New self-titled Pepper album drops Fall 2013!!

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Kaleo Wassman – Vocals/Guitar
Bret Bollinger – Vocals/Bass
Yesod Williams – Drums

“It’s the hardest thing we’ve ever done as a band to make this record,” says guitarist/vocalist Kaleo Wassman of Pepper, in speaking on the recording process of their new self-titled album. “It speaks loudly and widely to a broader audience while maintaining everything good about the band, which, first of all, is our positive attitude.” After releasing five albums, Pepper has opened a new chapter in their storied career. Drummer Yesod Williams adds, “This record feels very cohesive in a way our past releases maybe didn’t. I think it’s an album that can appeal to everyone, as well. We’ve been pigeonholed in the past so this is an opportunity to transcend all that and spread our wings even wider.”

The trio, who formed in 1997 and moved to the mainland from their hometown of Kailua Kona, Hawaii in 1999, pressed pause after the release of their fifth album, Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations, in 2008. There was a sense of fatigue and disunity amongst the three musicians, who took some time off from music both apart and together before rejoining to create an EP, Stiches, in late 2010. The songs on that release re-energized the group, revealing an urgent desire to make a new album that reflected where they are in their lives and career now. After some tour dates in support of the EP, Pepper sat down and focused on their sixth album, a self-titled released that swings open the door on this new chapter.

The musicians went into the studio with Matt Wallace, a producer known for his work with Maroon 5, O.A.R. and Faith No More, in early 2012. Matt helped focus the group’s vision and expand their musical knowledge base, an experience the band members compare to being in their own version of college. The album was recorded in various studios over the course of a year, honing in on Pepper’s re-defined self-identity and how that focus was reflected in the songs.

“We learned so much,” Yesod says. “Matt help us really focus on the art of songwriting. He sat in the room with the three of us with a fine-tooth comb and went over every word, every melody, every sound. He showed us that it’s important what you do play as well as what you don’t play, creating both spaces in the songs. We learned how powerful simplicity can be. Plus, we had such a good time recording this album and I think that shows.”

The resulting album, self-titled to accentuate where the band feels they are presently, broadens Pepper’s style, veering into new sonic territory while still retaining all the fun elements that make the band so beloved by their fans. The ever-present sense of life surges through the tracks, bolstering the sense of optimism throughout. The party anthems, the beach hang melodies, and the boisterous rhythms are all there, each song carefully crafted to best express these sunny moments by the ocean.

“This album is basically 12 snapshots of where we are,” vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger says. “There are songs that will remind you of your favorite Pepper songs, but by the end you’ll hear some unexpected things. You’ll realize that the songwriting is so much more refined. And there’s laughter in the background of the songs. That’s how good the vibe is on the record.”

Pepper has toured extensively with groups like 311, Slightly Stoopid, Flogging Molly and Sublime With Rome, and spent several summers on Warped Tour – and this live sensibility shows. You can almost feel the sand in your toes and the sun on your back as the album progresses, the musician’s amiable personalities palpable beneath the island rhythms and mellow tones. The band’s music – both live and on their releases – is really about enjoying life and being grateful for each experience, a sensibility that’s very familiar to the three musicians currently in their career. From their 1999 debut Give’n It to their 2006 standout album No Shame, which was recorded with 311’s Nick Hexum, No Doubt’s Tony Kanal and Butthole Surfers’ Paul Leary, Pepper has embodied not only a style of music but a lifestyle, one that’s most easily found on beaches across the world, but also one that’s relatable to anyone anywhere.

Released via their own label LAW Records, their universal appeal has led their music being placed in various movies and TV shows, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Good Luck Chuck, as well as several video game soundtracks. The band’s story to date has been a prolific one. But as Pepper turns the page into a fresh chapter with this new album, it’s clear that the band’s passion for music and life will continue on for years to come.

“We’re so blessed to be in this position,” Kaleo says. “We want to do the best we can with it. We had humble beginnings in our small town in Hawaii and we’re still that same humble band. We don’t take any of this lightly. Every day I wake up and think about how I have the best job in the world. The level of gratitude and happiness I have that we’re able to do this is incredible and I hope people can hear that when they listen to our new songs.”

Don
Pepper Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm an ocean in your bedroom
Make you feel warm
Make you want to reassume
Now we know it all for sure

I'm a dancehall, dirty break beat
Make the snow fall up from underneath your feet
Not alone, I'll be there

Tell me when you want to go

I'm a meth lab, first rehab
Take it all off and step inside the running cab
There's a love that knows the way

I'm the rainbow in your jail cell
All the memories of everything you've ever smelled
Not alone, I'll be there
Tell me when you want to go

Oh (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)
Come again, get me excited (more will be revealed, my friend)

I'm an inbred and a pothead
Two legs that you spread inside the tool shed
Now we know it all for sure

I could show you to the free field
Overcome and more will always be revealed
Not alone, I'll be there
Tell me when you want to go

Oh, and (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)
Come again, get me excited (more will be revealed, my friend)

Oh, and (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)
There's a match, now let me light it (more will be revealed, my friend)

I'm the bloodstain on your shirt sleeve
Coming down and more, coming to believe
Now we know it all for sure

Make the hair stand up on your arm
Teach you how to dance inside the funny farm
Not alone, I'll be there
Tell me when you want to go

I'll be there, tell me when you want to go

Come again, and tell me when you want to go
More will be revealed my friend

Overall Meaning

The song "Don" by Pepper is a collection of seemingly random and disconnected images and metaphors that are nonetheless united by a theme of personal transformation and growth. The first verse features the lines "I'm an ocean in your bedroom/Make you feel warm/Make you want to reassume/Now we know it all for sure." These lines suggest a sense of comfort and reassurance, perhaps from a lover or friend, that provides a foundation for the singer's growth.

The second verse introduces a series of more abstract and surreal metaphors, including "I'm a dancehall, dirty break beat/Make the snow fall up from underneath your feet" and "I'm a meth lab, first rehab/Take it all off and step inside the running cab." These lines suggest a sense of chaotic energy and transformation, perhaps representing the singer's own internal struggles as they try to change and grow.

The chorus features the lines "Oh, and (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)/Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)/Come again, get me excited (more will be revealed, my friend)." These lines suggest a sense of anticipation and excitement for what the future holds, even as the singer acknowledges their own vulnerability and need for support.

Overall, "Don" is a song about the messy and often unpredictable process of personal growth, and the need for connection and support during this journey.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm an ocean in your bedroom
I am a vast and deep presence in your personal space

Make you feel warm
I will create a comforting and peaceful feeling in you

Make you want to reassume
I bring to you a desire to return to a previous state or position

Now we know it all for sure
We have gained full understanding and knowledge of everything

I'm a dancehall, dirty break beat
I am a venue for dancing with loud, energetic music

Make the snow fall up from underneath your feet
I have the ability to create an extraordinary experience that defies expectations

Not alone, I'll be there
I will be with you to support and guide you

Tell me when you want to go
Let me know when you are ready to embark on a journey

I'm a meth lab, first rehab
I symbolize both the depth of addiction and the possibility of recovery

Take it all off and step inside the running cab
Leave behind everything and enter the journey to transformation

There's a love that knows the way
Love is guiding us along the path of life

I'm the rainbow in your jail cell
I represent hope and beauty in the midst of confinement and struggle

All the memories of everything you've ever smelled
I contain the essence of every experience you have ever had

Oh (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Oh, there is much more that will be uncovered through our journey

Don't forget me, I can't hide it (sideways falling)
Remember that I am always present, even when things are difficult

Come again, get me excited (more will be revealed, my friend)
Let's continue to explore and discover together

I'm an inbred and a pothead
I am a manifestation of flawed and hindered genetics

Two legs that you spread inside the tool shed
I am the result of a taboo or shameful act

I could show you to the free field
I have the power to lead you to a place of liberation and freedom

Overcome and more will always be revealed
Once we rise above adversity, we will continue to learn and grow

Oh, and (sideways falling, more will be revealed, my friend)
Oh, there is still so much more to discover and uncover

There's a match, now let me light it (more will be revealed, my friend)
There is a spark of potential that I can ignite to produce even more growth and discovery

I'm the bloodstain on your shirt sleeve
I represent a dark and painful experience that remains with you

Coming down and more, coming to believe
Despite the challenges, we are moving forward and gaining trust in ourselves and the journey

Make the hair stand up on your arm
I can create a sensation of excitement or fear in you

Teach you how to dance inside the funny farm
I am here to guide you even when life is chaotic or unpredictable

I'll be there, tell me when you want to go
I am always available to accompany you on your journey

Come again, and tell me when you want to go
Let's continue to explore and experience together

More will be revealed my friend
There is much more to discover and learn, but we will experience it together

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL BALZARY, JOHN FRUSCIANTE, ANTHONY KIEDIS, CHAD SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@cmisterking90

11y↑2

this is my favorite form the album!

@Loven3420

10y↑2

Least favorite Pepper album... but this is my fav song on this album. I miss their beach vibes. Hoping Beer Fest 2014 in Houston is more old Pepper than new.