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.
Sometimes It Hurts
Tindersticks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What got you to thinking there was something new going on?
You're wasting your time coming 'round here
What got you to thinking I had a different song?
Been lying awake all night trying to figure out
It's that old song - keeps running around in my head
But what's good for me is not necessarily for the best
So play it for me
Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't, you know
Some days it hurts, some days it feels real good
Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it don't, you know
Some days it works so good I can see my way home
Been climbing these old walls warning and screaming what a cheat you are
Ah, how much you mean ?
'Cause nothing else comes near me, you got this trick going on
May have the sharpest chisel, the keenest eye
It's just that old song, I've only got the one
So play it for me
Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't, you know
Some days it hurts, some days it feels real good
Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it don't, you know
Some days it works so good I can see my way home
I may unscrew the top just to hear that sound
I may pour a little just to see the light shining through
A little sip, but no more
Hey, you belong to me now, don't you wander too far
So play it for me
And I'll play it for you
So play it for me
And I'll play it for you
Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't, you know
Some days it hurts, some days it feels real good
Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it don't, you know
Some days it works so good...
I'm wasting my time coming 'round here
What once burned so brightly is all but smoke in the air
You're wasting your time coming 'round here
What got you to thinking I had a different song?
In "Sometimes it Hurts," Tindersticks vocalist Stuart Staples appears to be rejecting a former lover who has returned, presumably with the hope of rekindling their relationship, after he has already moved on. His tone is unrepentant, possibly even harsh: "You're wasting your time coming 'round here / What got you to thinking there was something new going on?" The repetitive, hypnotic rhythm and piano and violin flourishes are intriguingly at odds with the lyrics, giving the song an air of mystery and ambiguity. Though the message of the song is clear, it is difficult to ascertain whether Staples is simply trying to convince himself that he has progressed past this person, or genuinely does not care for them anymore.
Throughout the song, Staples highlights the fact that it is a familiar pattern with his partner, but ultimately he returns to the same old song, unable to find anything new. Despite their problems, there are times when the relationship still feels right to him, and he acknowledges that it can be unpredictable. Although he is dismissive of his former partner, he also acknowledges that he is insincere when it comes to his feelings for her.
Line by Line Meaning
You're wasting your time coming 'round here
The singer believes that the person who came to see him is wasting their time.
What got you to thinking there was something new going on?
The singer questions why the person would think there was anything new happening since everything is still the same.
What got you to thinking I had a different song?
The singer is wondering why the person believes they have a different song to sing when it's the same old song that's still the same.
Been lying awake all night trying to figure out
The singer has been awake all night thinking about something that keeps running in his head.
It's that old song - keeps running around in my head
The singer has been thinking about the same old song that keeps running around in his head, and he can't seem to figure it out.
But what's good for me is not necessarily for the best
The singer recognizes that what can be good for him may not be the best for him in the long run.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't, you know
The singer recognizes that things can go well or badly depending on different factors.
Some days it hurts, some days it feels real good
The singer acknowledges that life can be painful or pleasant on different days.
Been climbing these old walls warning and screaming what a cheat you are
The singer has been trying to fight off the thoughts in his head and warning himself about someone being dishonest.
Ah, how much you mean?
The singer reflects on how much the person on his mind means to him.
It's just that old song, I've only got the one
The singer realizes that the thoughts he's been having are just about the same old song, and he doesn't have any other songs.
I may unscrew the top just to hear that sound
The singer may open a bottle just to hear the sound it makes when opening.
I may pour a little just to see the light shining through
The singer may pour some into a glass to see the light shining through.
Hey, you belong to me now, don't you wander too far
The singer claims ownership over what he has in front of him and doesn't want it to be too far away from him.
I'm wasting my time coming 'round here
The singer realizes he was wasting his time going around in circles about the same old song.
What once burned so brightly is all but smoke in the air
The singer believes that what used to be passionate isn't anything but a memory now.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALISTAIR MACAULEY, DAVID BOULTER, DICKON JAMES HINCHLIFFE, NEIL TIMOTHY FRASER, STUART ASHTON STAPLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Emilce Herrera Cozzoli
You’re wasting your time coming ‘round here
What got you to thinking there was something new going on?
You’re wasting your time coming ‘round here
What got you to thinking I had a different song?
Been lying awake all night trying to figure out
It’s that old song – keeps running around in my head
You’re wasting your time coming ‘round here
But what’s good for me is not necessarily for the best
So play it for me
Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t, you know
Some days it hurts, some days it feels real good
Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it don’t, you know
Some days it works so good I can see my way home
Been climbing these old walls
warning and screaming what a cheat you are
Ah, how much you mean (?)
‘Cause nothing else comes near me, you got this trick going on
May have the sharpest chisel, the keenest eye
It’s just that old song, I’ve only got the one
So play it for me
Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t, you know
Some days it hurts, some days it feels real good
Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it don’t, you know
Some days it works so good I can see my way home
I may unscrew the top just to hear that sound
I may pour a little just to see the light shining through
A little sip, but no more
Hey, you belong to me now, don’t you wander too far
So play it for me
And I’ll play it for you
So play it for me
And I’ll play it for you
Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t, you know
Some days it hurts, some days it feels real good
Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it don’t, you know
Some days it works so good...
I’m wasting my time coming ‘round here
What once burned so brightly is all but smoke in the air
You’re wasting your time coming ‘round here
What got you to thinking I had a different song?
Reggie R
beautiful
lifemelon - ZoePeponi
R.I.P. Lhasa de Sela...
biesmusik
This is good stuff
lunedude
🖤
Harvy Garibo
her name is Lhasa de Sela...
Nozzy
vocal sounds like Madrugada
Err Pee
what are you?