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.
Tchaikovsky & Solitude
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
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Pour myself a glass of red wine
I was thinkin' of something you said
Hey, it's okay to behave
Life is like a glass of cheap champagne
Bein' thrown in your face by your date
Three hundred miles away
When solitude comes 'round
All you have to do is lay down
Extend your hand into its hand
And feel the grip that's crushin' you
I go on a run through the hills
I love how the sweat makes me feel
Drink a gallon of water a day
Hey, it's okay to behave
I bury my nose in a book
Learn how the knight captures rook
Castle the king to A1
Hey, it's okay to behave
When solitude comes 'round
All you have to do is lay down
Extend your hand into its hand
And feel the grip that's crushin' you
The lyrics of Miniature Tigers' song "Tchaikovsky & Solitude" depicts the feeling of being alone and the ways in which one tries to cope with it. The song starts with the singer listening to Tchaikovsky's music and crying as he pours himself a glass of red wine. He then remembers something that someone said to him and reminds himself that it is okay to behave.
The singer then compares life to a glass of cheap champagne being thrown into his face, which could be interpreted as life being unpredictable and full of unpleasant surprises. However, he tells himself that it is okay to behave, indicating that it is acceptable to act however one wants to, despite what life may throw at them.
The next verse describes how the singer copes with solitude- going for a run in the hills and drinking a gallon of water a day, burying his nose in a book and learning how the knight captures the rook in chess. He reminds himself that it is okay to behave, suggesting that it is natural to engage in behaviors that make us happy even if they seem trivial or unproductive.
The chorus repeats the imagery of being crushed by solitude's grip but also suggests that the one experiencing it can seek solace by extending their hand to it.
Overall, the song conveys a message of accepting oneself and finding solace in small pleasures and solitude, even when life seems uncertain and unpredictable.
Line by Line Meaning
I listen to Tchaikovsky and cry
I find solace in classical music and allow myself to feel emotions deeply
Pour myself a glass of red wine
I indulge in pleasures to ease my pain
I was thinkin' of something you said
Your words linger in my mind and affect me deeply
Hey, it's okay to behave
I give myself permission to express and cope with my feelings in whatever healthy way I choose
Life is like a glass of cheap champagne
Life can be bitter and unsatisfying like a poorly made drink
Bein' thrown in your face by your date
It can feel like life is intentionally cruel and mocking
Three hundred miles away
Even when distance separates me from my problems, they can still feel overwhelming
When solitude comes 'round
When I am alone and left to my thoughts
All you have to do is lay down
I allow myself to rest and let go of control
Extend your hand into its hand
I embrace my solitude and try to find peace in it
And feel the grip that's crushin' you
Even though solitude can feel overwhelming, I try to find strength in it
I go on a run through the hills
I find release and escape in physical activity
I love how the sweat makes me feel
I take pleasure in pushing myself and feeling alive
Drink a gallon of water a day
I take care of my physical health and well-being
I bury my nose in a book
I lose myself in literature and imagination
Learn how the knight captures rook
I educate myself and find delight in learning
Castle the king to A1
I enjoy challenging myself and using strategy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE BRAND, RICK SCHAIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind