On May 18, 2015, this triumvirate of twenty-somethings—Fletcher Aleckson, Francis Ximenez and Liam Benzvi—is releasing Use Your Time Wisely, a firecracker debut LP jammed with energetic, angular, romantic songs that sound at once ageless and completely contemporary.
The band came together while Ximenez and Benzvi were students at the University Of Minnesota; they were each part of other groups but ditched them to play together. The pair cycled through a series of bassists and drummers, until after their fifth show Aleckson approached them and said, “Francis, you know what the problem is here. Give me a call when you want to upgrade.” With that, the group cemented itself as a three-piece and one of the Twin Cities’ most talked-about acts until, with an eye toward bigger things—and graduation over and done with—the band picked up and moved to New York.
While Strange Names’ rambunctious sound and sly take on modern life is completely of the moment, the band, which came together amidst the close-knit Minneapolis music scene, can’t help but see their first record as something of a second chance.
“This record was fully recorded back in Minneapolis and then we re-recorded it when we got to New York,” Benzvi explains. “And this one is so much better. We wanted to get it right; we had to.”
What they ended up with was a collection of TK driving songs that are deceptively simple, raucously compelling and defiantly youthful.
The album’s first single, “Ricochet,” is a prime example. “There are some songs on the record with profound lyrics that come from a place of great pain,” explains Ximenez, “but this song’s lyrics are just about trying to get with someone at a party.” There’s more to it than just getting laid, however: The song addresses the push-and-pull of ideas and of people; it addresses the contradictions of love and lust—and you can dance to it.
Other tracks, like the unforgettable “Neighborhood,” use a similarly easy-to-swallow delivery to take on the idea of finding your place in the world. But nothing ever gets too heavy. Indeed, the guys strive to echo the inclusive vibe of the New Wave bands they love, groups like the B-52s, Human League and the Talking Heads that didn’t leave anyone out of their party. “We’re always fighting the avant-garde within us,” Ximenez says with a smile. “We’re trying to find a middle ground where the music sounds like us but is still accessible.”
The band recorded Use Your Time Wisely at The End in Brooklyn, New York, with producer Andrew Maury, and found the sort of sound they think best fits their music.
“When we first recorded, we did it in a large studio and it came out sounding kind of garage rock, even though that’s not our style,” Benzvi explains. This new process was in a small room, something real cozy like a blown-up version of recording in a bedroom, and we got a really clean and controlled sound.”
Since they first posted demo tracks online, buzz around Strange Names has been growing steadily. Ximenez recalls, “There was a moment in the first semester of our senior year when we were finishing our degrees but didn’t know what we were going to do with ourselves. At the same time, we’d been making music and as soon as we put it up online, we started getting emails asking, ‘What is this.’”
What those early adopters heard was the beginning of something exciting, energetic and undeniably enjoyable. Now, with the release of Use Your Time Wisely, Strange Names has made an album that not only holds on to the dynamism that’s been apparent since those early tracks but also displays their progress and undeniable forward momentum.
It’s something they think has been meant to be since they first started out. “It just seemed right,” Benzvi says. “It was what was supposed to happen.”
I Can't Control Myself
Strange Names Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you've been giving all your money to charity
Oh, you're so good
People think that you're so good
Someone ought to tell you that you're enemies are watching you
Once in a while
You make the wrong impression
Once in a while
And I been walking miles
to tag along with your shadow
So don't keep stalling
I'm just gonna keep on falling for ya
Down on my knees
This is the new survival
But I get up onto my feet cause
I can't control myself
You should think about your future
Cause messing up
Is so hard to repeat
And you should maybe be my teacher
Cause otherwise
I ain't joining that team - no
I see us coming at a rapid pace
With just enough time to see your face
And I'm wondering if it's the time and place
To scold myself
I see us making your way so silent
But I can't tell what's behind it
If the birds and the bees get violent
Then I'll just scold myself
The lyrics of Strange Names' song "I Can't Control Myself" convey a sense of desire and admiration towards the person being addressed. The lyrics suggest that this person is seen as a generous and kind individual who donates their money to charity, but they may be naive to the fact that others may see them as easy targets. The singer seems to be walking alongside this person, but he is falling for them, unable to control himself or his emotions towards this individual. He recognizes that sometimes they can make the wrong impression, but this only adds to the allure and mystery of this person. Despite the potential pitfalls of being with such an individual, the singer can't resist the pull towards them.
The lyrics are narrative in nature, telling a story of the singer's longing for this person but also their recognition that this may not be the most stable or healthy relationship. The lyrics indicate that the singer is aware of the potential consequences of being with this person, but the desire is too strong to resist. It's a relatable feeling for many who have been in relationships that are magnetic but potentially damaging.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Can't Control Myself" convey a sense of longing, admiration, and desire towards an individual who may not be the best match but is impossible to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
You've been wanting some security
You have been looking for some stability and protection in your life
But you've been giving all your money to charity
However, you have been generously donating all your money to those in need
Oh, you're so good
You are a kind-hearted and morally upright person
People think that you're so good
Others perceive you as someone who is righteous and pure
Someone ought to tell you that you're enemies are watching you
Yet, someone should warn you that your adversaries are keeping a close eye on you
Once in a while
Occasionally
You make the wrong impression
You unknowingly give off a poor or unfavorable impression
Once in a while
From time to time
You're breaking my heart, oh
You are causing me emotional pain
And I been walking miles
I have been traveling long distances
to tag along with your shadow
To follow and be with you wherever you go
So don't keep stalling
Do not procrastinate or delay any further
I'm just gonna keep on falling for ya
I will continue to fall in love with you
Down on my knees
In a position of submission or supplication
This is the new survival
This is the new way of living and surviving in the world
But I get up onto my feet cause
But I stand up on my own two feet because
I can't control myself
I cannot help myself from feeling and acting in a certain way
You should think about your future
You should consider what lies ahead for you
Cause messing up
Because making mistakes
Is so hard to repeat
Is difficult to do again
And you should maybe be my teacher
Perhaps, you should teach me something valuable
Cause otherwise
Otherwise
I ain't joining that team - no
I refuse to associate myself with that group or ideology
I see us coming at a rapid pace
I envision us moving towards each other quickly
With just enough time to see your face
With just enough time to catch a glimpse of your countenance
And I'm wondering if it's the time and place
And I am unsure whether it is the right moment and location
To scold myself
To reprimand myself
I see us making your way so silent
I observe us walking in silence
But I can't tell what's behind it
But I cannot determine what is the reason or motivation behind it
If the birds and the bees get violent
If the natural world becomes chaotic and aggressive
Then I'll just scold myself
Then I will simply blame or criticize myself
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@metapia4301
You've been wanting some security
But you've been giving all your money to charity
Oh you so good, You think that you're so good
Someone outta tell you that you're mad at me for watching you
Once in a while
You make the wrong impression
Once in a while
You're breaking my heart
and I'm walking miles to tag along with your shadows
So don't keep stallin'
I'm just gonna keep on fallin' for you
Don't run away, just stay awhile
I'm gonna need your help
I can't control myself
I'm down on my knees
this is the new survival
but I get up onto my feet cause
I cant control myself
You should think about your future
cause messin' up is so hard to reveal
and you should maybe be my teacher (oh)
cause otherwise I ain't joinin that team, no
Once in a while
You make the wrong impression
Once in a while
You're breaking my heart
(and I'm) been walking miles
to tag along with your shadows
So don't keep stallin, I'm just gonna keep on fallin' for you
I'm down on my knees
this is the new survival
but I get up onto my feet cause
I cant control myself
I'm down on my knees
this is the new survival
but I get up onto my feet cause
I cant control myself
I see you comin' in rapid place
with just enough time to see your face
and I'm wondering if it's the time and place
to scold myself
I see you making your way, so silent
but I can tell whats behind it
if the birds and the bees get violent
then I'll just scold myself
control myself
I can't control myself
(oh)
I'm own on my knees
this is the new survival
but I get up onto my feet cause
I can't control myself
(oh)
I'm own on my knees
this is the new survival
but I get up onto my feet cause
I can't control myself
(oh)
@cloudsurfer9
I love my good taste in music
@sophie-kp4sv
if this isn't me
@TaylorShantell
CLOUD same. 110%
@joaoporto4310
same dude
@danrobinson4999
a stunning mix of an 80's sound and the quirkyness of the 1975 ... quality tune !!!
@bernardogordillo
I agree
@NeFESTING
Never, never, never Surrender you guys are gonna be big!
@voidzone
Thanks Spotify "discover weekly" !!<3
@bernardogordillo
2019 and I'm still loving their sound, so 80's, so perfect...
@bernardogordillo
I love their complete album! It's a fucking masterpiece!