There’s something happening on the west coast. Whether it’s in the air, the water, or the drugs, a pool of talent has formed around the notion that you can have your pop and eat it too, with brainy, prog-influenced weird-beards like Bend Sinister and arcane psycho-confectioners Mother Mother demonstrating that musical complexity can still be hummable. Commercial, even.
Throw the Zolas into the picture and dammit – you might even call it a scene! Not that it’s ever been a concern to long-term musical partners Zach Gray and Tom Dobrzanski, who established their gifts for intricate songcraft three years ago under the name Lotus Child.
Since then, the duo has finessed its formula into something even busier yet no less direct, filling their new album Tic Toc Tic with hairpin turns, schizoid tonal shifts, multiple parts, and a sort of cabaret strut.
Miraculously, between New Pornographers vet Howard Redekopp’s unfinicky production and the clarity of Gray and Dobrzanski’s vision, Tic Toc Tic works like a charm. Complex without being alienating, it aims equally and with dead-eyed precision for the head, heart, and groin.
Guitarist-vocalist Gray hits on the twin poles that define Tic Toc Tic when he reveals an equal passion for the visceral Scandinavian dream pop of Mew, whose influence is obvious, and the classic music hall rag of the Kinks, whose influence is anything but. Not on first listen, anyway, though the presence of Ray Davies is felt in Gray’s lyrics. Particularly when he turns his attention to the mundane, like the character in “You’re Too Cool” who wrestles with his vulnerability at Vancouver’s hipster HQ the Biltmore. Or the confessional “Body Ash”, which documents a relationship on the ropes. The directness of its sentiment echoes what Gray describes as Davies’ “populism”.
“The first words in ‘Body Ash’ are ‘my balls’,” he laughs. “Literally. I’m not hiding behind any metaphors.” Soundwise, Gray says he was aiming for “self-conscious Jeff Buckley”, which also goes some way towards describing a lot of the music on Tic Toc Tic.
Boxing the listener with their virtuosity right off the top, opener “You’re Too Cool” is six minutes of fortified waltz-time piano dissolving into what Gray characterizes as an “anti-chorus”. “The Great Collapse” is swaggering and deceptively sunny power-pop for apocalyptic future scenarios. “Marlaina Kamikaze” bounces between big band stickwork from drummer Ali Siadat, braying trumpet, and a decadent stride-piano breakdown.
Meanwhile, “You Better Watch Out” has Gray anguishing over a cute girl on a bus while cascading piano arpeggios and Aidan Knight’s hyperactive bass push his suffering to operatic levels of high drama. “Queen of Relax” is featherlite prog, and “Cab Driver” somehow contrives to be both the most straightforward number on Tic Toc Tic, and the most demanding. “It’s the most fun to play,” says Dobrzanski, who caps the song with a libidinous boogie-woogie throwdown sizzling enough to give “Honky Cat” era Elton a case of pianist envy. “It’s a rock-out,” he continues. “I like the athleticism involved in parts of it. It’s actually work.”
If “Cab Driver” finds the Zolas in an almost conventional mood, “I’ve Got Leeches” and album closer “Pyramid Scheme” both explore the fringes of the songwriting team’s expanding universe. Gray describes the first as “baroque” and “Bowie-esque”, while the latter, he admits perhaps a little freely, “is the track where we don’t care if anyone ever listens to it.” As such, it includes what Gray calls “a vaguely Maori, haunted house, war chant section.” Deadpans Dobrzanski, “That moment might come across as a bit out there.”
In truth, Tic Toc Tic is a little out there from bar one to its closing outburst of unbound inspiration. Perhaps it has something to do with the duo’s seasoned friendship – they met as choirboys in Grade 9 – or a working relationship that begins with Gray broadstroking ideas and passing them along to Dobrzanski, his classical musically inclined “details guy”.
Whatever alchemical thing lies beneath the sparkling progressive pop of Tic Toc Tic, the partnership has made its great leap forward. It’s our job to catch up. And we should consider it a pleasure.
Energy Czar
The Zolas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've been floating through this life
A bee that bumbled on to a transatlantic flight
Say just what you want
We'll overnight it
Say just what you need
It's more messed up
Human hearts
But are we having a good time?
Oh yeah it's a cynical world
Yeah we're taking a joyride
Forecast to crash with the sun
We've seen it, the zenith of our genus, uh huh
And her temper's gonna rise
She gonna break us like a dirty habit
Can you blame her? No
Buildings falling down
Baby cut the lights she said
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Ashes in your hair
Music floating everywhere
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Wave of mutilation
Plays on every station for you
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Baby it's been fun
Off you go I think we're done
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Fever, fever, fever
Flushes out
All the bad germs in my mouth
Say what you want
You already got it
Say just what you need
It's a little snide
Human thirst
Never dries
But are we having a good time?
Oh yeah it's a cynical world
Yeah we're taking a joyride
Forecast to crash with the sun
We've seen it, the zenith of our genus
Uh huh, and her temper's gonna rise
She gonna break us like a dirty habit
Can you feel it?
I can feel it now
Buildings falling down
Baby, cut the lights she said
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Ashes in your hair
Music floating everywhere
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Wave of mutilation
Plays on every station for you
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Baby it's been fun
Off you go I think we're done
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Buildings falling down
Baby, cut the lights she said
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Ashes in your hair
Music floating everywhere
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Wave of mutilation
Loops on every station for you
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Baby it's been fun
Off you go I think we're done
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
The song "Energy Czar" by The Zolas talks about the current state of society, where humans are floating through life in a "cynical world" and enjoying a joyride without truly understanding the consequences of their actions. The lyrics refer to the singer as the "energy czar," someone who is in charge of regulating the distribution and use of energy. This symbolizes the power that humans have over the world and its resources, and the way in which we have abused that power by neglecting the environment and living unsustainable lifestyles.
The song also touches on the idea of human hearts never stopping, which could be referencing our constant desire and need for more, and how this insatiable thirst can lead to destruction. The line "her temper's gonna rise, she gonna break us like a dirty habit" could be referring to Mother Nature, who will eventually retaliate against our harmful actions.
The repeated lines of "buildings falling down," "ashes in your hair," and "wave of mutilation" bring a sense of chaos and destruction to the song, emphasizing the consequences of our actions. The lyrics also mention music floating everywhere, which could represent the way in which music can be a source of escapism and a way to distract ourselves from the world's problems, but ultimately it cannot save us.
Overall, "Energy Czar" is a commentary on the current state of society and our relationship with the world and its resources. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own actions and the impact they have on the environment.
Line by Line Meaning
How'd we get so far?
How did we end up in this position?
We've been floating through this life
We have been drifting aimlessly through life
A bee that bumbled on to a transatlantic flight
We have stumbled upon something beyond our scope of understanding like a bee that accidentally flies across the ocean
Say just what you want
Speak your mind
We'll overnight it
We will expedite your request
Say just what you need
Communicate your essential needs
It's more messed up
The situation is more chaotic than you think
Human hearts
The essence of humanity
Never stop
Human emotions do not cease
But are we having a good time?
Despite the chaos, are we enjoying ourselves?
Oh yeah it's a cynical world
The world is filled with skepticism
Yeah we're taking a joyride
We are recklessly enjoying ourselves
Forecast to crash with the sun
Our future looks bleak like a collision course with the sun
We've seen it, the zenith of our genus, uh huh
We have witnessed the peak of our species' potential
And her temper's gonna rise
Nature's anger will intensify
She gonna break us like a dirty habit
Nature is going to destroy us like a bad habit
Can you blame her? No
It's not unreasonable for nature to be upset with our actions
Buildings falling down
Structures are collapsing
Baby cut the lights she said
Turn off the lights
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
I am in control of energy
Ashes in your hair
There is destruction all around
Music floating everywhere
Sounds fill the air
Wave of mutilation
A destructive force sweeping over everything
Plays on every station for you
Everyone is being affected by the destruction and chaos
Baby it's been fun
We have had a good time despite the troubles
Off you go I think we're done
It's time to move on from this experience
Fever, fever, fever
Intense excitement
Flushes out
Expels
All the bad germs in my mouth
Removes negative thoughts from one's mind
It's a little snide
The situation is a bit sarcastic
Human thirst
Desire that never fades
Never dries
This desire is unquenchable
Can you feel it?
Do you sense what is happening?
I can feel it now
I am realizing the gravity of the situation
Loops on every station for you
The destructive wave is everywhere
Ooh ooh I'm the energy czar
I am in control of the energy that is destroying everything
Lyrics © CCS RIGHTS MANAGEMENT CORP
Written by: Cody Hiles, Dwight Abell, Zachary Gray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sophiaguan2665
One of my favourite bands of all time! Love this video and song. Such an underrated group.
@gregoriotierra8857
Meet me at 4
@soephie
I FINALLY FOUND IT!! I've been hearing it on the radio and I couldn't find it but now I have! I love this song
@gamexsimmonds3581
What station?
@convenire5840
This song has me straight vibing
@itsgwenorsomething
New song from the Zolas? Time for me to play it on repeat over and over for days! Someday I'll see you live and I want be one of those people who knows the words to every song
@gregoriotierra8857
Howdy
@ams189
The fact that you are not more famous is criminal
@ImGanqsta
Vancouver represent, west coast best coast🤘
@anika.williams
You guys are underrated, I wish everyone could hear your amazing music!