The Briefs are a punk rock band originally consisting of Daniel J. Travanti… Read Full Bio ↴The Briefs are a punk rock band originally consisting of Daniel J. Travanti (guitar/vocals), Steve E. Nix (guitar/vocals), Lance Romance (bass/vocals) and Chris Brief (drums/vocals). The group was formed in 2000 in Seattle, Washington. They play punk music common to the Pacific Northwest independent punk / new wave scene, influenced by acts such as the Buzzcocks, The Undertones and the Adverts. They released their first full length, Hit After Hit, in October 2000 via Dirtnap Records. The band was courted by and reportedly signed with major label Interscope Records following the release of 2002's Off The Charts, but the deal fell through. The Briefs surfaced on California's BYO Records with the release of 2004's Sex Objects and the reissue of their Dirtnap-era full lengths. They most recently released Steal Yer Heart in 2005. The Briefs have released a prolific number of 7" singles in their career for a number of small independent labels.

In 2004, the Briefs went on European tour without Lance Romance, who had stayed behind to get his GED. They took in his place bassist Steve Kicks of Vancouver's New Town Animals. Lance rejoined the line-up for the 2004 release party of Sex Objects, however retired from the band in 2005. Kicks has since become a permanent addition and was a full member for the follow up Steal Yer Heart.

Lyrically the Briefs have carried on many themes prevalent in `77 era punk rock. The Sex Objects single "Orange Alert" gained notoriety as a seething criticism of the Bush administration and the of the culture of fear in post-9/11 America. It is one of a number of songs critical of the U.S. Government, including "No More Presidents" and "Destroy The USA" from Sex Objects, and "We Americans" from Off the Charts. The band has written a number of love songs a consciously off kilter style similar to the Buzzcocks' "Orgasm Addict." Through songs like "Dolly Parton" the band has also shown a penchant for light-hearted absurdity.

The Briefs are currently on hiatus while Chris is in Germany and Daniel continues his quest towards becoming the world's littlest astronaut, training at a secret location underground, possibly in California. Nix and Kicks are both in a new band called Steve E. Nix and The Cute Lepers. They play a very similar style of music as The Briefs with some added power pop drive. They have released a 7" single for the songs "Terminal Boredom" backed with "Prove It" on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records. Two more singles are due on the europeon labels NFT and Drunk'n'Roll records.

I Can't Work
The Briefs Lyrics

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Sitting in my room on my new brand stereo
And I can't understand where does time go
Grandmother's sick, the cat ran away
I found a good reason not to go to work everyday

I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)

I can't work (work)

No gasoline so the car won't start
My skin falls apart, my transfer's lost
I'd call you on the telephone any other day
But the service is off man, I can't pay

I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)

I can't work I say

I don't know what to do when I don't know where to go
I could try to sell Acme products, oh
But if I went I'd beat the boss up myself
In the mirror I'm with you

I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)
I can't work (work)

I can't work
I can't work
I can't work
I can't work

I can't, I can't (I can't work)
I can't, I can't (I can't work)

I can't, I can't (I can't work)
I can't, I can't (I can't work)

Overall Meaning

The Briefs's song "I Can't Work" is about a person who is feeling overwhelmed and unable to face the responsibilities of daily life. The singer is sitting in their room, listening to music on their new stereo, and contemplating the ways in which their life is falling apart. They mention that their grandmother is sick, their cat has run away, and they can't seem to find the motivation to go to work. Despite their efforts to pull themselves together, they feel unable to cope with the challenges of life.

The second verse highlights the singer's growing sense of frustration and isolation. They mention that they can't start their car, their skin is falling apart, and they've lost their transfer. They also note that they can't even call someone for help because their phone service has been cut off due to unpaid bills. This sense of disconnect and helplessness is emphasized by the repetition of the chorus ("I can't work"), which underscores the singer's feelings of desperation and hopelessness.

In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that they don't know what to do or where to turn. They express a sense of self-loathing and anger, noting that they might try to sell Acme products but would likely end up beating up their boss instead. The repetition of the chorus becomes more urgent and insistent, driving home the singer's sense of frustration and despair.

Overall, "I Can't Work" is a poignant and relatable song about the ways in which life's challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming and insurmountable. The Briefs capture this sense of hopelessness and frustration with powerful lyrics and a catchy, punk-inspired melody.

Line by Line Meaning

Sitting in my room on my new brand stereo
I'm in my room listening to my new stereo.

And I can't understand where does time go
I don't know where time is going.

Grandmother's sick, the cat ran away
My grandmother is ill and my cat has run away.

I found a good reason not to go to work everyday
I have a good excuse not to go to work every day.

No gasoline so the car won't start
My car won't start because there's no gas.

My skin falls apart, my transfer's lost
I'm falling apart, and I've lost my transfer.

I'd call you on the telephone any other day
I'd call you on the phone any other day.

But the service is off man, I can't pay
Unfortunately, I can't pay for the phone service right now.

I don't know what to do when I don't know where to go
I'm not sure what to do or where to go.

I could try to sell Acme products, oh
I might try to sell Acme products.

But if I went I'd beat the boss up myself
But if I worked there, I'd end up beating up the boss myself.