Their debut album, The Dust of Retreat came out in 2006. At this time, the band was signed to Artemis Records and had 8 members. In 2008 the band signed to Epic Records and (on 7 October) released two new albums, Animal! and Not Animal. The band originally planned to just release "Animal!". However, Epic disagreed on their song choice, and compiled a different list, which would later become "Not Animal". Eventually, after dispute over which version would be released, it was decided to release both at the same time.
In August 2009, 5 of the band's members left. They are all involved in other projects, most notably Pravada.
While the band, and Richard specifically have given many explanations to the band's name; this is all in fun. As the name was created as an anti-name; not meant to have any real meaning, just to make fun of other ridiculous names. The name "Margot" comes from Gweneth Paltrow's character in Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums".
The band's sound, categorized as "chamber pop", has been compared to the indie rock groups Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and The Shins, while incorporating elements of singer/songwriters like Paul Simon and Conor Oberst.
Current Members are:
Richard Edwards - lead vocals, guitar, bells, melodica, banjo
Ronnie Kwasman - lead guitar
Tyler Watkins - bass guitar
Brian Deck - drums
Eric Kang - guitar
Cameron McGill
Former Members include:
Emily Watkins - keys, backup vocals
Andy Fry - guitar, bass, lap steel, percussion
Jesse Lee - cello
Casey Tennis - percussion
Chris Fry - drums, percussion
Books About Trains
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a cold wind is blowin'
Through my basement walls
So why would I go outside?
Tell me why would I go outside?
I got you
I got a house full of books about trains
And a highway of board games
So why would I go outside?
Tell me why would I go outside?
I got you
I got a feeling that somethin's wrong
And I can't seem
To shake it
Oh, no, no
I want to go outside...
Yeah, I want to go outside
I really want to go outside
I do
Yeah I want to go outside
I really want to go outside
I really want you to go outside
I want to show you the outside
In Books About Trains, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's creates a poignant reflection on the importance of human connection, and the struggles of leaving one's comfort zone in order to embrace the unknown. The song is characteristically melancholic, with a slow and dreamy melody featuring delicate strings and gentle guitar picking. The singer discusses how he has a house filled with books about trains and movies, and a collection of board games to play when he’s feeling sick. All these creature comforts make it hard for him to leave his home and face the outside world. Despite all this, he realizes that something’s not right and yearns to explore the world beyond his doorstep. In the end, the singer implores his partner to join him outside, emphasizing the importance of human connection and shared experiences in life.
The song seems to capture the anxiety and loneliness of post-modern existence, where people have everything material they could want, but lack meaningful human connection. The singer's internal conflict between the desire for introspection and human connection mirrors the internal conflicts many of us face in our daily lives. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and sadness, yet are also hopeful in their message that we should not be afraid to take risks and connect with the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a house full of movies my friends
I own a large collection of movies that I can watch with friends
And a cold wind is blowin'
There is a chilly draft coming through my home
Through my basement walls
The cold wind is entering through the walls of my basement
So why would I go outside?
Given the cold draft inside, what is the point of leaving the house?
Tell me why would I go outside?
I am genuinely curious as to why I should step out into the cold
I got you
I have the person I care about with me, making it all the more unnecessary to brave the weather
I got a house full of books about trains
I possess a large quantity of literature related to trains
And a highway of board games
Along with the books, I have many board games to entertain myself
To play when I'm sick
These games are especially useful when I am unwell
So why would I go outside?
Given the entertainment I have in the comfort of my own home, why should I leave?
Tell me why would I go outside?
I am still genuinely curious as to why the outside world is worth braving the cold for
I got you
And once again, I have the person I hold dear with me, making it all the more pointless to venture outside
I got a feeling that somethin's wrong
Despite being comfortable inside, I have a sense that something is not quite right
And I can't seem to shake it
I am struggling to rid myself of this feeling
Oh, no, no
This is not a good thing
I want to go outside...
I think that perhaps going outside might help me clear my head and feel better
Yeah, I want to go outside
I have made up my mind that leaving the house may be necessary
I really want to go outside
I sincerely believe that going outside might be a way to make myself feel better
I do
I genuinely feel this way
Yeah I want to go outside
I am still determined to venture out
I really want you to go outside
And I want the person I care about to join me
I want to show you the outside
I want to share the experience of being outside with the person I hold dear
Contributed by James O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.