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.
Kooks
Tindersticks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you stay, you won't be sorry
'Cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
Will you stay in our lovers' story
'Cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
We bought a lot of things to keep you warm and dry
And a funny old crib on which the paint won't dry
I bought you a pair of shoes
A trumpet you can blow and a book of rules
On what to say to people when they pick on you
'Cause if you stay with us, you're gonna be pretty kooky, too
Will you stay in our lovers' story
If you stay, you won't be sorry
'Cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
And if you ever have to go to school
Remember how they messed up this old fool
Don't pick fights with the bullies or the cads
'Cause I'm not much cop at punching other people's dads
And if the homework brings you down
Then we'll throw it on the fire and take the car downtown
Will you stay in our lovers' story
If you stay, you won't be sorry
'Cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
Will you stay in our lovers' story
If you stay, you won't be sorry
'Cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing
In Tindersticks’ song “Kooks,” the singer is addressing a young child, asking them to be a part of their “lovers’ story.” They assure the child that they will not regret staying with them, and that they believe in them. The singer describes themselves as “a couple of kooks hung up on romancing,” suggesting that they may not fit in with mainstream society, but they value their own way of experiencing love and relationships. They attempt to impart some advice to the child, such as not picking fights with bullies and not being afraid to be a little “kooky” and different. The overall message is one of acceptance and encouragement – the singer wants the child to feel supported and loved, even if they may not always fit in with others.
The lyrics to “Kooks” are open to interpretation, but many listeners speculate that the song is actually a tribute to David Bowie’s son, whom he nicknamed “Kooks.” Bowie himself had a love of all things odd and unconventional, so the idea that the song is about embracing one’s differences and quirks fits well with his own ethos. In addition, the lines “I bought you a pair of shoes, a trumpet you can blow and a book of rules” mimic Bowie’s own lyric “I bought a saxophone, I painted it red” from his song “Kooks.” Whether or not the song is specifically about Bowie’s son, it still carries a message of embracing one’s individuality and not being afraid to be “pretty kooky.”
Line by Line Meaning
Will you stay in our lovers' story
Are you willing to stay and be part of our love story?
If you stay, you won't be sorry
If you choose to stay, you won't regret it.
'Cause we believe in you
We have faith in you and your potential.
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
You have the opportunity to grow and develop, so seize it.
With a couple of kooks
With us, who are unconventional and perhaps eccentric.
Hung up on romancing
Obsessed with love and the romantic ideal.
We bought a lot of things to keep you warm and dry
We've made preparations to ensure your comfort and safety.
And a funny old crib on which the paint won't dry
We've provided you with a unique and quirky place to sleep.
I bought you a pair of shoes
We've also given you practical gifts.
A trumpet you can blow and a book of rules
As well as opportunities to express yourself creatively and guidance on life.
On what to say to people when they pick on you
We've prepared you with the knowledge to deal with bullies, should you encounter them.
'Cause if you stay with us, you're gonna be pretty kooky, too
If you choose to remain with us, you'll also become unconventional like we are.
And if you ever have to go to school
If you begin formal education,
Remember how they messed up this old fool
Remember the experiences and lessons of someone who has made mistakes in life.
Don't pick fights with the bullies or the cads
Don't engage in conflict with those who might cause you harm.
'Cause I'm not much cop at punching other people's dads
Because I'm not good at defending you physically.
And if the homework brings you down
If schoolwork starts to become overwhelming or negatively affect you,
Then we'll throw it on the fire and take the car downtown
We'll take a break and have a fun day out to destress and relax.
Will you stay in our lovers' story
Are you willing to continue being part of our love story?
If you stay, you won't be sorry
If you choose to stay, you won't regret it.
'Cause we believe in you
We still have faith in you.
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
You still have the opportunity to grow and develop, so seize it.
With a couple of kooks
With us, who are still unconventional and perhaps eccentric.
Hung up on romancing
Still obsessed with love and the romantic ideal.
Contributed by London V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lola Bow
One of my favourite drunken dances at atp disco
Samantha Ramsey
One of the few covers that's actually better than the original. With no disrespect to Mr. Bowie of course.
martimusichannel
viva tindersticks