After spending months crafting their new songs Sick City's long awaited full-length album, NIGHTLIFE, is scheduled for release September 18. Youngson gives a glimpse into what fans can expect. "We like to say our music is 60% evil 40% pop. Kind of a joke... but actually very accurate. All I really want is to make the kids clap their hands, dance and maybe think a little bit on the way."
In March, Sick City headed to Atlanta, Georgia where they recorded NIGHTLIFE at Tree Sound Studios with producers Kenneth Mount & Zach Odom (Cartel, Jimmy Eat World). According to guitarist Dave Grabowski working with Kenneth and Zach was a match made in rock and roll heaven. "It was amazing to work with people who shared the same vision of big drums, and sweet all around tone. They helped us focus some of our songs and got us stoked to be there every day." Bassist TJ Stevenson concurs, "Every single element of this album sounds better than I envisioned it."
Winnipeg, Manitoba's Sick City formed in early 2005 with Josh Youngson (vocals), Joel Neufeld (drums), Dorian Paszkowski (guitar), Dave Grabowski (guitar) and T.J Stevenson (bass) and they released their 5 song EP, "Where Do We Go From Here" the same year. Joel, who is the brother of Comeback Kid frontman Andrew Neufeld, secured the band their first show opening at the CD release party for Comeback Kid's "Wake The Dead." A year later they played to a crowd of 800 dancing fans for their own EP release party. According to Stevenson, "there isn't a show to date that we all haven't been drenched in sweat by the end. We put on a show that lets people know how much we love to do this."
http://sickcitymusic.com
Islands
Sick City Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh god oh oh god oh oh
Our city scape breathes though weak at her knees
We are islands and these are our streets
I got my self over with this crowd
Can you feel it in your bones now, my bones now
Oh god oh oh god oh oh
Our city scapes lies on the streets where we hide
I got myself over with this crowd yeah, yeah I got myself over with you
Got myself over with you
Got myself over with you
Got myself over with you
Got myself over with you
Got myself over with
Oh
I got myself over with this crowd yeah, yeah I got myself over with you
Got myself over with you
Got myself over with you
(I can feel it and it's so real, oh I can feel it)
We are islands
(Oh I can feel it and it's so real, oh I can feel it)
Got myself over
Sick City's song Islands is a dark and brooding exploration of the isolation experienced by people living in urban environments. The lyrics suggest a sense of detachment and disconnection from a wider community, and instead focus on the insular existence of the individuals within that community. The repeated refrain of "I can feel it in my bones now" serves to emphasize the intense, visceral experience of this isolation, which is so deeply internalized that it is felt on a physical level.
The song's title is significant in that it conjures up images of remote, deserted locations that are cut off from the rest of the world. However, the "islands" in this song are not geographical but metaphorical - they represent the emotional and psychological barriers that prevent individuals from connecting with others. The chorus "We are islands and these are our streets" suggests that even in a city full of people, individuals can still feel alone and disconnected.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of finding a sense of belonging within a crowd, but ultimately concluding that true connection can only be found on an individual level. The line "I got myself over with this crowd, yeah I got myself over with you" suggests that the singer has found some level of connection with another person, but it is still a fleeting and temporary feeling.
Overall, the song explores themes of modern-day isolation and the struggle to connect with others in a world that can often feel overwhelming and impersonal.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel in my bones now, my bones now
I have an intense and visceral sensation that something important is happening, deep within me
Oh god oh oh god oh oh
I am overcome with emotion, possibly fear or awe, as I sense this shift happening
Our city scape breathes though weak at her knees
The urban environment around us is struggling, but still vital and alive in its own way
We are islands and these are our streets
We are insular and disconnected from others, but this physical space is ours and we cling to it for a sense of identity
I got my self over with this crowd
I was able to move past the overwhelming masses of people around me, and find my own sense of purpose
Can you feel it in your bones now, my bones now
I am asking someone else if they too are experiencing this intense sensation within themselves
Our city scapes lies on the streets where we hide
The urban environment we reside in is built upon secrets and hidden places, rather than open spaces and transparency
We are islands and this is our life
We are inherently isolated and disconnected from others, and this is a defining aspect of our existence
Got myself over with you
I was able to overcome the difficulties of life and find a sense of connection and meaning with another person
I got myself over with this crowd yeah, yeah I got myself over with you
I struggled through the challenges of living in this crowded, isolating environment, but ultimately found a sense of purpose and connection with someone else
Got myself over with
I overcame my own personal obstacles and challenges, through perseverance and strength
Oh
An expression of emotion or emphasis
I can feel it and it's so real, oh I can feel it
This sensation I'm experiencing is incredibly significant and powerful, and has a profound impact on me
We are islands
We are fundamentally separate from others, isolated and adrift in our own selves
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DaMastaSensei
So glad I found this, I loved this song like 7 years ago, forgot about it for 5 years, then couldn't remember for the life of me what is was called. Took me 2 years to find it again but well worth it!