1.) An American alterna… Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands charting as The Rentals:
1.) An American alternative rock band fronted by Matt Sharp, former bass player for Weezer. The Rentals have released four LPs, Return Of The Rentals (1995), Seven More Minutes (1999), Lost in Alphaville (2014), Q36 (2020) and four EPs, The Last Little Life EP (2007), The Story of a Thousand Seasons Past (2009), It's Time to Come Home (2009), and The Future (2009). The 2009 EPs make up the musical end of the Songs About Time project, which also includes daily photos and weekly short films entitled Resilience (2011).
Band members on Return Of included Patrick Wilson (also of Weezer) on drums, Rod Cervera (guitar), Tom Grimley (moog), Petra Haden (violin, vocals), and Cherielynn Westrich (vocals, moog). Petra's triplet sister, Rachel Haden, appears as an additional vocalist. After Sharp left Weezer, Wilson's studio replacement on the drums was Kevin March and Mike Fletcher was the band's most frequent touring drummer. Maya Rudolph, of Saturday Night Live fame, also briefly toured with the band as a keyboardist. They are known for their quirky Moog-driven melodies. The single "Friends of P" off their first album was a modern rock radio hit, peaking at #7 on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart and #92 on the Billboard Hot 100. After touring for Seven More Minutes the band disbanded.
Yet on October 24, 2005, the tenth anniversary of the band's formation, Matt Sharp announced he was bringing back The Rentals after a six year absence. The new lineup includes founding member Rachel Haden on bass/vocals, Sara Radle on vocals/multiple instruments, Ben Pringle (from Nerf Herder and now Yearbook Pictures) on synths/multiple instruments, Lauren Chipman on viola/synth/vocals, and Dan Joeright on drums. Sharp stated on his website that "there are no current plans" for ex-Rental Cherielynn Westrich "to be involved in the future of The Rentals."
Sharp states: The essential elements of The Rentals will be there. Our fascination with vintage synthesizers, violas, violins, female harmonies and all the rest will continue. But, I'm guessing, we'll most likely veer off the path that would lead us into the realm of becoming our own tribute band.
2.) A late '70s Boston area Punk band featuring Jeff Hudson, Jane Hudson, and Pseudo Carol. As a trio, they released the songs "Gertrude Stein", "Low Rent", "New York", "I Got A Crush On You" and "Elephants".
In 1980, Jeff & Jane joined The MANHATTAN PROJECT, followed by the Electro-Punk act simply known as Jeff & Jane Hudson in 1981.
Brilliant Boy
The Rentals Lyrics
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Don't wake the parents of Potomac tonight
Rolled on the couch by the t.v.'s light
In the basement, no one else in sight
I fear the day that I am not with you
Unlock the front door sneak out the house
Down to Montana where A.C. hangs out
Being fifteen, feeling no doubt
You're just a stupid girl stupid girl stupid girl
I ain't no brilliant boy
You're just a stupid girl stupid girl stupid girl
I ain't no brilliant boy
Down to train depot
Get in line and file
Goodbye Virginia with your lousy style
Goodbye my gal same time next year
Goodbye my gal I'll always love you dear
The lyrics to The Rentals' song "Brilliant Boy" depict a typical suburban life in Virginia. The first line of the song references Virginia backyards, indicating that it is set in a typical suburban environment. The singer then warns his companion not to wake the parents of Potomac since they are likely sneaking out of their house, indicating that they are young and impulsive. The singer and his companion appear to be spending time in the basement, away from the rest of the house. The singer expresses his fear of not being with his companion one day, potentially alluding to a potential breakup in the future.
The lyrics then shift to a more optimistic tone, as the singer advises his companion to unlock the front door and sneak out of the house. They then head down to Montana, where "A.C. hangs out," which could be a reference to a local hangout spot. The singer reflects on the joys of being fifteen and feeling no doubt, and he wonders if his companion's sweet voice lets his youth out.
However, the tone shifts once again, as the singer calls his companion a "stupid girl" multiple times and clarifies that he is not a brilliant boy. The meaning behind this could potentially be that their relationship is relatively simple or stereotypical, without any particularly innovative or groundbreaking features. The song concludes with the singer saying goodbye to Virginia and his gal, promising to love her forever.
Overall, the song's lyrics depict a relatively simple but emotionally charged relationship between two young people in a suburban environment. The ups and downs of their relationship are conveyed through the shifting tone of the lyrics, with more hopeful and joyful moments contrasting against the bitter accusations and declarations of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Virginia backyards, suburban life
The song sets up the scene of a typical suburban neighborhood in Virginia
Don't wake the parents of Potomac tonight
The singer sneaks out of their house, trying not to alert their parents who live in Potomac
Rolled on the couch by the t.v.'s light
The singer is lazy, slouching on the couch while watching television
In the basement, no one else in sight
The artist is alone in the basement, a secret place where they can do whatever they want
I fear the day that I am not with you
The artist is afraid of being separated from their love interest
Unlock the front door sneak out the house
The singer tries to silently sneak out of their house
Down to Montana where A.C. hangs out
The singer goes to a place called Montana where someone named A.C. spends their time
Being fifteen, feeling no doubt
The artist is a confident teenager, feeling certain of their abilities
Does your sweet voice let my youth out
The artist's love interest helps them feel young and carefree
You're just a stupid girl stupid girl stupid girl
The artist is angry at their love interest, calling them 'stupid'
I ain't no brilliant boy
The singer doesn't think of themselves as particularly smart or talented
You're just a stupid girl stupid girl stupid girl
The artist continues to insult their love interest
I ain't no brilliant boy
The singer reiterates their belief that they aren't particularly smart or talented
Down to train depot
The singer goes to the train station
Get in line and file
The singer joins a line of people waiting to board the train
Goodbye Virginia with your lousy style
The artist says goodbye to Virginia, a place they don't particularly like
Goodbye my gal same time next year
The artist says goodbye to their love interest, but hopes to see them again next year
Goodbye my gal I'll always love you dear
The singer reassures their love interest that they will always love them, even if they insult them from time to time
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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