Austin, TX's The Strange Boys evoke a wild-eyed, porcelain-skinned innocenc… Read Full Bio ↴Austin, TX's The Strange Boys evoke a wild-eyed, porcelain-skinned innocence that is capable of summoning the wayward spirit of Brian Jones. The mystery of the South couples with the mastery of rhythm to create a sound completely timeless and familiar, yet absolutely raw and avant-garde. Greg Enlow's syncopated, organ-driven grooves hark back to The Seeds' Pushing Too Hard while guitarist Ryan Sambol's voice wavers beyond comparison. Older brother Philip Sambol keeps the pulse with the aptly named Matt Hammer, who unmercifully pounds an old Ludwig set.

The Strange Boys began as a duo (Hammer and the younger Sambol) in 2003. The other two joined in 2005 and the band has been on tour non-stop ever since. Since 2003 the Boys have recorded a wealth of material which was passed around at shows and to friends, but never officially released. In 2007, Dusty Medical Records put out the Nothing EP, and in 2008, In The Red released the Woe Is You and Me single. Now, finally, the band's proper debut album is seeing the light of day. It's easy to imagine The Strange Boys And Girls Club, a sixteen-track beast, blasting out of any stereo system between The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators and Wire's Pink Flag.

The Strange Boys were the backing band for Mighty Hannibal (the '50s R&B recording artist); were main support for Roky Erickson and the Explosives at the Chaos in Tejas festival; have played South by Southwest the last four years, the Fuck Yeah Fest the last three years, Austin City Limits, Festival in Music Fest Northwest, and Bamalama (all in 2008); shared bills with Daniel Johnston, Black Lips, Reigning Sound, The King Khan and BBQ Show, Jay Reatard, Mika Miko, No Age, and BRMC; have toured with The Black Angels, Fucked Up, The Carrots, and Crystal Antlers[a/rtist]; and will tour with Darker My Love and Mika Miko in '09.î

In 2010, Indierockcafe.Com listed Austin indie band The Strange Boys Be Brave, LP on their "Best Albums of 2010 (So Far)" and "Artists and Bands" favorites list.

Death And All The Rest
The Strange Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got
but I also dealt
health and death and all the rest
think of all the rest I’ll get
how I know this I don’t know how
the hum and ring
are killing me
from the electronic means of doing things

the room held just enough
of what it held

to smell
how it smelled how i know this I don’t know how

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from The Strange Boys' song "Death And All The Rest" seem to be a contemplation of the dualist nature of life and the inevitability of death. The singer acknowledges that they have experienced both good and bad in life, represented by the words "I got/but I also dealt/health and death and all the rest." They then ponder what comes after death, saying "think of all the rest I'll get" but admitting they don't know for sure. The following lines seem to express a sense of overwhelm, describing the negative effects of technology on the senses with the "hum and ring/are killing me/from the electronic means of doing things." The mention of smell could symbolize the fragility of the physical body.

Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The lyrics suggest that though we may experience both good and bad in life, death is the ultimate outcome, leaving the rest of life to be contemplated and perhaps ultimately inconsequential.

Line by Line Meaning

I got
I possess

but I also dealt
However, I also experienced

health and death and all the rest
The full spectrum of life, including sickness, mortality, and everything else

think of all the rest I’ll get
Thinking of all the experiences yet to come

how I know this I don’t know how
It is unclear how I am aware of this

the hum and ring
The buzzing and ringing

are killing me
Are causing me distress

from the electronic means of doing things
Due to the use of technology

the room held just enough
The space contained just the right amount of

of what it held
Of its contents

to smell
To emit a particular odor