Made Out of Babies was a band from New York, NY, United States, formed in 2… Read Full Bio ↴Made Out of Babies was a band from New York, NY, United States, formed in 2004.
As their playfully gruesome name suggests, Made Out of Babies are not a demure or delicate band, but a vehicle of cathartic assault; as evocative as The Jesus Lizard, as imaginative and impassioned as Björk, as disturbingly frank and unnerving as Big Black, the quartet conjures a wholly unique sense of claustrophobic fury, undermining the listener's sense of order and rationality.

Having signed to Neurot in 2005 - probably the most outright rock act to have yet done so - Made Out of Babies released their debut "Trophy" to immediate critical acclaim, with Revolver describing vocalist Julie Christmas as "Courtney Love, PJ Harvey and Karen O rolled into one whirling, wailing dervish," while Kerrang suggested that "it's not just her yelping and screaming that gets ingrained in your soul, but her whole essence.

While Christmas attracts the attention of bewitched critics, a band comprised of guitarist Brendan Tobin, bassist Cooper (Players Club) and drummer Matthew Egan generate the industrial energy behind Made Out Of Babies' churning hardcore rush, summoning a slithering pit of churning, caffeinated noise-rock reminiscent of greats like Steel Pole Bathtub, Unsane and Silverfish. Neurot has confounded expectations with the signing of Made Out Of Babies, but their superficial differences to bands commonly associated with the label belie their fundamental coherence with the Neurot ethic: to release music that challenges the mind while expressing intense passion and belief.

September 2006 saw the release of Made Out of Babies second album, "Coward". Continuing where "Trophy" left off, "Coward" was produced by Steve Albini, and manages to encapsulate the band's grinding, cathartic assault within a devastatingly efficient package. A captivating and intense record that disposes of the comforting illusions of contemporary Western society with each vicious and accurate slash, "Coward" is a stomach-churning illustration of Made Out of Babies latent force, and an indicator that they chime perfectly with the stark, awesome power for which Neurot is known.

After recently moving to The End records, their third album, "The Ruiner", was released on June 24, 2008, combining all the disconcerting sound of their last two releases with the natural evolution of their sound.

In 2012, Julie announced on her Facebook page the end of Made Out of Babies.

Members:
Julie Xmas - vocals
Brendan "Bunny" Tobin - guitars
Cooper - bass
Matthew Egan - drums

Grimace
Made Out Of Babies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Objects on the sign
Point the wrong way
Straight into the barrel
Like a winter's long delay
You pick the shortest straw always
The ladies will collect today
You lose

Weight on either foot
Sit sideways
Up against the wall
Standing the right way
Your smile turns into grimace

And your face is at it's thinnest
And you bruise

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Made Out Of Babies's song "Grimace" convey a sense of despair and hopelessness. The first verse talks about objects on a sign, pointing the wrong way, leading straight into the barrel of a gun. This metaphor is a commentary on the feeling of being trapped and helpless, with no way out of a bad situation. The "winter's long delay" suggests a lingering feeling of dread and pessimism.

The second verse is about body language - "weight on either foot, sit sideways, up against the wall, standing the right way". These are all physical manifestations of discomfort and unease. The smile that turns into a grimace signifies the hidden pain that people carry with them, even when they are trying to appear happy. This pain manifests itself in bruises, which could be physical or emotional. The song as a whole is a reflection on the struggles people go through, and the ways in which they cope with their pain.

Overall, "Grimace" is a haunting and intense song that explores themes of powerlessness, pain, and despair.

Line by Line Meaning

Objects on the sign
The signs display a misdirection

Point the wrong way
It leads to the wrong direction

Straight into the barrel
It leads straight to trouble

Like a winter's long delay
It prolongs the pain and suffering

You pick the shortest straw always
You always end up with the worst outcome

The ladies will collect today
Your adversaries will triumph over you

You lose
You will face defeat

Weight on either foot
You are uneasy and can't settle

Sit sideways
You can't face the problem head-on

Up against the wall
You have nowhere to run