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.
Sympathetic Vibrations
The Paper Raincoat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
red eye flight, but I never fell asleep last night
and everything's new and everything glows here brighter than TV
But I can taste it, I can touch it, I can feel my heart go
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
My heart goes oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
People stream around me through the steaming streets and flashing lights
we are the blood inside the veins that pump this city full of life
I get so mesmerized that I forget to breathe sometimes
we move in sync, we spin around, we step in time
our feet go oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
our feet go oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
The dissonance sounds right
the note they said was wrong
the one they told me never would belong
and I'm finally tuned into a sympathetic song
the city resonates; we hum along.
I met a man who makes balloons turn into animals
he dates a girl who plays the saxophone between her toes
and everyone's new and everyone glows with something I have never seen
it's like a secret they are telling me that makes my heart go
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
my heart goes oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
my heart goes oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
The Paper Raincoat's "Sympathetic Vibrations" is a song that captures the alluring excitement of city life. The opening verse sets the stage for a journey, as the singer is on a red-eye flight, unable to sleep, and arriving in an unfamiliar place. However, everything there is brighter and more vibrant than anything they have seen before. The chorus emphasizes the exhilaration of this new city- the sensory overload is so intense that their heart beats in a rhythm that captures this sentiment.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the people they see on the street as moving in perfect unison, as if they're all following the same beat. The city becomes a song or a melody, with its unique rhythms, and the singer sees herself as a part of this symphony. The final verse introduces some quirky characters, including a man who can turn balloons into animals and a woman who can play a saxophone using her toes. This description adds to the surreal and magical feeling of the city- as if anything is possible.
The song's title, "Sympathetic Vibrations," refers to the idea that certain physical objects will absorb sound waves and vibrate along with the main source of sound. This concept is an excellent metaphor for how people in a city can be in tune with each other, even if they are strangers. The song captures the excitement of being immersed in a new environment and the energy and possibility that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Please stay in your seat until the captain turns off the seat belt sign
Wait patiently for instructions before proceeding forward
red eye flight, but I never fell asleep last night
Despite taking a night flight, didn't get any sleep
and everything's new and everything glows here brighter than TV
Everything appears more vibrant and lively than ever before
But I can taste it, I can touch it, I can feel my heart go
A palpable excitement and anticipation is building up inside
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Intensifying the feeling of excitement and anticipation
People stream around me through the steaming streets and flashing lights
Crowds move around in a busy metropolis at night
we are the blood inside the veins that pump this city full of life
People contribute to the vitality and energy of the city
I get so mesmerized that I forget to breathe sometimes
Fascinated by the city's vitality, it can sometimes be overwhelming
we move in sync, we spin around, we step in time
The synchronized movements of people contributes to the city's energy
our feet go oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Emphasizing the synchronized motion of people
The dissonance sounds right
Even though technically incorrect, it sounds pleasing to the ear
the note they said was wrong
Referring to the incorrect note previously mentioned
the one they told me never would belong
Referring to someone else's opinion of what is correct and acceptable
and I'm finally tuned into a sympathetic song
The singer is now in tune with the music surrounding them
the city resonates; we hum along.
The city is alive with musical sounds and action, in which the people all participate
I met a man who makes balloons turn into animals
Met an extraordinary person who has the ability to create fascinating things
he dates a girl who plays the saxophone between her toes
This person's partner has a unique talent that is almost unheard of
and everyone's new and everyone glows with something I have never seen
Describing others in the city who are all unique and special in their own way
it's like a secret they are telling me that makes my heart go
The singer experiences a sense of belonging and inclusion when discovering something previously unknown to them
my heart goes oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
The artist's heart is full of excitement and anticipation
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Emphasizing the artist's overwhelming feelings
Contributed by Caroline W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.