Somos are as no-frills and trend-averse as it gets. The Boston band works in catchy, passionate three-minute rock songs recorded with too much punch to be lo-fi, too melodically contoured to be punk. So even with its blunt-force drum rolls and jagged chording, "Dead Wrong" sneaks up on you: on one end, it packs so many short, sharp hooks, the chorus can fly right by you on the first listen. They strike a weirdly rare balance in the process, situating themselves between blue-collar indie rock and a white-collar life.
Michael Fiorentino sets the dramatic stakes ("Empire and a crown of thorns/Today you get two for one") and reveals the all-too-familiar source of that despair: tucking in your shirt, staring at a computer, "Shaking hands til your arms fell off". "Somos" translates roughly to "We are", and on "Dead Wrong" they wisely commiserate with the workforce drowning rather than casting judgment, gifting a car song for people who aren't so much working for the weekend as they are working until the inevitable bitter end.
Stream: http://somos.bandcamp.com/
Buy: http://tnyn.gs/somos-lp
Contact: somosbandma@gmail.com
Follow: http://somosma.tumblr.com/
Strangest Example
Somos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many do you really see?
We could talk about anything but,
But we talk about the weather.
The wind on your face is frigid and cold,
You don't feel any better.
We could talk about anything but,
But we talk about the weather,
Your advice to the clock inside my head,
Turn it off, and face the elements.
Your advice to my overactive mind,
Just turn it off and drive.
Against the sages, of the old ways.
Against the guardians, of the old days.
You craned your neck, only to be cut down.
You bite your tongue, hold it through your whole life.
Your advice to the clock inside my head,
Turn it off, and face the elements.
Your advice to my overactive mind,
Just turn it off and drive.
The song "Strangest Example" by Somos seems to be about the difficulty of connecting with others in a meaningful way. The opening lyrics ask the listener to consider how many people they really see, suggesting that perhaps we often pass by others without fully acknowledging them. The singer then laments the shallowness of their conversations with others, which seem limited to discussing the weather. The cold wind on their face is a physical manifestation of the emotional distance between them and the person they are speaking to. The repetition of the phrase "Back and forth" underscores the sense of stagnation and frustration.
The chorus shifts to someone offering advice to the singer, urging them to "turn off" their internal clock and overactive mind and simply "face the elements" or "drive." These phrases could be interpreted as metaphors for living in the present moment and not overthinking things, which might allow for deeper connections with others. The outro of the song repeats the line "You bite your tongue, hold it through your whole life" which could be interpreted as an acknowledgement of the difficulty of speaking one's truth and expressing oneself fully.
Line by Line Meaning
How many people do you look at?
Do you really see the people around you or only glance at them?
How many do you really see?
Are you truly observing the people around you?
We could talk about anything but,
We have many topics to discuss, but always end up avoiding them.
But we talk about the weather.
Our conversation is limited to mundane small talk.
The wind on your face is frigid and cold,
The air around us is chilly and uncomfortable.
You don't feel any better.
This weather isn't helping our mood.
We could talk about anything but,
Our conversation could be more engaging.
But we talk about the weather,
However, we continue with uninspired small talk.
Back and forth…
We are stuck in this mundane pattern of conversation.
Your advice to the clock inside my head,
You suggest that I quiet my racing thoughts.
Turn it off, and face the elements.
You suggest that I focus on the world around me to find peace.
Your advice to my overactive mind,
You suggest that I calm my restless thoughts.
Just turn it off and drive.
You recommend that I let go of my worries and focus on the present moment instead.
Against the sages, of the old ways.
We are rebelling against the advice of traditional wisdom.
Against the guardians, of the old days.
We are pushing back against those who cling to the past.
You craned your neck, only to be cut down.
You hoped for more, but were disappointed.
You bite your tongue, hold it through your whole life.
You have kept your opinions to yourself for years.
Your advice to the clock inside my head,
You urge me to find inner peace.
Turn it off, and face the elements.
You suggest that I find peace in the world around me.
Your advice to my overactive mind,
You encourage me to calm my racing thoughts.
Just turn it off and drive.
You advise me to let go of my worries and live in the present moment.
Contributed by Maya O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
VRGalaxy
This band rules!! I keep coming back to stream the whole thing. Stuck in my head all day. I can't believe this band hasn't blown up yet, but I'm kinda glad they haven't!! ;D
LayDxM
I love this so much
Daniel P
+LayDxM Sad but good
Kevin
Am I wrong for saying the intro riff is super 80’s. Kinda like flock of seagulls?
Grass door
We could talk about anything but we talk about the weather
Grass door
how many people do you look at? how many do you really see?