Hannah Levin's review of the Black Angels album, Passover, described them as "Walking in the shadows cast by Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized mastermind Jason Pierce" and compared them to The Warlocks and Black Mountain, also invoking "dirges" reminiscent of both The Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. The band's icon is a stylized image of Nico.
In December 2007, the group announced on their blog that their second album would be released in Spring of 2008. In March 2008 a release date of May 13th was announced for their second album, Directions to See a Ghost. Their third album was "Phosphene Dream" released in 2010. This record is slowly starting to give Black Angels international recognition.
http://www.theblackangels.com/
Phosphene Dream
The Black Angels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel like running
Your eyes are red and mine are too
I feel like laughing
The wind sayin' nothing, nothing at all
It all meant someone was gonna fall
In the middle of summer
Mom and dad look old again
Where am I heading?
My two sisters miss me yes,
Without me knowing
It all meant something,
Something to us all
The wind said nothing,
Nothing at all
In the middle of winter
No one haunts me like you do
In the middle of winter
No one haunts me like you
Our president then was dead to us
Hallelujah!
He takes his pills so he can kill
Praise the bible
I need no pills to kill
Hallelujah!
I need no pills to kill
Raise the rifle
Oh, the phosphene dream,
The phosphene dream
Oh, the phosphene,
The phosphene dream
Oh, the phosphene dream,
The phosphene dream
Oh, the phosphene dream,
The phosphene
The lyrics to The Black Angels's song Phosphene Dream seem to describe the singer's inner turmoil and confusion, which is reflected in the changing seasons and their relationship with another person. The opening lines describe the sky as blue and the person they are with also as blue, perhaps indicating a feeling of sadness or melancholy. However, the singer feels like running and laughing, suggesting a desire to break free from this emotional state. The wind seems to foreshadow something ominous, an impending fall, but it is unclear who or what is going to fall.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on their family and how they are missing them without their knowledge. This could suggest a feeling of alienation or disconnection from their loved ones. The mention of the president being dead to them is a possible reference to political disillusionment, while the lines about pills and rifles could be interpreted as a commentary on violence and addiction.
The repeated phrase "the phosphene dream" is intriguing and could have multiple interpretations. Phosphenes are the visual sensations one sees when they close their eyes tightly, such as bright flashes or geometric patterns. The idea of a "dream" made up of these visual sensations could signify a dreamlike, otherworldly state of mind. Alternatively, the phrase could be a metaphor for the fleeting nature of happiness and the illusory nature of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky is blue and you are too
The singer sees the world and themselves in a positive light.
I feel like running
The singer has a strong desire to move quickly and escape.
Your eyes are red and mine are too
The singer and the person they address have been crying.
I feel like laughing
Despite the sadness, the artist feels the urge to laugh.
The wind sayin' nothing, nothing at all
The silence of the surroundings is starkly noticeable.
It all meant someone was gonna fall
The quiet calm before a sudden, inevitable disaster.
In the middle of summer
The time of year is hot and sunny.
No one haunts me like you do
The person the artist addresses has a profound impact on their mind and emotions.
Mom and dad look old again
The artist's parents appear worn and aged.
Where am I heading?
The artist questions where their life is taking them.
My two sisters miss me yes
The singer's sisters express affection and longing for them.
Without me knowing
The artist is unaware of their sisters' feelings.
It all meant something, something to us all
The events and experiences they've gone through have significance to everyone involved.
The wind said nothing, nothing at all
The stillness is uncomfortable and eerie.
In the middle of winter
The time of year is cold and dark.
Our president then was dead to us
The artist expresses political disillusionment.
Hallelujah!
An exclamation of praise or excitement.
He takes his pills so he can kill
The behavior of a politician is denounced as unethical and violent.
Praise the bible
A reference to religious and moral beliefs.
I need no pills to kill
The artist rejects violent solutions.
Raise the rifle
A call for action against political injustice.
Oh, the phosphene dream
The artist describes a surreal, dreamlike state.
The phosphene dream
A repetition of the previous line.
Oh, the phosphene
A reference to seeing lights caused by pressure on the eyes.
The phosphene dream
A repetition of the first line.
Oh, the phosphene dream
A repetition of the first line.
The phosphene
A repetition of the previous line.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALEXANDER MAAS, GEARY CHRISTIAN BLAND, KYLE HUNT, NATHANIEL RYAN, STEPHANIE BAILEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
gelu batir
Phosphene Dream is the third album from rock band The Black Angels. It was released on September 13, 2010 in the UK and September 14, 2010 in the United States by Blue Horizon. Track listing- Bad Vibrations 4:27
Haunting At 1300 McKinley 2:24
Yellow Elevator #2 4:57
Sunday Afternoon 2:44
River Of Blood 3:58
Entrance Song 3:39
Phosphene Dream 3:42
True Believers 4:33
Telephone 1:59
The Sniper 3:54
PERSONNEL - Stephanie Bailey-
Drums, Percussion Kyle Hunt-
Bass, Organ [Rheem Mark VII], Guitar, Drum [Floor Tom] Nate Ryan-
Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Organ [Air], Autoharp [Electric] Christian Bland-
Guitar, Vocals, Organ, Bass, Harmonium Alex Maas -
Lead Vocals, Bass, Organ [Vox], Guitar, Percussion
Carlos Bucio Borja
00:00 - Bad Vibrations
4:27 - Entrance Song
8:06 - Haunting at 1300 McKinnley
10:30 - Phosphene dream
14:12 - River of blood
18:10 - Sunday Afternoon
20:54 - Telephone
22:53 - The Sniper
26:47 - True Believers
31:20 - Yellow Elevator #2
SakiChan AMVs
This last song, Yellow Elevator #2; I wanted to tell how I experience it.
First, I meditate and come to myself, purely focusing the music "into my body".
At the point where he says; "Nothing's the same after that yellow elevator . Seeing through golden light"
I imagine myself sitting in not 1, but 2 elevators. 1 going up but not somewhere els, right above my head up to the sky, slowly.
And at the same time I imagine 1 going down.
At this point I start singing along and I feel this incredible inner power; one thats keeping me grounded and down to earth and myself.
And the other connected to the sky and all in between.
One weird thing happens; my voice disappears.
After this album, I started meditating on it more frequently and found out that people often dwell off to "other places, objects" or a "person".
I am highly sensitive and also discovered my creativity in my head cud lead to chaos in my mind and body, even around me.
I started focusing more on all my senses then only one. And felt them melting together as I meditated on The Black Angels.
It's also a good thing to know about chakra's if you listen to these kinds of music, cus they often describe sound and feelings into colors.
So much thanks from ME....
LiSaNdRo BeNíTeZ
The correct order for the songs is:
1. Bad Vibrations
2. Haunting at 1300 McKinley
3. Yellow Elevator #2
4. Sunday Afternoon
5. River of Blood
6. Entrance Song
7. Phosphene Dream
8. True Believers
9. Telephone
10. The Sniper
Sheila Marcoe
I love this....I don't care what anyone else thinks....my ears, soul, and mind are happy listening.
Johnny Drama
👍
Gabriel Soto
They sound similar to some of The Doors' work, but they have clearly defined their own sound. i can see how the lyrics are written in a Morrisson-esque style. I think that these cats have their own distinct, unique sound but Jim Morrison is absolutely smiling upon them from Hyperspace
SuperManiacstudios
I actually have always hated the doors, but absolutely I love this band, for going on 10 yrs now, haha. I do agree and see the similarities though. Cheers bro.
Suedetussy
This album is so great and breathtaking, but the final song is really the culmination of all the beauty in this album, it makes me cry.
Gregorio Ganesh
I would give this album a 9.8 or 9.9. Absolutely the best psychedelic rock album to come out since tthe 1960's. Believe me, & I NEVER SAY THIS, EVER....until now.
The Wolf ate and the Goat remains whole
Thanks to Spec Ops: The Line for showing me this great band!
jamesfforthemasses
oh...my...god! found this independantly and just noticed
gelu batir
Phosphene Dream is the third album from rock band The Black Angels. It was released on September 13, 2010 in the UK and September 14, 2010 in the United States by Blue Horizon. Track listing- Bad Vibrations 4:27
Haunting At 1300 McKinley 2:24
Yellow Elevator #2 4:57
Sunday Afternoon 2:44
River Of Blood 3:58
Entrance Song 3:39
Phosphene Dream 3:42
True Believers 4:33
Telephone 1:59
The Sniper 3:54
PERSONNEL - Stephanie Bailey-
Drums, Percussion Kyle Hunt-
Bass, Organ [Rheem Mark VII], Guitar, Drum [Floor Tom] Nate Ryan-
Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Organ [Air], Autoharp [Electric] Christian Bland-
Guitar, Vocals, Organ, Bass, Harmonium Alex Maas -
Lead Vocals, Bass, Organ [Vox], Guitar, Percussion
Mr.E 93tilinfinity
One of the greatest psych-rock records of ALL time imho!!!