The band's distinct sound is a mixture of Doss and Hart's experimental tendencies. This chemistry is evident in their albums given that some tracks are 2-3 minute pop songs, while others are electro-acoustic collages ranging in length from 2 seconds to 10 minutes, and differing in content from vibrant horns to near silence. Furthermore, the band released a record of experimental electro-acoustic music, The Late Music, Volume One, under the name The Black Swan Network, in 1997. Another Black Swan Network release, a 7" EP on the Happy Happy Birthday to Me label, appeared in 2000, though it did not feature Bill Doss. In October 1997, a "collaborative" LP between The Olivia Tremor Control and The Black Swan Network was released, originally as a tour-only item, and later put out as a CD by Flydaddy, which gave the record the title, The Olivia Tremor Control Vs. The Black Swan Network,' though the band had never wanted the record to be named as such. The band was influenced by the odd quality inherent in dreams and asked their listeners to send in tapes describing their own, examples of which can be heard in the final track of Black Foliage and the OTC-BSN collaborative LP.
The members of The Olivia Tremor Control embarked on a variety of different projects before and after the band broke up. Eric Harris released a record under the name Frosted Ambassador and later two CD-R releases under his own name on Cloud Recordings, the label founded by Fernandes and Hart in the wake of OTC's demise. Pete Erchick released two records, Individualized Shirts and Special Fanfare For Anything, under the name Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't. Bill Doss followed OTC by putting out records as The Sunshine Fix, a name he had used years before. The Sunshine Fix has evolved from a recording project to a formal working band. Hart's post-OTC project, Circulatory System, has taken a similar route. The self-titled 2001 LP continued the melding together of pop and experimental traditions the OTC had worked on and won high accolades from the press. While the follow-up is still in the works, the band continues to play live shows in Athens and occasionally elsewhere.
In 2005, the Olivia Tremor Control temporarily reunited, solely for live shows, at the behest of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. They appeared at a UK version of the festival, preceded by warm-up shows in Athens and London; that summer, they again played Athens, at the Orange Twin Conservation Community, as well as gigs in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and L.A.
In May 2009, Will Hart said in an interview that the band had recently re-entered the recording studio: "We've got two songs for the next Olivia record, in my opinion. They're on Bill's hard drive."
In March 2011, Elf Power drummer Derek Almstead confirmed that he was engineering and playing percussion on the new record and that new material would be debuted at All Tomorrows' Parties later in the year. In addition to this, they have released a song titled "North Term Reality" under Olivia Tremor Control for AUX Vol. 2.
On August 30, 2011, the band premiered a new song, "The Game You Play is In Your Head Parts 1, 2 &3" and announced they planned to have a new album out later in 2011. Tour dates for Winter 2011 were also announced.
The death of Bill Doss was announced on July 31, 2012.
I Can Smell the Leaves
The Olivia Tremor Control Lyrics
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i can smell the leaves
little by little it gets colder
take the bus downtown
ride a bike
to the park
with your trip
people everywhere
immediate processors
writing books and climbing stairs
just a few hours
the sun goes down
all the people hanging around go back home
or stay downtown
autumn is here
i can smell the leaves
the color of fire
i look at the trees grow older
The lyrics to The Olivia Tremor Control's song "I Can Smell the Leaves" evoke a sense of autumnal atmosphere and the changing of the seasons. The phrase "autumn is here, I can smell the leaves" immediately resonates with anyone who has experienced the crisp air and fallen foliage of this time of year. As the song progresses, the lyrics paint a picture of a bustling city, with people going about their day - taking buses, riding bikes, writing books, and climbing stairs. Yet, amidst all of the activity, there is a certain melancholic beauty in the transformation of the natural world. The leaves changing color, the sun setting earlier, and the trees growing older all become symbols of the cyclical nature of life.
Ultimately, "I Can Smell the Leaves" is a song about paying attention to the details and finding meaning in the everyday. There's a sense of wonder in the autumnal imagery and an appreciation for the fleeting moments of beauty that we can witness if we take the time to stop and look around.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Can Smell the Leaves" offer a meditation on the passage of time and the importance of taking notice of our surroundings. Its themes of seasonal change and urban life make it a poignant commentary on the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
autumn is here
The season of autumn has arrived
i can smell the leaves
The singer can detect the odor of fallen leaves
little by little it gets colder
Gradually, the temperature is decreasing
take the bus downtown
Suggesting a mode of transportation to the center of the city
ride a bike
Provide an alternative to taking the bus - using a bicycle
to the park
The destination of the trip, a green space in the city
with your trip
Encouraging the listener to take this journey with another person or group
people everywhere
The park is bustling with activity
immediate processors
The people in the park are highly productive and active in their pursuits
writing books and climbing stairs
Examples of what the people in the park may be doing
just a few hours
A limited amount of time
the sun goes down
The time of day when the sun disappears below the horizon
all the people hanging around go back home
People who were in the park leave and return to their homes
or stay downtown
Some people may decide to continue spending time in the city center after leaving the park
the color of fire
Describing the bright, vivid colors of the changing leaves
i look at the trees grow older
The artist observes the gradual aging of the trees over time
Contributed by Juliana M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.