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The Good Life star… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
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The Good Life started out as a means for Tim Kasher to use a songwriting approach that differed from his other projects (namely, Cursive), but it didn’t take long for the solo project to become a band, and for that band to finally come into its own.
The Good Life’s sound has evolved from the refined, quiet pop of the first full-length, Novena on a Nocturn, to the moody hooks of 2002’s Black Out, to the sing-along anthems of divorce and disillusionment found on the recent Lovers Need Lawyers EP. The sum of these parts is found on Album of the Year.
Album of the Year brings all that is the sound of The Good Life to fruition – catchy, moody pop rock that fluctuates between the all-ages club and the smoky cabaret, right alongside sing-along crescendos that spin into cinematic bursts. In short, every song has a plan – every song is going someplace, and lyrically, going there will inevitably involve leaving, being left, or leaving in anticipation of being left. Kasher’s ability to cleverly turn an innocuous phrase into a malicious slur of ill will leaves you not knowing whether to laugh or cry, all the while giving you the distinct impression that you’ll be quoting him at some point down the road. With that said, could Album of the Year just as well be called Break-up Album of the Year? Maybe. But that would limit it to being compared only to other break-up albums, and, well, it can hold its own.
The follow-up to this year’s Lovers Need Lawyers EP features Tim Kasher, Stefanie Drootin, Ryan Fox, and Roger Lewis, as well as a guest vocal performance on "Inmates" from former The Good Life member Jiha Lee.
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The Good Life is also a recent Nels Cline live project based on the music of Ornette Colleman. The other band memebers are: Ben Goldberg on clarinet, John Dietrich on electric guitar, Trevor Dunn on electric bass and Scott Amendola on drums.
Notes in His Pockets
The Good Life Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My baby's home on her night off
So I'm involved in a serious talk
With a girl I had known growing up
So we buy a six; decide to split
She has a downtown apartment
She opens the door, falls to the floor,
Says, "I'm bitter sick of sweet and pure, take me now I'm yours."
Notes in his pockets
Rumors in the mill
Phone calls after the bars close - unlisted numbers
If she only knew, then he'd be through
But who knows which parts are true.
She hates how it looks, but what can she do?
The girls all talk behind her back, they say she's being used.
Ooh!
At Sullivan's drinking with Justin
He says he's seen my ex-girlfriend
She's back in town – and what's worse
He knows where and when she works
So we head over to the Underwood
She's trading shots with regulars
She gives me a hugs 'til our hips are flush
Says, "Boy, we've hardly kept in touch – it's time for catching up."
Ooh!
Notes in his pockets
Rumors in the mill
Phone calls after the bars close – unlisted numbers
Still, he insists on his innocence
Says those girls are all gossips
She's gotta drop the axe, catch him in the act
With his shame around his ankles, chain the guilt around his neck.
Ooh!
The Good Life's song Notes in His Pockets tells a story of infidelity and the rumors and gossip that surround it. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is out drinking with a girl he knew growing up while his girlfriend is at home on her night off. After buying some alcohol, they go to the girl's apartment where she makes a suggestive move on him. The chorus implies that there are "notes in his pockets" and "rumors in the mill" that suggest the man is cheating on his girlfriend. The lyrics describe phone calls with unlisted numbers and suggest that the man is not being truthful with his girlfriend.
The second verse sees the singer running into an ex-girlfriend while drinking with a friend. The ex-girlfriend is also out drinking and having a good time with her friends. She is welcoming towards the singer, and they catch up before parting ways. However, the chorus implies that rumors and gossip will soon arise from this encounter, as they did with the previous situation.
The lyrics reveal the doubts and insecurities of the singer's girlfriend, who is aware of the rumors and notes in his pockets. The chorus implies that she is struggling with the decision of whether to confront him or not. The song paints a picture of a relationship that is struggling due to the dishonesty and infidelity of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Drunk at the bar at last last call
Under the influence of alcohol at the bar at closing time
My baby's home on her night off
My significant other is at home on her night off
So I'm involved in a serious talk
So I'm engaged in a deep conversation
With a girl I had known growing up
With a woman I had known since childhood
So we buy a six; decide to split
So we purchase a pack of beer and decide to share it
She has a downtown apartment
She lives in an apartment in the downtown area
She opens the door, falls to the floor,
She opens the door and falls to the ground
Says, "I'm bitter sick of sweet and pure, take me now I'm yours."
Says, "I'm tired of being good and pure, have me now because I'm available."
Notes in his pockets
Written information in his clothing
Rumors in the mill
Gossip circulating among people
Phone calls after the bars close - unlisted numbers
Phone conversations taking place after bars close, with the phone numbers being hidden
If she only knew, then he'd be through
If she had knowledge of his actions, their relationship would be over
But who knows which parts are true.
It is uncertain which information is accurate
She hates how it looks, but what can she do?
She dislikes the appearance of the situation, but feels powerless to change it
The girls all talk behind her back, they say she's being used.
Other women speak negatively about her and assert that she is being taken advantage of
At Sullivan's drinking with Justin
At Sullivan's bar drinking with Justin
He says he's seen my ex-girlfriend
He claims to have seen my former girlfriend
She's back in town – and what's worse
She has returned to town - and this is bad news
He knows where and when she works
He is aware of her workplace and schedule
So we head over to the Underwood
So we go to the Underwood bar
She's trading shots with regulars
She is consuming alcoholic beverages with regular bar patrons
She gives me a hugs 'til our hips are flush
She embraces me until our bodies are touching
Says, "Boy, we've hardly kept in touch – it's time for catching up."
States, "We haven't stayed in contact much - it's time for us to catch up."
Still, he insists on his innocence
Nonetheless, he maintains his lack of culpability
Says those girls are all gossips
Claims that the women are all prone to spreading rumors
She's gotta drop the axe, catch him in the act
She must confront him and catch him engaging in inappropriate behavior
With his shame around his ankles, chain the guilt around his neck.
He will be ashamed and burdened with guilt
Contributed by Isabella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.