The band released their second studio album on February 24, 2009 entitled Masterpiece Theatre.
It takes some real cojones to include the word 'Masterpiece' in your album title, but Josh Ramsay isn't too worried. "I suppose I could be digging myself into a hole calling the record Masterpiece Theatre," he chuckles, "but it's tongue-in-cheek. And I'm not the kind of person that people would assume as being an egomaniac. I hope not, anyway."
Given his feverish imagination and comprehensive musical gifts, Ramsay could probably get away with a little egomania. And with the release of Masterpiece Theatre, the frontman of Vancouver's Marianas Trench makes a iron-clad case for a prodigious set of talents - both his own and those of his bandmates, guitarist Matt Webb, bassist Mike Ayley, and drummer Ian Casselman.
Marianas Trench had already elevated itself above the rest of the pack with a 2006 debut, Fix Me, that showcased a knack for colouring outside the lines of factory-issue millenial punk, shrewdly-built pop, and super-adrenalized modern rock. The single and in particular the video "Shake Tramp" was enough to demonstrate these qualities, coupled with Ramsay's uninhibited urge to be the complete song-and-dance man.
But with both the industry and the fans beating down the door for a quick second album, the Trench decided to put on the brakes. "All of a sudden you have six months to do your next record," Ramsay sighs. "So I really had to just put my foot down and say, 'No, I need the time to do this.' I was not interested in putting something out for the sake of putting something out."
Two years later, Marianas Trench has re-emerged with Masterpiece Theatre. And not surprisingly, it's a work of soaring ambition and decisive technical prowess ā that easily might not have happened. "It's one thing when you're Chad Kroeger and you just finished writing 'How You Remind Me'," Ramsay states. "I didn't have some mega-platinum song to back up my argument with, so I was lucky that the band and the label trusted me enough to do it."
By "it", Ramsay means he was allowed to indulge a high-concept fantasy for the band's sophomore album, which is built, for starters, around a song called "Masterpiece Theatre". Adopting Brian Wilson's notion of the 'pocket symphony' and then running with it, the three distinct versions of āMasterpiece Theatreā dotted across the record feature an almost perfect balance between the vocal theatrics of Queen and the more hymnal qualities of the Beach Boys.
By the time āMasterpiece Theatreā is reprised for a final, climactic time, every other song on the album is quoted and incorporated into an intricately constructed dramatic revue that swings from pristine pop, to propulsive riff rock, to quasi-doo wop, to robotic new wave, and finally into a wholly satisfying thematic payoff.
"You know in the climax of a musical, there's always that medley at the end, and I thought that would be cool on a rock record," explains Ramsay, "but it turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. I wrote it in the studio as we recorded it, and it took about three weeks."
After a beat, he adds, "But really it took me two years because it draws from all the songs on the whole album."
Bassist Mike Ayley readily admits, "I don't think any of the three āMasterpiece Theatreā songs could have gone on Fix Me had they been written at the time. āMasterpieceā 2 and 3 in particular are amazing songs that really explore the potential of Josh's writing. You really have to hear them to get it. It's like trying to explain āBohemian Rhapsodyā to somebody who has only heard Kanye West and Katy Perry."
Ramsay agrees. "I really wanted to have a 'Good Vibrations'/'Bohemian Rhapsodyā style song on the first record,ā he says, ābut I don't think I was a mature enough writer to have written it yet, and I still feel like I was in over-my-head when we did this one, and I just barely made it."
Ramsay is unnecessarily modest; the whole of Masterpiece Theatre demonstrates a startling compositional maturity compared to the Marianas Trench of two years ago.
"Beside You" is a panoramic exercise in big emotions, with a dash of the Dream Academy's "Life In a Northern Townā. "Acadia" begins with a clipped, bright acoustic guitar, and blossoms into something like the Who reconsidered by U2, reimagined for the net generation. In the crunchy "All to Myself", the power ballad "Lover Dearest", and the strident "Good to You" (in which he duets with Kate Voegele), Ramsay pulls out the kind of honeyed vocals more attuned to modern RnB than white, adolescent rock.
"I always had that aspect in my voice but the first record just didn't have songs that were conducive to me singing that way," he states. "I think it's from growing up listening to a lot of Michael Jackson. With these songs, it made sense to stretch out a little more."
On "Cross My Heart" and "Celebrity Status", the band conjures up a kind of perfect pop crossover. Producer Dave 'Rave' Ogilvie was responsible for the latter track, which cops a move he used on Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" with three drummers (Casselman, Ramsay and Shane Wilson) playing at once - much to Ramsay's delight. "He's just worked with so many great artists which makes his well of tricks and ideas so vast," he says.
True to Ramsay's quest for "more diversity on this album" - not to mention the indulgence of his record label - Rave was just one of four prominent guest producers eventually roped into Masterpiece Theatre. Their collective resume includes Nine Inch Nails, Sum 41, Iggy Pop, Avril Lavigne, and Hedley among others.
"I feel really fortunate to have worked with all those guys," Ramsay says, "coz they all bring really unique things. Dave Genn and I have a really good working relationship with each other, and he has such a unique style with arrangement and stuff. Greig Nori was a really pleasant surprise. As far as I can tell, he wanted to work with us because he liked our video. The whole time he was just trying to get me to dance around like an idiot. And Raine Maida, man? Raine's a trip!"
Bassist Ayley also credits Maida for encouraging the band to āfind a personality-identity that wasn't as evident when we started the production process," while also praising Ramsay for his production efforts. Ramsay took charge of four songs on the finished record. āJosh is really about capturing the emotion and power which isn't surprising considering all the feeling in the writing,ā he says.
Oddly enough, Ramsay also wanted Disney's in-house genius Alan (Little Mermaid) Mencken to twiddle the knobs for the climactic version of "Masterpiece Theatre", but admits, "it's a pretty tall order to get an Academy Award winner to come and work on your record."
Still, the album is certainly not diminished by the few things Ramsay didn't get. And once the world gets a load of this Masterpiece, Mencken, Pharrell Williams, Phil Spector... you name it. They'll probably be lining up.
03 By Now
Marianas Trench Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can I come in?
Just came to get my things and then I guess I'm leaving
If I could say
What you'd like to hear
I'd whisper in your ear it's only temporary
But I've been taking you for granted
It's time that I come clean, but
But for now can we
Just both pretend to sleep
Sometimes the one you want is not the one you need
What goes around don't come around
You should know me by now
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than
I should know you as well
Better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, you should know me by now
Our talk is small, I'm seven inches tall
And you should keep the apartment
So here's my keys
Changed all the bills
We're only built to spill and wonder where the heart went
And you've been taking me for granted
And I thought you'd feel the same as me
It's time that I come clean, but
But for now can we
Just both pretend to sleep
Sometimes the one you want is not the one you need
What goes around don't come around
You should know me by now
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, I should know you as well
Better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, you should know me by now
I know that I remember you
I think that you remember me too
How can one of us still feel blessed when the other one's lost
I know you've got to feel the change
It just stays worse when it stays the same
How can one of us
Still feel blessed when the other one's so lost
By now
Sometimes the one you want is not the one you need
What goes around don't come around
Don't you know me by now?
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, I should know you as well
Better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, you should know me by now
The lyrics of Marianas Trenchās song By Now is a story about a couple who fell apart. The song is about realizing a relationship is over and understanding that the person you once loved is now a stranger. The singer comes to get his things as he is leaving the relationship. He wishes he could say what she wants to hear, but he knows their relationship is only temporary. The singer admits to taking his partner for granted and thought she felt the same way as he did. However, he realizes it's time to come clean and admits that pretending to sleep is not the solution. His partner may not be the one he needs despite being the one he wanted at some point.
The song has a bittersweet and nostalgic tone. Both partners are struggling to move on from each other. The singer remembers their past, and the fact they used to care for each other. However, he now accepts that things have changed between them. The lyrics show that breaking apart from someone you cared for can be tough, and saying goodbye is not always easy. At the same time, sometimes in a relationship, one realizes what they wanted is not what they needed. The song's final message is that sometimes, it is better to let go of a person even though it may be hard.
Line by Line Meaning
How've you been?
Asking about how you've been since we last talked
Can I come in?
Requesting to come inside to get some things
Just came to get my things and then I guess I'm leaving
Only came to take what belongs to me and leave
If I could say
What you'd like to hear
I'd whisper in your ear it's only temporary
If I could tell you what you want to hear, I would say that this is only temporary
But I've been taking you for granted
Realizing that I have not been appreciating you enough
And I thought you'd feel the same as me
Assuming that you share my feelings
It's time that I come clean, but
Acknowledging that I need to confess something
But for now can we
Just both pretend to sleep
Asking to avoid the current situation by pretending to sleep
Sometimes the one you want is not the one you need
Realizing that what we want might not be what we actually need
What goes around don't come around
Nothing good will come from bad behavior
You should know me by now
Implying that you should have a good understanding of me by now
Can I keep this part for myself?
Desiring to keep some part of the relationship private
Our talk is small, I'm seven inches tall
Acknowledging that conversation is not meaningful and feeling small in comparison
And you should keep the apartment
Suggesting that the other person should keep the place they share
So here's my keys
Changed all the bills
Handing over the keys and taking away responsibility for bills
We're only built to spill and wonder where the heart went
Imagining that relationships are fragile and that we struggle when trying to find love
And you've been taking me for granted
Realizing that you havenāt been appreciated enough
I know that I remember you
I think that you remember me too
Recalling that both people in the relationship have memories of each other
How can one of us still feel blessed when the other one's lost
Wondering how one person can feel happy when the other person is feeling lost
I know you've got to feel the change
It just stays worse when it stays the same
Understanding that things need to change, as it is only getting worse when they stay the same
Don't you know me by now?
Asking if you really know who I am by this point
Lyrics Ā© OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Media Player
How've you been?
Can I come in?
Just came to get my things
And then I guess I'm leaving
If I can say, what you'd like to hear?
I'd whisper in your ear
It's only temporary
But I've been taking you for granted
And I thought you'd feel the same as me
It's time that I come clean
But, but for now can we
Just both pretend to sleep
Sometimes the one you want is not the one you need
What goes around, don't come around
You should know me by now
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
I should know you as well
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me by now
Our talk is small
I'm seven inches tall
And you should keep the apartment
So here's my keys
Changed all the bills
We're only built to spill
And wonder where the heart went
And you've been taking me for granted
And I thought you'd feel the same as me
It's time that I come clean
But, but for now can we
Just both pretend to sleep.
Sometimes the one you want
Is not the one you need
What goes around, don't come around
You should know me by now
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
I should know you as well
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me by now.
I know that I remember you
I think that you remember me too
How can one of us still feel blessed
While the other one's lost?
I know you got to feel the change
It just get's worse when it stays the same
How can one of us still feel blessed
When the other one is so lost?
By now!
Oh yeah
Sometimes the one you want
Is not the one you need.
What goes around, don't come around
Don't you know me by now?
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
I should know you as well
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me by now
Kristie Noel
Thank you guys so much I love your musicā¤ this is by far one of my favorites but I love them all
Phoebe
i connect to this song too much and it hurts. thank you all for blessing the world with your music and passion
k
Forever one of my favorite albums
Emily Schiazza
I tear up when I hear this song, it is so amazing and meaningful!
Media Player
How've you been?
Can I come in?
Just came to get my things
And then I guess I'm leaving
If I can say, what you'd like to hear?
I'd whisper in your ear
It's only temporary
But I've been taking you for granted
And I thought you'd feel the same as me
It's time that I come clean
But, but for now can we
Just both pretend to sleep
Sometimes the one you want is not the one you need
What goes around, don't come around
You should know me by now
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
I should know you as well
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me by now
Our talk is small
I'm seven inches tall
And you should keep the apartment
So here's my keys
Changed all the bills
We're only built to spill
And wonder where the heart went
And you've been taking me for granted
And I thought you'd feel the same as me
It's time that I come clean
But, but for now can we
Just both pretend to sleep.
Sometimes the one you want
Is not the one you need
What goes around, don't come around
You should know me by now
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
I should know you as well
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me by now.
I know that I remember you
I think that you remember me too
How can one of us still feel blessed
While the other one's lost?
I know you got to feel the change
It just get's worse when it stays the same
How can one of us still feel blessed
When the other one is so lost?
By now!
Oh yeah
Sometimes the one you want
Is not the one you need.
What goes around, don't come around
Don't you know me by now?
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
I should know you as well
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me
Better than, better than, better than
You should know me by now
madelinn probst
I finally found this song again I was absolutely in love with it a couple years ago š„°
Kat M
Sometimes the one you want, is not the one you need
Morgan Ament
My life line
Alex Blanc
I am forever glad this song exists
Beccas asmr
I love this song and it makes me think about my failed love life sigh