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.
Mansion of Misery
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What would that mean
For you and me?
Whoa
Who says something of throwing away 'The me'?
Still looking out
Only for myself
You've built a partition around yourself
A mansion of misery
Can't train the ocean that keeps you out at sea
Can't train stuff that's running all throughout me
Mansion of misery
Stuck in a black graying sea
With nothing but some time to think
My heart it was an empty shell
With only true stories to tell
You really are something else
You really are all over yourself
By the fireplace, plated gold
Returning to my father's hold
I'm trapped in these negative vibes
I can't seem to find the outside
Staying up to watch the sunrise
My arms are alone with the sadness
I'm trapped in these negative vibes
I can't seem to find the outside
Staying up to watch the sunrise
Said I can't find a way to unwind
The lyrics of Miniature Tigers' "Mansion of Misery" talks about being trapped in a private and personal prison created by the individual, all the while struggling to break free. The song opens with the artist contemplating throwing away the key, questioning what that would mean for himself and others. The second verse continues the theme of personal imprisonment by building a partition around oneself, which becomes a mansion of misery. The metaphorical mansion represents the self-made prison that the artist has built due to constantly looking out only for himself.
The chorus acts as a reminder that the negative emotions that the artist feels cannot be controlled, as they are like an uncontrollable ocean, running all throughout them. No matter how hard they try, they can't seem to find a way out of the mansion of misery. The final verse further describes the feelings of being trapped, surrounded by negative vibes, and unable to escape them.
Overall, "Mansion of Misery" is a reflection on the burdens of self-obsession and the toll it can take on oneself. It highlights the importance of recognizing the need for human connection and breaking free of the negative cycle of self-imprisonment.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking about throwin' away the key
Contemplating giving up control and abandoning the situation
What would that mean
Reflecting on the potential consequences
For you and me?
Considering how it will affect both parties involved
Who says something of throwing away 'The me'?
Questioning who would suggest surrendering one's identity and sense of self
Still looking out
Continuing to focus on oneself
Only for myself
Prioritizing one's own interests above all else
You've built a partition around yourself
Creating a barrier between oneself and others
A mansion of misery
A metaphor for the isolation and despair caused by this separation
Can't train the ocean that keeps you out at sea
Unable to control the powerful forces preventing connection and emotional fulfillment
Can't train stuff that's running all throughout me
Unable to shake off the negative emotions and thoughts occupying one's mind
Stuck in a black graying sea
Feeling trapped and engulfed in a dark, dull environment
With nothing but some time to think
Left alone with one's thoughts and anxieties
My heart it was an empty shell
Emotionally numb and unfulfilled
With only true stories to tell
Having no facade or pretense, only honesty
You really are something else
Remarkable and unique in an unusual way
You really are all over yourself
Overindulging in self-absorption and egoism
By the fireplace, plated gold
Comfortably situated in an opulent surrounding
Returning to my father's hold
Seeking solace and a sense of belonging in one's family
I'm trapped in these negative vibes
Feeling stuck in a cycle of negativity
I can't seem to find the outside
Unable to break free from this pattern
Staying up to watch the sunrise
Finding hope in the prospect of a new day
My arms are alone with the sadness
Feeling physically and emotionally isolated
Said I can't find a way to unwind
Expressing a difficulty in relaxing or finding peace
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.