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.
Motion Sickness
The Paper Raincoat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It just takes some getting used to
It just takes some getting used to is all
Out the front door to a world cold as ice
Pull my hat down and pick up my stride
I watch my breath as it steams the air to white
Winter breaks me at her start every time
In a while I'll be doing fine, I'm told
I know, I know
It just takes some getting used to, is all
I crossed an ocean, I took a lover
Took a picture outside the palace door
Showed my friend, he said he'd been there before
Crossed a river on a path train underground
Never thought I'd come back to my hometown
My eyes adjust to the dark as we go down
I look around
It just takes some getting used to..
It's not the changes but the s p a c e s in between
It's not the story but the cuts between the scenes
It's the part where your eyes can't focus
The minute just before you notice
The images align naturally
It just takes some getting used to, is all
The Paper Raincoat's song Motion Sickness is about the challenge of adapting to change. The song starts with the lyrics "It just takes some getting used to / It just takes some getting used to / It just takes some getting used to is all," which serves as a reminder that it takes time to adjust to new situations. The song shifts between different scenarios, from walking out in the cold winter air to traveling to different places and returning to one’s hometown. However, the central message is that change is difficult, and even when one prepares for it, it requires more than just anticipating it.
The lyrics “It's not the changes but the spaces in between / It's not the story but the cuts between the scenes / It's the part where your eyes can't focus / The minute just before you notice / The images align naturally,” highlight the feeling of disconnect when adjusting to change. It is not the change itself but rather the moments of transition that can be the most challenging. The song encourages the listener to hold on and keep going because it takes time to readjust.
Line by Line Meaning
It just takes some getting used to
Adjusting to new experiences takes time and patience
Out the front door to a world cold as ice
Stepping outside in the winter can be daunting and overwhelming
Pull my hat down and pick up my stride
I try to protect myself from the cold and walk with confidence
I watch my breath as it steams the air to white
My breath creates a beautiful visual effect in the cold air
Winter breaks me at her start every time
I struggle to adjust to the cold weather every time winter begins
Even though I'm prepared for the cold
Despite my preparations, I still struggle with the cold
In a while I'll be doing fine, I'm told
People reassure me that I will eventually adjust to the cold
I crossed an ocean, I took a lover
I ventured far from home and fell in love with someone new
Took a picture outside the palace door
I captured a moment in time as a memento
Showed my friend, he said he'd been there before
Even though it was a new experience for me, it wasn't for my friend
Crossed a river on a path train underground
I traveled through a river in a train that went underground
Never thought I'd come back to my hometown
I left my hometown with no intention of returning
My eyes adjust to the dark as we go down
I gradually become accustomed to the darkness as we descend
It's not the changes but the s p a c e s in between
It's not the changes themselves, but the transition periods that are difficult
It's not the story but the cuts between the scenes
The moments between major events in life can be challenging
It's the part where your eyes can't focus
The part where everything seems blurry and uncertain
The minute just before you notice
The exact moment when everything is unclear and confusing
The images align naturally
Eventually, everything falls into place and makes sense
Contributed by Landon R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@slowthetrain
I LOVE YOU TOO!
@AAparallel
Thanks for putting this up! I was there! :)
@slowthetrain
IN A VERY INTENSE, ALL CAPS KIND OF WAY!