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.
She's A Ghost
Neva Dinova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
she's a ghost
she's real, she's just doin' just what she feels
making monkeys
out of men
then she's doin' it all again
don't let no one in to your heart
she begs
shes just doin' just what it takes
to get germs
on the street
then she turn 'em loose again
don't let no one in to your heart
don't let no one in to your heart
ohhh
waitin' til summer comes
let that sun dry your towels
instead of me
i'll stay and water 'em
i'll watch you pack your things
it's just that the ocean seems
like a tub of tea
she's a ghost
The song "She's A Ghost" by Neva Dinova is a poignant ballad that speaks of a woman who is constantly toying with men's emotions. The lyrics are a cautionary tale to a potential victim, urging them not to let this woman into their heart.
The song begins with the warning to "don't let no one in your heart" as she is a ghost. This is perhaps a metaphorical representation of the woman's deceptive nature. She's not someone you can trust, she's ghostly, unreliable and always playing games. The next few lines detail her modus operandi. She's "real" and just doing what she feels like, which is making "monkeys out of men". This line portrays the woman's manipulative nature, how she uses men for her own entertainment and amusement before moving onto the next victim. The repetition of the phrase "she's doin' it all again" highlights how this is a cycle for her.
The chorus of the song repeats the same message, "don't let no one in your heart". The next two lines elaborate on why the woman is not to be trusted. She begs, and she's just doing what it takes to get germs on the street. This could be interpreted in several ways, but perhaps it's her way of saying that she's willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants, including using others to achieve her goals. The final line of the chorus is telling, "then she turns 'em loose again". This line reinforces the idea that the woman is not to be trusted, and that she is constantly moving from one man to the next, leaving them in the dust.
Line by Line Meaning
don't let no one in to your heart
Don't allow anyone to emotionally hurt you.
she's a ghost
She is elusive and hard to pin down.
she's real, she's just doin' just what she feels
She is authentic and true to herself.
making monkeys out of men
She enjoys manipulating and controlling men.
then she's doin' it all again
She repeats this behavior over and over again.
she's the most
She is the most captivating and alluring person.
she begs
She pleads for attention and affection.
shes just doin' just what it takes
She does whatever is necessary to get what she wants.
to get germs on the street
To infect others with her toxic behavior.
then she turn 'em loose again
After using them, she discards her victims.
ohhh
Expressing a feeling of longing or sadness.
waitin' til summer comes
Delaying action until a more favorable time.
let that sun dry your towels
Allowing life's natural processes to take their course.
instead of me
I will not be there to witness it.
i'll stay and water 'em
I will remain behind and tend to the mundane tasks.
i'll watch you pack your things
I will observe as you leave.
it's just that the ocean seems like a tub of tea
The ocean, once a vast and mysterious entity, now seems ordinary and mundane.
Contributed by James O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.