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.
My Autumn's Done Come
Tindersticks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give everyone a penny that cries
You can throw all my tranquil pills away
Let my blood pressure go on its way
For my autumn's done come
My autumn's done come
Done come
I'm tired of holding my stomach in
No more slinky Vogue dolls for me
I'll take Sears & Roebuck dolls gladly
For my autumn's done come
My autumn's done come
Done come
Bring me water short, scotch tall
A big long black cigar and that ain't all
Hang me a hammock 'tween two big trees
Leave me alone, damn, and let me do what I please
For my autumn's done come
My autumn's done come
Done come
The lyrics of Tindersticks' "My Autumn's Done Come" express a sense of freedom and resignation to the inevitability of aging. The singer seems to be ready to let go of societal expectations and embrace a more carefree existence. When the singer says "Kiss all the pretty ones goodbye/Give everyone a penny that cries," they may be suggesting that they are ready to move on from superficial relationships and only keep those who matter to them close. The line "Let my blood pressure go on its way" could mean that the singer feels that it is time to stop worrying about their health and let nature take its course.
The second stanza of the song expresses a desire for simplicity and comfort. The singer is tired of trying to conform to societal beauty standards and would rather be comfortable in their own skin. The line "No more slinky Vogue dolls for me/I'll take Sears & Roebuck dolls gladly" is significant in that it suggests that the singer wants to live a simpler life, free of expensive and extravagant things. They would rather spend their time enjoying simple pleasures and doing what they please without having to worry about their appearance.
Overall, "My Autumn's Done Come" is a poignant and introspective song that explores themes of aging and acceptance. The singer seems to be ready to let go of societal pressures and embrace a more carefree existence, one that emphasizes simplicity and comfort over extravagance and beauty standards.
Line by Line Meaning
Kiss all the pretty ones goodbye
I am parting with my beautiful memories and loved ones
Give everyone a penny that cries
I am compensating those who are sad and heartbroken
You can throw all my tranquil pills away
I don't need medication to calm me down anymore
Let my blood pressure go on its way
I no longer care about the stress and anxiety that used to affect my health
For my autumn's done come
I have entered a new, peaceful phase of my life
Let those "I don't care" days begin
I am ready to let go and stop worrying about things that used to bother me
I'm tired of holding my stomach in
I no longer need to fake a perfect appearance or hide my flaws
No more slinky Vogue dolls for me
I don't feel the need to conform to societal beauty standards
I'll take Sears & Roebuck dolls gladly
I am content with simpler, down-to-earth things in life
Bring me water short, scotch tall
I am ready to indulge in my favorite drinks
A big long black cigar and that ain't all
I am going to treat myself to some vices that I used to avoid
Hang me a hammock 'tween two big trees
I just want to relax and enjoy the little things in life
Leave me alone, damn, and let me do what I please
I am done pleasing others and ready to focus on my own happiness
For my autumn's done come
I have reached a point in life where I can let go of my worries and just enjoy the present
My autumn's done come
I am at peace with myself and my surroundings
Done come
The arrival of my autumn symbolizes a new beginning and a fresh outlook on life
Contributed by Julian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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