After signing to Arista in 1988, they saw their largest international success with the album Starfish and the American Top 40 hit "Under The Milky Way" which resurfaced on the soundtrack of the cult movie "Donnie Darko". Whilst the band remain feted by their peers, subsequent commercial success proved elusive: 1990s follow-up album "Gold Afternoon Fix" failed to capitalise on their success, and the band weathered several line-up changes after its release, first losing long-term drummer Richard Ploog, then Peter Koppes following 1992s "Priest = Aura". That album baffled and confused many fans upon its release as to what band The Church was considered to be, but is now considered a seminal album and one of the most revered by Church connoisseurs. The vacant drum-stool on Priest=Aura being occupied by Jay Dee Daugherty of Arista labelmate Patti Smiths group, and it was produced by Gavin MacKillop of Moose.
Reduced to a two-piece, Kilbey & Willson-Piper re-grouped with the assistance of drummer/producer Tim Powles to record 1994's "Sometime Anywhere", concluding their obligations to the Arista and Mushroom labels. The commercial decline, combined with the Church being ignored again by a music press more focused on the Nineties' music trends, could have brought about the demise of the band, had it not coincided with the breakthrough of the internet, thus enabling direct communication from the band to its passionate cult fanbase.
This brought about a new beginning for The Church, with Peter Koppes rejoining the band for recording 1996s "Magician Among The Spirits". The band (with Koppes back into the fold, and Powles now as the permanent drummer ), hit a re-newed creative surge and with regained selfconfidence, released "Hologram Of Baal" 2 years later, and toured Australia, the USA and Europe.
The first decade of the 21st century found the band releasing severeal highly critically acclaimed albums, like 2002's aptly named "After Everything Now this" and 2003's "Forget Yourself", the latter breaking new ground with bandmembers swapping instruments in the recording process. Live performances stray from high profile events like the 03 concerts at Sydney Opera House and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, to low-profile gigs for smaller audiences, often confusing old 80s fans, surprised to find the band still playing, wrongly assuming the band just being one in the never-ending string of reunion acts.
2009's album "Untitled#23" marked yet another highlight.. its essence represented in just 10 songs, and with a strong less-is-more approach, the albums core identity being on par with Starfish, it also finds Steve Kilbey breaking new ground as a vocalist.
2010 saw their 30th anniversary, with extensive touring in the US and Australia. Their unique position and importance in the australian music scene was recognized with an ARIA award.
Their album, "Further Deeper", was released in 2014, and "man woman life death infinity" in 2017.
Friction
The Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the action just would not let up
It's justa little bit back from the main road
Where the silence spreads and the men dig holes
I begin to spin the tale
You complain about my diction
It gives me friction
But I like friction
My eyes are like telescopes
I see it all backwards, but who wants hope?
If I ever catch that ventriloquist
I'll squeeze his head right into my fist
Something comes a-crashin' in
What is it, what's the prediction?
I'll bet you it's friction
I'll bet you it's friction
But I like friction
How'd the snake get out of the skin?
All it took was a little friction
Stop this head motion and set sail
You know all us boys gonna wind up in jail
And I don't want to grow up
It's too much contradiction
And too much friction
And too much friction
I'm crazy about friction
F-R-I-C-T-I-O-N
Friction
Friction
The Church's song Friction is a lyrical journey full of vivacious experiences and poetic expressions. It seems like the singer is undergoing a tumultuous situation that keeps him intrigued and curious about the underlying forces at work. The song begins with the singer expressing his suspicion about something that is a big setup. The action doesn't seem to let up, and amidst it all, there is a small space back from the main road where the silence reigns, and the men dig holes. The singer shares that he starts spinning the tale, but someone complains about his diction, which ultimately leads to friction.
The singer likes friction, and his eyes act as telescopes, giving him a unique perspective on things. The singer doesn't seem to hold much hope and wants to catch the ventriloquist, but he'll squeeze his head right into his fist when he does. In the midst of all this, something comes crashing in, and the singer predicts that it's friction. He says he's crazy about friction and that he doesn't want to grow up because it's too much contradiction and too much friction.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew it musta been some big set-up
I was aware that there was a scheme in action.
All the action just would not let up
There was constant activity and no rest.
It's justa little bit back from the main road
The location is slightly off the primary path.
Where the silence spreads and the men dig holes
The place is characterized by stillness and the digging of ditches by men.
I begin to spin the tale
I commence to narrate the story.
You complain about my diction
You express discontentment about my language usage.
It gives me friction
It causes tension between us.
But I like friction
But I enjoy the friction between us.
My eyes are like telescopes
My eyes have powerful magnification capabilities.
I see it all backwards, but who wants hope?
Even though I see things reversed, who desires optimism?
If I ever catch that ventriloquist
If I get to apprehend that person who can speak without moving their lips.
I'll squeeze his head right into my fist
I'll exert pressure on his head with my hand.
Something comes a-crashin' in
Something suddenly happens.
What is it, what's the prediction?
What exactly is it? What is anticipated?
I'll bet you it's friction
I'm sure it's tension.
But I like friction
But I thoroughly enjoy tension.
How'd the snake get out of the skin?
How did the snake leave its skin behind?
All it took was a little friction
A bit of tension was all it required.
Stop this head motion and set sail
End your indecision and start your journey.
You know all us boys gonna wind up in jail
You're aware all of us guys are going to end up in prison.
And I don't want to grow up
And I don't want to mature.
It's too much contradiction
It involves too many paradoxes.
And too much friction
And too much tension.
I'm crazy about friction
I'm passionate about tension.
F-R-I-C-T-I-O-N
Spelling of the word 'friction'.
Friction
The name of the song.
Lyrics © Rocking Gorillas Music Ltda
Written by: Tom Verlaine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BittersweetSymphony
on You're Still Beautiful
Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself