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.
Poison
Neva Dinova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We cannot sweat this poison out
It's in my skin and in my mouth
And when I sing these lies come out
The hooks are deep but so is this lake
Princess please make mistakes
Make it seem like I've done right
So I can sleep well tonight
And it ain't the cost
And you ain't the boss
It ain't like I'm not on your side
And it ain't like I'm trying to keep you
When the secret is you want another guy
You're on my mind
You squeeze them ideas out
And I just forgot math
Got to make some space for pain
'Cause them words just left your mouth
Boarded on a train bound for my destination brain
Welcome in, we've been waiting
We've been waiting
Drinking blood don't keep me young
It's just the taste on my tongue
It makes me stay up late and talk
Destroy yourself, what the fuck
In Neva Dinova's song Poison, the lyrics describe a toxic relationship and the struggle to let go of it. The singer acknowledges that the situation is damaging but feels trapped in it with no easy way out. The line "This mess becomes beneath us now, We cannot sweat this poison out" suggests that the toxicity of the relationship has become a part of them, and they cannot simply overcome it. The phrase "And when I sing these lies come out" implies that the singer is lying to themselves and others about the true nature of the relationship.
The chorus of the song further illustrates the internal conflict of the singer. They want to believe that the relationship is worth pursuing, but deep down, they know it is not. The line "And you ain't the boss, It ain't like I'm not on your side" suggests that the singer wants to give themselves hope that the relationship can continue, but ultimately they know that they cannot stop their partner from leaving. The phrase "when the secret is you want another guy" reveals that the partner is not satisfied with the singer, which causes them to feel inadequate.
The final verse of the song "Drinking blood don't keep me young, It's just the taste on my tongue, It makes me stay up late and talk, Destroy yourself, what the fuck" implies that the singer is indulging in unhealthy behaviors to cope with the emotional pain of the situation. They know that what they are doing is harmful, but they can't help themselves. The final line suggests that the singer is frustrated with their own self-destructive tendencies.
Line by Line Meaning
This mess becomes beneath us now
We have reached a point where this chaos has lost its importance and is no longer significant to us
We cannot sweat this poison out
The harm caused by this situation cannot be easily fixed or ignored
It's in my skin and in my mouth
The impact of this problem is tangible and affecting me physically as well as emotionally
And when I sing these lies come out
Talking about this problem makes me feel like I am being dishonest and not true to myself
The hooks are deep but so is this lake
The influence and pain of this situation is substantial and long-lasting
Princess please make mistakes
Even the most perfect or royal people can make errors or misjudgments
Make it seem like I've done right
Make me feel validated and supported in my actions, even if they were not necessarily the best ones
So I can sleep well tonight
I need reassurance and comfort in order to be able to rest peacefully
And it ain't the cost
The price or value of something is not the issue at hand
And you ain't the boss
You do not have ultimate authority or control over me or this situation
It ain't like I'm not on your side
I am still supportive of you and your perspective on this matter
And it ain't like I'm trying to keep you
I am not preventing or stopping you from making your own choices or decisions
When the secret is you want another guy
The truth behind your actions is that you desire someone else
You're on my mind
I am constantly thinking about you and this situation
You squeeze them ideas out
You express your thoughts and opinions freely and without hesitation
And I just forgot math
I am distracted and unable to focus on logical or rational thinking
Got to make some space for pain
I need to prioritize my emotions and dedicate time to processing my feelings
'Cause them words just left your mouth
Your words have affected me deeply and I need time to recover
Boarded on a train bound for my destination brain
Your words and actions are influencing and affecting my thoughts and mental state
Welcome in, we've been waiting
My mind and body are prepared and accepting of the impact that this situation is having on me
Drinking blood don't keep me young
Harming myself or others will not keep me youthful or protected from aging
It's just the taste on my tongue
The appeal or attraction to dangerous or harmful behaviors is fleeting and temporary
It makes me stay up late and talk
I am drawn to these behaviors because of the excitement and stimulation they bring
Destroy yourself, what the fuck
The consequences of self-destructive behavior are not worth the temporary pleasure or satisfaction they bring
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Peter George Eno, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@antisuicideoverdose
This mess becomes beneath us now
We cannot sweat this poison out
It's in my skin and in my mouth
And when I sing these lies come out
The hooks are deep but so is this lake
Princess please make mistakes
Make it seem like I've done right
So I can sleep well tonight
And it ain't the cost
And you ain't the boss
It ain't like I'm not on your side
And it ain't like I'm trying to keep you
When the secret is you want another guy
You're on my mind
You squeeze them ideas out
And I just forgot math
Got to make some space for pain
'Cause them words just left your mouth
Boarded on a train bound for my destination brain
Welcome in, we've been waiting
We've been waiting
Drinking blood don't keep me young
It's just the taste on my tongue
It makes me stay up late and talk
Destroy yourself, what the fuck
@jacksplague3050
This is one of my favorite songs currently. I can't stop hitting replay
@melrose4580
something special happened when the best songs on the album aren't bright eyes...!
@hosebeefstick
Seriously! I mean, Neva Dinova is pretty sweet usually, but he really knocked it out of the park on this album.
@narutito11
such a good tuneee!
@exoskeletalxjunction
This is relevant.
@zigzigzig
I wrote nearly the same reply before I read yours and realized that you'd nailed it. Me, you, and the guy that disliked it.. all know you're absolutely right.
@JohnSmith-dr6gk
good shit
@autumncude2439
❤️😩
@escounts
Who the hell disliked this?
@antisuicideoverdose
This mess becomes beneath us now
We cannot sweat this poison out
It's in my skin and in my mouth
And when I sing these lies come out
The hooks are deep but so is this lake
Princess please make mistakes
Make it seem like I've done right
So I can sleep well tonight
And it ain't the cost
And you ain't the boss
It ain't like I'm not on your side
And it ain't like I'm trying to keep you
When the secret is you want another guy
You're on my mind
You squeeze them ideas out
And I just forgot math
Got to make some space for pain
'Cause them words just left your mouth
Boarded on a train bound for my destination brain
Welcome in, we've been waiting
We've been waiting
Drinking blood don't keep me young
It's just the taste on my tongue
It makes me stay up late and talk
Destroy yourself, what the fuck