The band has a cult following in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, although the eclectic and unique sound Tindersticks possesses never made significant inroads in the mainstream.
Personnel
* Stuart Ashton Staples, born 14 November 1965 - Lead voice, guitar, melodica
* Dickon James Hinchliffe, born 9 July 1967 - violin, guitar, voice, piano, string and brass arrangements
* Neil Timothy Fraser, - born 22 November 1962 - lead guitar, vibraphone
* David Leonard Boulter, born 27 February 1965 - keyboards, percussion
* Alasdair Robert De Villeneuve Macaulay, born 2 August 1965 - drums, percussion, trumpet
* Mark Andrew Colwill, born 12 May 1960 - bass guitar
The band formed in late 1991, Staples, Boulter, Frazer, Macauley and Hinchcliffe having previously been members of Asphalt Ribbons. The final band line-up for the "old horse" mini-LP (1991) was: Stuart Staples (vocals) Dave Boulter (organ & accordion) Neil Fraser (guitar) Dickon Hinchliffe (Guitar & strings) Al Macauley (percussion & drums) John Thompson (bass). Mark Colwill was recruited when John Thompson left the Asphalt Ribbons, but it is not sure if he played any gigs under the Asphalt Ribbons name. Then they changed their name to Tindersticks after Stuart A. Staples discovered a box of German matches on a Greek beach.
Tindersticks started recording demo tapes in 1992, and were signed by Tippy Toe Records who released their first single, "Patchwork".
Their self-titled first and second albums established their signature sound and received widespread critical acclaim. Their live performances, often augmented by large string sections and even, on occasion, a full orchestra, were rapturously received. (The live album Bloomsbury Theatre 12.3.95 is a recording of one such concert.) By the time of the third album, Curtains, however, it was clear that a change of direction was called for. There was a certain ennui to the songs, and the lengthy "Ballad of Tindersticks" was a weary swipe at the pressures of being a touring band.
The fourth album, Simple Pleasure, lived up to its title with a series of snappy, direct songs influenced by soul music. The female backing vocals on several tracks, and the respectful cover of Odyssey's "If You're Looking For A Way Out", signalled the band's wish to move towards lighter, more soulful material. However, the inner sleeve's documentation of the number of takes each track went through was evidence that the band continued to adopt a painstaking approach to recording.
The fifth album, Can Our Love, continued the band's soulful direction, in particular evidence on the tender "Sweet Release" and in the nod to the Chi-Lites in the title of "Chilitetime".
The sixth and most recent album, Waiting For The Moon, was more stripped down and introspective in nature, particularly on the harrowing "4.48 Psychosis" (based on the play of the same name by the British playwright Sarah Kane) and "Sometimes It Hurts". Only the bouncy "Just A Dog" lightened the otherwise melancholy mood of the album.
In 2005 Staples embarked on a solo career and there was resultant speculation that the band had split. Staples has so far produced two solo albums, Lucky Dog Recordings 03-04 and Leaving Songs. The title of the second album, and Staples' notes on it, indicate that Tindersticks may indeed be at an end: "These are songs written on the verge of leaving the things I loved and stepping into a new unknown life, both musically and personally. I was always aware that these songs were the end of something, a kind of closing a circle of a way of writing that I started so long ago and I knew I had to move on from."
In September 2006, the band played a one-off concert at London's Barbican Centre, performing their second album in full with a nine-member string section and two brass players, including former collaborator Terry Edwards on trumpet. This concert brought the band's members back together. A new recording process in 2007 resulted in a new album, The Hungry Saw, which was released on April 28th 2008.
In the meantime, in July 2007, Island Records had released The BBC Sessions, a double CD compilation of the band's sessions for BBC radio programmes. Also in 2007, a stripped-down line-up of three of the original band, Staples, Boulter and Fraser, spent time writing and recording in a newly-equipped studio in Limousin, France. They were joined by Thomas Belhom on drums and Dan McKinna on bass, with Ian Caple engineering. The resulting album, The Hungry Saw, was released on Beggars Banquet in April 2008. Tindersticks played a number of other European dates during the summer festival season and also announced a winter 2008 European tour.
In 2010, the eighth album Falling Down a Mountain was released on 4AD / Constellation Records with a changed band line-up, with Earl Harvin replacing Belhom on drums and David Kitt, a solo artist in his own right, joining the band on guitar and vocals.
The group's ninth album The Something Rain was released in February 2012.
As well as their nine studio albums, the band has produced the soundtracks for four films by the French director Claire Denis: Nenette et Boni,Trouble Every Day, 35 Rhums and White Material
They recorded a cover of the Four Tops song, "What Is A Man", for the theme to the British TV series The Sins.
The Tindersticks song Tiny Tears was featured prominently in the Series 1 episode "Isabella" of HBO's The Sopranos. Additionally, a version of "Running Wild" was played during the ending credits of the penultimate episode of the series, "The Blue Comet". In the Season One Finale of Brotherhood, "El Diablo En El Ojo" is used twice.
* Tindersticks (aka First Album) (This Way Up, 1993)
* Tindersticks (aka Second Album) (This Way Up, 1995)
* Curtains (This Way Up, 1997)
* Simple Pleasure (Island, 1999)
* Can Our Love... (Beggar's Banquet, 2001)
* Waiting for the Moon (Beggar's Banquet, 2003)
* BBC Sessions (2007)
On 17th October 2014, Tindersticks released the commissioned soundscapes from the In Flanders Fields WW1 museum in Ypres, Belgium.
See the band's site at www.tindersticks.co.uk.
Can We Start Again
Tindersticks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said that I love them
Looking over my shoulder at the door
So many times
I can't live without her
The wheel kept turning round
My feeling's changed
What can I say
To make you stay?
'cause in my dreams
They smother all over me
And I'm trying to explain
So many arms
Reach from my memories
Pull all at once
I'm lost amongst
The folds in their skin
I did you wrong
But I'm sorry now
And I'll show you how
If you were here now
You couldn't change
You wouldn't understand
But I'm ready now I'm ready now
I'll make you proud I was your man
And sing a song
But it's so ugly now
And I'll show you how
'cause I'm ready now
I'm ready now
I'm ready now
I'm ready now
Hey I'm ready now
Can we start again?
So many times I said that I loved them
I'm ready now
But I'm ready now
Can we start again?
So many times
I can't live without her
The years was more than I could bear
It's turning round
But in my dreams
Can we start again?
They smother all over me I'm ready now
And I'm trying to explain
Can we start again?
So many arms reach from my memory
The wheels kept turning round
In Tindersticks’ song Can We Start Again?, the singer seems to be reflecting on his past relationships, particularly one with someone he truly loves but has lost. He acknowledges that he has hurt this person and has made mistakes, but despite that, he is still hoping they can start over. He speaks of the many times he said that he loves them but still looked over his shoulder at the door. He admits that he can’t live without her, but his feelings have changed, and he went his own way. Now, he wants to make things right, but he doubts that his apologies can make her stay.
As the song progresses, he delves deeper into his memories, describing how many arms reach from his memories, pulling him all at once, and he feels lost in the folds of their skin. But he also admits that he has done wrong and is sorry for it. He tells his lost love that he is ready now, ready to show her that he can make her proud. In the end, he repeats his call to start again, but this time, he also acknowledges that the years without her have been difficult to bear. Ultimately, the song is about regret, hope, and the desire to start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
So many times
Despite numerous attempts, I failed to adequately express my love.
Looking over my shoulder at the door
Constantly apprehensive and fearful of abandonment.
The wheel kept turning round
Continued to experience the same cycle of love and heartbreak.
My feeling's changed
My sentiments regarding this relationship have shifted.
I went my own way
I pursued my own interests outside of the relationship.
What can I say
I do not know what action or phrase will mend our bond.
To make you stay?
I desire to prevent you from leaving me.
'cause in my dreams
Even in the realm of sleep, I am consumed by thoughts of my past lover.
They smother all over me
My memories of my ex-partner are overwhelmingly intense.
So many arms
The many people that I have loved and lost.
Pull all at once
I am overwhelmed by a multitude of emotions from my past relationships.
I did you wrong
I was unfaithful, disloyal, or dishonest to my partner.
But I'm sorry now
I regret my past actions and desire forgiveness.
And I'll show you how
I am willing to take any action necessary to repair our relationship.
If you were here now
I want my ex-partner to be with me again.
You couldn't change
My past behavior is not something that we can undo.
You wouldn't understand
I don't think you could comprehend my current emotions and thought process.
But I'm ready now, I'm ready now
I have reached a point where I am willing to put effort into our relationship.
I'll make you proud I was your man
I intend to prove my worthiness as a partner and cherish the memory of our past together.
And sing a song
I want to express my love through music and art.
But it's so ugly now
Despite my best intentions, my efforts may not be beautiful or convincing.
Can we start again?
Is there any chance of a second attempt at a loving relationship?
The years was more than I could bear
The length of our relationship was too much to handle.
Can we start again?
Is there any possibility of salvaging our partnership?
The wheels kept turning round
The same cycle of love and heartbreak continues.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BOULTER, DICKON JAMES HINCHLIFFE, STUART ASHTON STAPLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@judiking7153
The only tindersticks song you can dance to? Absolutely brilliant
@EllismaceOX
A classic..Thanks for the Upload.
Time fly's by
@brendan-ut3zc
This one went through my head for a few months!!.. some of the songs are so melancholy..hope that's the word.. they're a gorgeous mix of I'm not quite sure..but so glad I ve found them!
@marcuslavaggi-bowen6539
Good memories of this on Zane Lowe's MTV Brand:New show from back in the day!. First time today seeing this since then!, still remember the cinema scenes like it was yesterday.
@rooftopcat1785
the spotify feed turned me on to this song. Now im all in , have to have them all now.
@ragmancometh
holy crap where'd the 234 views come from? let's make it 1,234 this video is brilliant
@mehcol
classic. so many memories.
@ragmancometh
5 years and only 32 views? what
@epistemes
I know! So Sad not many people can enjoy this Gem !!
@alexjames4064
I think this video was hidden / unavailable for many years sadly