Formed in 1978 in Winston-Salem, NC, the original lineup of the band featured Chris Stamey (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Gene Holder (bass), and Will Rigby (drums). All three members had spent time in Stamey's legendary group, Sneakers. After relocating to New York, the dB's released their debut single, "(I Thought) You Wanted to Know," b/w "If and When" for Stamey's Car label. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Peter Holsapple, who had worked with Stamey in the band Rittenhouse Square in the early '70s, joined the band by the end of 1978. Holsapple and Stamey shared the songwriting chores during the band's early years.
The dB's were unable to secure a U.S. recording contract, so they signed to the British Albion label. They released two albums on Albion: Stands for Decibels (1981) and Repercussion (1982). Both records received rave reviews but little sales. Stamey left in 1983 to resume a solo career. Rick Wagner was added on bass but was replaced shortly by Jeff Beninato. With Holsapple fronting the group, they signed to Bearsville in 1984 and released Like This, a more conventional jangle pop album with strong country leanings. Bearsville's internal problems doomed the album despite its obvious hit potential. They eventually left to sign with I.R.S. Records in 1987, where they released The Sound of Music. The album managed to break the Top 200 and college radio support was strong. The dB's received some crucial exposure when they opened for R.E.M. on their Document tour in the end of 1987, but by the end of 1988, the band decided to break up. In 1994, Paris Avenue, a collection of demos for the band's never-recorded fifth album, was released on Monkey Hill.
Holsapple and Stamey reunited in 1991 for a duo project, releasing Mavericks later that year. Mavericks was the only album the duo ever released (although they have been working sporadically on a followup in recent years). Following its release, Stamey continued with solo projects; he also continued to contribute to the Golden Palominos, work as a sideman for Bob Mould, and become an acclaimed producer for bands like Whiskeytown and Le Tigre and artists like Caitlin Cary. Holder went on to join the Wygals and worked as a producer and guest musician for other artists. Will Rigby released one solo album, Sidekick Phenomenon, in 1985, and a second, Paradoxaholic, in 2002. He also joined Steve Earle's band as drummer. Holsapple joined R.E.M. as an occasional touring member in 1991 and formed his own band, the Continental Drifters, with then-wife Susan Cowsill. He went on to serve as a sideman to Hootie and the Blowfish.
In late 2004, the original lineup of the dB's reformed. They have been playing occasional shows while working on a new album, and have released a couple of new songs through their web site, www.thedbs.com.
The band's latest work is 2012's 'Falling Off the Sky', which has attracted serious critical praise. For example, 'The Chicago Tribune' ran an article stating that he release "sounds like the work of a band still very much at the top of its game." 'Falling Off the Sky' was created by the group's classic line-up of Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder, and Will Rigby,
Cycles Per Second
The dB's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Exhilaration, then comes the pressure
From to A to Z in
Cycles per second
Cycles per second
Talk in a riddle, several hertz
Having a good time
Cycles per second
Cycles per second
Forging a neuronic aperture
Cycles per second, ahhh
Cycles per second, ahhh
Itâ??s got a hold on you
Tell me how to make it stop
Call a depression transient thing
Canâ??t move a finger, refuel a drink
From Y to B in
Cycles per second
Cycles per second
Gorging a neurotic appetite
Cycles per second, ahhh
Cycles per second, ahhh
Itâ??s got a hold on you
Tell me how to make it stop
Cycles per second, ahhh
Cycles per second, ahhh
In "Cycles Per Second," The dB's capture the frenzy and uncertainty of life, always moving forward at an unpredictable pace. The opening lines express a sense of unease, acknowledging the uncertainty of what is to come. The song then ramps up the energy, with the exhilaration of life countered by the pressure to keep up. The repetition of "Cycles per second" emphasizes the constant forward motion, while the different letters ("from A to Z," "from Y to B") suggest that life is not always linear or logical, but moves in unexpected directions.
The second verse suggests a struggle with communication and understanding, with talk in a "riddle" and "hypnagogic turn for the worse." The phrase "Cycles per second" is repeated, perhaps as a kind of mantra or attempt to find order in the chaos. The lines "Forging a neuronic aperture/Gorging a neurotic appetite" suggest both an opening up and an insatiable hunger for something, perhaps for understanding or meaning in life.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of being caught up in something beyond one's control. The repeated refrain of "It's got a hold on you/Tell me how to make it stop" suggests a desire to slow down or break free of the constant motion and pressure of life. Overall, "Cycles Per Second" conveys a sense of anxiety and excitement, capturing the ups and downs of an unpredictable world.
Line by Line Meaning
Never too certain what is to follow
The future is unpredictable
Exhilaration, then comes the pressure
Euphoria is often followed by stress
From to A to Z in Cycles per second
Life is like a vibrating wave, in constant motion
Talk in a riddle, several hertz
Communicating in an obscure manner, with multiple frequencies
Some hypnagogic turn for the worse
Some sudden and unpleasant change in the state of consciousness
Having a good time Cycles per second
Enjoying life's constant fluctuations
Forging a neuronic aperture
Creating a new connection in the brain
Cycles per second, ahhh
Life's vibrations have a powerful hold on us
It's got a hold on you Tell me how to make it stop
The constant motion of life can be overwhelming and we often seek ways to control it
Call a depression transient thing
Labeling depression as a temporary occurrence
Can't move a finger, refuel a drink
Feeling immobilized and needing a break
From Y to B in Cycles per second
Life's unpredictable path can lead us in unexpected directions
Gorging a neurotic appetite
Indulging in an unhealthy obsession or craving
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER CHARLES STAMEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
crapple009
Dude, it's small case d, large case B and apostrophe s, as well. get WITH IT!
jnyc
Right? I was like "the D flats"