Bill Baird and Matt Oliver met in Austin in 2001, when each was a sideman in one of the many pick-up groups playing the beer joints around town. They formed a partnership, and they immediately began recording music that drew inspiration from a variety of sources -- from traditional American folk and pop song forms to German synthesiser music.
In 2002 Baird asked his younger brother Michael, Michael’s friend Jordan Johns (both of whom were still in high school at the time), and his old friend Sam Sanford whether they’d like to form a band. After they had played a handful of shows in various performance spaces and punk dives, Gabe Pearlman enlisted and the lineup was solidified by early 2003.
The group released a seven-inch and several cassettes, and their audience continued to grow. After touring throughout 2003 and 2004, the group continued to work dead-end jobs, pooled their cash, and converted an abandoned record-pressing plant into a make-shift analog recording studio. The result was the Marathon LP, which appeared on the St Ives label, a vinyl-only imprint of Indiana's Secretly Canadian. In the Autumnl of 2005, several songs from previous cassette and vinyl releases appeared on the WORK EP.
Support slots on several high-profile tours culminated with an appearance in Central Park opening for Arcade Fire and David Bowie, and by the end of 2005 the band was signed to a contract with Capitol Records. In June 2006, their long-awaited debut album, Movie Monster, was released on Capitol, but the band was dropped shortly thereafter. Since then, Sanford and the younger Baird gave up on the band and went on to pursue other things.
On 15th September 2007, Sound Team played their last show as one of the acts at the 2007 Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Back In Town
Sound Team Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why should you wind your way through Coca-Cola cabs
When you can jump your own shadow on Burnside Avenue?
I know you wish you'd stayed home
Now for the fourteenth time you are that kid
In backseats that blur under an angry moon
But the center cannont hold, that you cling to
Trouble will find its way to you
But when there's nine thousand neckties in a swarm all around you
Lunch-counter girls are always so put on
Don't deconstruct the megadome it's inside you
Polaroids can't stand up when they're own
Ask me again if I can do you a favor
As the snow and the window get some business done
Your neighbor, who wishes you would stop getting locked out
It's all grist for your decay mill
So let the backlash begin
You would always say gray lightning was your only friend
The bleachers are empty the sky is an impossible blue
But I don't need to argue anymore
So I let you hack away
Until you decide you prefer the forest floor
But the center cannont hold
The center cannont hold
You don't need to look for trouble
Troble will find its way to you
The Sound Team's song "Back In Town" talks about being stuck in a familiar cycle and feeling trapped. The opening lines encourage the listener to take a walk during lunch hour, but not to bother trying to fight against the chaos of the city, as trouble will come regardless. The mention of Burnside Avenue provides a sense of familiarity; this is where the singer feels at home. However, their mind is still stuck in the past, and they feel like they are reliving the same moments over and over again.
The chorus, "But the center cannot hold, that you cling to. You don't need to look for trouble. Trouble will find its way to you," speaks to the idea that despite trying to avoid trouble, it is inevitable. The singer reminds us that there are thousands of people around us at all times, and that we can't avoid them. The "megadome" mentioned in the second verse could represent some sort of anxiety, as the singer advises the listener to not deconstruct it, but to let it sit inside them.
Finally, the song ends by discussing the idea of letting go. The singer lets the other person "hack away" until they choose to pull away from the cycle and end up on "the forest floor." This is a somewhat bleak outlook on life, but it seems to be rooted in truth - that sometimes one has to let go and experience a difficult change in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Go for a lunch hour stroll
Take a break, go out for a leisurely walk during your lunch hour.
Why should you wind your way through Coca-Cola cabs
Why subject yourself to the hassle of dealing with busy traffic and clogged streets?
When you can jump your own shadow on Burnside Avenue?
You can enjoy some peaceful, solitary time on a less busy street.
I know you wish you'd stayed home
You regret coming out and wish you stayed at home instead.
Now for the fourteenth time you are that kid
You feel like a lost and aimless child, unsure of where to go next.
In backseats that blur under an angry moon
You feel lost and confused, like you're driving through the night without a clear destination.
But the center cannont hold, that you cling to
You're holding onto something that's falling apart and fading away before your eyes.
You don't need to look for trouble
You don't have to seek out problems, as they have a way of finding you on their own.
Trouble will find its way to you
Negative experiences and difficulties will come your way at some point in time, without you having to search for them.
But when there's nine thousand neckties in a swarm all around you
You feel overwhelmed and surrounded by people who are very different from you.
Lunch-counter girls are always so put on
People in certain situations will always present themselves in an artificial, fake manner.
Don't deconstruct the megadome it's inside you
Don't try to break down and analyze yourself too much, as you have everything you need inside to succeed.
Polaroids can't stand up when they're own
Pictures and memories don't always hold up well over time and their significance can change.
Ask me again if I can do you a favor
You're willing to help out and be of service to others when they ask.
As the snow and the window get some business done
Take advantage of quiet, contemplative moments to get important work done.
Your neighbor, who wishes you would stop getting locked out
Someone close to you wants to see you succeed and worries about you making mistakes or getting into trouble.
It's all grist for your decay mill
All experiences, both positive and negative, are important in shaping who you are and what you will become.
So let the backlash begin
Whatever negative consequences are coming your way, you're ready to face them head-on.
You would always say gray lightning was your only friend
You consider yourself an outsider and don't feel like you have many close companions or confidants.
The bleachers are empty the sky is an impossible blue
You feel like you're standing alone in a vast and empty space.
But I don't need to argue anymore
You're done trying to convince others of your point of view and are content to let things be.
So I let you hack away
You're allowing someone else to vent and express their frustrations, even if it's directed at you.
Until you decide you prefer the forest floor
Eventually, the person who is angry and resentful will get tired and prefer to go somewhere else instead.
The center cannont hold
The things that once held stability and structure in your life are now falling apart.
The center cannont hold
You can't rely on anything or anyone to give you a sense of stability or certainty.
You don't need to look for trouble
It's pointless to seek out negative experiences or situations, as they have a way of finding you regardless.
Troble will find its way to you
You'll inevitably face hardship and challenges in life, and it's better to prepare yourself for how you'll respond to them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MATTHEW MARSTON, MATT DUSK, ENRICO GIARETTA, OLEN CESARI, TERRY SAWCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Connor Flowers
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