Quasi is an indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993, consisting … Read Full Bio ↴Quasi is an indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993, consisting of the ex-husband and wife team of Sam Coomes (vocals, guitar, roxichord, various keyboards) and Janet Weiss (vocals and drums). In 2007, bassist Joanna Bolme, of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, who had toured with Quasi in 2006, became an official member of the band; she left the band in 2011.

In 1990, Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat. The band released two self-released cassettes and one 7" single before dissolving in 1993. Quasi started recording as a duo in 1993. They played with various additional musicians in early live appearances, but eventually settled on playing live as a duo as well. They self-recorded and self-released a cassette and a CD in 1993. They recorded R&B Transmogrification in the Portland band Pond's basement recording studio and released it on Up Records in 1997. They released two more albums with Up: Featuring "Birds" in 1998 and Field Studies in 1999; both albums were recorded at Jackpot Studios in Portland, Oregon.

In 1998 and 1999 they toured the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan opening for and serving as the backup band for Elliott Smith (who Coomes had played with in Heatmiser) as well as touring on their own in the U.S. and Europe. In 2001 They home-recorded The Sword of God and released it on Touch & Go. Quasi had been somewhat political since its inception, but their opposition to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq showed through in a straight-forward way with the release of Hot Shit! in 2003, particularly in the songs "White Devil's Dream" and "Master and Dog." When the Going Gets Dark followed in 2006, released on Touch & Go in the U.S. and Domino Records in Europe, as with Hot Shit!.

In Spring 2009, the band announced that they had signed to the Kill Rock Stars label, and were due to release their already recorded next album in the latter half of the year. That album, entitled American Gong, was released February 23, 2010 to generally favorable reviews. It was their first and only album to feature third member Joanna Bolme. Following a tour of Japan, Europe, and the United States in support of the full length, Bolme left the band. A duo again, Sam and Janet are recording material for a new album.

Superficial
Quasi Lyrics

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I had a dream
I was a human being
What good in me?
I guess I'm only human
Horrible as it seems

It's better than a ghost
It's better than a robot

It's better than a demon
Maybe even better than a dog or a tree

I see your mouth
It seems to be moving
And I hear the sounds you make
I guess they must be words
They don't mean a thing

It doesn't take much
To string some words together
Throw em all around

Someone will believe them
You might even believe them yourself

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Quasi's song "Superficial" explore the concept of identity and what it means to be human. The first verse begins with the singer dreaming that they are a human being, questioning what is good about them and acknowledging that they are flawed. Despite this, they assert that being human is still better than being a ghost, a robot, a demon or even a tree. This can be interpreted as a reflection on the value of consciousness and the ability to experience emotions and sensations.

The second verse focuses on the difficulty of communication and the potential for words to be empty and meaningless. The singer sees someone speaking and acknowledges that they are making sounds that are likely words, but they don't seem to mean anything. The final lines of the song suggest that it doesn't take much to form sentences and convince others or oneself of their meaning.

Overall, the song seems to grapple with the human condition, acknowledging the complexities and imperfections that come with it while also recognizing the value of being alive and experiencing the world.

Line by Line Meaning

I had a dream
I once had a hopeful vision

I was a human being
In my dream, I was a person with all their limitations

What good in me?
However, I couldn't recognize any positive traits in myself

I guess I'm only human
I realized that's all I am regardless of achievements

Horrible as it seems
Despite the unnerving idea, it still beats being soulless or malevolent

It's better than a ghost
Being human is superior to lingering in the afterlife with no purpose

It's better than a robot
We have the advantage of feelings and a unique identity unlike machines

It's better than a demon
We are not possessed by an evil spirit with a desire to cause harm

Maybe even better than a dog or a tree
We might also have some superiority over other living things such as plants or animals

I see your mouth
Looking at you, I observe your lips

It seems to be moving
They are in motion