"Just Impolite" hit Myspace in February of 2007, and in just months, through word of mouth, the project spread from one fan to another, until it was heard by RagTag productions, producers of the popular "We Need Girlfriends" web-tv series who approached Dan about using his music in their show. Plushgun was then introduced to a new audience, and Plushgun's popularity grew exponentially.
When people started to demand live shows, Dan was scared. It was just him and a computer, and computers tend to be terrible showmen. So he asked for help from past acquaintance, guitarist, and showman extraordinaire Taylor Armstrong to bring this project to the live stage. Plushgun then absorbed the talents of Matt Bogdanow, whose ability on the drums was unmatched.
Plushgun's songs are nostalgic, poppy, dance-able, and surprisingly deep. Whether they are about chasing dying romances ("Just Impolite"), high-school anxiety ("How We Roll") or angst-riddled anthem's for a lost generation ("Dancing in a Minefield,") Plushgun tackles these themes with unabashed catchyness in an electrolicious soundscape.
Plushgun is an indie rock/New Wave/Synth-Pop band founded by Dan Ingala located in Brooklyn, New York. The current lineup of the band is Ingala, Taylor Armstrong on guitar and Matt Bogdanow on drums. The band gained prominence when its music was featured in episodes of the web series We Need Girlfriends. After those videos, the band quickly gained an online following.
On May 15, 2008 Plushgun announced a record deal with Tommy Boy Entertainment to release the band's first and self titled vinyl EP, which was released on August 19, 2008.[3] In a positive review, Orlando Sentinel music critic Jim Abbott wrote that the lead song "Just Impolite" "manages to be breezy and atmospheric" and other tracks "boast plenty of shimmering keyboards, but enough melody to sing along."
Their first album, Pins and Panzers, was released on February 17, 2009. Plushgun was the music label OurStage's first artist to get signed by a prominent record label after Ourstage flew the band out to South by Southwest music festival where Tommy Boy spotted Plushgun. "Just Impolite" was featured on the MTV show The City on December 29, 2008.[citation needed] "How We Roll" was featured on an episode of MTV's The Real World: Brooklyn.
Waste Away
Plushgun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let the sequence judge you
You can say that insult now
You're numb I see that look about you
(Your eyes)
Take a break from the data stream
Your eyes take a break from the binary
Let me take off your disguise
And lay you down so I can say
Look around, us grownup kids
We've never been so co-dependent
You put me in that place
I'm stoned with you, I'm effervescent
(Your eyes)
Take a break from the data stream
Your eyes take a break from the binary
Your eyes make a list
Let me take off your disguise
And lay you down so I can
Waste away
Just waste away
Let's waste away
With memes, with memes
You put that lipstick on, you know it's sick
Yeah, you're so gender neutral
You make a show of it
But now your boyfriend's back, I'm incidental
(Your eyes)
Take a break from the data stream
Your eyes take a break from the binary
Your eyes make a list
Let me take off your disguise
And lay you down so I can
Waste away
Just waste away
Let's waste away
With memes, with memes
Waste away
Just waste away
Let's waste away
With memes, with memes
Just waste away
Just waste away
Let's waste away
With memes, with memes
With memes
The opening lines of Plushgun's "Waste Away" seem to be a call to self-reflection. The song urges the listener to make a list of everything they know, and let the "sequence" judge them. This sequence could refer to the order in which the items on the list are written down, or it could be interpreted as a more abstract concept, such as fate, which determines the course of our lives based on the choices we make. The suggestion to "say that insult now" implies that perhaps the listener has been holding back some harsh words, and is now being given the chance to voice them. However, the line "you're numb I see that look about you" suggests that the listener's emotions are muted, and they may not have the energy or desire to engage with the world around them.
The song continues with a request for the listener to take a break from the "data stream," or the constant influx of information and stimulation that plagues modern life. The chorus, with its repeated plea to "waste away," seems to be a call for escape from the pressures of society and technology. The song acknowledges the irony of this predicament, as the generation that grew up immersed in the internet and social media has never been more "co-dependent" on the digital world. The bridge of the song takes a darker turn, with references to gender identity and the complications of romantic relationships. The final lines of the song suggest that the listener should "waste away" with memes, or perhaps online humor, as a way of distracting themselves from the difficult realities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Make a list of all the things you know
Create a list of all your knowledge and experience
And let the sequence judge you
Allow the order of events to evaluate your worth
You can say that insult now
You have the opportunity to hurl an insult
You're numb I see that look about you
You appear emotionally detached or desensitized
(Your eyes)
Directing attention to the eyes
Take a break from the data stream
Pause from the endless flow of information
Your eyes take a break from the binary
Allow your eyes to rest from the computer's binary code
Your eyes make a list
Your eyes can perceive and record things around you
Let me take off your disguise
Allow me to remove a facade you may be wearing
And lay you down so I can say
Lie down so I can express my thoughts
Look around, us grownup kids
Observe our current situation as adults who still feel like kids
We've never been so co-dependent
We've become increasingly reliant on each other
You put me in that place
You caused me to feel a certain way or position
I'm stoned with you, I'm effervescent
I'm feeling euphoric and bubbly in your company
(Your eyes)
Drawing attention to the eyes again
Waste away
Spend time doing nothing productive
Just waste away
Even more emphasis to waste time unproductively
Let's waste away
Inviting someone to join in wasting time
With memes, with memes
Using internet memes as a way of wasting time
You put that lipstick on, you know it's sick
You're aware that wearing that lipstick is unusual or extreme
Yeah, you're so gender neutral
You present yourself in a way that avoids gender stereotypes
You make a show of it
You actively display your gender neutrality
But now your boyfriend's back, I'm incidental
Your focus and attention has shifted to your romantic partner
(Your eyes)
Referencing eyes again
Waste away
Spend time doing nothing productive
Just waste away
Further emphasis to waste time unproductively
With memes, with memes
Using internet memes as a way of wasting time
Contributed by Elena C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jenii Mae
There is nothing I am more grateful for thank finding good music like this. PLEASE keep making good tunes. You're good at it.
Aaron C Harvey
ššš Brilliant! Ohh... the memories came flooding back!
Nocteus Lucium
This is absolutely beautiful. One of the best songs I've ever heard. Plushgun is outstandingly underrated. Does it make me a hipster that I listen to them? No, it just means that I'm lucky and blessed to have found them.
Cassafinn
You guys did a great job of capturing the energy of the live performance in a studio recording. I can't wait to hear the whole album.
LHuntorr
I can't wait for the new album, this song already has me super excited for it. Pins and Panzers never leaves my CD player in my car since I got it a year or two ago; it's always there to put me in a good mood when I need it.
David Gustafson
Great to hear a studio version of this song finally, saw it live in pittsburgh at the rex!
Philip
Nice. Can't wait for the new album. This song has already that particular Plushgun vibe. Feel good music with a capital F!
J B
I found an old MP3 player of mine and Plushgun popped up and I had forgotten how good their tunes are and this song is no exception. Haven't heard anything from them in a few years, are they still making music?
Mrs4Kefa
I'm lovin it. Simply awesome.
Michael W
This song makes my heart super happy