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.
Who Do You Love
Marianas Trench Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on feet I'll blow this open wide
And carry me home in good health
God, it's been so long wide awake that I feel like someone else
I'll miss the way that you saw me or maybe the way I saw myself
I hear the words I've spoken and everything comes out wrong
I just can't get this together, can't get where I belong
(Who do you love?) who do you love? (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Screaming, (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love?
From fable to fumble, from stable to stumble, nevermore
I'll say goodbye to my demons and all my break-evens, ever yours
I, I won't come back to you broken, I won't stay away too long
Even if words I've spoken seem to still come out wrong
I'll get my shit back together, get right where I belong
(Who do you love?) who do you love? (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Screaming, (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
Everything goes quiet, it's like I just can't move
You say I might as well try it, there's nothing left to lose
Nothing will change if you never choose
Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Well, I've been deep in sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Screaming, (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
Who do you love?
The lyrics to Marianas Trench's "Who Do You Love" speak of a struggle with identity and a longing for belonging. The singer is lost in sleeplessness and feels disconnected from themselves. They express a desire to break free from their current state, to be carried home in good health. However, they struggle with past failures and a fear that their words still come out wrong. They yearn for someone to love them, but are unsure of who that person could be. The ending lines suggest the importance of making a conscious choice and taking action in order to effect change in one's life.
Overall, the song delves into themes of self-discovery, self-love, and finding one's place in the world. It acknowledges the struggles that come with these pursuits, such as feeling lost and disconnected, making mistakes, and facing uncertainty. But it also emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the idea that change is possible when we take ownership of our choices and actions.
Some possible interpretations of the lyrics could include a personal struggle with mental health, a search for a romantic partner, or a more metaphorical journey of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been deep in sleeplessness
I have been struggling with insomnia
I don't know why
I'm not sure why I cannot sleep
Just can't get away from myself
I feel trapped by my own thoughts and feelings
When I get back on feet I'll blow this open wide
I will overcome these struggles and start fresh
And carry me home in good health
I will return to a healthy state of mind
(Who do you love?) who do you love? (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who is it that truly loves me?
God, it's been so long wide awake that I feel like someone else
I have been awake for so long that I don't feel like myself anymore
I'll miss the way that you saw me or maybe the way I saw myself
I miss the way I used to perceive things or the way others used to perceive me
But, I came back to you broken and I've been away too long
I returned to someone or something in a fragile state and stayed away for too long
I hear the words I've spoken and everything comes out wrong
I realize that I have said things that were not accurate or did not reflect my true thoughts and feelings
I just can't get this together, can't get where I belong
I feel lost and cannot seem to find my place in the world
From fable to fumble, from stable to stumble, nevermore
I went from being successful to failing, and it will not happen again
I'll say goodbye to my demons and all my break-evens, ever yours
I am letting go of my inner struggles and the things that were holding me back
I, I won't come back to you broken, I won't stay away too long
I will return as a better version of myself and not stay away for too long
Even if words I've spoken seem to still come out wrong
I acknowledge that I may still have difficulty expressing myself accurately
I'll get my shit back together, get right where I belong
I will pull myself together and find my rightful place in the world
(Who do you love?) who do you love? (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who is it that truly loves me?
Everything goes quiet, it's like I just can't move
I feel stuck and unable to make progress or take action
You say I might as well try it, there's nothing left to lose
Someone is encouraging me to take a risk since I have nothing to lose
Nothing will change if you never choose
Things will not get better if I do not take action
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Josh Ramsay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dora Tuzun
"Who Do You Love" lyrics
Marianas Trench Lyrics
Play the Marianas Trench Quiz
"Who Do You Love"
Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
God, it's been so long wide awake that I feel like someone else
I'll miss the way that you saw me or maybe the way I saw myself
But, I came back to you broken and I've been away too long
I hear the words I've spoken and everything comes out wrong
Just can't get this together, can't get where I belong
(Who do you love?)
Who do you love?
(Who do you love?)
Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Screaming, (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love?
From fable to fumble, from stable to stumble, nevermore
I'll say goodbye to my demons and all my break-evens, ever yours
I, I won't come back to you broken, I won't stay away too long
Even if words I've spoken seem to still come out wrong
I'll get my shit back together, get right where I belong
(Who do you love?)
Who do you love?
(Who do you love?)
Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Screaming, (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
Everything goes quiet, it's like I just can't move
You say I might as well try it, there's nothing left to lose
Nothing will change if you never choose
Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Well, I've been deep in sleeplessness, I don't know why
Just can't get away from myself
When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health
Screaming, (Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
(Who do you love? Who do you love?)
Who do you love? Who do you love?
Who do you love
chilipepperflake
a band this good and pure could only have come from canada
Elder Lynk
There from Vancouver Canada
Laurie Gagnon
So is Thousand Foot Crutch..
Samrocket132 Fitsjerols
They make me proud to be Canadian
Geneviève
🇨🇦🌹wow
I never watch vids
This was amazing
Andrea Dunlop
Hunter Carroll 🤣🤣🤣
TheJdmsteenroller
My daughter was in the NICU at Vancouver children's hospital when these guys visited Ronald McDonald House. Dream come true for my wife to meet them. Much love!
HFFCANADA
Nice to see a comment section where people give a fuck
Canadianboy 55
@TheJdmsteenroller awwww I'm so happy to hear that:) I hope school goes well for her!
TheJdmsteenroller
@Canadianboy 55 5 years old now. And a happy little lady. She and her twin brother are learning to ride bikes and kindergarten in September!