The band started in summer 2006 by Andrew Savage, later joined by Daniel Zeigler whom Savage met while attending the University of North Texas in Denton. The bands earlier material, from the self-released demo and "Remember Me as a Silhouette" 7", was lo-fi, poppy and often compared to early '90s indie rock. The band's first full length was Queer Salutations, released in 2007. Shortly after the release of Queer Salutations the band embarked on its first tour. The band is decidedly DIY, keeping all recording, songwriting, booking and visual art within the band. Teenage Cool Kids spent much of 2008 touring the United States and recording their next album. In 2009 the band was issued a cease and desist by Chicago hip-hop duo The Cool Kids over alleged trade mark infringement. The dispute ended with a settlement initiated by the Cool Kids. The dispute delayed the band's second LP release by several months, but in June 2009 Foreign Lands was released by Protagonist Music.
Albums:
Queer Salutations (2007, Protagonist)
Foreign Lands (2009, Protagonist)
Denton After Sunset (2011, Dull Tools)
Singles:
Remember Me As a Silhoutte (2007, C&C Music Factory)
Speaking in Tongues b/w Crucial Talk (2009, Copper Lung)
Poison Sermons (2009, Leroy St. Records)
Band members:
Andrew Savage (Fergus & Geronimo, Parquet Courts)
Bradley Kerl
Chris Pickering
Daniel Zeigler (Wiccans)
No Fragments Reach
Teenage Cool Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wake up to those horrid voices everyday.
The of indifference that hums you into decay
a wave of harmony into your restless grave
Mute faces on talk show screens, you watched at 3 am
it is the framing of your own life's silent film
Loitering to armageddon waiting on a train
arets are on a transit map well mark your place
Discount expiration sticker you helped to be misplaced
the circle of life is a bargain on her sways
Stolen leather jacket depicts all your favorite bands
icons of true rebellious spirit painted trends
When you dirge down the gauntlet of the boxes and the cans
do you think of your apartment and dirty pots and pans
In the checkout line, you hold your wine, and look at magazines
maybe a frozen dinner to thaw out in the sink
But no fragments reach your mossy eyes
No UV rays from sunny skies
No panoramic desert scenes
To replace us
These lyrics explore the feelings of isolation, decay, and despair that can come with living in modern society. The first two lines suggest that the singer has ignored their mother's advice and suffered the consequences as a result. They then describe the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of negativity and despair, referencing the "horrid voices" that they wake up to every day.
The following lines go on to describe the sense of indifference and decay that seems to pervade modern life. The singer feels as though they are being slowly worn down by the world around them, and that they are powerless to do anything about it. They describe the sense of isolation and disconnection that can come with watching the world through the lens of a television screen, and the feeling of waiting for some kind of apocalypse to occur.
Line by Line Meaning
Mom's advice, it sat on ice till those words melted away
Your mother's advice stayed ignored until it faded away
You wake up to those horrid voices everyday.
You hear unpleasant voices every day
The of indifference that hums you into decay
A feeling of apathy that leads you into deterioration
A wave of harmony into your restless grave
A sense of peace in your turbulent life, but it's fleeting
Mute faces on talk show screens, you watched at 3 am
You watch silent talk shows late at night
It is the framing of your own life's silent film
The talk shows reflect your life as if in a movie
Loitering to armageddon waiting on a train
You wait for the end of the world at a train station
Areas are on a transit map, well mark your place
Your location is marked on a transit map
Discount expiration sticker you helped to be misplaced
You intentionally lost a discount coupon
The circle of life is a bargain on her sways
Life is fleeting and precious
Stolen leather jacket depicts all your favorite bands
Your stolen jacket displays the bands you love
Icons of true rebellious spirit painted trends
The bands represent authentic rebellion and popular culture
When you dirge down the gauntlet of the boxes and the cans
When you struggle with daily household chores
Do you think of your apartment and dirty pots and pans
You think about your dirty living space and the mess you have to clean up
In the checkout line, you hold your wine, and look at magazines
You buy wine and look at magazines in a supermarket checkout line
Maybe a frozen dinner to thaw out in the sink
You buy a frozen meal to defrost in your dirty sink
But no fragments reach your mossy eyes
You don't see anything special, just the mundane
No UV rays from sunny skies
You don't feel the energy from the sun on your skin
No panoramic desert scenes
You don't see any breathtaking views
To replace us
Nothing amazing can replace our existence
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.