The band was formed in 1991, when Chris Murphy and Andrew Scott met at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax. Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson joined soon after. In 1992, the band created their own record label, called Murderecords, for themselves and other Halifax area bands, and the outfit released the 'Peppermint EP' (the release also known as just 'Peppermint').
According to Sloan's official website, the band's name refers to a friend's nickname. Their friend, Jason Larsen, was called 'Slow One' by his French-speaking boss, which with the French accent sounded more like 'Sloan'. The original agreement was that they could name the band after their friend's nickname as long as he was on the cover of their first album. As a result, it is Larsen who appears on the cover of the 'Peppermint EP'.
Later in 1992, Sloan released their full-length debut, titled 'Smeared', on Geffen Records. Like many indie rock groups before them, the band found that major label dealings were basically as much trouble as they were worth. In 1994, Geffen did not promote their second album, called 'Twice Removed', due to artistic disputes, although it sold well in Canada. Spin named the album one of the "Best Albums You Didn't Hear" in 1994. A 1996 reader poll by Canadian music magazine Chart! ranked it as the best Canadian album of all time only two years after its release. The same poll in 2000 ranked the album third, behind Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' and Neil Young's 'Harvest', while the 2005 poll once again ranked the album first.
After the release of Twice Removed, the band went on hiatus and were rumoured to have broken up, as they had rejected Geffen's offer for their next album. In 1996, however, they released the widely praised One Chord to Another on their own Murderecords label. Following 1998's Navy Blues album, Sloan released their first live album 4 Nights at the Palais Royale in 1999. Those albums were followed by Between the Bridges in 1999, and Pretty Together in 2001.
Sloan made a concerted effort to break into the US market on their 2003 release Action Pact. Songs were recorded in L.A. with Tom Rothrock producing. The glossier, radio-ready sound failed to raise Sloan's profile in the US, though they continued to be highly popular in Canada.
Sloan's first compilation album A Sides Win: Singles 1992-2005, included two new songs, "All Used Up" and "Try to Make It". The Japanese release included two additional new tracks.
Now signed to Yep Roc Records for their US releases, they put out their eighth disc, Never Hear the End of It in 2006. The album contained 30 tracks with all the members of the band contributing new songs. It was met with widespread critical acclaim and became the highest charting Sloan album in the US up to that point.
In 2008, Sloan followed up their longest album with their shortest release Parallel Play.
In November 2009 Sloan added a digital music store to their website. The band released an online-only EP called Hit & Run to promote the store. The EP featured two songs by Chris Murphy, and one by each of the other band members. Murphy's Take It Upon Yourself was released as a free single. In February 2010, the band released another online exclusive, the compilation album B-Sides Win: Extras, Bonus Tracks and B-Sides 1992 - 2008.
In 2013, the band revealed plans for a double album, with each of the four sides featuring a solo suite by a different band member. In May 2014, it was announced that the new album would be titled "Commonwealth" and would be released in September 2014. On July 14, 2014, the band announced the official release date for the album (September 9, which turned out to be accurate) and the release of the album's first single, "Keep Swinging (Downtown)". The album cover portrays the band members as four-of-a-kind kings. The suits of these playing cards correspond to the titles of their solo sides: Jay Ferguson's side is called Diamond, Chris Murphy's is Heart, Patrick Pentland's is Shamrock, and Andrew Scott's is Spade.
Ana Lucia
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I'm hanging out)
Ana Lucia
You're the belle of the ball
You really don't know me that much and
I really don't know you at all
You know how to hurt a guy
I would go
If you say so
But I'm hanging out
(I'm hanging out)
(I'm hanging out)
I have tried to pick you up
(I'm hanging out)
But they always seem to interrupt
(I'm hanging out)
It's like they know
That the answer's no
But I'm hanging out
(I'm hanging out)
(I'm hanging out)
Ana Lucia
Please don't send me away
I really am trying my hardest
And you've so little to say
I have even tried in vain
(I'm hanging out)
To let you know
I've been to the south of Spain
(I'm hanging out)
I should think that you would recognize
You should pick on someone your own size
Ana Lucia
You're the belle of the ball
(I'm hanging out)
You really don't know me that much and
I really don't know
You at all
(I'm hanging out)
(I'm hanging out)
(I'm hanging out)
(I'm hanging out)
Oh, oh
(Hanging out)
Oh, oh
(Hanging out)
Oh, oh
(Hanging out)
Oh, oh
(I'm hanging out)
The song "Ana Lucia" by Sloan is about an elusive woman named Ana Lucia who is the "belle of the ball." The lyrics "I really don't know you at all" and "you really don't know me that much" suggests a lack of real connection or understanding between the singer and Ana Lucia. Despite this, the singer is seemingly infatuated with Ana Lucia, as he says "Please don't send me away" and expresses that he is "trying [his] hardest" to get to know her.
The lyrics "You know how to hurt a guy, when I'm around, you start to cry" suggests that Ana Lucia may have caused the singer emotional pain, although the reasons for this are not clear. The line "I should think that you would recognize, you should pick on someone your own size" suggests that Ana Lucia is potentially a bully.
Line by Line Meaning
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
Ana Lucia
Referring to Anna Lucia, the person who the song is addressed to
You're the belle of the ball
You are the most beautiful woman around
You really don't know me that much and
You do not have much knowledge about me
I really don't know you at all
I do not have much knowledge about you
You know how to hurt a guy
You have the ability to hurt a man emotionally
When I'm around you start to cry
Tears start falling from your eyes when I am near you
I would go
I would leave
If you say so
If that is what you want
But I'm hanging out
I am still spending time casually
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
I have tried to pick you up
I have tried to flirt with you and show interest in you romantically
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
But they always seem to interrupt
Other people always interrupt our interactions
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
It's like they know
It seems as if those people are aware of something I am not
That the answer's no
That you are not interested in me romantically
But I'm hanging out
I am still spending time casually
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
Ana Lucia
Referring to Anna Lucia, the person who the song is addressed to
Please don't send me away
Please do not reject me or ask me to leave
I really am trying my hardest
I am putting in a lot of effort to pursue you romantically
And you've so little to say
You are not expressing much interest or enthusiasm in my romantic pursuits
I have even tried in vain
I have tried without success
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
To let you know
To communicate to you
I've been to the south of Spain
I have traveled to the southern part of Spain
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
I should think that you would recognize
I would expect you to acknowledge or appreciate
You should pick on someone your own size
You should show interest in someone who has similar romantic feelings towards you
Ana Lucia
Referring to Anna Lucia, the person who the song is addressed to
You're the belle of the ball
You are the most beautiful woman around
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
You really don't know me that much and
You do not have much knowledge about me
I really don't know
I do not have much knowledge
You at all
About you
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
Oh, oh
Vocals
Hanging out
Spending time in a casual or leisurely way
Oh, oh
Vocals
Hanging out
Spending time in a casual or leisurely way
Oh, oh
Vocals
Hanging out
Spending time in a casual or leisurely way
Oh, oh
Vocals
(I'm hanging out)
I am spending time in a casual or leisurely way
Contributed by Dylan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thelma
on Everything You've Done Wrong
Thelma I like the title