Zammuto and de Jong met through a friend in New York City. Sharing similar interests but different backgrounds in acoustic music and found sound, Zammuto and de Jong took their sonic experiments to the studio. Eventually, with some urging by Tom Steinle of Tomlab Records, they created what would become their debut record, 'Thought for Food', in 2002. Within a year, the Books relocated to Hot Springs, NC, and recorded and released 'The Lemon of Pink'. With a lot of favorable word of mouth and critical buzz from the first two records, the Books relocated again in winter of 2004 and recorded in an old Victorian home in North Adams, MA. With the release of 'Lost and Safe' in April of 2005, the Books prepared to tour with their unique blend of samples and acoustic music. All three Books albums were released on Tomlab Records.
One of the most unique aspects of the band was the video compositions which play during their live performances. Video was synched with the music and provide visuals to coincide with the many found-sounds the band employs. According to the band, much of the video was pulled from home movies and ephemeral films bought from thrift stores. For example, on the track entitled 'A Cold Freezin' Night', the many audio samples were pulled from Tiger Electronics Talkboy tapes also acquired from thrift stores.
In the late 2000s, The Books announced the addition of a third member of the band, who plays violin, guitar, and electronics. In August 2010, their final album entitled 'The Way Out' was released on Temporary Residence. 2012 saw a compilation release 'A Dot in Time.'
In early 2012, Nick Zammuto announced the end of the duo and the beginning of his solo project Zammuto. Subsequently, Paul de Jong released two solo albums.
Deafkids
The Books Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silenzio! (*)
Kids making noises
Silenzio! (*)
(*) It's the italian for 'Be quiet!'
The Books's song Deafkids is an interesting and thought-provoking piece that speaks to the complexities of communication and understanding. The lyrics, "Kids making noises, Silenzio!" repeated over and over again throughout the song, seem to suggest a struggle between adults and children, who are often perceived as loud, obnoxious, and difficult to control. However, the use of the Italian word "silenzio" adds an interesting layer of complexity to the song, perhaps suggesting that the issue lies not with the children themselves but with the adults who are often quick to dismiss the noises they make without taking the time to truly listen or understand them.
The use of samples throughout the song also adds to its thematic complexity, with snippets of children's voices and other ambient sounds reminding us of the beauty and depth of the world around us. At times, the song feels chaotic and overwhelming, with layers of sound building on top of each other and creating a sense of disorientation. However, this chaos eventually gives way to a sense of harmony and interconnectedness, as different samples begin to blend together and create a unique and captivating soundscape.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids making noises
Children are being loud and disruptive.
Silenzio!
An Italian command to be quiet and stop making noise.
Kids making noises
Children are continuing to be loud and disruptive.
Contributed by Emma D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.