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.
Celebrity Status
Marianas Trench Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I take it up- up, take it out and, take you nowhere,
Trading in who I've been for shiny celebrity skin
I like to push it and, push it until my luck is over
It never stop stops, never stops, well you better,
Think it over prima donna you don't want to sever,
All the work to impress, charming girls out of their dresses,
And smiling pretty, well pretty will shallow you forever
Step one, step two, step three repeat
And I pray at the church, of asses in the seats,
And disappear behind the beat, yeah
When the mirrors and the lights
And the smoke clear I'd never guess
How we ever coulda got here
You can say what you say
When the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake,
And shut your mouth
I wonder why, why, I wonder why, why I oughta,
Let you wreck, resurrect whatever you want to
I can't depend, in the end you know
I thought you were my friend
Just stop, just stop, just stop I think I got it
Sorry you, sorry me, sorry every in between,
Sorry everybody you will never be somebody clean
There's a piece of me they're throwing back at us,
And they will buy you and sell you for celebrity status
Step one, step two, step three repeat
And I pray at the church of asses in the seats
I disappear behind beat, yeah
When the mirrors and the lights
And the smoke clear, I'd never guess
How we ever coulda got here
You can say what you say
When the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake,
And shut your mouth
When the mirrors and the lights
And the smoke clear, I'd never guess
How we ever coulda got here
You can say what you say
When the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake
And shut your mouth
(Look around round, look around round, look around)
(Look around round, look around round, look around)
(Look around round, look around round, look around)
(Look around round, look around round, look around)
(Look around round, look around round, look around)
I'm tryin' I'm tyrin' I'm tryin' (Look around round, look around round, look around)
I'm tryin' I'm tryin' I'm tryin' (Look around round, look around round, look around)
I'm tryin' I'm tyrin' I'm tryin' (Look around round, look around round, look around)
I'm tryin' I'm tryin' I'm tryin' (Look around round, look around round, look around)
When the mirrors and the lights
And the smoke clear I'd never guess
How we ever coulda got here
You can say what you say
When the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake,
And shut your mouth
When the mirrors and the lights
And the smoke clear I'd never guess
How we ever coulda got here
You can say what you say
When the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake,
And shut your mouth
I'm tryin' I'm tryin' I'm tryin'
The lyrics to Marianas Trench’s song Celebrity Status seem to be a reflection on the shallow nature of the entertainment industry and the lengths that people will go to achieve fame and fortune. The opening line, “I look around, round, look around and look it over,” suggests a sense of detachment and observation, as if the singer is watching the world around them and analyzing the behavior of those who are seeking celebrity status. The line “Trading in who I’ve been for shiny celebrity skin” indicates a willingness to sacrifice one’s true identity in order to conform to the societal expectation of what it means to be famous.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of “selling out” and the commodification of art and individuals within the entertainment industry. The line “They will buy you and sell you for celebrity status” suggests a sense of disposability and a lack of value placed on the artist as a human being. The repetition of the phrase “When the mirrors and the lights/And the smoke clear I’d never guess/How we ever coulda got here” could be interpreted as a lamentation of the loss of self that comes with achieving fame and the struggle to maintain integrity in a world where image and status are everything.
Overall, the lyrics of Celebrity Status offer a poignant commentary on the pitfalls of seeking fame and the ways in which the entertainment industry can strip individuals of their authenticity and sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
I look around, round, look around and look it over,
I observe my surroundings, taking in everything and analyzing it thoroughly.
I take it up- up, take it out and, take you nowhere,
I engage in meaningless activities that lead nowhere and are only meant to impress others.
Trading in who I've been for shiny celebrity skin
I am forsaking my true self to adopt a false persona that is more appealing to the public eye in order to gain fame.
I like to push it and, push it until my luck is over
I take reckless risks and push myself to the limit until I inevitably meet my downfall.
It never stop stops, never stops, well you better,
The pursuit of fame and attention is an endless cycle that never truly satisfies and one should be cautious in getting too caught up in it.
Think it over prima donna you don't want to sever,
One should carefully consider the consequences of their actions and not let their ego cause them to push others away.
All the work to impress, charming girls out of their dresses,
I engage in manipulative behavior to charm women and gain their favor, using my fame to impress them.
And smiling pretty, well pretty will shallow you forever
Putting on a happy facade and focusing solely on looks will lead to a superficial and empty life.
Step one, step two, step three repeat
I am stuck in a monotonous cycle of meaningless actions to gain fame.
And I pray at the church of asses in the seats,
I am solely focused on pleasing my audience and gaining their approval as if it were a religious pursuit.
And disappear behind the beat, yeah
I lose myself in the music and the attention, becoming a hollow version of my true self.
When the mirrors and the lights
And the smoke clear I'd never guess
How we ever coulda got here
When the illusions of fame and attention fade away, it is hard to believe how far one has gone down the wrong path.
You can say what you say
When the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake,
And shut your mouth
Criticism only matters when there is an audience around to hear it, so one should focus on the superficial aspects of fame and ignore their critics.
I wonder why, why, I wonder why, why I oughta,
Let you wreck, resurrect whatever you want to
I question why I allow others to control and manipulate me, shaping me into something I am not.
I can't depend, in the end you know
I thought you were my friend
I realize that the people around me are not truly my friends, but rather using me for their own gain.
Just stop, just stop, just stop I think I got it
Sorry you, sorry me, sorry every in between,
Sorry everybody you will never be somebody clean
I come to the realization that I cannot keep up this charade of superficiality and apologize to those I have wronged, recognizing that fame will not lead to a pure and clean reputation.
There's a piece of me they're throwing back at us,
And they will buy you and sell you for celebrity status
The media and public will take even the smallest pieces of information about me and use it for their own gain, buying and selling me as if I am nothing more than a commodity.
I'm tryin' I'm tyrin' I'm tryin' (Look around round, look around round, look around)
I am struggling to break free from this cycle and regain my true sense of self.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maia Leach
I look around, round, round
Look around and look it over
I take it up, up take it out and take you nowhere
Trading in who I've been for shiny celebrity skin
I like to push it and push it until my luck is over
It never stop stops, never stops well you better
Think it over prima donna you don't want to sever
All the work to impress, charming girls out of their dresses
And smiling pretty, well pretty will shallow you forever
Step one, step two, step three repeat
I pray at the church of asses in the seats
And I disappear behind the beat
When the mirrors and the lights and the smoke clear
I'd never guess how we ever could have got here
You can say what you say when the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake and shut your mouth
I wonder why, why, I wonder why, why I outta
Let you wreck, resurrect whatever you wanna
I can't depend in the end you know I thought you were my friend
Just stop, just stop, just stop, I think I got it
Sorry you, sorry me, sorry every in between
Sorry everybody he will never be somebody clean
There's a piece of me they're throwing back at us
And they will buy you and sell you for celebrity status
Step one, step two, step three repeat
I pray at the church of asses in the seats
And I disappear behind the beat
When the mirrors and the lights and the smoke clear
I'd never guess how we ever could have got here
You can say what you say when the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake and shut your mouth
When the mirrors and the lights and the smoke clear
I'd never guess how we ever could have got here
You can say what you say when the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake and shut your mouth
Look around, round, round
Look around, round, round, look around
Look around, round, round
Look around, round, round, look around
Look around, round, round
Look around, round, round, look around
Look around, round, round
Look around, round, round, look around
Look around, round, round
Look around, round, round, look around
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
When the mirrors and the lights and the smoke clear
I'd never guess how we ever could have got here
You can say what you say when the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake and shut your mouth
When the mirrors and the lights and the smoke clear
I'd never guess how we ever could have got here
You can say what you say when the lights go down
So shake, shake, shake and shut your mouth
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
patFpeteOandyBjoe
Everything about this band is FLAWLESS. :D I mean, really! The instrumentals are great, and his voice is FANTASTIC! xD
Sahara LaDue
These guys are amazing! I love songs like this when the singers are singing REALLY LOUD! :D AWSOMENESS!
leaf
I always have loved this song and it seems I'll never stop loving this song.
leaf
@same heck yes
same
Do you still love it hehe
Eric
one of my favorite songs. im glad to be canadian
JS Ryan Reynolds DEADPOOL
they are australian
3artful kittys
Same bro
L a r u t o
yaaaas ! c:
Unikitty Galaxy
RIP to the people who haven't seen the music video and are confused as to why everyone is talking about pomegranates