Named after a section of the book 'White Noise', written by postmodernist author Don DeLillo, the group incorporates string instruments and keyboards along with a standard rock lineup of guitar, drums, and bass guitar. Their style takes in a variety of influences from classic rock and roll to arcane-sounding art rock to tuneful indie pop and more. They have been signed to Majordomo Records for many years; on March 4, 2009, the band signed to Island Records.
Formed in the wake of a series of personal tragedies in the life of front-man Mikel Jollett, the band has gathered a reputation for one of the most exciting and energetic live shows in years. Stomping, screaming, wailing, crooning through bony rock songs and enormous dark anthems, the band embodies the desire to live life fully in the face of a world saturated with media and fear. The Cali five-piece's eponymous debut EP includes nods to rock music's most transcendent tidbits: subtle references to the sad-eyed melancholy of The Cure, the balled-fist intensity of The Fall, and the art school disaffection of the Velvet Underground.
The Airborne Toxic Event released their second album, All At Once on April 26, 2011. Songfacts reports the band explaining: "It's called 'All at Once' because the songs deal with the idea of sudden change—how life generally doesn't change incrementally. Your parents die, a child is born, the airplane shakes, a former love from a former life walks casually by you on the street, and suddenly everything is different. We live in the quiet passages between these extraordinary moments of change. It's exhilarating. It's terrifying. It can be monstrously disfiguring. It can be potentially redemptive."
Missy
The Airborne Toxic Event Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a crowd of people, downtown LA
She looked around as if to say, 'I'm home'
But I'm home
I find someone to love
And some place to drink
And some time when I can just sit and think
Lord, of these drones
Just as long as I'm never alone
She had eyes as big as porcelain plates
And skin as thin as paper drapes
And she loved the Lord the way an apostate loves songs
And she'd sing to him before she went to sleep:
"I pray to you, my soul to keep
You're shepherd, then I'll be your sheep
Until dawn, oh until dawn
Well I'd follow you, even if it was wrong"
I met her one night at the coffee shop
Her face so bright, my heart just stopped
Hello my dear, I fear I'm not what I seem
Not what I seem
I should've become a better man
I should be more deserving than
The beggar, thief and courtesan I've been
Oh, that I've been
But I swear, I lie, I curse all of my dreams
But I swear there's still some good in me
And I think if you stuck around you'd see
All the honest attempts at integrity, I was had
Maybe if you helped me, I'd get it right
I lie awake every night, staring at the ceiling
Wondering why I feel so bad, why I feel so bad
But I swear, I swear, I swear I'll never get sad
The Airborne Toxic Event's song Missy starts with the singer describing a scene where Missy, a woman he admires, got off the bus in downtown LA, looked around, and claimed that she's "home." The singer then goes on to describe his own desire to find love, a place to drink, and some time to himself. In his own words, "Just as long as I'm never alone." Missy is painted as someone who is pure and good-hearted, with "eyes as big as porcelain plates" and "skin as thin as paper drapes." She is religious and sings to the Lord before bed. She prays to her Lord to be her shepherd and she would be his sheep until dawn. The singer meets Missy at a coffee shop, and he is immediately taken by her. However, he admits that he is not what he seems, and he should be a better man than what he is. He describes himself as a "beggar, thief, and courtesan." He swears that he will never get sad, but at the same time, he is lying and cursing all of his dreams. He tells Missy that he still has some good in him and that if she stuck around, she would see that he is trying to be better. He is plagued with feelings of sadness, wondering why he feels so bad. However, he promises Missy that he will never get sad.
The song Missy is full of rich lyricism, painting a picture of Missy, the singer's desire to find love and a place to belong, and his own internal struggle to be a better person. The chorus, "I don't mind if I catch the stink of these drones," is a powerful metaphor for the singer's feeling of being trapped and alone, as if he is surrounded by a swarm of drones. This could be interpreted in many ways, from feelings of existential dread to anxiety brought on by modern society.
Line by Line Meaning
Missy got off the bus one day
Missy arrived by bus at downtown LA
In a crowd of people, downtown LA
She was surrounded by people in downtown LA
She looked around as if to say, 'I'm home'
She felt at home in the city
But I'm home
The artist also feels at home in the city
I find someone to love
The artist seeks connection and love
And some place to drink
The singer wants a place to relax and have a drink
And some time when I can just sit and think
The singer wants time to reflect and contemplate
And I don't mind if I catch the stink of these drones
The artist is okay with the unpleasant aspects of the city
Lord, of these drones
The artist expresses a sense of powerlessness
Just as long as I'm never alone
The artist fears being alone
She had eyes as big as porcelain plates
Missy had large, expressive eyes
And skin as thin as paper drapes
Missy had delicate, fragile skin
And she loved the Lord the way an apostate loves songs
Missy had a deep religious devotion, like someone who has strayed from their faith but still loves singing hymns
And she'd sing to him before she went to sleep:
Missy would sing hymns to God before going to bed
"I pray to you, my soul to keep
Missy prays to God for protection of her soul
You're shepherd, then I'll be your sheep
Missy sees God as her shepherd and herself as a follower
Until dawn, oh until dawn
Missy pledges her devotion to God until morning
Well I'd follow you, even if it was wrong"
Missy blindly follows God, even if the path is uncertain
I met her one night at the coffee shop
The singer meets Missy at a café
Her face so bright, my heart just stopped
Missy's appearance is stunning to the artist
Hello my dear, I fear I'm not what I seem
The artist admits to not being genuine with Missy
Not what I seem
The artist is pretending to be something he's not
I should've become a better man
The singer regrets his past actions
I should be more deserving than
The artist believes he should have more value
The beggar, thief and courtesan I've been
The singer has engaged in unsavory behaviors
Oh, that I've been
The singer regrets his past actions
But I swear, I lie, I curse all of my dreams
The singer acknowledges his failings and the negative impact they have had on his life
But I swear there's still some good in me
The artist believes there is still hope for him
And I think if you stuck around you'd see
The artist hopes Missy will see his positive qualities
All the honest attempts at integrity, I was had
The singer has tried to be a good person, but has faced challenges
Maybe if you helped me, I'd get it right
The singer needs Missy's support to improve himself
I lie awake every night, staring at the ceiling
The artist is plagued by his mistakes and shortcomings
Wondering why I feel so bad, why I feel so bad
The artist is trying to understand his negative emotions
But I swear, I swear, I swear I'll never get sad
The artist is making a promise to himself to be happy in the future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKEL FRANS JOLLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joey McCracken
I've been listening to this band forever, excited for their concert this spring
Rachel Hechtle
Are you a member of medici? Its amazing! Dream come true.
Jon C
Simply amazing. I rarely ever buy music, but I bought this CD within minutes of hearing 3 songs.
BreakingPuppet
It was love at first... hearing. I love them since the first moment I listened to one of their songs. It's just pure awesomeness.
Nate Riley
I've been watching and singing along to this video for over a decade andt it just hit me how great Anna leg's look in this video. God, I miss her (and her musical talents, of course). This debut album was fire.
Monk Moto
what do you mean, she dead bruh?
Garry Moran
Saw them in Dublin last week fopr the second time and the show was unreal. They were amazing in December and they seem to be just improving and improving all the time.
CFaithA
I can't even handle how good they are.
itsbrittneyyy94
I love them. And I love how Steven comes out of nowhere :) <33
gwerg333
I still come back to these acoustic vids every once in a while. Some of my favorite content on YouTube, so dang charming and raw.