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 – 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 “Masterpiece Theatre” 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 “Masterpiece Theatre” 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 ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ songs could have gone on Fix Me had they been written at the time. ‘Masterpiece’ 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 ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to somebody who has only heard Kanye West and Katy Perry."
Ramsay agrees. "I really wanted to have a 'Good Vibrations'/'Bohemian Rhapsody’ style song on the first record,” he says, “but 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 Town”. "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 “find 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. “Josh is really about capturing the emotion and power which isn't surprising considering all the feeling in the writing,” 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.
Astoria
Marianas Trench Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not ready yet, not for you
Don't wanna to know my darkest lows
My blackest pitch, murder of crows
Feels far from home close to the veil
Goodbye mother's fairy tale
Never after will suffice
When star-crossed lovers take their life
Now here again, a harlequin
Kaleidoscope in spite of when
Top of the world
To lowest worth
From blackest pearl to slower birth
Don't remind me what the price is
When left to my own devices
'Cause I'll find out in all due time
What happens to never say die
I'll say whatever doesn't make me stronger kills me
But is going to be a long year
Till the hospital can find hope in me
Tell me I survive
(Tell me I survive you Astoria)
Tell me I survive
(Tell me I survive you Astoria)
You know everything happens
It happens in freeze
A fever blur through names obscured
(And speech is slurred)
What's another bridge burned
I'm on my own, you came alone
All dressed up in bad news
(I know you can hurt too)
This would be the wrong move
(Maybe we should leave soon)
You can lay with me while you think of him
Drowning sorrows deep in each other's skin
I touch your face while I think of her
I won't raise my lips till the way we were
Bite my neck while you say his name
I will scratch your back to forget her face
I regretted sweet, to a solemn cure
We can raise our lips till the way we were
On a good day I'm the bad news
For the wrong girl with the right wounds
On a good day I'm the bad news
For the wrong girl with the right wounds
Hey ever just say fuck it
Maybe I'll drink its weight away in buckets
Oh hey might as well say fuck it
I want to hurt myself until I love it
I shoulda known you're not alone
When you take somebody home
And the little death
Are a little less even if it's just for a moment
Good day I'm the bad news
For the wrong girl with the right wounds
I'm gonna make my mother so proud of it
Hope doesn't fade in Astoria
I'll say whatever doesn't make me stronger kills me
(But it's gonna) but, it's going to be a long year
Till the hospital can find hope in me
(Astoria)
Astoria (Astoria)
I hope the melody save me Astoria
Let the melody save me Astoria
The quid pro quo's that will compose
From esoteric to common prose
Astoria
The song "Astoria" by Marianas Trench is a tribute to the 1980s and the movies that defined the era. The location of Astoria comes from the town in Oregon where the movie The Goonies was filmed, and the lyrics reflect a sense of nostalgia for that time period. The song begins with a warning to Astoria that the singer isn't ready to reveal his darkest lows and secrets. He feels far from home and is saying goodbye to his mother's fairy tale, realizing that never after will suffice, especially when star-crossed lovers take their life.
The lyrics seem to suggest that the singer has gone through some difficult times and is still struggling to find his way, but he is determined to survive. He admits that whatever doesn't make him stronger, kills him, but he hopes that the melody will save him. The song also explores themes of love, loss, and regret. The singer talks about being the bad news for the wrong person who has the right wounds, and how he wants to hurt himself until he loves it. However, he also offers a message of hope, that even though it's going to be a long year before hope can find him, he will survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Astoria I'm warning you
Marianas Trench is addressing Astoria and letting Astoria know that what they're about to experience might not be something they're ready for.
Not ready yet, not for you
Marianas Trench believes that Astoria isn't ready for what they're about to experience.
Don't wanna to know my darkest lows
Marianas Trench is trying to avoid exposing Astoria to their darkest thoughts and emotions.
My blackest pitch, murder of crows
Marianas Trench's thoughts and emotions are very dark and gloomy.
Feels far from home close to the veil
Although Marianas Trench is physically close to Astoria, they feel emotionally disconnected and far away from everything they call 'home'.
Goodbye mother's fairy tale
Marianas Trench has let go of the idea that their life will be a fairy tale, and they are saying goodbye to their mother's belief that it will be.
Never after will suffice
Marianas Trench doesn't believe in the idea that they'll live 'happily ever after'.
When star-crossed lovers take their life
Marianas Trench is referencing the play Romeo and Juliet, where the two main characters die together.
Now here again, a harlequin
Marianas Trench sees themselves as a jester who is always present and never really understood.
Kaleidoscope in spite of when
Marianas Trench's life is full of ever-changing colors and experiences, no matter how hard the circumstances may be.
Top of the world
Marianas Trench feels on top of the world and incredibly happy.
To lowest worth
Soon after feeling on top of the world, Marianas Trench goes to the lowest of lows, where they don't believe in their self-worth.
From blackest pearl to slower birth
Marianas Trench has gone from being something incredibly valuable to nothing at all, almost like being reborn but at a much slower pace.
Don't remind me what the price is
Marianas Trench doesn't want to be reminded of the cost that comes with failure or success, as both can have a heavy price.
When left to my own devices
When Marianas Trench is left alone to do their 'own thing', it can lead to trouble.
'Cause I'll find out in all due time
Marianas Trench doesn't know what will happen in the future, but they believe that they will find out eventually.
What happens to never say die
Marianas Trench will find out what happens to those who never give up, no matter the obstacles.
I'll say whatever doesn't make me stronger kills me
Marianas Trench is saying that anything that does not strengthen them will weaken them, and this can lead to death of the soul.
But is going to be a long year
Even though Marianas Trench knows they will face many hardships, they are prepared to face them.
Till the hospital can find hope in me
Marianas Trench is hoping that the hospital will be able to find hope in them and that they'll be able to heal their wounds, both physical and mental.
Tell me I survive
(Tell me I survive you Astoria)
Tell me I survive
(Tell me I survive you Astoria)
Marianas Trench is seeking reassurance and validation from Astoria. They want to know that they'll be able to make it through whatever is about to come.
You know everything happens
It happens in freeze
Marianas Trench is saying that life can freeze in time when we experience something unexpected, everything around us can stop.
A fever blur through names obscured
(And speech is slurred)
When fevered or upset, Marianas Trench's thoughts become jumbled up, making it hard for them to remember names and talk straight.
What's another bridge burned
Marianas Trench is saying that they've cut many people out of their lives and burned bridges with these individuals.
I'm on my own, you came alone
All dressed up in bad news
(I know you can hurt too)
This would be the wrong move
(Maybe we should leave soon)
Marianas Trench is warning Astoria that being around them might not be the best idea. They believe that Astoria should not expose themselves to Marianas Trench's 'bad news'.
You can lay with me while you think of him
Drowning sorrows deep in each other's skin
I touch your face while I think of her
I won't raise my lips till the way we were
Bite my neck while you say his name
I will scratch your back to forget her face
I regretted sweet, to a solemn cure
We can raise our lips till the way we were
In this part, Marianas Trench describes a relationship where two people are using each other to forget the ones they truly love, but eventually will go back to the way things were before.
On a good day I'm the bad news
For the wrong girl with the right wounds
Marianas Trench describes themselves as someone who can bring bad news, but only to someone who is strong enough to take it.
Hey ever just say fuck it
Maybe I'll drink its weight away in buckets
Oh hey might as well say fuck it
I want to hurt myself until I love it
Marianas Trench is contemplating drinking to forget or hurting themself until they feel better.
I shoulda known you're not alone
When you take somebody home
And the little death
Are a little less even if it's just for a moment
When someone takes another person home, it's for a temporary moment of satisfaction, no matter how little or long it may be. Even though they're not really alone, they're still able to be close to somebody.
Hope doesn't fade in Astoria
Even during tough times, Marianas Trench still has hope in Astoria.
Let the melody save me Astoria
Marianas Trench is saying that they find comfort in music, and they hope Astoria can provide that kind of comfort too.
The quid pro quo's that will compose
From esoteric to common prose
Astoria
Marianas Trench is saying that through good and bad, there is a balance in life, and they will accept the good as well as the bad. Through this, Astoria is their place of safety and balance.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lila6120
Astoria I'm warning you
Not ready yet, not for you
Don't want to know my darkest lows
My blackest pitch, murder of crows
Feels far from home close to the veil
Goodbye mother's fairy tale
Never after will suffice
When star-crossed lovers take their life
Now where again, a harlequin
Kaleidoscope in spite of when
Top of the world
To lowest worth
From blackest pearl to slow rebirths
Don't remind me what the price is
When left to my own devices
'Cause I'll find out in all due time
What happens to never say die
I'll say whatever doesn't make me stronger kills me
But it's going to be a long year
Till the hospital can find hope in me
Tell me I survive
Do I survive you Astoria
Tell me I survive
Do I survive you Astoria
Do you know everything happens
It happens in threes
A fever blur through names obscured
And speech is slurred
What's another bridge burned
I'm on my own you came alone
All dressed up in bad news
I know you can hurt too
This would be the wrong move
Maybe we should leave soon
You can lay with me while you think of him
Drowning sorrows deep in each other's skin
I touch your face while I think of her
I won't raise my lips till the way we were
Bite my neck till you say his name
I will scratch your back to forget her face
I regret sweet, to a solemn cure
We can raise our lips till the way we were
On a good day, I'm the bad news
For the wrong girl with the right wounds
On a bad day, I'm the good news
For the wrong girl with the right wounds
Hey ever just say fuck it
Maybe I'll drink this song away in buckets
Oh hey might as well say fuck it
I want to hurt myself until I love it
I shoulda known you're not alone
When you take somebody home
And the little death
Are a little less even if it's just for a moment
Hey let's all say fuck it
I'm gonna make my mother so proud of it
Hope doesn't fade in Astoria
I'll say whatever doesn't make me stronger kills me
Buts it's going to be a long year
Till the hospital might find hope in me
Astoria
Astoria
Hope the melody save me Astoria
Let the melody save me Astoria
The quid pro quo's that will compose
From esoteric to common prose
Astoria
@ElGonzok
Los amo
@pedropablopazpivaral6288
Gonzok que haces aquí 😱
@woolebull4672
Just found this in 2020. Curious who out there is still listening to this jam. Flat out amazing.
@ahri3887
Yeah i only discovered them this year and i feel so late haha
@15UGADawg
Their earlier stuff was fire! I didn’t like this album at all!
@madisonr.103
I’m still listening of course! I’ve been obsessed with these guys for years
@SGalaxyify
Welcome friendo
@tianna1042
As someone who’s been a fan ever since I was little hi welcomeee i recommend their older albums if you like more rock/pop and their newest album if you like more pop stuff but all their music is amazinggggg
@alexisstory495
Friend: when did you start listening to MT?
Me: oh, when Josh was Emo, Mat had short hair, Ian had an Afro and mike had no Mohawk.
@ayli8706
Omg... Emo Josh.... SO MUCH YUMMINESS