Dangers and Stephens left Perennial Divide in 1988 to record an album, but the tapes were burnt in a studio fire. They then recorded the EP Storm The Studio, which found them pigeonholed as an industrial act. In response, they recorded 99% in 1990 which was more techno-influenced. Later that year, they released Armed Audio Warfare, which was an effort to re-record the burned tapes of the would-be debut album.
The band's live show was conceived as an intense audio-visual experience, with dancers, led by choreographer Marcus Adams, in costumes designed by artist Craig Morrison and video clips accompanying live instruments, sequenced electronic instruments, and live DJing. In the United States, they opened for Nine Inch Nails on their debut national tour in 1990. Adams appeared in many of the band's promo photos with his trademark "popcorn" hairstyle (mostly shaved, with scattered tufts of braided hair) until Satyricon in 1992.
In 1992, the band released Satyricon which continued to show Meat Beat as more of an electronica band. In 1994 Dangers relocated from England to San Francisco, resulting in Stephens' departure from the band. Dangers continued the band as a solo-plus-collaborators form, releasing Subliminal Sandwich in 1996. While this album represented MBM's major-label debut on Trent Reznor's Nothing records, it failed to reach the critical and commercial successes of previous releases.
In 1997 Dangers recruited drummer Lynn Farmer and guitarist Jon Wilson to record and release Actual Sounds and Voices in 1998, which found the group's earlier flirtations with jazz fusion featured more prominently; the record included appearances by saxophonist Bennie Maupin. The album yielded the single Prime Audio Soup which was featured in the film The Matrix.
In 2002 MBM released RUOK?, which demonstrated great steps in the evolution of their sound and prominently featured Dangers' newly acquired EMS Synthi 100. In 2003 they released a remix album for Storm The Studio, followed by ... In Dub, a remix album of RUOK?.
At the Center was released in May 29, 2005. A part of independent label Thirsty Ear's Blue Series, the album is a collaboration between Jack Dangers and jazz musicians Peter Gordon, Dave King, and Craig Taborn. It has been well-received by many critics, with one reviewer calling it "one of the best albums of the year in any genre." An EP titled Off-Centre, consisting of outtakes, a remix, and a live track, was released several months later, as well as a limited edition live album recorded during the extensive touring for At the Center. Later, in 2006, Dangers put out a DVD featuring a live MBM show at the Metro in Chicago.
Meat Beat Manifesto's 9th studio album, Autoimmune, was released on April 8th, 2008. Originally slated to be a double disc, twenty song affair, it was pared down to a single disc with fourteen tracks upon release. It features the first lyrical work from Dangers since his limited vocal appearances on 1998's Actual Sounds & Voices. In addition, Azeem and DJ Z-Trip make guest appearances. A remix EP was released on iTunes prior to the album's street date, and at least one B-side has been put up for free download on the official MBM website.
AlbumAnswers Come In Dreams was released in 2010 by Metropolis label. This time Dangers use deep dubstep bass and dark ambient sounds.
Studio albums
1989 Storm the Studio
1990 Armed Audio Warfare
1990 99%
1992 Satyricon
1996 Subliminal Sandwich
1998 Actual Sounds + Voices
2002 RUOK?
2005 At The Center
2008 Autoimmune
2010 Answers Come in Dreams
2012 Test EP
Drop
Meat Beat Manifesto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forget the past
Release the heat
And isolate yourself
Completely bypassed
How long can it last
A complete contrast
Relinquish any sense of doubt
Too loud to amplify hi-fi
Why buy into the system
Interruptus of the system
It's deceived us of the freedom
To defy
Have you ever wondered
What does one drop in the ocean
Signify
The lie
Multiply
Forget the past
Release the heat
And multiply
Is this what you wanted
Is this how you wanted it to be
Yeah I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
Is this what you wanted
Is this how you wanted it to be
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
I want to know
The lyrics of Meat Beat Manifesto’s song "Drop" depict a sense of frustration with societal expectations and a desire for individual freedom. The repeated phrase “Forget the past, release the heat” suggests a need for letting go of past struggles and frustrations and moving forward with a clear mind. The lyrics also imply a rejection of societal norms and systems, as seen in the lines “Why buy into the system / Interruptus of the system / It’s deceived us of the freedom to defy”. The repetition of “I want to know” at the end of the song may suggest a desire for answers or a need for more insight into the complexities of modern life.
The song's title, "Drop," could refer to the idea of letting go or dropping societal expectations and struggles. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration with these expectations and a desire for individual freedom. The repeated use of the phrase “Forget the past, release the heat” suggests the need for a mental reset to move forward. The line “Is this what you wanted, is this how you wanted it to be” could also imply a sense of disappointment or disillusionment with societal norms and systems.
Line by Line Meaning
As you fall into your seat
As you relax into your position, letting go of worry and tension
Forget the past
Put aside past mistakes and regrets
Release the heat
Let out any pent up emotions or frustrations
And isolate yourself
Focus on yourself and your own thoughts, tuning out distractions
Completely bypassed
Having been ignored or overlooked entirely
How long can it last
Questioning the sustainability of the current state
A complete contrast
A stark difference from the norm
Relinquish any sense of doubt
Let go of any skepticism or uncertainty
It's time to move this mess about
It's time to change the situation and shake things up
Too loud to amplify hi-fi
Rejecting the mainstream media's preference for polished, commercial sound
Why buy into the system
Questioning the value of conforming to societal norms and expectations
Interruptus of the system
Disrupting the status quo and challenging the existing order
It's deceived us of the freedom
The system has tricked and misled us into compromising our own freedom
To defy
To rebel against and go against the norm
Have you ever wondered
A question posed to the listener
What does one drop in the ocean
What impact can a single action have in a vast and complex system
Signify
To convey meaning or importance
The lie
The falsehood or deception at the core of the system
Multiply
The need to amplify and spread one's message
Is this what you wanted
A pointed question to the listener, questioning their motivation and intention
Is this how you wanted it to be
Asking if the current state is aligned with the listener's desires and expectations
Yeah I want to know
A repetition of the desire to understand the listener's intentions
I want to know
Reiterating the line above
I want to know
Reiterating the line above
I want to know
Reiterating the line above
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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