Kuebler first surfaced as a member of the Baltimore indie crew Roads to Space Travel, which released a couple of records on the Amish label as well as a 7" through Washington, D.C.'s DeSoto. When the band dissolved, Kuebler began to assemble what would become the Oranges Band: ex-Wrong Button drummer Dave Voyles, guitarists Daniel Black and Virat Shukla, and bassist Tim Johnston, who had played guitar in Brickhead.
The Oranges Band debuted in April 2000 with The Five Dollars EP on Morphius, and almost immediately began touring. It was a conscious choice; idealistically, the band members believed in the immediacy and momentary grace of music, and felt that touring was the best way to access that.
A year later, another EP appeared on Morphius, Nine Hundred Miles of Fucking Hell. Around this point Kuebler fit in a collaboration and tour with Baltimore's punk combo The Thumbs. As the Oranges Band focused on writing and practicing new songs for an eventual full-length, Kuebler left again, this time as the touring bassist for the Austin, TX-based Spoon. The Oranges Band finally finished a round of demos in April 2002, which caught the ear of Lookout! Records, which quickly snapped them up. An introductory EP for Lookout! entitled On TV appeared in late 2002; the debut full-length All Around followed in April 2003, The World and Everything In It in 2005. Shortly after, Tim Johnston left the group and Faye Malarkey formerly of Sick Sick Birds stepped in on bass.
In 2008, with a new lineup that included Patrick Martin on bass and guest guitarist Doug Gillard, the band released their third full length The Oranges Band are Invisible.
My Mechanical Mind
The Oranges Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't want to divide the body from the mind
But androids have eyes
You know that androids have eyes and they can surely see
But their chests are so hopelessly empty
I'm every man on the street
When I'm tired, I sleep and dream of electric sheep
Androids are all above
You know that androids are all above you
And they're calling to one another
With pictures of all their brothers-in-arms in their pockets
The Oranges Band's song "My Mechanical Mind" is an introspective exploration of humanity's increasing reliance on technology and the potential consequences of this dependence. The singer describes their "mechanical mind," always working and never fully at rest due to the demands of modern life. In contrast, the androids (presumably referring to robots or artificial intelligence) are able to function without the limitations of a human body, but lack the emotional depth and complexity that comes with being human.
The singer expresses a desire to not separate the body from the mind, perhaps suggesting a fear of losing touch with their humanity or becoming too reliant on technology. However, they acknowledge the advantages that androids have in terms of functionality and efficiency. The reference to "pictures of all their brothers-in-arms in their pockets" suggests that even the androids have a sense of community and brotherhood, despite lacking emotional depth.
Overall, "My Mechanical Mind" presents a thought-provoking commentary on the potential pitfalls of humanity's ever-increasing reliance on technology and the implications of creating artificial intelligence that may surpass our own emotional capacity.
Line by Line Meaning
My mechanical mind is working all the time while androids survive
My mind is constantly occupied with mundane tasks, while androids continue to exist and thrive without needing to engage in such menial labor.
And I don't want to divide the body from the mind
I do not wish to separate my physical and mental components, and instead desire a holistic understanding of myself.
But androids have eyes
Despite their lack of humanity, androids possess the ability to see and observe the world around them.
You know that androids have eyes and they can surely see
It is a widely accepted fact that androids possess the gift of sight and can perceive their surroundings.
But their chests are so hopelessly empty
However, despite this sensory ability, androids lack the emotional depth and capacity for feeling that humans possess.
I'm every man on the street
I am no different than any other person who dwells on the streets of our urban environment.
When I'm tired, I sleep and dream of electric sheep
During my moments of exhaustion, I fall into a deep sleep and envision fantastical electric sheep in my dreams.
But one thing I am certain of is
However, there is one definitive truth of which I am positive.
Androids are all above
Androids stand above the rest of us in some way, either in stature or in their ability to exist without the need for sleep or sustenance.
You know that androids are all above you
It is a commonly held belief that androids are elevated beyond typical humans and possess extraordinary abilities.
And they're calling to one another
Through some unnamed means of communication, androids can connect and interact with one another on a level beyond the capabilities of humans.
With pictures of all their brothers-in-arms in their pockets
Androids carry mementos of their fellow robots in their personal belongings, implying that they form bonds and relationships with one another in ways that humans cannot understand.
Contributed by Olivia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.