Nick Oliveri (under the moniker Rex Everything) formed Mondo Generator in 1997 and with friends Josh Homme, Brant Bjork, Rob Oswald, and others, recorded the debut album, Cocaine Rodeo. The LP wouldn't be released until 3 years later due to Oliveri and Homme being full-time members of Queens of the Stone Age. The album was released by Southern Lord Records in 2000. There was little support of the album by the way of live shows, and the band gained cult status among the most devoted Queens of the Stone Age fans.
In 2003, the band again emerged with a new LP, A Drug Problem That Never Existed. This time, Oliveri hired on more friends for recording duties including Dave Catching, Troy Van Leeuwen, Josh Homme, Brant Bjork, and Molly McGuire, and Dwarves frontman Blag Dahlia for co-producing duties. It was released jointly by Mike Patton's label, Ipecac Recordings, and Homme's Rekords Rekords. The live band, which included Oliveri, Catching, Bjork, and McGuire, went on a three month tour of North America and Europe to support the disc.
In early 2004, after Oliveri was fired from Queens of the Stone Age by Homme, he announced that Mondo Generator would become his full-time project. He recorded an acoustic record, Demolition Day, and toured Europe with Brant Bjork and Mark Lanegan Band. He then recorded an EP with Catching, McGuire, and Alfredo Hernandez. On the summer 2004 tour to promote the disc, Oliveri physically assaulted a sound crew member of a German night club after complaining about his sound through a few songs during the band's set. The other members of the band were furious and left Oliveri behind and returned to the United States.
In 2005, Oliveri once again toured Europe frequently, opening for such bands as Motörhead, and playing along-side and on stage as a member of Dwarves. Oliveri also recruited UK band Winnebago Deal's Ben Perrier and Ben Thomas to join Mondo Generator on tour. They were frequently dubbed "Winnebago Generator" by fans. The three-piece entered Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Los Angeles in December 2005 to begin work on the next Mondo Generator LP. Oliveri also hired on several friends from his hometown to record parts of the record, which was co-produced by Nick Raskulinecz and Oliveri.
In July 2006, it was reported that Perrier and Thomas had exited the band under unknown circumstances. Oliveri then re-named his band Nick Oliveri and the Mondo Generator and signed to Mother Tongue Records, who then released the new LP, Dead Planet: SonicSlowMotionTrails in the United Kingdom and Europe in September of 2006.
Discography
Cocaine Rodeo (2000, Southern Lord)
A Drug Problem That Never Existed (2003, Ipecac)
III The EP (2004, Tornado)
Dead Planet: SonicSlowMotionTrails (2006, Mother Tongue (UK/Europe)
Dead Planet (2007, Suburban Noize)
Former members include: Brant Bjork (drums), Dave Catching (guitar), Marc Diamond (guitar), Alfredo Hernandez (drums), Josh Homme (guitar), Josh Lamar (drums), Molly McGuire (bass), Rob Oswald (drums), Ben Perrier (guitar), Ben Thomas (drums), Spud (guitar)
So High So Low
Mondo Generator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't just knock
I'd never make you chop
I'll crush the rock
I'll get the door
Oh, after you
When things are breaking up
I'll be the glue
One or two
I swear at god
I'll never ever hit you
I've been so high
I've been so low
I'm coming down
I feel so low
I tried all night
I didn't cum at all
I wish you'd die
I'll make you cry
I'll pay you back
I'm just that kind of guy
I'm coming up
I'm coming up
I've been so high
I've been so low
I'm coming down
Down on you
Take it over, take it over
Yes, it's true
Burning, burning, burning
Burning apart
I'll crush your heart
It's over, it's over with you
I've been so high
I've been so low
Went from the top
Straight to the bottom
You'll get so full
Smoke em if you got em
I'll make you sick
This much I know
On to the next one
I told you so
You know I told you so
The song "So High So Low" by Mondo Generator is a track that seems to center around the experiences of the singer with drugs, bad relationships, and feelings of anger and despair. The lyrics show a character that is both confident about their ability to handle the difficult situations while also feeling utterly defeated by them. The opening lines, "You know, I'll call, I won't just knock, I'd never make you chop, I'll crush the rock, I'll get the door, Oh, after you" sets up the singer as someone who wants to be there and support the person they are with. They are willing to take care of themself, and they are ready to help out when the going gets tough. It's uncertain whether this is a romantic relationship or a friendship, but it is clear that the singer wants to be a friend in need.
However, the lyrics become more sinister as the track continues. The singer talks about how they "wish you'd die" and that they are "just that kind of guy." They seem to be warning the person they are with, as if to say that they are not someone to be messed with. The constant shifts in mood, from highs to lows, from confidence to despair, give the song a sense of unpredictability. The lyrics suggest that the singer is a complicated person, full of contradictions and surprises.
Overall, "So High So Low" is a track that takes the listener on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, showcasing the unpredictability of life and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You know, I'll call
I'll reach out to you and not just show up unannounced
I won't just knock
I won't just knock on your door without letting you know I'm coming
I'd never make you chop
I won't force you to do something you don't want to do
I'll crush the rock
I'll handle any tough situations that come our way
I'll get the door
I'll open the door for you
Oh, after you
I'll let you go first
When things are breaking up
When things are falling apart
I'll be the glue
I'll be the one to hold things together
Give me a hit
Let me have some drugs
One or two
A small amount of drugs will suffice
I swear at god
I'll use profanity, even towards a higher power
I'll never ever hit you
I won't physically harm you
I've been so high
I've experienced extreme elation and euphoria
I've been so low
I've experienced deep sadness and despair
I'm coming down
I'm sobering up
I feel so low
I feel extremely sad and depressed
I tried all night
I attempted something for a long time
I didn't cum at all
I didn't achieve sexual climax
I wish you'd die
I have negative feelings towards you and wish harm upon you
I'll make you cry
I'll cause you emotional pain
I'll pay you back
I'll seek revenge against you
I'm just that kind of guy
It's in my nature to act this way
I'm coming up
I'm feeling better
Down on you
You're the source of my negative feelings
Take it over, take it over
I'm taking control of the situation
Yes, it's true
What I'm saying is factual
Burning, burning, burning
I'm feeling intense emotions
Burning apart
I'm falling apart
I'll crush your heart
I'll break your heart
It's over, it's over with you
Our relationship is done
Went from the top
Was at a high point
Straight to the bottom
Fell to a low point
You'll get so full
You'll regret your actions
Smoke em if you got em
If you have cigarettes, smoke them now
I'll make you sick
I'll make you feel unwell, physically or emotionally
This much I know
I'm sure of this fact
On to the next one
Moving on to the next thing or person
You know I told you so
I warned you about this
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NICK S. OLIVERI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind