Members:
Lang Freeman (voice / guitar), Bradley Oliver (bass / keys), Sonny Sanchez (drums), Doug Wilson (guitar).
Discography:
- Cinematica EP (EP, 2007)
- Cinematica (LP, 2007)
- Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind (LP, 2011)
- The Holiday EP (EP, 2011)
They first began to collaborate in 2005, but due to complicated label politics at Epic Records, the band regained their independence and self-released Cinematica which was followed by 2 years of heavy grassroots national touring in support of the album.
Since 2007 the band has found a string of successes in film and TV with placements in Spider Man 3 (Sony Pictures), The Wolfman (Universal Pictures), War Games: The Dead Code (MGM Pictures) and most recently in the CW's 'The Vampire Diaries.'
With their second release, Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind (2011), the band continued to build upon the musical ideas that they established through their first album.
Perfect Machine
Sounds Under Radio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're spinning like a carousel
But your eyes focus in the light again
As crowds of people stand
I'm hiding from the minute hand
Of clocks that wake my morning light, without you there... the walls just
I'm your perfect machine
I'll collapse everything
Cause I'm your perfect machine
I'll collapse everything
Your plane is overhead
This room is stale and empty now
You lay your head
In cities only phones can bring
But mine won't ring
I'm your perfect machine
I'll collapse everything
Cause I'm your perfect machine
I'll collapse everything
The opening lines of this song, "The emptiness in space, you're spinning like a carousel," describe a feeling of isolation and disorientation that the singer is experiencing. The image of space is often associated with loneliness and vastness, and here it is used to emphasize the feeling of being lost in one's own thoughts or emotions. The comparison to a carousel adds a sense of circularity and repetition, suggesting that the singer is caught in a cycle of confusion and uncertainty. However, the next line, "but your eyes focus in the light again," implies that there is still hope and resilience, that even in the midst of darkness and confusion, there can be moments of clarity and renewal.
The rest of the song continues to explore this theme of struggle and resilience, as the singer navigates their way through a world that seems to be falling apart. They find solace in their own internal strength, declaring "I'm your perfect machine, I'll collapse everything," as if to say that they are capable of withstanding any challenge or hardship, that they themselves are a force of nature that cannot be conquered. The references to time and distance, such as "the minute hand" and "your plane is overhead," suggest a sense of movement and progress, of constantly moving forward even in the face of obstacles. Overall, the song seems to be a powerful ode to the human spirit and its ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The emptiness in space
The vast, empty void of outer space
You're spinning like a carousel
You are constantly revolving, spinning around in circles like a carnival ride
But your eyes focus in the light again
You are momentarily distracted from your endless spinning as your attention is drawn to something bright and shiny
As crowds of people stand
A large group of people is gathered together, remaining stationary and waiting for something
I'm hiding from the minute hand
The ticking clock is a constant reminder of the passage of time, and I am trying to avoid being consumed by it
Of clocks that wake my morning light, without you there... the walls just
Without you by my side, the everyday mundanity of life seems even more pronounced and unbearable
Stare
The lifeless walls seem to gaze back at me, expressing nothing but emptiness and detachment
Your plane is overhead
A passing aircraft can be heard flying above us, creating a sense of distance and separation from the rest of the world
This room is stale and empty now
The room feels stagnant and uninteresting, as if everything that made it special has been stripped away
You lay your head
You rest your head, nestling into a feeling of calm and relaxation
In cities only phones can bring
You are traveling to new places, but they feel distant and disconnected, lacking true intimacy and human connection
But mine won't ring
I am unable to connect with you or anyone else, living in a state of solitude and loneliness
I'm your perfect machine
I am the embodiment of your desires and needs, a tool designed to carry out your every wish with unwavering efficiency
I'll collapse everything
I am so powerful that I can break down and destroy everything around me, leaving nothing in my wake
Cause I'm your perfect machine
I exist solely to serve and please you, like a machine that exists only to fulfill its programmed function
Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.