1) a well known Thai funk/pop band active in the 1970s.
2) an indie band active in the UK in the early 90s.
3) an alternative/ska band from Austin, Texas
1) The Impossibles (Thailand) composed their own hits but were also known for their covers of Western rock songs. They were among the first Thai pop bands to cover English language songs and were the first Thai rock band to record an English language album overseas during a tour of Europe. The band broke up in 1977, but they have frequently performed at reunions over the years, and its members remain active in music in Thailand.
2) The Impossibles (UK) were short-lived UK band consisting of Lucy Dallas and Mags Grundy. They had three releases on Fontana, with their first single "How do you do it?" produced by Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine and giving them some success after featuring in the NME.
3) The Impossibles (US) sprang from the ashes of the tragically named Austin, Texas band 'thefatgirls' in April of 1994 when fatgirls members Rory Phillips (vocals, guitar), Craig Tweedy (bass), and Pat Elliott (drums) found themselves looking for a new singer and a less embarrassing name. Within weeks they were practicing with Gabe Hascall, at that point also a bass player for the Austin hardcore band loophole. Gabe sang one song in Loophole's set, a cover of the Avail anthem 'March', and it was this shining moment that caught Rory’s eye and convinced the future Impossibles they had found their singer.
Acting as a stand-alone singer for the Impossibles first official show, Gabe soon also took on second guitar playing duties, a move that would prove critical to the future direction of the band. Writing songs with dual vocals and dueling walls of guitar sound, the Impossibles began to forge a sound reminiscent of their main influences at the time bringing together the alternative rock pop of bands like Weezer and The Pixies with the punk pop sound of bay area bands Green Day and Operation Ivy. After a short run of demo tapes the band recorded a full length self titled album, which they initially released on local label Red 5 Records and was soon picked up by Florida label Fueled by Ramen.
After a summer of touring on their first full length the Impossibles once again headed into the studio to record a follow up EP, ’Back 4 the Attack’. By this point the four members of the Impossibles were unsure of their futures, with several members wishing to pursue scholastic goals. The band decided to call it quits shortly after the release of their new EP, and would play their final show early the next year never to be heard from again...
Cut to winter, 1999. The first two Impossibles records on Fueled by Ramen along with the first demo recordings were collected into one CD, the Impossibles Anthology 94-97. After two years of playing in Imbroco and The Stereo, Rory found himself back in Austin and looking for a place to live. Although their contact was sporadic, Gabe and Rory somehow kept in contact enough to end up living together in a one-bedroom apartment in Austin’s Hyde Park district. Although the idea had come up from time to time, an Impossibles reunion wasn’t really feasible at any point until then, and somehow to everyone involved, it made perfect sense. Craig had been playing with Austin band Cruiserweight, but after much coaxing and convincing came back to the band solidifying the original lineup once again.
The following springs the Impossibles wrote and recorded 'Return’, their second full length and a noticeable departure from the original formula of ska meets pop rock. With two years apart and a lot of changes in musical influence, the Impossibles were now also incorporating influences from bands like Elliott Smith, Spiritualized, and Fugazi. At its core, however, the sound could still be found in the lyrical hooks and signature big rock guitars that had powered the bands earlier efforts.
The Impossibles hit the road and hit it hard in 2000, supporting acts like Less Than Jake and new found glory and headlining tours with Ultimate Fakebook and Cadillac Blindside, busting their chops and learning how to give their audience the same energy they received, pushing themselves every night to the point of breaking (sometimes literally) only to do it all over again the next night.
In spring of 2001 a new EP was recorded with hardcore super producer Brian McTernan entitled ’Brick Bomb’. The bands fourth effort broke even more new ground (much to the dismay of the third wave ska set, sorry kids) and honed their pop rock skills to a razor point. The songs are at times their most aggressive and their most subdued, but the sound is unmistakable.
After a 6 week US tour with the likes of grade and the movie life, the band found themselves at another impasse with the departure of their original drummer Pat Elliott and gearing up for 6 more months of touring, with their scheduled first tour of Europe in November 2001. Afterwards, being talked into a mini tour of Florida, the Impossibles retired to Austin, where they broke up shortly after.
On June, 2nd 2001 the Impossibles played their farewell concert at home in Austin to a packed house. A copy of their final moments were avalible on a DVD from Fueled By Ramen, and are sold out indeffinitly as no future pressings are planned.
The Impossibles will live on in the hearts and minds of the countless souls they touched with their music.
The Week of August First
The Impossibles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And lost the things I'd learned to accept
Like faith in promises
And I think about the truth I hold
Compared to the bitter fruits of getting old
Just like my father says
This is a test to see if my worst still can beat my best
This is a test, a measurement of my failure at success
It's all come back to me
I built up bad times in the cracks in my securities
But will I steer right?
Will my laundry stay white?
Whenever I lose sight of my plight?
But I still turn my back look the other way
Sustain myself, all work no play
It's life but far from living
And my views become naturally corrupt
When my friends and enemies get mixed up
My lesson's learned after the fact
(And so my palms get sweaty
I can't read the answers on my hands)
In the song "The Week of August 1st," The Impossibles delve into themes of self-reflection and the struggle to overcome personal obstacles. The first lines of the song describe descending into oneself and losing the ability to accept certain circumstances, such as promises that people make. The singer then goes on to contemplate the realities of life and aging, and how they compare to one's established beliefs.
The lyrics "This is a test to see if my worst still can beat my best / This is a test, a measurement of my failure at success" point to the struggle to maintain personal excellence and to be able to withstand challenges. The singer refers to a "sophomore jinx," which is a term used to describe the difficulty of achieving continued success after an initial achievement.
The chorus of the song "It's just my sophomore jinx / It's all come back to me / I built up bad times in the cracks in my securities / But will I steer right? / Will my laundry stay white? / Whenever I lose sight of my plight?" highlights the internal struggle of decision-making and maintaining focus on long-term goals. The singer acknowledges the challenges they have faced in the past and questions whether they will be able to avoid repeating mistakes.
Overall, the song is a thoughtful reflection on the challenges of personal growth and the struggle to balance different aspects of one's life. It highlights the importance of perseverance and maintaining a strong sense of self in the face of difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
So I go down to my deepest depths
I delve into my innermost thoughts and emotions
And lost the things I'd learned to accept
I no longer believe in the things that used to give me comfort
Like faith in promises
I no longer trust people's words and commitments
And I think about the truth I hold
I reflect on my personal beliefs and values
Compared to the bitter fruits of getting old
As I age, I realize the harsh realities of life
Just like my father says
My dad has imparted some wisdom on me about life
This is a test to see if my worst still can beat my best
Life is challenging and is a constant competition between my shortcomings and my strengths
This is a test, a measurement of my failure at success
Life is also a way to measure my attempts at success that ultimately end in failure
It's just my sophomore jinx
I am experiencing a period of bad luck or poor performance
It's all come back to me
All my problems have come full circle and are back in my face
I built up bad times in the cracks in my securities
I tried to hide my problems and insecurities but they have resurfaced
But will I steer right?
I question my ability to make the right choices and decisions
Will my laundry stay white?
I wonder if I can maintain purity and cleanliness in my life
Whenever I lose sight of my plight?
Whenever I lose focus on my challenges in life
But I still turn my back look the other way
I try to avoid my problems and distract myself from them
Sustain myself, all work no play
I try to survive by working hard and not taking time to relax or have fun
It's life but far from living
I am alive but not truly experiencing and savoring life
And my views become naturally corrupt
My opinions and beliefs become tainted by my negative experiences
When my friends and enemies get mixed up
It becomes difficult for me to distinguish between my friends and foes
My lesson's learned after the fact
I often realize the lessons I should have learned only after the situation has passed
(And so my palms get sweaty
I feel intense anxiety and stress
I can't read the answers on my hands)
I cannot find a clear solution to my problems
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
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