“I’m interested in hocketing—the way two riffs begin to sound together as one,” says Fitzgerald, who wrote the album in the two years following Stolen Jars’ self-titled debut. The process, like the compositions themselves, evolved slowly. Fitzgerald composed and layered parts in his bedroom, tinkering to ensure precision. With Grund, he built vocal melodies around the tracks. The lyrics are as much sonic as they are literary. It’s the sound of words that moves each track along. Once the album was finished, it was mixed by Eli Crews (tUnE-yArDs’ w h o k i l l, Nikki Nak, Deerhoof, WHY?) and mastered by Jeff Lipton (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, LCD Soundsystem).
Fitzgerald builds off the success of Stolen Jars, released in 2011. “Driving,” off that record, was featured in an iPad commercial, and the band played numerous shows along the Eastern seaboard. On Kept, Fitzgerald worked to expand the fidelity, instrumentation, and scope. It’s a larger, deeply ambitious record.
As Stolen Jars lock in, their sound continues to evolve. Guitarist Greg Nissan, drummer Will Radin, vocalist Elena Juliano, and keyboardist Tristan Rodman render each part whole in a live show that pushes Stolen Jars’ sound to its largest and most energetic.
Another November
Stolen Jars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
where things I'd prized, stacked pegs and wire that I'd called mine.
Who knew I was so blue at age 5,
standing tall among the vines of a small tinted window.
I remember the nose of a donkey I knew when
I was a girl wanting to warm the noses of donkeys.
I remember the wools and the wetnesses, and his long jowl under my arm.
I remember the cross across his back, black, and thinking oh that's where that comes from.
I loved him for coldness of noses, willingness to be warmed.
I loved him for the purpose he gave me, willingness to be loved.
I loved him for coldness of noses, willingness to be warmed.
If I am warm, let me warm you.
If I am willing, let me do.
x2
I am warm, I'll warm you.
x2
The first few lines of Stolen Jars' "Another November" express a sense of longing for home, but not quite in the traditional, nostalgic sense. Instead, the singer evokes a sort of detached, melancholic attitude towards the things they've left behind. They describe the objects they once treasured with a sense of detachment - these things are "stacked pegs and wire that I'd called mine." There's a sense that the singer has outgrown the objects that used to define them, that these things which once seemed so important are now just relics of the past.
The second half of the song is a bit more abstract, with the singer reminiscing about their childhood and a donkey they knew. They describe the donkey's cold nose and their own desire to warm it. There's a sense of connection and purpose in their relationship with the animal, as the donkey "gave [them] purpose" and was "willingness to be loved." The repeated refrain of "If I am warm, let me warm you / If I am willing, let me do" feels like a sort of mantra, a promise to continue connecting with the world around them despite the hardships or changes they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
In miles I'm home,
I find my home in the distance I travel
where things I'd prized, stacked pegs and wire that I'd called mine.
The physical objects that I hold dear serve as reminders of my sense of belonging
Who knew I was so blue at age 5,
At an early age, I already had feelings of sadness and melancholy
standing tall among the vines of a small tinted window.
Despite my surroundings, I always strive to stand tall and be noticed
I remember the nose of a donkey I knew when
I recall a vivid memory of a donkey that I once knew
I was a girl wanting to warm the noses of donkeys.
As a child, I had a desire to show affection and kindness
I remember the wools and the wetnesses, and his long jowl under my arm.
I recall the tactile experience of being close to the donkey and feeling its fur and breath
I remember the cross across his back, black, and thinking oh that's where that comes from.
I made a connection between the donkey's markings and something else I had seen before
I loved him for coldness of noses, willingness to be warmed.
I appreciated the donkey's stoic nature and its willingness to accept love and warmth
I loved him for the purpose he gave me, willingness to be loved.
The donkey gave me a sense of meaningfulness and purpose, simply by accepting my love
If I am warm, let me warm you.
If I have the ability to provide comfort and warmth, I will gladly share it
If I am willing, let me do.
If I am open and receptive, let me continue to spread that positivity
I am warm, I'll warm you.
I am a source of warmth and comfort, and I am happy to share it with others
Writer(s): Cody Fitzgerald, Magdalena Anna Bermudez, Molly Grund
Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.