Michael Borja - Bass & Vocals
Bil… Read Full Bio ↴Rob Benedict - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Michael Borja - Bass & Vocals
Billy Moran - Guitars & Vocals
Stephen Norton - Drums & Vocals
LOUDEN SWAIN
By Nick DeRiso
Fronted by lead singer and actor Rob Benedict, Louden Swain also includes bassist Mike Borja, lead guitarist Billy Moran and drummer Stephen Norton. The band has just released its fourth full-length recording – Eskimo, on their own 3 Car Wreckords label.
This fizzy amalgam of sound ties together a wide array of influences. Benedict and Borja, who formed the band in the late 90s, shared a background of indie/college rock legends like R.E.M., the Pixies, Pavement and the Replacements. The addition of Moran completed the band’s sound, as he and Norton brought in early musical influences from the hard rock/metal world – notably Kiss and Gun ’n Roses. The quartet’s common ground, early on, could be found in classic rock icons like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Who – and that provided additional spices in their melting pot of musical textures.
Louden Swain’s first album with Moran, 2009’s A Brand New Hurt, reflected the earliest flowerings of the band’s current sound, and began to rapidly expand its fanbase. In addition, Benedict’s connections to the acting world – he’s appeared on TV’s “Felicity,” “Alias” and “Supernatural” and films like “Waiting” have also attracted attention for the band. Recently they penned the tune “Help You” which was placed in the Jenna Fischer movie “A Little Help,” in which Benedict co-starred. A 2011 successful tour of Europe through England, Germany and Austria also brought Louden Swain to new audiences.
Louden Swain now aims to build on their already considerable momentum with the forthcoming Eskimo, which features 13 of their most polished songs to date. This time through they enlisted the help of several industry veterens--the album was mixed by Joe McGrath (Ryan Adams, Green Day, B.B. King), Mike Farrell (Morrissey, Macy Gray) guested on keyboards, and the finishing touches on the album were provided by the Grammy winning mastering of Gavin Lurssen.
For more information on Louden Swain, go to http://www.LoudenSwain.com.
Better
Louden Swain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in the neighborhood of loneliness
Riding a wave
We all survive to make some sense of this
Living alone
Even when you're right here next to me
Seeking to show
I'm not a dime store refugee
And it feels so good right now
Could it be so good right now?
Now I gotta problem with electricity
What if it blows
And I lose what I have come to be?
How will I know
What my life has had in store for me?
How well I know
I'm just a shot away, just a shot away
And it feels so good right now
It feels so good right now
How could something so good
Be so bad for you?
And it feels so good right now
Could it be this good right now?
The song "Better" by Louden Swain portrays a sense of loneliness and vulnerability despite being surrounded by people. The first line "This house is a mess" could suggest that the singer's external surroundings may not be in order, but more importantly, that their internal state is confused or disordered. They are in the neighborhood of loneliness, which implies that they are surrounded by others, but still feel isolated. The line "Riding a wave" suggests that they are trying to navigate the ups and downs of life.
The following lines show that while the singer may be physically with someone, they still feel alone, seeking to show that they are their own person and not reliant on others. This loneliness is counteracted by the feeling of contentment and safety, "And it feels so good right now, could it be so good right now?" This juxtaposition creates the idea that the comfort they feel might only be fleeting or temporary.
The second half of the song shows the singer's anxiety about losing their sense of self or losing control over their life. The lyrics "I gotta problem with electricity, what if it blows, and I lose what I have come to be?" could be talking about a literal power outage or an emotional breakdown. This shows the fear and uncertainty that lurks beneath the surface, even when everything appears to be stable. The repeated questioning of how good things can be so bad for you serves to show the ambiguity of life.
Line by Line Meaning
This house is a mess
The environment around me is not well organized and this is affecting me mentally.
I'm in the neighbourhood of loneliness
I feel alone even when surrounded by people because of my internal struggles.
Riding a wave
I'm going with the flow and taking things as they come, accepting the ups and downs of life.
We all survive to make some sense of this
We all go through the struggles of life to try and find meaning and purpose in it.
Living alone
I feel like I'm on my own even when I'm with someone else.
Even when you're right here next to me
Despite the fact that someone is physically with me, I still feel isolated and alone.
Seeking to show
I'm trying to prove myself and show that I have value and worth.
I'm not a dime store refugee
I'm not just some cheap or worthless person, I have value and worth.
And it feels so good right now
Despite the struggles, in this moment I feel good and content.
Could it be so good right now?
I'm questioning whether or not this moment of contentment is real or if it will fade away.
Now I gotta problem with electricity
I have a problem that could disrupt my life and change who I am.
What if it blows
What if my problem gets worse and completely destroys everything I've built?
And I lose what I have come to be?
I'm afraid of losing who I am and what I've worked so hard to become.
How will I know
I'm unsure of what my future holds or how my life will turn out.
What my life has had in store for me?
I don't know what fate has planned for me or what challenges will come my way.
How well I know
I'm aware that my life is fragile and could change at any moment.
I'm just a shot away, just a shot away
My life could change in an instant, for better or worse.
How could something so good
I'm questioning why something that feels so good could also have negative consequences.
Be so bad for you?
I'm wondering if the good feeling is worth the potential negative effects.
Could it be this good right now?
Despite my doubts, I still hope that this moment of contentment is real and will last.
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.