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.
The Wolf
Miniature Tigers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sugar and spice
I'll take you on a cruise to somewhere nice
You haven't been before
Love was meant for more
You moved up close, I could feel your sweat
I kissed you on the neck and you got wet
It's a shallow treat for a guy like me
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
I've got nothin' keeping me here
I've wasted all the love that I hold dear
I'll throw a dart: L.A.
The wolf has run away
The guy you know thinks he's so slick
He'll kiss you on the lips but he'll get sick
Lothario
He's a creep you know
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
I'm on your trail, I can smell your blood
I've had enough with unrequited love
It's the coast I crave
Leads me to my grave
Still in my head was the sick of my spine
Give it up and I will make you mine
I will buy you things
Like diamond rings
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
"The Wolf" by Miniature Tigers revolves around a manipulative and superficial man who takes advantage of the women he meets. The lyrics suggest that he is successful in his pursuits, although briefly and not authentically. The verses depict his smooth and seductive nature as he promises to take his love interest on a luxurious trip and boasts about his prowess as a lover. However, he is also dehumanizing and objectifying towards her, reducing her to a mere sexual conquest. The chorus describes how everyone is staring at her, and he is trying to win her over solely because she is attractive.
The chorus's repetition conveys how this woman is coveted by many and desired to take home, suggesting that she is an object of desire. The wolf here represents the man who is preying on her while also reinforcing the idea that the woman is vulnerable and unprotected, needing protection from him. However, in the second verse, the man reveals his disinterest in any meaningful attachment and his emptiness, making him akin to a wolf who just wants to hunt and be gone once he is done. The singer feels he has lost all that is dear to him, and he has no purpose, so he is willing to pursue his attraction to the woman, despite his reservations about commitment.
The song is both a critique of toxic masculinity and a cautionary tale about how one must be careful of the motives of people around them. The man in the song embodies many negative male stereotypes: he objectifies women, is all about physical appearance, and is emotionally disconnected. The song warns us to be wary of people who chase such materialistic goals and do not care about the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Add nice
Let's make this experience pleasant and enjoyable
Sugar and spice
I want to add some excitement and passion to this
I'll take you on a cruise to somewhere nice
I want to take you away to a beautiful and exotic place
You haven't been before
I want to show you something new, something you haven't seen or experienced
Love was meant for more
I believe that love should be more than just a physical attraction
You moved up close, I could feel your sweat
I can feel the chemistry between us
I kissed you on the neck and you got wet
Our physical attraction is strong and mutual
It's a shallow treat for a guy like me
I know that I may not be the most sincere or genuine person, and this encounter may just be surface-level
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
You're the center of attention, and people are drawn to you
Like they want to go home with you
They see you as someone they want to be intimate with
I've got nothin' keeping me here
I'm not tied down by anything or anyone, and I'm free to pursue whatever I want
I've wasted all the love that I hold dear
I feel like I've lost or used up all of my capacity for love
I'll throw a dart: L.A.
I'll take a chance and go to Los Angeles, hoping to find something new and exciting
The wolf has run away
I'm a lone wolf, always on the move and never settling down
The guy you know thinks he's so slick
There are other men who may try to impress you or charm you, but I see through their facade
He'll kiss you on the lips but he'll get sick
Their attempts at intimacy are forced and fake, and won't ultimately satisfy you
Lothario
A man who is skilled at seducing women
He's a creep you know
I see him for who he truly is, and it's not someone I respect or admire
I'm on your trail, I can smell your blood
I'm pursuing you with a sense of urgency and desire
I've had enough with unrequited love
I'm tired of chasing after people who don't feel the same way about me
It's the coast I crave
I'm drawn to the ocean and the freedom it represents
Leads me to my grave
I know that my restless and reckless lifestyle may ultimately lead to my downfall
Still in my head was the sick of my spine
I can't shake the feeling that my actions and decisions are making me sick or unwell
Give it up and I will make you mine
If you give in to me and let me have my way, I will make you mine
I will buy you things
I may try to win you over with material possessions or gifts
Like diamond rings
I may even try to use the symbolism of an engagement ring to convince you of my commitment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLIE BRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dextergardner9100
Add nice
Sugar and spice
I'll take you on a cruise to somewhere nice
You haven't been before
Love was meant for more
You moved up close, I could feel your sweat
I kissed you on the neck and you got wet
It's a shallow treat for a guy like me
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
I've got nothin' keeping me here
I've wasted all the love that I hold dear
I'll throw a dart: L.A.
The wolf has run away
The guy you know thinks he's so slick
He'll kiss you on the lips but he'll get sick
Lothario
He's a creep you know
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
I'm on your trail, I can smell your blood
I've had enough with unrequited love
It's the coast I crave
Leads me to my grave
Still in my head was the sick of my spine
Give it up and I will make you mine
I will buy you things
Like diamond rings
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Everybody's looking at you like they want to
Like they want to go home with you
@Charsept
good point, despite this weird feeling of elitism for knowing the song not from a movie or show, im still glad people know it, no matter what the reason
@alainabradley5043
I have literally been looking for this song since the episode of teen wolf called "magic billet" aired. It's been yearsss and I finally found it!
@haileemartinez7691
Whatttt I’ve watched that show like a million times already and usually recognize every song from there where was this lmao
@tkayube
I'm here because some guy in the audience shouted the name of this band at a live recording of They Might Be Giants. Thanks, some guy in the audience.
@jamestree6697
you're welcome
@iwonderwhosheskissingnow
3 years later Tom Holmes and James tree are married
@peachsweet5309
Valid
@MrsSambozzo
I came here after going to a Fun concert, they open their concert and i thought they were so good! I asked the boy who was standing beside me the name of the band so here i am :') They're so good!
@peebee9071
screams because I don't care about whatever movie or show this is from I just like minature tigers
@cyanncarver384
Flavio Varga same