Standard of Living released a debut full-length in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2006’s Patience EP that the band began to hit its stride. In fact, opening for Teddy Geiger, they met producer Billy Mann (Pink, Backstreet Boys, Sting), who helped them refine their songwriting skills.
Standard of Living applied the knowledge they gained from their time working with Mann in crafting Paint the Night. After 6 months of writing, the band settled on the final 7 tracks for the self-produced EP.
Paint the Night is a harmony-driven mix of nostalgia and liberation—for example, the tender reminiscence of “Wilson” gives way to “Without You,” an enthusiastic eff-you anthem. “I feel like the collection of songs on Paint the Night really gives our fans a range of who we are—there are slow songs, rock-out songs, and everything in between. There’s something for everyone to take away from it,” says singer/pianist Josh Rabenold.
Standard of Living has previously toured with singer-songwriters Teddy Geiger and Ben Jelen and has played with a diverse list of artists including Hanson, Paramore, The Rocket Summer, and Kate Voegele. The band puts an immense amount of pride and effort into their live performances, pulling off three-part harmonies live that most bands can only dream of. Rabenold explains, “While other bands run their show off of an iPod, we owe it to our fans to try to recreate the studio experience every single night.”
The world is the canvas and Standard of Living’s paintbrushes are working overtime. Their attention to detail and refined songwriting on Paint the Night puts them in position to turn heads nationwide and makes them a band to keep an eye on as their star burns brighter and brighter.
2) Standard Of Living is also an 80's gothic post punk band from SF.
The Drive
Standard Of Living Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just felt like we saw everywhere
And Im glad that I can share this car with you
You speak, you speak delicately
And your melody is a memory
That Ill always keep
The countryside soothes my mind
Smooth and mellow
I am calm and impatient
I guess the summer breeze
Aint got nothin on me
I cant lose count
3041
Im counting stars Im keeping time
For us the stars will shine
3041
Im counting stars Im keeping time
Ive got Jimmy Eat World on to my favorite song
And were singing along (singing along)
But you turned it off (turned it off)
And you said listen to the silence
Yeah, there are no worlds left to say
3041
Im counting stars Im keeping time
For us the stars will shine
3041
Im counting stars Im keeping time
The lyrics of Standard Of Living's song "The Drive" evoke a sense of adventure and freedom, as the singer shares a car journey with the person they love. The first two lines of the song set the tone, with the drive not being a task but rather a journey of discovery. The singer takes pleasure in being together with their partner, enjoying the scenery and the freedom of the open road. The delicacy of their partner's speech and their unique melody makes a lasting impression on the singer, creating a memory that they will cherish forever.
As the car drives through the countryside, the singer's mind is soothed by the scenery, particularly by the black and yellow colors, which they describe as smooth and mellow. The singer feels calm but also a little restless, as they count stars while keeping time. The repetition of the phrase "3041" reinforces this sense of rhythm and the passing of time, while also suggesting a connection between the singer and the universe. The skies are vast and open, and the singer is hopeful that the stars will shine for them.
In the final verse, the singer is confronted with the interruption of their music by their partner, who urges them to listen to the silence. There are no words left to say, and the singer is left to contemplate the meaning of the journey they are taking. The repetition of the phrase "3041" at the end reinforces the sense of time passing, but also suggests that the journey is ongoing and never-ending.
Line by Line Meaning
The drive is there not a task
Driving is not a chore, we enjoy it
Just felt like we saw everywhere
We feel like we've seen everything
And Im glad that I can share this car with you
I'm happy we're experiencing this together
You speak, you speak delicately
You have a gentle way of talking
And your melody is a memory
Your voice is memorable
That Ill always keep
I'll never forget it
The countryside soothes my mind
Driving through nature is calming
The black and yellow they are
Referring to the colors of the car
Smooth and mellow
It's a smooth ride
I am calm and impatient
I'm feeling both relaxed and eager
I guess the summer breeze
The wind outside during summer
Aint got nothin on me
It doesn't compare to this experience
I cant lose count
I am able to keep track
3041
The number of stars being counted
Im counting stars Im keeping time
Counting stars is how I'm keeping track of time
For us the stars will shine
The stars add to the beauty of this moment
Ive got Jimmy Eat World on to my favorite song
We're listening to my favorite band's song
And were singing along (singing along)
We're both enjoying the music and singing along
But you turned it off (turned it off)
You stopped the music suddenly
And you said listen to the silence
You pointed out how peaceful the silence is
Yeah, there are no worlds left to say
There's nothing left to talk about, let's enjoy the silence
Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LauraMair
This is my favorite song of you guys xD... brings me memories haha... keep it up you guys rock.::!
buanheng
wonderful vocals!!! haha.. love how u guys sing the harmony and melody tgt.. sounds great guys =)
Caitlin Meehan
Awesome! My favorite song is Without you, You guys should record that one next
sjtrapani
What happened to you guys? I still love all your stuff!
huegec
love sol