Facebook www.faceboo… Read Full Bio ↴New self-titled Pepper album drops Fall 2013!!
Facebook www.facebook.com/pepperlive; Twitter www.twitter.com/pepperlive; Instagram www.instagram.com/pepperlive
Kaleo Wassman β Vocals/Guitar
Bret Bollinger β Vocals/Bass
Yesod Williams β Drums
βItβs the hardest thing weβve ever done as a band to make this record,β says guitarist/vocalist Kaleo Wassman of Pepper, in speaking on the recording process of their new self-titled album. βIt speaks loudly and widely to a broader audience while maintaining everything good about the band, which, first of all, is our positive attitude.β After releasing five albums, Pepper has opened a new chapter in their storied career. Drummer Yesod Williams adds, βThis record feels very cohesive in a way our past releases maybe didnβt. I think itβs an album that can appeal to everyone, as well. Weβve been pigeonholed in the past so this is an opportunity to transcend all that and spread our wings even wider.β
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 groupβs 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 Pepperβs re-defined self-identity and how that focus was reflected in the songs.
βWe learned so much,β Yesod says. βMatt 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 itβs important what you do play as well as what you donβt 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.β
The resulting album, self-titled to accentuate where the band feels they are presently, broadens Pepperβs 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.
βThis album is basically 12 snapshots of where we are,β vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger says. βThere are songs that will remind you of your favorite Pepper songs, but by the end youβll hear some unexpected things. Youβll realize that the songwriting is so much more refined. And thereβs laughter in the background of the songs. Thatβs how good the vibe is on the record.β
Pepper has toured extensively with groups like 311, Slightly Stoopid, Flogging Molly and Sublime With Rome, and spent several summers on Warped Tour β 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 musicianβs amiable personalities palpable beneath the island rhythms and mellow tones. The bandβs music β both live and on their releases β is really about enjoying life and being grateful for each experience, a sensibility thatβs very familiar to the three musicians currently in their career. From their 1999 debut Giveβn It to their 2006 standout album No Shame, which was recorded with 311βs Nick Hexum, No Doubtβs Tony Kanal and Butthole Surfersβ Paul Leary, Pepper has embodied not only a style of music but a lifestyle, one thatβs most easily found on beaches across the world, but also one thatβs 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 bandβs story to date has been a prolific one. But as Pepper turns the page into a fresh chapter with this new album, itβs clear that the bandβs passion for music and life will continue on for years to come.
βWeβre so blessed to be in this position,β Kaleo says. βWe want to do the best we can with it. We had humble beginnings in our small town in Hawaii and weβre still that same humble band. We donβt 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 weβre able to do this is incredible and I hope people can hear that when they listen to our new songs.β
Nice Time
Pepper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now your tears have obstructed your view
This is only crazy, if you think it's crazy
And of course it's always up to you
Now there's so much to say, you won't give away
Don't think you'll ever decide
So you leave it up to me to say what we both mean
Because the last time we had a nice time
Baby, it was so long ago
Oh, it was the right time but now I think that I'm ready for me
To let you go
So why do you care anymore?
Why do you care, why do you care anymore?
All this time that you think I would be here for your sake
I hope you got a bottle of wine
And if it's a drinking problem, I'll be laughing at the bottom
Because I already finished mine
But there's so much to say, it's a give away
What you really feel inside
So you leave it up to me to say what we both mean
I'm sorry but I'm over the ride
Because the last time we had a nice time
Baby, it was so long ago
Oh, it was the right time but now I think that I'm ready for me
To let you go
Oh, and now the last time we had a nice time
Baby, it was so long ago
Now you could leave me right here, I could leave you right there
You could keep me right here, how could you just not care?
And I know, feeling like the sun, when the night is done
So just let me shine, ohh
And the last time we had a nice time
Baby it was so long ago
Oh, it was the right time but now I think that I'm ready for me
To let you go
Oh, because the last time we had a nice time
Baby, it was so long ago
Baby 'cause the last time we had a nice time baby
The last time baby was so long ago
The lyrics to Pepper's song Nice Time revolve around a relationship that has lost its spark and the singer's realization that it's time to let go. The song opens with the singer asking their partner if they look a little blurry, implying a sense of detachment and uncertainty. The partner is crying, obstructing their view, and the singer notes that it's up to them to determine whether the situation is crazy or not. The singer wishes to express their feelings to their partner, but they won't give away anything, leaving the singer to speak for both of them. The singer is tired of being the one to carry the relationship, and wants to let go.
The song's chorus hammers home the point that it's been a long time since they last had a good time together, and the singer recognizes that it's time to move on. The second verse follows the same pattern as the first with a little more intensity, but again the partner remains unresponsive. The final verse has the singer once again emphasizing that it's been a long time since they had a "nice time" together, that they're ready to move on, and that they feel like the sun waiting to shine.
One possible interpretation of this song is that the singer is finally coming to terms with the fact that the relationship has run its course. They have been the one putting in all the effort to keep the relationship alive for some time, and they are ready to move on. It's also possible that the partner is struggling with addiction, as there are several references to drinking in the lyrics, and the singer seems to be fed up with it.
Overall, Nice Time is a poignant and emotionally-charged song about the difficult decision to end a long-term relationship that has lost its sense of joy and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me baby, am I a little blurry?
You seem to be crying and your tears have blurred your vision. Can you see me clearly?
Now your tears have obstructed your view
Your emotions have clouded your perspective, making it harder for you to see things clearly.
This is only crazy, if you think it's crazy
The situation may seem crazy to you, but it's only as crazy as you perceive it to be.
And of course it's always up to you
Ultimately, the decision on how to handle the situation is yours to make.
Now there's so much to say, you won't give away
There are thoughts and feelings you're holding back and not sharing with me.
Don't think you'll ever decide
You seem indecisive and uncertain about what to do or say next.
So you leave it up to me to say what we both mean
You're putting the responsibility on me to express what we're both feeling.
I'm sorry but I'm over the ride
I'm sorry, but I'm done with the ups and downs of this relationship.
Because the last time we had a nice time
The last time we enjoyed each other's company and had a good time together.
Baby, it was so long ago
It's been a long time since we were truly happy together.
Oh, it was the right time but now I think that I'm ready for me
Things may have been good between us at one point, but now I realize I need to focus on myself and move on.
To let you go
It's time for me to let go of this relationship and move forward with my life.
So why do you care anymore?
You seem to still care about me and our relationship, but I don't understand why.
All this time that you think I would be here for your sake
You may have assumed that I would always be here for you, but that's not necessarily the case.
I hope you got a bottle of wine
If you're looking for someone to cling to for emotional support, you might want to turn to alcohol instead.
And if it's a drinking problem, I'll be laughing at the bottom
If you've turned to drinking to cope with our relationship, I'm not going to feel responsible for that and will likely not take it seriously.
Because the last time we had a nice time
Once again, pointing out that it's been a while since we were happy together.
Oh, and now the last time we had a nice time
Repeating the point made earlier - that it's been a while since we were happy together.
Now you could leave me right here, I could leave you right there
We both have the power to end this relationship, and it could happen at any moment.
You could keep me right here, how could you just not care?
You may choose to stay in the relationship with me, but it seems like you're not invested or caring about it anymore.
And I know, feeling like the sun, when the night is done
I'm ready to move on and feel like I'm shining a light on a new part of my life now that this chapter is over.
So just let me shine, ohh
Let me move forward and focus on myself now that we're no longer together.
Baby 'cause the last time we had a nice time baby
Once again, reiterating the point that it's been a while since we were happy together.
The last time baby was so long ago
It's been a very long time since we were happy and things were good between us.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind