The group formed in 1992, and released a vinyl single, "Proto Pretty", which was later compiled on Rhino Records' "Poptopia" series of power pop compilations. They followed this with the albums Wondermints (1995), Wonderful World of the Wondermints (an album of cover versions from 1996), Bali (1998) and Mind If We Make Love to You (2002). Most of these albums were released in Japan prior to release in the United States. The group also contributed to the soundtrack of the first Austin Powers movie at the request of Mike Myers.
In 1999, the group signed on to be part of Brian Wilson's touring band. Walusko and Gregory have played with him continuously ever since, with D'Amico only having toured with Wilson in 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003. When D'Amico left to spend time with his family, he was replaced in 2001 and early 2002 by Andy Paley, and in 2004 by Nelson Bragg. However, D'Amico rejoined Wilson's band in the summer of 2008, replacing Jim Hines on drums after relieving fellow multi-instrumentalist Scott Bennett of his temporary drumming duties. Sahanaja also missed a few shows in 2003 and 2008, being replaced by Gary Griffin, and in 2016, when Billy Hinsche took his place.
All Wondermints can be heard on Wilson's CDs and DVDs Live at the Roxy Theatre, Brian Wilson on Tour, Pet Sounds Live, and Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, with Sahanaja, Walusko, and Gregory also appearing on the Pet Sounds Live in London album and the studio albums Gettin' in Over My Head and Brian Wilson Presents Smile.
The band is part of a power pop scene in Los Angeles, many of whose members play on each other's records. All of the members of Wondermints, especially Gregory, have made frequent guest appearances and have several side projects, some of the more notable of which are Love, The Eels, Baby Lemonade, The Negro Problem, Stew and Kim Fox.
Albums
Wondermints (1995)
Wonderful World of the Wondermints (1996)
Bali (1998)
Mind If We Make Love to You (2002)
Kaleidoscopin': Exploring Prisms of the Past (2009)
Knowing Me Knowing You
Wondermints Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
silence ever after
Walking through an empty house
tears in my eyes
This is where the story ends,
this is goodbye.
Knowing me, knowing you
knowing me, knowing you
We just have to face it,
this time we're through
Breakin' up is never easy, I know
but I have to go
Knowing me, knowing you
it's the best I can do.
Mem'ries, good days, bad days
they'll be with me always
In these old familiar rooms
children would play,
now there's only emptiness
nothing to say.
The lyrics of the song Knowing Me Knowing You by Wondermints talks about the end of a relationship as the singer walks through an empty house, reminiscing about the past and tears in his eyes. The first stanza describes the sorrowful state that the singer is in, with no more laughter and only silence after the end of the relationship. As he walks through the empty house, he reflects on the memories of the good and bad times shared in the past. The chorus repeats the phrase "Knowing me, knowing you," which can be interpreted as recognizing that both parties in the relationship have come to know each other so well that there is nothing to be done to save it.
The second stanza talks about the difficulty of breaking up, which the singer knows firsthand. He acknowledges the pain and expresses the need to move on and that "it's the best I can do." The final lines of the song express nostalgia for the memories the singer shares with the person they are leaving behind while acknowledging the current emptiness and the inevitable future without them.
Overall, the song's lyrics deliver a powerful message about the end of a relationship, where both parties have come to know each other so intimately that there is nothing to be done to save it. The singer expresses a bittersweet nostalgia for the past while also realizing that it is time to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
No more carefree laughter
The singer is no longer carefree and happy.
silence ever after
The silence and emptiness after the end of a relationship.
Walking through an empty house
The singer is walking through a house that is now empty due to the end of the relationship.
tears in my eyes
The artist is crying due to the end of the relationship.
This is where the story ends,
this is goodbye.
The end of the relationship.
Knowing me, knowing you
there is nothing we can do
Despite knowing each other well, there's nothing they can do to save the relationship.
We just have to face it,
this time we're through
The relationship is over and they have to accept it.
Breakin' up is never easy, I know
but I have to go
Breaking up is difficult but the artist must leave.
Knowing me, knowing you
it's the best I can do.
The artist knows that leaving is the best decision they can make, despite knowing each other well.
Mem'ries, good days, bad days
they'll be with me always
The memories, both good and bad, of the relationship will always be with the artist.
In these old familiar rooms
children would play,
now there's only emptiness
nothing to say.
In the past, the house was filled with life and activity from children playing, but now there is only emptiness and nothing left to say after the end of the relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Werner
Great! I love it when a cover truly reinvents a song making it something completely fantastic and new if vaguely familiar. I get great joy knowing Brian Wilson found his perfect real band. One of my favorite videos is Brian and The Wondermints at what I believe is the 2003 edition of Glastonbury. I found it on line where someone had recorded it from one of the BBC re-broadcasts. I burned it to DVD. I gave a copy to a like minded friend who did me one better by making a "safety copy" and putting it in his safety deposit box. That's how good this band is.
brtherjohn
A fantastic cover by a greatly missed band!
Agent 1110
Not even a cover.
They made it theirs.
butnut Mikami
Awesome! Crazy bass lines...
Agent 1110
Yep! I'm going to have to hook this up to the real speakers.
Ray Stroud
such an amazing band - I've bought everything I can find and going to see them at the Albert Hall this Sept - backed by the Beach Boys :-). Wondermints UK tour please.
foxhunter1970
Love me some Wondermints!!!
A.J. Murtagh
Found this on a secondhand Q magazine CD in like 2005.
Bucky Khronic
It was a great CD too lol.
FatCatMedia
it took me three days to finaly remember what this band was called XD....was worth it haha