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.
Dino Damage
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta let 'em go
If you hold on, they'll puncture your lungs
And separate your spine from your skull
You gotta let 'em go
You gotta let go when they get that old
You gotta let 'em go
And tear you limb from limb
It's second nature to them
You gotta let go when they get that old
You gotta let 'em go
If you hold on they'll tear your stomach open
And rip your guts out with their teeth
You gotta just release
These lyrics from Miniature Tigers' "Dino Damage" draw an analogy between the dangers of holding onto an aging relationship and those of keeping a dangerous dinosaur as a pet. The repeated refrain of "You gotta let go when they get that old" speaks to the idea that when relationships become toxic or stagnant, it's important to let go and move on before they cause irreparable harm.
The vivid imagery of the dinosaur attacks in the following lines serves to underscore the importance of this message: if you don't let go of a dangerous relationship, it will eventually turn on you and cause serious harm. The language is graphic and disturbing, painting a picture of violence and brutality that is difficult to ignore.
Overall, "Dino Damage" is a powerful reminder that relationships are not always easy or safe, but it's up to us to recognize when it's time to move on before we get hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta let go when they get that old
It is necessary to let go of something when it gets too old or has outlived its usefulness.
You gotta let 'em go
It is important to release things that are no longer beneficial and move on.
If you hold on, they'll puncture your lungs
Holding onto something that is no longer useful can cause harm to oneself.
And separate your spine from your skull
Refusing to let go of something can lead to a complete breakdown and cause permanent damage to oneself.
You gotta let 'em go
It is crucial to detach oneself from negative factors and move forward.
If you hold on, they'll bite your fingers off
Continuing to hold onto something that has become harmful can result in the loss of extremities or other serious injuries.
And tear you limb from limb
Refusing to let go of harmful or negative factors can cause one to suffer immense physical and emotional pain.
It's second nature to them
Some things are ingrained and natural to certain people, and cannot be changed despite the harm they may cause.
You gotta let go when they get that old
It is important to recognize when something has outstayed its welcome and let it go before it causes significant harm.
If you hold on they'll tear your stomach open
Continuing to hold onto negative or harmful factors can lead to severe internal damage and even death.
And rip your guts out with their teeth
Problems that are ignored and not dealt with can cause immense distress and pain that may eventually become unbearable.
You gotta just release
One must learn to let go and move on in order to find peace and happiness in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE BRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind