The Microphones is the name of a project that Anacortes, WA's Phil Elverum … Read Full Bio ↴The Microphones is the name of a project that Anacortes, WA's Phil Elverum has headed since 1996. Its sound is best described as lo-fi "fuzz folk," including drum-crashing, bass-thrashing sonic freakouts, strummy classical guitar love songs, angelic vocal choirs, and almost-whispered vocals over harmoniums and bell kits.

In 2004, Elverum abandoned the "Microphones" name to begin recording as Mount Eerie, briefly returning in December 2007 when he began selling a new 7" single by the Microphones ("Don't Smoke" / "Get Off the Internet") on his website and at concerts.

In 2020, Elverum returned to the Microphones name once more to release the project's 14th album Microphones in 2020. Microphones members/collaborators include Karl Blau, Dennis Driscoll, Kyle Field aka Little Wings, Mirah, Khaela Maricich aka The Blow, Adrian Orange aka Thanksgiving, Adam Forkner and K Records' founder, Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening and the Halo Benders.

Weird Storm
The Microphones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Weird storm passes over town.
Everyone looks up and runs.
First there are flashes far away
slowly getting close.
Then the blue/grey light covers us up.
Next my favorite part:
Thunderclouds roll in
blocking out the sun.

Bumping together they smash like big drums.
I dream of thunderclouds,
my arms and legs made of just water and air and sound.

Once it starts falling cover me up.
Weird storm dropping weird things.
Water and ice in tons of different shapes.
Everyone looks up and runs.

Thunderclouds roll in.
Electricity fills the air.
Blowing fuses and knocking down trees.

I dream of thunderclounds,
my arms and legs made of just water and air and sound.

Overall Meaning

The Microphones's song "Weird Storm" describes a phenomenon that is both fascinating and frightening - a thunderstorm. It begins with the arrival of flashes of light that move closer and closer until the sky is enveloped in a blue-grey color. The storm then intensifies, and thunderclouds roll in, blocking out the sun. The clouds collide, creating a sound that is likened to the beating of big drums. The singer dreams of becoming a part of the storm, his arms and legs made of water, air, and sound.

As the storm progresses, it becomes more intense. Weird things begin to fall from the sky, including water and ice in various shapes and sizes. The thunderclouds become charged with electricity, causing power outages and damage to trees. The singer once again dreams of becoming one with the storm, his body composed of the same elements as the storm.

The song speaks to the idea of finding beauty in something that can also be dangerous, like a thunderstorm. The lyrics are vivid and poetic, painting a picture of a surreal experience that is both terrifying and enchanting.

Line by Line Meaning

Weird storm passes over town.
A strange and unusual storm moves through the town.

Everyone looks up and runs.
People notice the storm and try to get away from it.

First there are flashes far away slowly getting close.
The storm begins with distant flashes of lightning that gradually get closer.

Then the blue/grey light covers us up.
The sky turns a gloomy shade of blue-grey as the storm approaches.

Next my favorite part: Thunderclouds roll in blocking out the sun.
The artist enjoys when the dark thunderclouds arrive, obscuring the sun.

Bumping together they smash like big drums.
The thunderclouds collide and create a booming sound like drums.

I dream of thunderclouds, my arms and legs made of just water and air and sound.
The singer has a vivid imagination about being a part of the storm itself, made of the elements of water, air, and sound.

Once it starts falling cover me up.
The artist wants to be protected when the rain and hail begin falling.

Weird storm dropping weird things.
The storm brings down unusual things like ice and hail, which is abnormal for the area.

Water and ice in tons of different shapes.
The storm creates a variety of shapes and sizes of water and ice falling from the sky.

Thunderclouds roll in. Electricity fills the air.
Again, the singer enjoys the arrival of the thunderclouds and the electrical energy that they bring.

Blowing fuses and knocking down trees.
The electrical energy of the storm causes damage and destruction to the electrical grid and trees.

I dream of thunderclounds, my arms and legs made of just water and air and sound.
Once again, the singer dreams of becoming a part of the storm, existing as water, air, and sound.

Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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