanent part of my life.
would you follow me into a dark tunnel
I am asking someone if they would be willing to accompany me into a dark and possibly risky path.
down into the ground
This path leads underground, possibly implying a descent into the unknown or subconscious.
the dream had told me if I need it enough it's fine
I had a dream that reassured me that if I truly want something, it is acceptable to pursue it.
I'll make it mine
I am determined to make this dream or goal a reality and claim it as my own.
to the end of a narrow little cave I came upon
After my journey through the dark tunnel, I have reached the end where a narrow cave awaits me.
it's really not where I am
Despite thinking I had reached the end, I realize that this is not actually where I am supposed to be.
it's a game
This experience or journey is like a game, with twists and turns that can surprise you.
it plays you on
The experience is manipulating and toying with me, possibly for its own amusement.
Contributed by Brooklyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.