Fueled by passionately focused energy, Oh No Not Stereo embody all that is … Read Full Bio ↴Fueled by passionately focused energy, Oh No Not Stereo embody all that is truly exciting about rock ‘n’ roll. And in just a few short years, they’ve amassed a catalogue of catchy—yet sincere—songs, like a pair of self-contained dynamos that simply will not be stopped, let alone slowed down.

“The first misconception about Oh No Not Stereo,” explains vocalist and one half of this rocking duo, Sky Nielsen, “is that we don’t like stereo and we play everything in mono, or that we record in mono.” Other half, Mykul Lee, is also a multifaceted multi-instrumentalist, much like his partner in this stereophonic unit. Nielsen’s ear-damaging ATV accident in 1993 may have inspired the act’s unique name, but the moniker was never meant to suggest they’re anti-high fidelity. Formed in 2003—Lee from Oklahoma, Nielsen out of Utah—this pair immediately lit up the Los Angeles night skyline with their hard and fast, yet always melodic and original, dynamic rock ‘n’ roll.

Taking their DIY ethic to the highest possible degree, Nielsen sings and plays nearly everything—from guitars, to keyboards, to bass—while Lee provides drums, acoustic guitars, and piano, to name but a few weapons in their combined arsenal. Having wrote, performed, produced, and released their latest collaboration, entitled 003, themselves, the duo imbedded their unique fingerprint on all aspects of the project. To put the finishing touches on this latest effort, Oh No Not Stereo also enlisted Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, Anberlin) to mix the songs and Jim Wirt (Incubus) to add his studio expertise, while bringing along The Section Quartet for sophisticated strings in strategic spots. Nevertheless, the act still enrolls a touring bassist and guitarist on the road, to better transfer their studio accomplishments to concert stage in real life.

From the very get-go, with the gutsy guitar riff that announces 003’s opener, “Let’s Get It Started,” Oh No Not Stereo immediately separate themselves from other contemporary duos. These musicians are many times fast and edgy, yet always passionate and articulate. Nielsen and Lee have never seen an instrument they couldn’t master, and steadfastly refuse to ‘take it easy’ when playing live.

Whether in the studio or on stage, Oh No Not Stereo make big, bold, beautiful noise, which never fails to leave a huge and lasting impression—no matter how you experience their music.

The City
Oh No Not Stereo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We all live in the city
The city that we love to hate
The city that's fucking dirty
In every single fucking way

But you'll still find a smile
Wherever you find me
I'm wondering if this place is right

For me

We're all getting tired of this big city
The city I can never understand
Yeah yeah
I can't go back home
There's no such thing as home for me
Right now

The city will take you anyway it can
5 million people under the man

We all live in a city
A city that we love to hate
A city that's fucking dirty
In every single fucking way

The city will take you anyway it can

5 million people under the man
They've got us in the palms of their hands

Overall Meaning

Oh No Not Stereo's song The City is a poignant commentary on the city life that most people love to hate. The lyrics describe the city as a place that is full of filth and pollution, but it is also the place that they call home. The lyrics carry a sense of uneasiness about this love-hate relationship with the city, and the singer is seen questioning their role in the city. The song talks about the feeling of being lost in the city and how it can take anyone under its control. The lyrics also highlight the idea that the city has a way of holding people hostage, and the singer seems to be fighting to break free from this.

The song hits all the right chords and strikes a chord with anyone who has ever lived in a big city. The lyrics are relatable and paint a picture of life in the city that is far from glamorous. The city, as described in the song, is almost like an antagonist that is always looming in the background, waiting to take control of anyone who crosses its path. The song talks about the pressures of living in a big city, the loneliness that comes with it, and the feeling of being trapped in a place that you can never truly call home.

Overall, The City is a powerful commentary on the complexities of life in a big city. The lyrics are raw, emotional, and real. They capture the essence of what it means to be alive in a place that is both beautiful and harsh at the same time.

Line by Line Meaning

We all live in the city
Everyone lives in the city.

The city that we love to hate
We have mixed feelings about the city.

The city that's fucking dirty
The city is unclean and filthy.

In every single fucking way
In every aspect, it is dirty.

But you'll still find a smile
I may still appear happy.

Wherever you find me
Regardless of my location.

I'm wondering if this place is right
I'm reconsidering if this city is suitable.

For me
For me personally.

We're all getting tired of this big city
We are all getting exhausted of this large city.

The city I can never understand
I can never comprehend the city.

Yeah yeah
An expression that implies agreement or being accustomed to something.