For the most part Love Battery was an unusual group in the early 90's Seattle music scene. Blending intense swirling psychedelic guitar work, pulsating rhythms, driving beats and heartfelt vocals derived from '60s garage/psych, '70s punk rock, '80s post punk and '90s grunge, their music was significantly more complex than most of the music associated with that era.
Although they never achieved the commercial success of many of their contemporaries, they nonetheless retained a fervent cult following that continues to this day.
Love Battery was formed in 1989 by former Room Nine leader Ron Nine (b. Ron Rudzitis), guitarist Kevin Whitworth (ex-Crisis Party), bassist Tommy "Bonehead" Simpson (also ex-Crisis Party) and Mudhoney drummer Dan Peters. Their name came from a song of the same name by British punk band the Buzzcocks.
Before releasing their first single Peters left the group and was replaced by ex-Skin Yard drummer Jason Finn. With this lineup the band released their debut single Between The Eyes for seminal Seattle record label Sub Pop. By 1990 Simpson had been replaced by ex-U-Men bassist Jim Tillman. With this lineup the band released their debut EP Between the Eyes in 1990, again on Sub Pop. This record was later expanded and released as their first full-length album in 1991. Following the Between The Eyes EP were the Foot singles and Out Of Focus EP.
In 1992 the band recorded and released what many consider their finest record Dayglo. In the Sub Pop catalog, Dayglo was listed as "Blotter not included" a play on "Batteries not included" instead referring to LSD. Soon after, Tillman left to pursue other interests. He was replaced at first by original bassist Tommy Simpson, who in turn was replaced by ex-Green River and Mother Love Bone guitarist Bruce Fairweather.
In 1993 the Far Gone album appeared, which to many was considered a disappointment following Dayglo's critical success. Initially Far Gone was to be released by PolyGram Records but due to contractal problems with Sub Pop Records, Far Gone was dumped by the major label. Instead an inferior 'rough mix' of the album was released by Sub Pop, a problem which Love Battery planned to rectify by remixing and reissuing but never did.
Following the Far Gone fiasco, Love Battery signed with Atlas Records in 1994 releasing the Nehru Jacket EP late in the year. It contained 2 songs that also found their way onto 1995's Straight Freak Ticket album which was also released on Atlas in 1995. The label failed to promote the band and album properly however which resulted in poor sales. Shortly thereafter Finn left the group to join The Presidents of the United States of America who quickly found success later in the year.
A prolonged period of uncertainty ensued following Finn's departure with an array of drummers brought in as his replacement including original drummer Dan Peters and ex-Posies and Fastbacks drummer Mike Musburger. The band practically disappeared until the release of their fifth album Confusion Au Go Go in 1999. This time around drummers Peters, Musburger and Finn all contributed to the album although Peters took on a majority of the work.
Following the release of Confusion Au Go Go Love Battery remained for the most part quiet. A few one off performances were made in 2002 featuring Tommy Simpson returning on bass and Finn and Peters on drums. After a prolonged period of inactivity the band played their first show in 4 years on June 23, 2006 at Neumoes in Seattle, WA. The current lineup consists of Nine, Whitworth, Simpson and Musburger.
In 1996 Love Battery was featured in the documentary Hype!, chronicling the rise of the Seattle "grunge" music scene. A clip is shown of a live performance of "Between the Eyes", and the song also appears on the documentary's soundtrack.
A video for "Out Of Focus" appears on Sub Pop Video Network Program, Volume Two. They also made videos for "Fuzz Factory" and "Harold's Pink Room" from the Straight Freak Ticket album. The "Fuzz Factory" video was shot in Las Vegas and featured the band driving around in a white Cadillac convertible, hinting at Hunter S. Thompson's famous book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas years before the film of the same name starring actor Johnny Depp was released.
A "Fuzz Factory" is also a creation of Z.Vex Effects, a musical stomp-box fuzz pedal hand crafted with vintage style '60s parts and hand painted with a psychedelic look.
Love Battery leader Ron Nine also plays in new band Down With People who have been significantly more active than Love Battery as of late.
Albums
* Between The Eyes (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* Dayglo (Sub Pop Records, 1992).
* Far Gone (Sub Pop Records, 1993).
* Straight Freak Ticket (Atlas Records, 1995).
* Confusion Au Go Go (C/Z Records, 1999).
Singles/Eps
* "Between The Eyes" b/w "Easter" (Sub Pop Records, 1989).
* "Foot" b/w "Mr. Soul" (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* Out Of Focus EP (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* Nehru Jacket EP (Atlas Records, 1994).
* "Snipe Hunt" b/w "Punks Want Rights" (Let Down Records, 1996).
Compilation/Soundtrack contributions
* "Between The Eyes" on The Grunge Years (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" on Another Damned Seattle Compilation (Dashboard Hula Girl Records, 1991).
* "Ball And Chain" on Milk For Pussy (Mad Queen Records, 1994).
* "No Matter What You Do" on We're All Normal And We Want Our Freedom: A Tribute To Arthur Lee and Love (Alias Records, 1994).
* "White Bird" on Star Power! K-Tel Hits Of The '70s (Pravda Records, 1994).
* "Fuzz Factory" on Turn It Up & Pass It On, Volume 1 (1995).
* "Straight Freak Show" on huH Magazine CD6 (promo only) (RayGun Press, 1995).
* "Out Of Focus (Live)" on Bite Back: Live At The Crocodile Cafe (PopLlama Records, 1996).
* "Color Blind" on Home Alive: The Art of Self-Defense (Epic Records, 1996).
* "Commercial Suicide" on Teriyaki Asthma, Vols. 6-10 (C/Z Records, 1999).
* "Half Past You" on Sleepless In Seattle: The Birth Of Grunge (LiveWire Recordings, 2006).
Out of Focus
Love Battery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't beleive what I've done
Put my pride in a mess
I can't stand it when you wear that dress
You've been right, the things you say
Why don't you just go away ?
I've been diggin' for tonight, I've been diggin' for July
Beside your mind in the summer heat
I can't belive the things I've said
Between your eyes, between your legs
Words then can break in half
Make you mad, they make you laugh
Then they crawl into the sea
The endless rythm into your..
Our dreams are all out of focus
Knock you up when your feeling down
And all the world seems so unreal
Why should I lean on the street
And shadows cast for sympathy
Sores on your hands and knees
I can't belive, I can't belive
Now that my patience is slim
When summer comes I'll take it in
Notice my pain can swim
I'm drowning in the words it brings
Our dreams are all out of focus
Knock you up when your feeling down
And all the world seems so unreal
(I doubt these lyrics are right,
but it was the best I could do trying
to understand what he was saying)
The lyrics of Love Battery's song Out of Focus speak to the confusion and turmoil that can exist within a relationship. The singer acknowledges that they have made mistakes and that their pride has led them down a messy path. Despite their recognition of their shortcomings, they cannot help but feel frustrated with their partner and want them to go away. The singer also touches on the theme of communication, recognizing that words can have a powerful impact and that they can both hurt and heal.
The middle section of the song shifts focus to a more dreamlike state, as the singer describes rings and the summer heat. This section also touches on the idea of blurred dreams and a feeling of unreality in the world. The final portion of the song comes back to reality as the singer reflects on their pain and their sense of drowning in the words of their relationship.
Overall, the song speaks to the complex and often painful nature of love and relationships. The lyrics suggest that while communication and recognition of mistakes are important, they may not always be enough to save a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
And take my world and tear it apart
My life has fallen apart and I can't see the way out.
I can't believe what I've done
I regret my actions and am filled with remorse.
Put my pride in a mess
I've jeopardized my self-respect and reputation.
I can't stand it when you wear that dress
Seeing you in that dress brings back unwanted feelings and memories.
You've been right, the things you say
I know you've been telling me the truth, even though I don't want to hear it.
Why don't you just go away ?
I'm overwhelmed and need space, even if it hurts you.
I've been diggin' for tonight, I've been diggin' for July
I've been searching for a way out of this situation without success.
The rings around, the rings so sweet
Our relationship had sweet, beautiful moments that I cherish.
Beside your mind in the summer heat
I loved being close to you, especially during warm summer days.
I can't believe the things I've said
I regret the hurtful things I've said to you and wish I could take them back.
Between your eyes, between your legs
I was drawn both physically and emotionally to you.
Words then can break in half
My words can have a powerful impact, for better or for worse.
Make you mad, they make you laugh
My words can elicit strong emotions, whether positive or negative.
Then they crawl into the sea
My words eventually fade away and are forgotten over time.
The endless rhythm into your..
The music and beat of our relationship is forever ingrained in my memory.
Our dreams are all out of focus
Our hopes and aspirations are unclear and uncertain.
Knock you up when you're feeling down
Although we struggle, we pick each other up and give each other hope.
And all the world seems so unreal
Everything feels surreal and strange in light of our current difficulties.
Why should I lean on the street
I feel alone and unsupported, with nothing to hold onto.
And shadows cast for sympathy
I seek comfort and understanding in the shadows, where no one can see me.
Sores on your hands and knees
We are both exhausted and worn down from trying to make things work.
I can't believe, I can't believe
I am overwhelmed and struggling to comprehend everything that has happened.
Now that my patience is slim
I am running out of time and patience to fix our relationship.
When summer comes I'll take it in
I hope that summer will bring new beginnings and fresh starts.
Notice my pain can swim
My pain is strong and persistent, and seems to be all-consuming.
I'm drowning in the words it brings
The weight of my emotions and thoughts is dragging me down.
Contributed by Julia V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andre Favarato
Come take my world and tear it apart
I can't believe what I've done
Put my pride in a mess
I can't stand it when you wear that dress
You've been right, the things you say
Why don't you just go away ?
I've been diggin' for tonight, I've been diggin' for tonight
The rings around, the rings so sweet
Beside your mind in the summer heat
I can't believe the things I've said
Between your eyes, between your legs
Words are frail, can break in half
Make you mad, they make you laugh
Then they crawl into the sea
The endless rythm into your...
Your dreams are all out of focus
Knock you up when you're feeling down
And all the world seems so unreal
Why should I lean on the street
And shadows cast for sympathy
Sores on your hands and knees
I can't believe, I can't believe
Now that my patience is slim
When summer comes I'll take it in
Notice my pain can swim
I'm drowning in the words it brings
Your dreams are all out of focus
Knock you up when you're feeling down
And all the world seems so unreal
(I doubt these lyrics are right,
but it was the best I could do trying
to understand what he was saying)
Ivan Markovic
Come take my world and tear it apart
I can't believe what I've done
Put my pride in a mess
I can't stand it when you wear that dress
You've been right, the things you said
Why don't you just go away ?
I've been digging for two lives, I've been digging for July.
The rings around, the rings OH sweet
Beside your mind in the summer heat
I can't believe the things I've said
Between your eyes, between your legs
Words are frail, could break in half
They make you mad, they make you laugh
Then they crawl into the sea
The endless rhythm into your...
Your dreams that are out of focus
That knock you up when you're feeling down
When all the words seem so unreal
Why should I lean on the street
In shadows cast for sympathy
Sores on your hands and your knees
I can't believe, I can't believe
Now that my patience is slim
When summer comes I'll take it in
Now that my pain could swim
I'm drowning in the words it brings
In your dreams that are out of focus
That knock you up when you're feeling down
And all the words seems so unreal
zombie100379
lyrics:
And take my world and tear it apart
I can't beleive what I've done
Put my pride in a mess
I can't stand it when you wear that dress
You've been right, the things you say
Why don't you just go away ?
I've been diggin' for tonight, I've been diggin' for July
The rings around, the rings so sweet
Beside your mind in the summer heat
I can't belive the things I've said
Between your eyes, between your legs
Words then can break in half
Make you mad, they make you laugh
Then they crawl into the sea
The endless rythm into your..
Our dreams are all out of focus
Knock you up when your feeling down
And all the world seems so unreal
Why should I lean on the street
And shadows cast for sympathy
Sores on your hands and knees
I can't belive, I can't belive
Now that my patience is slim
When summer comes I'll take it in
Notice my pain can swim
I'm drowning in the words it brings
Our dreams are all out of focus
Knock you up when your feeling down
And all the world seems so unreal
gerg rev g
One of the best from a truly great Seattle band.It's an honor to be friends of these fine people.Kevin and Ron are in a new band called Vaporland.It's on YouTube.Hit it!
Dun Can
Fax. heavily underrated
Ricardo Martinez
No me canso de escuchar y escuchar este tema!!!
Chuck Graham
These guys were underrated.
Tyler Taws
Chuck Graham I agree that Love battery is extremely underrated.
The Jesterday70s
Chuck Graham extremely underrated. Foo Fighters should be name-checking them every chance they get!
Chuck Graham
The Jesterday70s so should the Gallagher brothers
bubblegum crisis1394
Chuck Graham agreed ♥️
Hulk Logan
It's a fucking crime that this band wasn't more popular in their time. They were one of the best bands of the'90s and should have been much bigger than they were.
Chris Doherty
One of Seattles Best Kept Secrets. While I wish these guys nothing but success. It was nice not having them caught up in all that scenester crap.