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.
It's Hard To Love You
Neva Dinova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The devil knows you tried
'Cause killin' folks is hard,
and it ain't right, do your part!
You like the denizens of morgues
You tried to always hate
You know how Satan can relate
He's been sittin' on his throne
He wants to make his presence known
Remember when she died
and you called out his name
Where was he for you then?
Oh, where was he then?
Oh, where was he then?
Oh, God
It's hard to love you
But we try to everyday
Oh, God
It's hard to love you
But we try to everyday
It's hard (x4)
The lyrics of Neva Dinova's "It's Hard to Love You" are reflective of the struggle and guilt that individuals feel when they have sinned or committed wrongs. The singer addresses the concept of evil and the devil, acknowledging that even though it might be easy for some to commit horrible acts, killing people is ultimately wrong and goes against what is right. The line "you know how Satan can relate" suggests that the devil is familiar with the temptations and desires that lead individuals to commit sin.
The following lines "He's been sittin' on his throne, He wants to make his presence known" imply that the devil is waiting for individuals to falter and give in to their temptations. The line "remember when she died, and you called out his name" is a reference to a time when the singer prayed for help but received no response. The repetition of the question "where was he for you then?" emphasizes the feeling of abandonment when one seeks help from a higher power and it is not delivered.
The chorus of the song "oh, God, it's hard to love you, but we try every day" reflects the inner conflict that the singer feels towards their faith. The singer does not want to give up on their relationship with God, but the difficult struggles they face make it challenging. The repetition of the phrase "it's hard" throughout the song emphasizes the theme of internal struggle between good and evil.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, no
Expressing disappointment or concern about something.
The devil knows you tried
Implies that even the devil acknowledges someone's attempt.
'Cause killin' folks is hard,
and it ain't right, do your part!
Killing people is as difficult as it's morally wrong, so refrain from doing it!
You like the denizens of morgues
You take pleasure in the company of the deceased.
You tried to always hate
You always attempted to hate something/someone.
You know how Satan can relate
You know how Satan feels and his actions better than anyone.
He's been sittin' on his throne
He wants to make his presence known
Satan has been reigning and desires recognition.
Remember when she died
and you called out his name
Recalling someone's death and calling out to Satan.
Where was he for you then?
Oh, where was he then?
Oh, where was he then?
Questioning Satan's absence in a moment of need.
Oh, God
It's hard to love you
But we try to everyday
Oh, God
It's hard to love you
But we try to everyday
Expressing religious struggles with loving God.
It's hard (x4)
Repeatedly emphasizes the difficulty of something.
Contributed by Lillian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.