In 1998, Project 86 released its self-titled debut on BEC Recordings, a division of Tooth & Nail Records, and was immediately labeled "rapcore" due to strong similarities to acts such as Rage Against the Machine. Though Schwab's vocals could barely be called rapping, it was a convenient label due to the popularity of that genre of music at the time. The album and a supporting tour opening for P.O.D. and Blindside on the Warriors Tour stirred a lot of hype for the band and their sophomore album was excitedly anticipated.
Project (as the band is often referred to by its fans) released Drawing Black Lines in early 2000 to very strong aclaim and the album is widely considered to be the band's defining work. In support of Drawing Black Lines, Project 86 toured extensively with the addition of a second live guitarist (Cory Edelman, formerly of No Innocent Victim), headlining with supporting bands such as Living Sacrifice and Stavesacre and also opening for P.O.D. and Linkin Park. Perhaps more importantly, influential modern shock rocker Marilyn Manson took interest in the band and had the song "P.S.", originally released on Drawing Black Lines, added to the Blair Witch 2 soundtrack. Probably due to this interest, Project 86 became a higher priority for Atlantic. DBL was slated to be re-released with new artwork and three new songs, but in actuality it was only a bare bones repackaging of the exact same album. However, Atlantic did pour over half a million into Project's next musical foray, entitled Truthless Heroes (2002), which, though proving to be the band's most popular outing yet, was released amidst great turmoil.
Over the course of recording Truthless Heroes (which took around a year to complete) Project 86 had increasing difficulty with its management, as well as both record labels (Tooth & Nail still had rights to release their music to the Christian market). This wore the band down immensely, but by the time the album was finished, the difficulty seemed to have worked out in Project's favor - Atlantic bought all of Tooth & Nail's remaining rights to the band and released "Hollow Again", the first single from the album, on mainstream radio. Word came out that the band would be shooting a video for the song shortly, but it never materialized as Atlantic ran into troubles of its own and liquidated some of its assets - including Project 86. In 2003, finding themselves cut loose by both label and management, Project started its own independent label.
Also during this time, the members of Project 86 became outspoken concerning the Contemporary Christian Music scene, siding with other similar acts such as Stavesacre and MXPX in saying that they wanted to distance themselves from the label and the idealogical restrictions that the CCM label automatically places on bands. A Truthless Heroes website containing links to various underground news organizations, as well as edgy visual art pages that decried the dehumanizing effect of pornography, surfaced and generated much controversy among the band's fans.
Project 86's fourth album, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By, was released independently in the fall of 2003 and went on to sell quite well despite being sold only at shows and online. Come 2004, the band mended relations with and re-signed to Tooth & Nail Records and Songs To Burn Your Bridges By was re-issued with three new songs and completely new artwork.
In February 2005, Project 86 announced that they were working on a new album. The title was later announced as ...And The Rest Will Follow. The band spent several weeks in the studio with Garth Richardson over the summer recording the material, and then began releasing a new song every Monday on their purevolume site. The album was released on September 27, 2005, and sold 8,000 copies in its first week, more than any other Project 86 album. A release tour began September 23, with Spoken, Number One Gun, Mourning September, and The Fold.
On January 6th, 2006, Project 86 appeared live on G4's Attack of the Show!, performing "My Will Be A Dead Man" and "The Spy Hunter". This was the band's first appearance on mainstream cable television.
In other recent news, announced March 28th, 2007, on the band's website: "Recently, Alex Albert officially left Project 86. After many years as the drummer for the band, it was time for him to move on to pursue other interests. Alex parted the band on friendly terms, and Project 86 wishes him the best in this new chapter in his life. Thanks for all your years of comraderie, Alex, and you are in our prayers!"
From www.project86.com:
Project 86 has been riding high since the release of their 6th studio album "Rival Factions" in June, 2007. The record grabbed P86 their highest career Billboard debut at 123 and their 1 single "Evil -A Chorus of Resistance" has topped rock charts for the last several months. The new record has garnered extensive critical praise with glowing reviews in AP, Infuze, All Music Guide, Sputnik, The OC Register, etc. The guys were also featured in Outburn and CCM, and graced the July cover of HM Magazine. Add the recent tapping to have their music used on the upcoming film "The Seeker-The Dark Is Rising" video blog series on MTV.com and its clear the guys in P86 have much to celebrate.
"The Kane Mutiny-EP" was released on Nov. 27 2007, making it the first EP that Project 86 ever released.
Then, after almost a year of no new music, Project 86 released the "This Time Of Year EP", a christmas album with 5 tracks on it.
On April 24, 2009, Project 86 Announced that their seventh studio release would be entitled "Picket Fence Cartel." On May 20, 2009, they uploaded two songs from Picket Fence Cartel, "Destroyer" and "Dark Angel Dragnet" to their MySpace page, for streaming play. They also added the song from 'Picket Fence Cartel' called A John Hancock with the safety off on June 4, 2009. The album was released on July 14, 2009.
After fulfilling their last agreement with T&N, in December 2011 the band announced a Kickstarter campaign via their official website and Facebook page, stating that "the fans are now our record label." Their eighth studio release, Wait for the Siren, was released on August 21, 2012.
Featuring all star guest appearances by: Bruce Fitzhugh (Living Sacrifice), Rocky Gray (Evanescence), Brian "Head" Welch (Korn, Love and Death), Andrew Welch (Disciple), Blake Martin (A Plea for Purging) and The Wedding. The new album was produced by Steve Wilson and Andrew Schwab and engineered/mixed by Steve Blackmon.
Described as Andrew Schwab's opus the record promises to be a fresh take on the P86 sound. Schwab said, "On this record I was really able to take the reins of the creative process in a direction I was passionate about. I was able to write songs that pushed me to grow as an artist. It was also insanely fun to have so many of my friends involved in the process and at this point in the game that is what its about. I am really looking forward to people hearing this album." With concert goers noting the new energy of the songs and new band members Scott Davis on drums, Dustin Lowry on guitar and Mikee "Norman" Williams on bass it seems P86 has benefited from a back to basics reinvention.
2. Also, in the early 90's, house producers Howie How & Little Carlos released 12"s on seminal labels R&S Records and Nu Groove Records, under the name "Project 86". They are otherwise totally unrelated. See also the following link for detail on this collaboration: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Project+86
Sioux Lane Spirits
Project 86 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when she grins you can only realize
The guilt she manifests so deep inside you
That your thin veneer of catechism can no longer hide
The voice you hear, her secret pain
As she digs the shiv into her placid veins
Now she has your eyes
But she can't yet realize
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Your ever wayward eyes
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Will be her demise
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
You slipped into another, forbidden
Took her for the ride, you've ridden
Hoping to let her deep inside your disdain
What was it that drove your feign
Into another's arms, into another's bed
When all the while your young one waits up in dread
What was it? Was it something she did?
What was it? Was it something she said?
Now she has your eyes
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
But she can't yet realize
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Your ever wayward eyes
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Will be her demise
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Writhe and burn father you were
Writhe and burn father you were
Writhe and burn father you were
Writhe and burn father you were
Writhe and burn father you were
Writhe and burn father you were
She dances in the moonlight
Collecting drops of the earthy dew
Celebrating her exit
From the benign sense of self she once knew
Raising her heavy glass
(Raising her heavy glass)
Her cup now spills on her skirt
And as she cuts her knees in the dirt
She prays for the hourglass to flip and reverse
Now she has your eyes
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
But she can't yet realize
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Your ever wayward eyes
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Will be her demise
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Now she has your eyes
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
Writhe and burn father you were
Writhe and burn father you were
The lyrics to Project 86's song "Sioux Lane Spirits" reveal a story of a father who is plagued by guilt for his infidelities with another woman. The first verse describes how the daughter has her father's eyes and smiles, but it also suggests that the father is haunted by guilt and shame that his daughter can sense. The second verse recounts the father's illicit affair and his betrayal of his family, causing his daughter to suffer in despair as she is left to wonder why he didn't stay true to his family.
The repeated refrain "now she has your eyes" is a significant lyrical motif, which focuses on the daughter’s inheritances of both physical features and metaphorical consequences from the father’s actions. The chorus expresses a sad irony that the daughter has unwittingly inherited the same wandering eyes and desires that led to the father's downfall. The final verse depicts the daughter's desperation, praying for time to reverse, so she can undo the damage caused by her father’s mistakes.
Overall, Sioux Lane Spirits is a powerful exploration of how the consequences of our actions can be passed down through generations, highlighting the real costs of unfaithfulness and the destruction it can cause to families.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy, she has your eyes
The daughter inherited physical traits from her father, including his eyes.
And when she grins you can only realize
The father feels guilty when he sees his daughter's smile, knowing he has betrayed her.
The guilt she manifests so deep inside you
The daughter's pain and hurt caused by the father's actions are evident to him.
That your thin veneer of catechism can no longer hide
The father's religious teachings and beliefs can no longer conceal his wrongdoing.
The voice you hear, her secret pain
The father can hear his daughter's hidden cries of anguish.
As she digs the shiv into her placid veins
The daughter is harming herself to cope with the hurt caused by her father.
Now she has your eyes
The daughter has inherited her father's physical traits, which serves as a reminder of his transgressions.
Something you wanted, you wanted, something you wanted, you wanted
The repetition emphasizes the father's selfishness and desire for something he shouldn't have.
But she can't yet realize
The daughter is too young to comprehend the father's true intentions and their effects on her.
Your ever wayward eyes
The father's wandering gaze and desires will lead to his and his daughter's downfall.
Will be her demise
The father's actions will harm and ultimately ruin his daughter's life.
You slipped into another, forbidden
The father committed adultery.
Took her for the ride, you've ridden
The father pursued another woman for his own pleasure, ignoring the consequences that would follow.
Hoping to let her deep inside your disdain
The father used the other woman as a way to express his disgust with his own life and self.
What was it that drove your feign
The father's acts were motivated by something he was trying to hide or escape from.
Into another's arms, into another's bed
The father cheated on his wife and daughter with another woman.
When all the while your young one waits up in dread
The daughter was aware of her father's absence and infidelity, causing her anxiety and fear.
She dances in the moonlight
The daughter finds solace in nature instead of her father's presence.
Collecting drops of the earthy dew
The daughter finds peace and purity in nature's gifts.
Celebrating her exit
The daughter takes joy in leaving her old self behind, including her father's influence.
From the benign sense of self she once knew
The daughter's previous innocence and naivete have been replaced by a darker, more mature understanding of the world.
Raising her heavy glass
The daughter is drinking as a coping mechanism.
(Raising her heavy glass)
The repetition emphasizes the daughter's reliance on alcohol to numb her pain.
Her cup now spills on her skirt
The daughter's drinking is causing her to make a mess and lose control.
And as she cuts her knees in the dirt
The daughter's self-destructive behavior is causing physical harm.
She prays for the hourglass to flip and reverse
The daughter hopes to turn back time and undo the harm caused by her father's actions.
Writhe and burn father you were
The repetition and imagery implies the father will suffer and pay for his actions in a painful manner.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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