Fortunately, that all began to change.
After having recorded and compiled their own record in 2001, the whisperings about Neva Dinova began to get louder. A copy of their debut effort found its way into the hands of respected indie label, crank!, who quickly signed the band and released the eponymous debut in 2002. The album was met with tremendous critical acclaim, including being lauded as a "Top 10 Release of 2002" by the Los Angeles Times. Though the band enjoyed one lengthy sold-out tour with Omaha heroes (and former crank! artists) Cursive, their remaining tour attempts were fraught with trouble and left the album floundering as simply a rare find amongst the musical cognoscenti; that is, until a long-standing hometown friendship catapulted Neva Dinova to the forefront of indie rock.
Neva Dinova's main songwriter, Jake Bellows, and indie rock hero Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame, had discussed a musical collaboration for years. With conflicting schedules, however, it never seemed to come to fruition. Suddenly in late 2003 Jake and Conor found themselves both in Omaha for weeks at a time. Conor and Neva Dinova with new drummer, Roger Lewis (also of The Good Life) quickly recorded six songs together, each writing three songs but playing on all six, and in mid-2004 crank! released the highly anticipated collaboration, "One Jug Of Wine, Two Vessels." The release was lauded as a masterpiece and began selling instantaneously, driven by acclaim from powerful media like MTV, Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Blender, Jane, Alternative Press and many others. The record skyrocketed up the college radio and Billboard Independent charts. Suddenly Neva Dinova was on the tips of people's tongues.
Just a few months later, Neva Dinova finished recording the eleven songs for their second full length, re-released The Hate Yourself Change. From the first listen it is clear that Jake Bellows' songwriting has matured and flourished. The many who were overly impressed with Neva's work on "One Jug..." will be blown away by the new release. His uncanny ability to subtly integrate infectious melodies into non-traditional rock song structures continually sets him apart from indie rock’s numerous songwriters, as a writer who will stand the test of time. And when he belts into the power of "It's a dream" (from "The Blackest Heart"), one can't help but feel light-headed with anxious energy. And the Iggy Pop-meets-Leonard Cohen pop infectiousness of "A Picture In Pocket" will have you hitting the repeat button on your stereo incessantly.
In 2007, Neva Dinova signs with Saddle Creek Records (home of; Bright Eyes, The Faint, Cursive, The Good Life, and more). Neva Dinova is currently recording their new record/label debut. More information on the new album soon.
It's 2008, "You May Already Be Dreaming" is now out. It is an album of lush, relaxing and fluid dreams, and is now out on Saddle Creek Records. Check it out.
(SADDLE CREEK WEBSITE) Neva Dinova are treasured heroes of the Omaha music scene. Originally started as an impromptu songwriting collaboration between guitarist and vocalist Jake Bellows and bassist Heath Koontz, the two eventually got bored of their basement seclusion and decided to enlist the support of others. What they created was a five-piece musical tour de force, that includes guitarists Tim Haes and Mike Kratky, and drummer Roger Lewis (also the drummer for Saddle Creek's The Good Life). After years of playing around the mid-West, the five-piece have developed a loyal fan base and spawned an ever-expanding audience. Sonically, the presence of three guitarists has allowed for rapid development of the band's trademark sound, marked by swirling countermelody and assorted textures. It is around this musical fabric that Bellows' truly inspiring, poetry-based lyrics are centered and from where the Neva Dinova critically acclaimed signature sound has developed.
A Man And His Dream
Neva Dinova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you dream
Welcome to the morning
What you think
It's the way it always
Rains on your parade
Things always come up
Roses for the graves
Let me be your losing man
And dream
The lyrics to Neva Dinova's song "A Man And His Dream" are a poignant and introspective reflection on love and loss. The opening lines of "Sweetheart on the lawn, do you dream?" immediately set a melancholic tone, as the singer is addressing someone who is lost in their own thoughts and may be struggling with their own emotions. The chorus, "It's the way it always rains on your parade, things always come up, roses for the graves," highlights the idea that life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and that even in the midst of happiness or success, there can be moments of darkness, sorrow or disappointment.
Despite this, the song ultimately has a message of hope and perseverance. The lyrics "I love you, take my hand, let me be your losing man, and dream" suggest that the singer is willing to stand by their loved one even during moments of hardship, and encourage them to keep dreaming and moving forward. Overall, the lyrics of "A Man And His Dream" explore the complexities of human emotion and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweetheart on the lawn
A term of endearment used for someone relaxing outside
Do you dream
Are you envisioning a better reality?
Welcome to the morning
A greeting to the start of a new day
What you think
What are your thoughts or opinions?
It's the way it always
This is a pattern that occurs frequently
Rains on your parade
Something always goes wrong and spoils your plans or happiness
Things always come up
Unexpected events or obstacles arise frequently
Roses for the graves
A symbol of beauty in the face of death or tragedy
I love you take my hand
An expression of affection and a request for companionship
Let me be your losing man
I am willing to risk everything for you even if it means losing
And dream
Together, let's imagine a better future
Contributed by Noah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jon Mills
Jake Bellows is an amazing writer. His music helps encapsulate memories in dreamy ways. It's a shame that he is not as well known, but hey, We know who he is.
K Winters
This song is the theme for my depression. Its beautiful and sad and forever.
Justin Lowry
Nobody writes songs like Neva Dinova. Them and Pedro the Lion/David Bazan write the best music in my opinion.
Niaer
makes me think of good times with friends has that feeling of being home and being around people you love
Ana
this melts me. it like when you love something so much you feel like your insides have melted to the bottom of your stomach .
Ana
@MoonSuns After seeing your reply I realized that I hadn't now listened to this song in years. Thank you for bringing be back. I'm still here.
MoonSuns
You still here?
groundcat
i could listen to a loop of just the beginning guitar part forever
sevendubb
The beauty of "when you mean it" guitar vs "cuz you can do it" guitar
mattjames62
That intro is amazing!