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.

The Skeleton
Quasi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the dream comes to an end
& I wake up once again,
It's no surprise anymore
When the knock comes on my door.
& I go from place to place
& always see your face;
But you're not there anymore
When the knock comes on my door.

So I stayed awake all night,
Trying to think things right,

& I'm down on the floor
When the knock comes on my door.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Quasi's song The Skeleton describe the feelings of loss, disorientation, and confusion that arise in the aftermath of a breakup. The singer of the song awakens from a dream to find that their former partner is no longer present in their life, yet their presence seems to linger on in the places they frequent, and the memories that flood back when the singer sees familiar sights. The knock on the singer's door serves as a metaphor for the sense of loss that plagues them. It is a reminder that their former partner is no longer there to share their life with; a reality that is both jarring and painful.

The singer's response to this sense of loss is to stay awake all night, trying to make sense of their feelings and to come to terms with the absence of their former partner. However, despite their efforts, they find themselves on the floor when the knock comes on their door once again. This closing line suggests a sense of defeat; the singer's attempts to move on from their former relationship have been unsuccessful, and they are still haunted by the memories of their past.

Overall, The Skeleton is a poignant and moving song that captures the complex emotions that arise in the aftermath of a breakup. It is a song that speaks to the universal experience of loss and heartbreak, and one that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to move on from a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

When the dream comes to an end
When my hopeful imagination concludes

& I wake up once again,
And my consciousness resumes

It's no surprise anymore
It's no longer shocking to me

When the knock comes on my door.
When unexpected visitors show up.

& I go from place to place
And I travel all over

& always see your face;
And I always recall your image

But you're not there anymore
But you're no longer present

When the knock comes on my door.
When someone knocks on my door.

So I stayed awake all night,
So I remained conscious throughout the night,

Trying to think things right,
Attempting to correct my thinking,

& I'm down on the floor
And I'm lying on the floor