How appropriate that his fifth and latest disc bears the title “Balloons.” From the much-lauded 2000 LP “Icarus Grounded” (featured everywhere from the Chicago Tribune to the Discovery Channel) to this cloud-skimming new disc, Altergott always aims high. He yearns to break free, transcend boundaries … and take listeners with him for the ride.
Produced by Chicago drummer extraordinaire Chuck Harling and engineered by Mike Hagler (Wilco, Neko Case, Lloyd Maines), “Balloons” gathers 11 songs, played by the crack trio The Whole Fantastic World. Harling and Nashville young-’uns Daniel Sherron (guitars) and Craig Hamilton (bass) are joined on “Balloons” by prominent guests including horn deity Paul Von Mertens (arranger-bandleader, Brian Wilson) and Chicago folk chanteuse Heather Perry.
On the glorious title track, Jeffrey captures the contradictions we feel as soaring souls stuffed in flesh-and-blood cages: “Maybe if I can embrace/ things about myself I hate/ it would be less a coffin and more a womb.” Altergott sounds meditative and hopeful on “Dandelion,” a post-Paisley trip that blends electric piano and phased guitar like wild sprouts bursting from dark earth.
Closer to reality—reality TV, that is—Altergott takes on tabloid journalism with rapier wit and a kickass beat in “Dismal”: “You’ve got reality/ You’ve got the hospital/ You’ve the crime-scene drama/ Could it be that we’re addicted to trauma?”
“Balloons” picks up where his tender 2007 acoustic predecessor “Don't Be a Stranger” left off—but with just the right dashes of rock-your-ass-off swagger and playful shuffle that marked Altergott’s 2004 release, “Runt.” Altergott fleshes out two songs from “Stranger” with startling results. “Every Day Is A Reason” grafts earnest lyrics about the struggles of a gay couple onto a free-gallop backbeat: “Sticks and stones may break our bones/ We’re still a family anyway.” On the more whimsical side, “Kickstand”—filled to the brim with those juicy Mertens horns—sounds like it was channeled from an enchanted swing-era radio in an antique shop corner.
Altergott has garnered high praise from the likes of WXRT-FM deejay Richard Milne (as a “Local Anesthetic” capsule pick), the Chicago Reader, and LinuxTag—which handpicked the title song from “Icarus Grounded” for its first OpenSource compilation CD, released in Europe.
If you seek a smart, engaging interviewee who can talk about almost anything, from the spiritual thrust of his songs to electrical engineering (yes, Altergott built his own recording studio), then contact Justin Brown or Emily Lichter at public emily to set up an interview about the making of “Balloons,” by far his most engaging, challenging record to date.
Trust
Jeffrey Altergott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep into my mouth
A simple kind of truth
The kind we captured in our youth
And burned up slow like wax
Dripped upon our backs
Bare down on me
I give myself to you
Unsure of how to start
I open up my heart
And I give in to you
You flogged me with kindness
But I was guilt-ridden with blindness
When loves good it stings and hurts
Am I strong enough to make this
work
If you ask me I'm proud to tell
I gave in, I gave in
Tie me up and spit
Deep into my mouth
A simple kind of truth
The lyrics of this song, "Trust", by Jeffrey Altergott, is a perfect representation of an intimate and intense relationship. The words are filled with passion, vulnerability, and raw emotions. The first verse starts with the imagery of being bound and vulnerable, which represents the trust between two people in a relationship. The line, "A simple kind of truth, the kind we captured in our youth," represents the honesty and sincerity of their relationship that they've had since the beginning.
The second verse represents the willingness to bare oneself completely to the partner. The line, "Bare down on me, rip me in two," represents the intensity of their love and passion. The singer is unsure of how to start, but opens up his heart to give himself to his partner. He is aware that when love is good, it can also hurt, but he's willing to take that risk for the relationship to work.
The chorus reassures that the singer is proud to give in to his partner, as the lines "I gave in, I gave in" suggest that he surrenders himself to the relationship completely. The final verse completes the song's theme with the line, "Tie me up and spit deep into my mouth, a simple kind of truth," signifying that their love is pure and straightforward.
Overall, the song "Trust" by Jeffrey Altergott is a deeply emotional and intimate portrayal of an intense relationship that is built on vulnerability, trust, and love. The lyrics showcase the beautiful, sometimes complicated, journey that relationships can take and encourages listeners to trust in their love wholeheartedly.
Line by Line Meaning
Tie me up and spit
I want you to take control and dominate me.
Deep into my mouth
I desire an intense intimacy where we connect on a deep, physical level.
A simple kind of truth
I want our relationship to be honest and transparent, stripped of any complications or games.
The kind we captured in our youth
When we fell in love as teenagers, it was pure and uncomplicated. I long for that same unfiltered authenticity now.
And burned up slow like wax
We shared a passionate, slow-burning love that was intense, but also fleeting. I wish we could recapture that flame.
Dripped upon our backs
Our love left a mark on us, like a tattoo or scar, reminding us of what we once had.
Bare down on me
I want you to fully open up to me, exposing your vulnerabilities and deepest secrets.
Rip me in two
I want you to push me to my physical and emotional limits, challenging me in every way possible.
I give myself to you
I am surrendering myself completely to you, trusting you fully to take care of my heart.
Unsure of how to start
I am apprehensive about this new level of intimacy and vulnerability, unsure of how to navigate it.
I open up my heart
Despite my fears, I am willing to be vulnerable, hoping that this will strengthen our connection.
And I give in to you
I am letting go of my reservations and insecurities, allowing myself to fully trust and love you.
You flogged me with kindness
Your love is overwhelming and intense, pushing me to new heights of emotional depth.
But I was guilt-ridden with blindness
Despite your love and acceptance, I am still battling feelings of unworthiness and shame.
When loves good it stings and hurts
Love can be painful and uncomfortable, but it is often in the struggles that we find the most growth and connection.
Am I strong enough to make this work
I am uncertain of my own strength and resilience, wondering if I have what it takes to make this relationship successful.
If you ask me I'm proud to tell
Despite my doubts and fears, I am proud to be in this relationship with you and to openly express my love for you.
I gave in, I gave in
Ultimately, I have chosen to follow my heart and trust in our love, giving myself fully to you.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUSTIN SULLIVAN, JUSTIN EDWARD SULLIVAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind