Miniature Tigers' sound was forged in the bedroom of frontman Charlie Brand, only to quickly outgrow the space, with the band soon finding itself on stage, in the studio and signed to Phoenix’s Modern Art Records in short order. Brand’s lyrics – a mix of deeply personal insights and playful references to the disparate cultural artifacts that have informed his existence – and effortlessly constructed indie-pop arrangements have made fans in his native Phoenix and beyond. The fans stretch to Los Angeles, where Brand reconnected with drummer, collaborator and fellow charter member of the band Rick Schaier while living in Hollywood, and far beyond thanks to the Internet, which it seems people are into these days.
Miniature Tigers’ debut album "Tell it to the Volcano" runs the lyrical gamut, taking inspiration from and referencing TV’s Lost (which rates a Dharma Initiative sticker on Brand’s acoustic) as easily as it probes the joy and heartbreak of Charlie’s own life, while managing not to take itself too seriously. Brand wrote the album while on the lam – not from the law, but rather from a relationship he described as "brutal." He left Phoenix to clear his head, landing in Los Angeles and collaborating with his friend Rick to complete the long-gestating album. It was his catharsis – with cannibals and volcanoes stepping in for the real-world problems that had both beset and inspired him. In the end the album represents Charlie’s effort to codify, examine, and ultimately move past a 2-year stretch of his life.
Charlie and Rick are joined in their live incarnation by friends and collaborators Lou Kummerer on bass and Lawrence Hearn on lead guitar and keyboards, for performances that seem to give equal time to playing songs and intra-band joking. They aim for a controlled chaos aesthetic that eschews "auto-pilot" at all costs.
In an effort to further confound the expectations of those around the band, they chose to have their video directed by someone who had never helmed one before…or at least never an authorized music video. The band tapped "Yacht Rock" creator JD Ryznar to direct their video for Cannibal Queen in the hopes he would recreate the magic of his wildly popular Internet video series. Ryznar quickly assimilated the band’s aesthetic and turned in a video equal parts "Weird Science" and "Frankenstein," to the band’s delight.
BOOMERANG
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Throw yourself away
I was born as a mystic
Something in my head's not right
And the same thing keeps me up at night
See the moon and feel nothing
Waxing crescent on your thighs
Oh, never gonna let you down
Down, down, down
I beg for you to send them away
You only want to disobey me
Throw your boomerang, boomerang
Throw yourself away
I pretend to adore you
Hanging on your every line
'Til I get my poison in your mind
I'm a witch and a gremlin
You're home watchin' Snick at night
So innocent and terrified
Oh, never gonna let you down
Down, down, down
I beg for you to send them away
You only want to disobey me
Throw your boomerang, boomerang
Throw yourself away
You slammed the Arcadian door on me
In a storm so loud I'm in a peaceful sea
I hope that you're not too locked in your ways
It feels just like I'm drowning in the waves
Oh, never gonna let you down
Down, down, down
I beg for you to send them away
You only want to disobey me
Throw your boomerang, boomerang
Throw yourself away
"Boomerang" by Miniature Tigers is a song that is both intriguing and dark. The lyrics portray the singer's fascination with someone and their desire to manipulate them. The first verse hints at the singer being troubled, born as a mystic and having something in their head not right. The following lines suggest that the singer is unable to feel emotion and is lost in their own world, not knowing where they will end up tonight.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's desperation for control by urging the person they are speaking to "throw your boomerang" and "throw yourself away." The singer appears to want this person to distance themselves from their previous life and surrender to the singer's will. The second verse continues with the theme of manipulation, as the singer pretends to adore the person they are speaking about, but is only after controlling their thoughts. The final verse seems to shift into a lament for the singer, who has been left behind by the person they were trying to control.
Overall, "Boomerang" can be interpreted as a song about the danger of obsession and control, and how it can negatively impact both parties involved.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw your boomerang, boomerang
Let go of the things that are holding you back and return to them freely
Throw yourself away
Abandon things that are harmful to you to move on and find closure
I was born as a mystic
I was born with inherent spiritual abilities that allow me to understand the unknown
Something in my head's not right
There are thoughts and emotions in my head that I cannot control, which is unsettling
And the same thing keeps me up at night
I am troubled by recurring thoughts and worries that prevent me from sleeping
See the moon and feel nothing
Looking at the moon does not bring me any sense of comfort or solace
Waxing crescent on your thighs
A poetic reference to the moon that brings out a sense of longing
Don't know where I'll end up tonight
I am unsure of the direction my life will take in the immediate future
Oh, never gonna let you down
I will never disappoint you and will always do my best to make you happy
I beg for you to send them away
I implore you to get rid of anything that might come between us or cause me harm
You only want to disobey me
You are purposely causing harm to our relationship by going against my wishes
I pretend to adore you
I pretend to love you and be interested in you to manipulate you for my own gain
Hanging on your every line
I am paying close attention to everything you say to find ways to manipulate you
'Til I get my poison in your mind
I will subtly influence you until my toxic thoughts occupy your mind
I'm a witch and a gremlin
I am cunning and deceptive, capable of causing mischief and harm
You're home watchin' Snick at night
You are innocent and pure, spending your evenings watching children's television shows
So innocent and terrified
You are pure and naive, easily frightened by my cunning and deceptive ways
You slammed the Arcadian door on me
You have forcefully shut me out of your life, leaving me feeling rejected and unwanted
In a storm so loud I'm in a peaceful sea
Despite the chaos and noise around me, I am at peace since I am away from you
I hope that you're not too locked in your ways
I hope you are willing to be open and try new things instead of being stuck in your old ways
It feels just like I'm drowning in the waves
I am overwhelmed by the rough waters of life and am struggling to stay afloat
Contributed by Sadie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.