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.
Can't Wait To See You
Neva Dinova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will my brother know I tried?
Will the government send them my old pens
And the letters I tried to write?
Will my dad as he cries all night
Will he still believe we're right?
As I'm drinking blood from a silver cup
When I go will my mother cry?
Will my brother want to die?
As I'm drinking up an amber stout
With this god I've heard so much about
When I go will you be ashamed?
Will you still recall my name with pain?
Can't wait to see you hang
See you hang
The lyrics of Neva Dinova's song "Can't Wait To See You" are highly evocative and thought-provoking, encapsulating deep human emotions of fear, remorse, and the inevitable end. The opening lines of the song suggest the anxiety of the singer about what will happen to his family after his death. The idea of leaving behind old pens and letters highlights the fragility of human existence, where the objects with which we interact every day become a symbol of our existence. The singer's concern about his father's reaction and belief in what they stood for and the futility of death further reinforces the theme of inevitability and the hopelessness of the human condition.
The second stanza of the song is metaphorical in nature, as the singer drinks blood from a silver cup with men who chose to die. It symbolizes a sense of impending doom and the inevitability of death. The singer's concern about the shame associated with his death, the pain associated with his name, and the wish to see someone hang reflect the darker aspects of human emotions, where even the most profound emotions can be extremely complex and multi-layered.
Line by Line Meaning
When I go will my mother know?
When I die, will my mother be aware of it?
Will my brother know I tried?
Will my brother understand that I tried to do something before dying?
Will the government send them my old pens
And the letters I tried to write?
Will the letters and pens I've used to document my life will reach my loved ones?
Will my dad as he cries all night
Will he still believe we're right?
As my father mourns my death, will he have faith in the cause that led to my demise?
As I'm drinking blood from a silver cup
With these men who chose to die
In my final moments, will I be surrounded by people who have also chosen to die as martyrs?
When I go will my mother cry?
Will my brother want to die?
Will my family be devastated by my death to the point of wanting to end their own lives?
As I'm drinking up an amber stout
With this god I've heard so much about
In my final moments, will I be meeting the god I believed in?
When I go will you be ashamed?
Will my death bring shame to those who loved and supported me?
Will you still recall my name with pain?
Will my death continue to cause pain to those who held me dear?
Can't wait to see you hang
See you hang
I am eager to see the people responsible for my death face justice and pay for their crimes.
Lyrics © MORRIS MUSIC, INC.
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