1) The Wombats (TWB)… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that share this name:
1) The Wombats (TWB) are a three-piece indie band which formed in 2003 in Liverpool, England. The band consists of Matthew Murphy (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Tord Øverland Knudsen (bass, vocals) and Dan Haggis (drums, vocals). Murphy and Haggis are native Liverpudlians and Øverland-Knudsen is Norwegian. The members met while they were students at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. The band has released four albums, "A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" (2007) and "This Modern Glitch" (2011), “Glitterbug” (2015) and “Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life” (2018). Although, their fifth album is on it’s way, the first single “Method To The Madness” was released May 26th.
Early Years 2003 - 2006
The three met at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. The school gave them the chance to play gigs to over 20,000 people in China. This was one of the band's first trips to play outside the UK. They spent their time traveling around the country in a Vauxhall Agila and spent most of their time drunk, as quoted by the band while on the Colin Murray show in 2007. Their debut single Lost in the Post/Party in a Forest (Where's Laura) was released at the end of 2006. They also managed to release an album in Japan called Girls, Boys and Marsupials and reached fame over in the Far East.
A Guide To Love Loss & Desperation (AGTLL), 2007 -
The band then released a second limited edition vinyl called Moving to New York in January, 2007. This single got critical acclaim from Radio DJs such as Colin Murray and Zane Lowe. In May the band released their third single called Backfire at the Disco this then lead to the band successfully released their first full single Kill the Director in late July. This single managed to reach #35 in the U.K Singles Chart. Their last single "Let's Dance To Joy Division" was released in October 2007, to coincide with the release of their debut album, entitled The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation which managed to get to #11 in the U.K charts. The release is being followed by a European tour ending with a Christmas party at Liverpool Academy. Moving to New York will be re-released on January 14, 2008.
This Modern Glitch (TMG), 2011 -
The first single that are in this album was released back in 2007, under the name 'Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves), and reached #23 in UK charts. The second single was 'Jump Into The Fog', that came out 2011, with three B-sides, 'How I Miss Sally Bray', 'Valentine' and 'Addicted to the Cure'. This single debuted in #35 on UK charts. The next single was 'Anti-D', from
april of 2011, and also came out with three B-sides, 'I'm a Robot Like You', 'Dear Hamburg' and 'Wonderful Distraction'. This single reached #42 on UK charts. We had another single in June of 2011, the first after the album release, called 'Techno Fan' also coming out in a EP format, with the tracks 'Avalanche', 'Trampoline' and 'Shock Goodbyes and P45's'. It was #60 on UK charts. The next single was 'Our Perfect Disease' , which was also released after the album, having 'Guillotine', 'IOU's' and 'Reynold's Park' as B-sides. The last single was '1966', still in 2011.
The album itself was released on 22th April, 2011, having really good reviews on BBC Music, All Music Channel, Daily mirror and 59/100 on Metacritic. It reached #3 in UK's album chart, receiving gold in UK and Australia.
Discography
Albums
- "Girls, Boys and Marsupials" Released in 2006, Vinyl Junkie (Japan Only)
- "The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation" Released 05/11/07 (UK) #11 U.K
- "The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch"
Released 25/04/11 (UK) #3 U.K
- "Glitterbug" Released 07/04/15 (UK) #5 U.K, #91 Billboard 200
- "Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life" Released 09/02/18 #3 U.K, #190 Billboard 200
Limited Release Singles
2007 "Lost In The Post"
2007 "Moving To New York"
2007 "Backfire At The Disco"
2007 "A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation"
Singles
2007* " Backfire at the Disco"
2007 "Kill the Director" #35 UK
2007 "Let's Dance to Joy Division" #15 UK
2008 "Moving to New York" #37 UK 14 January 2008
2009 "Is This Christmas"
2010 "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
2011 "Jump Into the Fog"
2011 "Anti-D"
2013 "Your Body is A Weapon"
2) Heroes of the modern garage revival, the Wombats were born sometime in the late 70s, somewhere in the leafy lanes of Maple Heights, Ohio. Teenage guitar strangler John Zinrich, a.k.a. Johnny Fettish (so called because he had a thing for biting women's knees under tables, hence "John Knee Fetish"), had previously lived out the punk ideal by dropping out of high school at age 15 to join Public Enemy, noted in Cle 3.0 for doing "the fastest version ever attempted of 'I Wanna Be Your Dog'." Striving for a poppier sound, Fettish and his suburban neighbor Vic Halm penned a series of power-punk pop gems and entered the first national "Battle of the Garages" competition run by Bomp/Voxx honcho Greg Shaw. The 'Bats contributed a track, "The Reason Why" to the first "Battle" compilation and played on the national "Battle" tour in 1981. Positive public reaction won them a recording contract, and between 1981 and 1984 the 'Bats released two singles and an album, "Zontar Must Die!" on Bomp/Voxx. They also played various notable East Coast and local venues, including the first WRUW Studio Arama show and the opening night of the Lakefront (which displayed "Wombats" on its curb sign for several years as a result). Their energetic live show was notable for speedy fuzzy guitars pumped through Marshall stacks, unintelligible vocals, and the sight of 5'4" Fettish leaping two feet in the air, against a backdrop of six-foot-tall John Lennon-lookalike Halm and equally towering bassist Tim Ratley. In 1984 the Wombats played a show with the seminal Columbus band Great Plains, who brought them to the attention of Gerard Cosloy at Homestead Records. The Wombats subsequently recorded one EP for Homestead, "Mudpuddles", which came out in 1985. Unfortunately, the band had a falling out with Cosloy over their inability to tour, since drummer Tommy Edwards was busy studying to be a refrigerator repairman. As a result, promotion for "Mudpuddles" was almost nil and the 'Bats found themselves once again without a label. In 1986, Fettish and Halm wrote and recorded some excellent demos for a third album which they hoped to place on a major label, but due to lack of interest this project never saw the light of day. Since then, the 'Bats have played sporadically around Cleveland with various lineups.
School Uniforms
The Wombats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were 9 and I was 10
Remember you had a Walkman
All I had was a middle part and a pen
Oh sweet Louise
Whatever happened to her?
You grew tall I stayed the same
I guess that's just puberty
Making us boys all play a losing game
Oh sweet Louise
I always found it hard to work things through
Those school uniforms made a joke
Made a joke of me and you
I'm glad I'm not back in school
She got an older boyfriend (how could she?)
Had a beard
Smoked Marlboro red
How can I compete with that? (how can he?)
I don't even know the location of the bike sheds
Oh sweet Louise
I always found it hard to work things through
Those school uniforms made a joke
Made a joke of me and you
I always found it hard to work things through
Those school uniforms made a joke
Made a joke of me and you
I remember short skirts
Long hair
My hormones flying everywhere
I always found it hard to work things through
Those school uniforms made a joke
Made a joke of me and you
I always found it hard to work things through
Those school uniforms made a joke
Made a joke of me and you
I'm glad I'm not back in school
The Wombats' song "School Uniforms" is a nostalgic ode to adolescence and the awkwardness that comes with it. The song starts by reminiscing about a childhood crush, Louise, and how their lives have taken different turns since then. The lyrics describe the pain of growing up and realizing that some things are beyond one's control, like competing with an older boyfriend or the school uniform making a joke of them.
The chorus is introspective and vulnerable, highlighting the struggle of working things out and the insecurities that come with it. The singer reflects on the importance of place and circumstance in shaping his experiences and how he is grateful to have moved on from those days.
The song encapsulates an awkward and transformative time in everyone's life, where one is navigating new experiences, relationships, and emotions. The lyrics are relatable and poignant, and the upbeat melody adds an upbeat twist to otherwise somber reflections.
Line by Line Meaning
It all started on the school bus
The story starts on a school bus.
You were 9 and I was 10
The singer and the subject were young children.
Remember you had a Walkman
The subject had a popular device at the time.
All I had was a middle part and a pen
The artist didn't have much at the time.
Oh sweet Louise
The artist keeps reminding the subject of their mutual friend, Louise.
Then is all went downhill
Their relationship went down the drain.
You grew tall I stayed the same
The subject grew up while the singer didn't physically mature as much.
I guess that's just puberty
The artist blames their issues on puberty.
Making us boys all play a losing game
Puberty is the reason why the boys lost when it came to their relationships.
She got an older boyfriend (how could she?)
The subject's crush got a boyfriend who was older.
Had a beard
The boyfriend was more mature looking.
Smoked Marlboro red
The boyfriend smokes a popular brand of cigarettes.
How can I compete with that? (how can he?)
The subject feels inferior in comparison to the boyfriend.
I don't even know the location of the bike sheds
The subject is clueless and inexperienced.
I remember short skirts
The singer recalls past memories.
Long hair
The subject probably had long hair.
My hormones flying everywhere
The artist was experiencing puberty and their hormones were affecting them.
I always found it hard to work things through
The singer had trouble with their relationships.
Those school uniforms made a joke
The school uniforms represented something else.
Made a joke of me and you
The school uniforms made the artist and the subject look ridiculous.
I'm glad I'm not back in school
The artist is relieved that they don't have to deal with those issues anymore.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL JOSEPH HAGGIS, MATTHEW EDWARD MURPHY, TORD OEVERLAND KNUDSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Queenie111
rock on! this song is brilliant! xD
Baz Smog
i just love this album :D :D !!!!
meow meow
wombats rock!
Oda Emilie Roa
I saw them live friday 10th of july! they are AWESOME
vandal2008
brilliant songggggggggggggg!(L)
ElleisAL
just found this band! brilliant songs, so witty
Totalytaco
I came here because I am a wombats fan, seeing them tonight!
Broken Radio
How did it go dude?
Ella
going to see them tonight xD
Broken Radio
How was it?