The story is based around the world of a fictional character named Grace, who on the eve of her 50th birthday begins to question her happiness and the choices she's made in her life. When she receives news that her estranged father, a failed inventor, has died, she returns to her childhood home to help settle his affairs. While cleaning out his study, she uncovers early designs for a paper raincoat, the invention on which he staked their family fortune, and that subsequently tore the family apart when it failed to sell. She is flooded with intense memories of a pivotal day in that very room, when she made the conscious decision to give up on her dream of becoming a writer in order to avoid the disastrous effects that happened as a result of her father’s choices. She starts to question whether there might have been a better way for her life to unfold, and decides to find out by rewriting her own story in a novel she titles The Paper Raincoat.
The songs are a cinematic blend of pop-folk orchestral arrangements, peppered with electronic textures, and overflowing with unforgettable melodies. "Our goal was to create songs that were enjoyable on any level…” adds Alex. “…Catchy and meaningful enough for listeners to relate to whether they knew the back-story or not. Once they liked the music, we felt discovering the story hidden inside the songs would only increase their connection to them."
Alex and Amber have been collaborators and friends for several years, starting with a chance meeting at a wintry show in Buffalo NY and Amber's subsequent decision to become the first official stalker of Alex's previous band, The Animators. Nowadays, both Amber and Alex are experienced and thriving musicians in their own right. Amber is creating an international buzz as a solo artist with over 1,000,000 plays on MySpace, three month-long European tours, the most recent with guitarist/songwriter Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, Amos Lee), and a First Place Award in the International Songwriting Competition (Lyrics), which was judged in part by her musical hero, Tom Waits. Amber's new record will be released this summer, and she will be touring all over the nation and again in Europe this Fall. Alex has since signed up on the long waiting list to stalk her in return.
Meanwhile, Alex has been cultivating a reputation as a sought-after artist, composer and producer in NY and LA. His former band, the Animators, achieved much national attention and critical acclaim before their 2007 breakup. He now writes, performs and records with several prominent NYC artists, including Vienna Teng (Rounder/Universal), and will co-produce her upcoming record this spring. His original score for the play, Everyman For Himself won a 2006 LA WEEKLY THEATER AWARD for best original music. Alex co-produced Amber's first solo record in fall 2004, as well as her 2006 EP, Unfinished Art, as well as produced and arranged the Paper Raincoat's debut EP.
The group celebrated the release of Safe in the Sound in March with a string of concerts at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles, Canal Room in NYC, and Club Passim in Boston. IndieSoundsNY.com describes their live show as “bringing a sense of wonder and whimsical optimism into life.” Rubarth adds, “The live shows are quirky, too, with all of the different instruments and harmonies. It feels cinematic… but not in a goofy way.” New York is quickly embracing the band and in just a few months they have graduated from selling out 2 NYC residencies at Rockwood Music Hall, to booking their follow-up show at Bowery Ballroom at the end of July. The band is being embraced out of the gates by industry and fans alike, and in addition to having music currently under consideration for TV/film placements, one can expect to see their touring schedule come alive in late summer.
It All Depends
The Paper Raincoat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
TV's on; Price is Right; cruise for two, seven nights.
If that lady were me, I'd kiss Bob on the cheek and take him
but as we dance on the bow, timer rings, pull it out;
now it's done, now it's done; it's all done.
It all depends on whether we are watching it dissolve or fade in and begin.
'91 chardonnay, broken cork, lost its taste.
It was supposed to mature; it was supposed to get better with age.
Pull it out, get a glass; check the clock, quarter-past
now it's late, now it's late, it's so late.
It all depends on whether we are watching it dissolve or fade in and begin.
It all depends on whether we are watching it dissolve or fade in and begin.
TV's on, game is tied, second chance, overtime
she looks up, he walks in; she pours a glass and one for him.
It all depends on whether we are watching it dissolve or fade in and begin.
The Paper Raincoat's song "It All Depends" explores the idea of uncertainty and how it affects our lives. The first verse talks about a typical Monday night, where the singer is preparing dinner and waiting for her partner to come home. The TV is on and they watch game shows, dreaming of winning a cruise. The lines "if that lady were me, I'd kiss Bob on the cheek and take him; but as we dance on the bow, timer rings, pull it out; now it's done, now it's done; it's all done" suggest a sense of regret or missed opportunities. The singer wonders what it would be like to live someone else's life, but ultimately returns to her own routine.
In the second verse, the singer tackles the issue of expectations and disappointment. They mention a bottle of chardonnay that was supposed to mature but ended up broken and lost its taste. The lines "It was supposed to mature; it was supposed to get better with age. Pull it out, get a glass; check the clock, quarter-past; now it's late, now it's late, it's so late" suggest a sense of urgency and a fear of running out of time. The singer tries to salvage what's left of the wine, but it's already too late.
The chorus repeats the line "It all depends on whether we are watching it dissolve or fade in and begin" which highlights the idea that our perspective can greatly influence our experience. The third verse brings the focus back to the relationship between the singer and her partner. They watch the game together and she pours him a glass of wine. The last line "It all depends on whether we are watching it dissolve or fade in and begin" could imply that their relationship might ebb and flow, but they choose to focus on the positive aspects and make the most of the present moment.
Overall, "It All Depends" is a reflection on the complexities of human emotion and the impact that our perspective can have on our experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday night, casserole; throw it in; he's almost home.
As she finishes making dinner, she anxiously anticipates the arrival of her partner.
TV's on; Price is Right; cruise for two, seven nights.
The game show on the TV emits the idea of an ideal romantic getaway, far from reality.
If that lady were me, I'd kiss Bob on the cheek and take him but as we dance on the bow, timer rings, pull it out; now it's done, now it's done; it's all done.
The singer's thoughts drift to a fantasy of taking the game show prize winnings and embarking on a romantic adventure, but she is abruptly snapped back to reality by the timer on the oven, signaling that dinner is finished.
Wrap it up, soak the dish; spot the wine in the fridge '91 chardonnay, broken cork, lost its taste. It was supposed to mature; it was supposed to get better with age. Pull it out, get a glass; check the clock, quarter-past now it's late, now it's late, it's so late.
As they finish their meal, she reflects on the bottle of wine in the fridge which did not mature as expected, marking the end of their romantic dreams. She becomes increasingly aware of the time and how late it has become.
TV's on, game is tied, second chance, overtime she looks up, he walks in; she pours a glass and one for him.
As the couple watches the game on TV, which offers a second chance in overtime, her partner enters the room and she pours him a glass of wine, no longer seeking to escape reality but rather accepting it as it is.
It all depends on whether we are watching it dissolve or fade in and begin.
The repetition of this line throughout the song emphasizes that life is composed of moments that either dissolve or fade in, with the outcome depending on how one chooses to perceive them.
Contributed by Callie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@logan_yu
no, I was too far away and the sound was bad. I'll make sure to get it at the NYC show!
@rurounicy
damn i shoot great footages...