Their songs are underpinned with darker scarred lyrics (suggested in interviews to have been inspired by the death of Cafiso's father) causing them to be famously compared to, 'a candy apple with a razor blade inside'.
Musical influences of the band vary from 1960s rock outfits The Beatles, The Velvet Underground and most associated, The Beach Boys, to early 1990s noise rock pioneers My Bloody Valentine, and The Breeders.
The single "Baby You Should Know" has been featured on Fox Television's The O.C. and "Go Tell the World" was featured in an ad for Nike Soccer and in a season two episode of Grey's Anatomy.
Joy Zipper covered the Pixies "Wave Of Mutilation" for American Laundromat Records compilation "Dig For Fire - a tribute to Pixies" (2007).
In 2008 Joy Zipper covered the title track for the American Laundromat Records produced Cure tribute "Just Like Heaven - a tribute to The Cure". The Wedding Present, The Submarines, Dean & Britta and Tanya Donelly also appear on the project.
Check Out My New Jesus
Joy Zipper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I know about those things
Shiver in the sun
I like my clothes when they're undone
People gather round
Check out the patches on my new jeans
Gather round
I just wanna be god
Check out my new Jesus
He talks and he walks
If you want him to
Nevermind the thorns
They're only there to confuse you
People gather round
Check out the patches on my new jeans
Gather round
I
I just wanna be god
You say I'm unclean
You know I know about those things
Shiver in the sun
I like my clothes when they're undone
People gather round
Check out the thorns on my new Jesus
Gather round
The song "Check Out My New Jesus" by Joy Zipper appears to be a commentary on the commodification of spirituality in modern society. The singer is portrayed as a rebellious figure, with "unclean" tendencies, who is seeking to claim some kind of divine power. However, rather than adopting a traditional religious figure like Jesus, the singer has created their own spiritual icon in the form of their new jeans. The patchwork on the jeans serves as a symbol of both rebellion and individuality, drawing people's attention and admiration. The singer's desire to "just wanna be god" suggests a longing for power and control, perhaps driven by a sense of disempowerment in their everyday life.
The reference to thorns on the new Jesus may be a nod to the crown of thorns worn by Jesus in the Bible, but with a twist. The singer notes that the thorns are "only there to confuse you", perhaps indicating that even religious symbolism has been co-opted and manipulated to sell products. The repetition of the lines "You say I'm unclean / You know I know about those things / Shiver in the sun / I like my clothes when they're undone" suggests both defiance and vulnerability. The singer is aware of the societal norms that label them as "unclean", yet they embrace their own sense of identity and style regardless.
Overall, "Check Out My New Jesus" seems to be a critique of consumerism and the ways in which spirituality and religion can be used to sell products. The singer's desire for power and influence through their new jeans shows a yearning for something deeper and more meaningful, yet the fact that they have to create their own spiritual symbol highlights the lack of genuine connection to traditional religious figures.
Line by Line Meaning
You said I'm unclean
I am aware that you believe I am impure
You know I know about those things
I am not naive, I understand your beliefs
Shiver in the sun
I am feeling the intensity of the moment
I like my clothes when they are undone
I prefer to be perceived as nonconformist
People gather round, Check out the patches on my new jeans, Gather round
I am attracting attention to my individualistic style
I just wanna be god
I desire to have a godlike persona
Check out my new Jesus, He talks and he walks, If you want him to
I have created a new image that I want people to notice and engage with
Nevermind the thorns, They're only there to confuse you
I want to be seen as an enigmatic figure, so people should ignore the discomfort of the thorns
People gather round, Check out the patches on my new jeans, Gather round
I am emphasizing my style choices to attract attention and admiration
You say I'm unclean, You know I know about those things
I acknowledge your perception of me and understand it
Shiver in the sun, I like my clothes when they're undone
I enjoy challenging norms and being unconventional
People gather round, Check out the thorns on my new Jesus, Gather round
I am drawing attention to the discomfort and hardship associated with my chosen image
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VINCENT CAFISO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AProudAtheist
@tatelabianca The heartlight set is where its at. best American album of the decade
@contentlocked99
god... a band influenced by the pixies. kinda like an american version of the pillows? i like.
@ExclaimationPoint27
i'm new to this band but is it just these two people?
@ElohAraphel
isn't this Check Out the News from the self-titles album?! or do i have my tracks all mixed up on my iTunes?!
@LoHarryGirl
this sounds like elliott smith
@inasafeplace
Though everywhere I go, The Heartlight Set seems the least praised of their records.
@ThePuntedFetus
The Pixies were American...
@contentlocked99
and the pillows were not. hence why i said "american version of the pillows" and not "american version of the pixies". i just said they were influenced by them where is YOUR mind?
@rdocb7342
The Pixies?