The Montreal-based Unicorns were originally formed in December 2000 by Nick… Read Full Bio ↴The Montreal-based Unicorns were originally formed in December 2000 by Nick Thorburn (stage name Nick "Neil" Diamonds, as well as a host of other aliases) and Alden Penner (stage name, Alden Ginger; Elvis Presley's fiancée when he died was Ginger Alden). They were later joined by drummer Jamie Thompson (stage name J'aime Tambeur) and Max Groadie ("the American Roadie, né Bill Horwood").

The band self-released their debut album Unicorns Are People Too in March 2003 through their own record label Caterpillars of the Community, with a limited press run of 500 copies.

In October of the same year they went back into the studio, recording several new songs as well as reworking a number of songs from their debut. The resulting second album, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?, was released in November 2003 on the label Alien8 Recordings, and was a notable departure for a label that has traditionally released albums by avantgarde and highly experimental artists such as Acid Mothers Temple and noise pioneer Merzbow.

The album received glowing reviews from The Village Voice, NME, online magazine Pitchfork and numerous other publications around the world, and it quickly earned the band a fanatical following on the indie-rock circuit. The band toured constantly for 13 months following its release, initially supporting fellow Canadian band Hot Hot Heat across North America before proceeding to play to sell-out crowds in Australia, Europe and the UK, as well as touring several more times across the US and Canada.

The band's hectic touring schedule took its toll, however, and by the time of their Australian tour in December 2004 they were showing signs of exhaustion, playing reportedly lukewarm shows and verbally clashing with audience members. On December 28, 2004, a short message appeared on the Unicorns' website reading "THE UNICORNS ARE DEAD, (R.I.P.)," leading fans to speculate as to whether they had broken up. In early February of 2005 pitchforkmedia.com reported that The Unicorns had split. Also the website solidpr.com issued a press statement on the band's behalf confirming the claims of break-up.

Thorburn and Thompson continue to collaborate together as Th' Corn Gangg (a pop/hip-hop project) and Islands (a pop project).

Penner released a 7" on the Melbourne-based Art School Dropout label. The a-side, "The Ghost Of Creaky Crater", was recorded in Melbourne on December 19, 2004 while The Unicorns were touring the country. The release was limited to 100 copies. Penner now performs under the name Dub Intefadah.

From Wikipedia

Inoculate The Innocuous
The Unicorns Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

small doses, daily
absorbed and collected in the glands of fatty tissues over time

somewhere in the asshole of my eye
there's a muscle which relaxes when you cry
somewhere in the eye of my brain
there's a muscle which makes me go...

storage cells for hidden substance
but new flavours and aromas go on

reflect on your absence
genuflect in my presence
remove your absess, they say it's cancer

(flavourful, beautiful)

bananas help me unwind
watermelon makes it awesome

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Unicorn's song "Inoculate The Innocuous" are cryptic and open to interpretation, but they seem to explore the idea of gradual accumulation and absorption of external influences. The first lines, "small doses, daily, absorbed and collected in the glands of fatty tissues over time," suggest that we take in and retain various substances, both literal and metaphorical, bit by bit until they become a part of us. The imagery becomes more surreal in the next lines, with mentions of eye muscles that relax and trigger emotions, and storage cells for hidden substances. There is a suggestion that new inputs can change and affect us, as represented by the mention of "new flavours and aromas."

The chorus seems to bring us closer to a literal interpretation, with a warning about cancer and the mention of bananas and watermelons as remedies or aids. However, the lines "reflect on your absence, genuflect in my presence" and the repeated use of the words "flavourful" and "beautiful" suggest that there is more going on here than a simple health tip. The lyrics invite the listener to reflect on the subtle ways in which we change and adapt to our environment, and how the things we consume and experience can shape our perceptions and emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

small doses, daily
Slowly and regularly introducing a substance into the body, allowing it to accumulate in fatty tissues over time

somewhere in the asshole of my eye / there's a muscle which relaxes when you cry
There is a muscle in the eye's tear duct that helps to facilitate crying when activated

somewhere in the eye of my brain / there's a muscle which makes me go...
There is a certain part of the brain that causes a certain response or reaction

storage cells for hidden substance / but new flavours and aromas go on
Fatty tissues in the body store a substance, while new experiences and sensations continue to be processed

reflect on your absence / genuflect in my presence / remove your absess, they say it's cancer
Confronting the pain and hurt caused by someone's absence while recognizing one's own power and presence; a reference to dealing with something unpleasant or harmful

(flavourful, beautiful)
Describing something as pleasant and enjoyable

bananas help me unwind / watermelon makes it awesome
Personal preference for certain foods as a form of relaxation or enjoyment

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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