The band's sound has varied considerably over the years. Loud and lush shoegaze, heavy guitar rock, dream pop, chamber pop, new wave, synth pop, post-punk, garage rock, pop rock, soft rock, lounge music and blues rock all play significant roles in SF59's ultimate sonic palette.
While Martin has written all of Starflyer 59's music and is the principal musician, the band has included numerous contributors over its life. For the better part of 15 years, beginning in the mid-00s, SF59's lineup stabilized with Steven Dail on bass and Trey Many on drums. In recent years, drumming duties have been handled by Charlie Martin, Jason's son, who was 16 when he recorded on SF59's 2019 album, Young In My Head. Other notable contributors over the years have included Jeff Cloud, Richard Swift, Frank Lenz, Josh Dooley, Wayne Everett, and others.
Starflyer 59 was signed to Tooth & Nail Records, their original and current label, after Jason Martin gave a demo to Brandon Ebel when the two met at a music festival in 1993. Shortly afterwards, Ebel contacted Martin and offered him a record contract. By the end of the year, Starflyer 59's debut album, Silver, was recorded and released. In 1995, Starflyer 59 released their sophomore album, Gold. Both of these albums are actually eponymous releases, but are colloquially known by the colors of the plain, monochromatic album art.
Starflyer 59's next album, Americana (1997), continued with the minimalist cover art, but marked the first of many significant sonic shifts for the band. While Americana is still loud, heavy and guitar-forward like the previous releases, layered ambient shoegazing is replaced by crunchy, catchy blues rock-inspired riffs and more traditional song structures. Several changes to the band lineup were also made for this album. Bass player Andrew Larson departed, replaced by Eric Campuzano (The Prayer Chain). In addition, Wayne Everett (The Prayer Chain) became the band's studio drummer, a role previously held by Martin. High tensions in the studio during the recoding of the album led Campuzano to leave the band before it began touring to support the new album. Replacing him was Jeff Cloud, who had been Starflyer's touring manager.
The release of The Fashion Focus in 1998 signaled a major change in the direction of the band's sound, largely due to the influence of Gene Eugene. Where previous albums had emphasized guitars and loud, shoegazing rock and roll, The Fashion Focus was a significantly softer album, drawing its main influences from pop rock, loung music, arty indie rock and synthesizer music. Everybody Makes Mistakes, released the next year, continued in the same direction as The Fashion Focus.
On Nov. 21st, 2000, Starflyer 59 released Easy Come Easy Go, a two disc set that contained songs from throughout their career up to that point. 2001 saw the release of Leave Here A Stranger, Starflyer's next full length album. It saw the band's sound continue to soften. After the untimely death of Gene Eugene, Martin called on long-time musical hero Terry Scott Taylor to take over production of the new album. In an effort to be different, Leave Here a Stranger was recorded in mono. In addition to Martin and Cloud, Leave Here a Stranger featured Josh Dooley on keyboards and Joey Esquibel on drums.
Beginning in 2003, Starflyer 59 would release one full length album every year for three years, all of them self-produced. The first of these albums was Old. Old features heavier guitars than Leave Here A Stranger; however, the music was still significantly softer than the band's early work. In 2004, I Am the Portuguese Blues was released. With this album, Starflyer 59 returned to the heavy guitar format that was so prominent on their early albums, as well as the monochromatic album covers that had characterized these albums. I Am the Portuguese Blues was not a true follow-up to Old, but instead was a set of older songs that Jason Martin had written for a follow-up album to Americana. The material was originally shelved when the band shifted gears and instead recorded The Fashion Focus. This was a treat for fans of Starflyer 59's older material, but confused many newer fans and critics who were familiar with Starflyer 59's more recent pop-friendly work.
2005's Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice saw the band change their sound yet again, to a style that seemed a more natural follow-up to Old than I Am the Portuguese Blues had been. For this album, Starflyer 59 was cut down to two members: Jason Martin and drummer Frank Lenz. It would be the first studio album since Americana to be recorded without bassist Jeff Cloud. Despite having only two band members, the songs on Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice have a full sound. This is largely due to the inclusion of guest string players on many of the albums tracks.
Also in 2005, Starflyer 59 re-issued digitally re-mastered versions of Silver and Gold with bonus tracks. The re-issue of Silver came with the tracks of the band's follow-up EP, She's The Queen. Gold was reissued with the "Goodbyes Are Sad" 7 inch single and three of the four tracks from the Le Vainqueur EP.
In September 2006, Starflyer 59 released their latest album My Island. My Island is yet another evolution in the Starflyer sound. While Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice relied on the warmth of synthesized bass and live strings, My Island's"strength comes from its catchy guitar hooks and live bass.
Jason Martin's side projects have included Bon Voyage with his wife, Julie, Enemy Ships (formerly known as The Emergency), Pony Express, The Brothers Martin with his brother Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric fame, Neon Horse, Low & Behold, Lo Tom[/artist), and others. The Martin brothers also worked together in Morella's Forest (1998 band, not to be confused with the 90s band of the same name) and Dance House Children, which predate their famous solo projects. Jason has also produced albums for Fine China, MAP, and Upside Down Room and performed work as a studio musician and guest musician on several albums.
Their official website is located at www.sf59.com. Their official myspace is located at www.myspace.com/starflyer59.
Lose My Mind
Starflyer 59 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a bad feeling in my bones. Could it be cause I went it alone?
I think I'm gonna lose my mind. I think I'm gonna lose it.
Is there is a light bulb between my ears. Could it be cause I had an idea?
It haunts me in my sleep, and it comes back when I'm awake.
I think I'm gonna lose my mind. I think I'm gonna lose it.
I've got a bad taste in my mouth, a taste that I just can't get out.
I think I'm gonna lose my mind. I think I'm gonna lose it.
The song "Lose My Mind" by Starflyer 59 explores the feeling of doubt and regret. The opening lines suggest that the singer is grappling with a bad taste in their mouth, stemming from the fact that they trusted themselves. This could indicate that they made a decision that turned out to be wrong, and they are now questioning their judgment. The next line continues this theme, as the singer has a bad feeling in their bones, which they suggest could be because they went it alone. This could indicate that they made a decision without seeking help or advice, and this has led to their current state of unease.
The chorus of the song expresses the singer's fear that they are going to lose their mind. It suggests that the doubt and regret they are experiencing are consuming them, and they feel like they are on the verge of losing control. They ask if there is a light bulb between their ears, which could be a metaphor for an idea or thought that is persistently bothering them. The idea haunts them both when they are asleep and when they are awake, indicating that they can't escape the feeling of doubt and regret.
The repetition of the opening lines in the second verse reinforces the sense of unease and regret. The singer can't shake the bad taste and bad feeling that they are experiencing. The second chorus repeats the fear that they are going to lose their mind. The song ends on this note, leaving the listener with a sense that the singer is trapped in their own thoughts and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a bad taste in my mouth. Could it be cause I trusted myself?
I have an unpleasant feeling due to trusting my own judgment.
I got a bad feeling in my bones. Could it be cause I went it alone?
I have a gnawing sensation deep within due to going about things without assistance.
I think I'm gonna lose my mind. I think I'm gonna lose it.
I feel like I'll go crazy and completely lose my sanity soon.
Is there is a light bulb between my ears. Could it be cause I had an idea?
I feel like there's an actual lightbulb in my brain thanks to a sudden idea.
It haunts me in my sleep, and it comes back when I'm awake.
The idea keeps haunting me even when I'm asleep or awake.
I think I'm gonna lose my mind. I think I'm gonna lose it.
Once again, I feel as though I'm going to completely lose my mind soon.
Contributed by Alexandra K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Alexandersson
This is probably the best pop/rock album ever released. It makes my eyes fill with tears everytime i listen to The Morning Rise/Frightening eyes and this song, not many album makes my body respond in that way. It is so perfectly beautiful
Scott Meckley
I can relate to this song. I can actually relate to a lot of Starflyer 59 songs.
Erieskies
he'll always be in the studio. thats his passion
Jason Monroe
so incredible
joeyLJ
This is really good! Could you maybe upload Truckers Son? :3
Rawk4Life
@andrewmmerchant I hate to break it to you, but Starflyer 59 no longer tours actively, and the possibility of a new album is not for certain. The song "Mr. Martin," off the album "The Changing of the Guards," was written for Jason Martin's father, whom passed away prior to the recording of the album. Jason currently runs his late father's trucking business in Riverside, CA.
frankiejankis
"Mr. Martin" is from the album "Dial M", not "The Changing of the Guards".
Skogens Hjärta
Complain about others posting your music on the web and yet do it to others? That's nice.