A true road runner, Adam has been steady criss-crossing the country for five years in support of his two previous releases, 2007's The Great Basking Shark and 2008's Show Me Magic, Show Me Out, sharing the stage with Lucero, Calexico, The Legendary Shack Shakers, Vetiver, Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Damien Jurado, Elf Power and Malcom Holcombe.
Faucett's newest release More Like A Temple pushes out in all directions, simultaneously more folk, more rock, more melodic, more soul, and more sinister than all of his previous work. The Arkansas Times has raved "More Like A Temple is far beyond good. It may just be one of the most vital documents from a young musician to come out of town in years".
Originally from Benton, AR, now residing in Little Rock, Adam has been leading bands and recording for over a decade- first with disbanded Russellville, AR local heroes, Taught The Rabbits, which Adam has called "A Lush, Pink Floyd and Sonic Youth-inspired group; kids who grew up in a gravel pit tipping their hats to their psychedelic heroes from so far away." Taught The Rabbits' One But Just Another and Mallet and Watch were released in 2001 and 2006 and the band established a strong local following, touring regionally and sharing the stage with Calexico and Lucero.
In 2006 Adam relocated to Chicago where he wrote the material that would become his first solo album and began playing solo shows around town. In 2007, he moved back to Arkansas to record The Great Basking Shark with longtime friend and producer Darian Stribling (Bob Goblin). The record displayed a focus on storytelling and roots arrangements, showcasing Faucett's strong vocals, unique finger-picking, and banjo playing. Adam toured extensively throughout the US in support of the album, playing over 100 shows from coast to coast.
In 2008, Adam returned to Stribling's Blue Chair Studio to record Show Me Magic, Show Me Out with Stribling, and newly assembled live band "The Tall Grass", comprised of Little Rock musicians Chad Conder (drums) and Jonny D. (bass). Show Me Magic demonstrated the electric folk soul sound that the band had been honing in live shows and marked further evolution in Faucett's songwriting. The Arkansas Times said of Show Me Magic, "Even the greatest American folk singers would be hard-pressed to leave such a vivid account". Faucett continued his rigorous touring schedule, opening for bands including The Legendary Shack Shakers, Vetiver, Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Damien Jurado and Elf Power.
More Like A Temple is the next chapter in Faucett's "southern soul swamp opera". Drawing from 90s rock heroes alongside the great soul singers, "Love" and "Sweet Maureen" come on like Otis Redding sitting in on a Pavement session. "Morphine" is a haunted morning-after reflection with a guitar hook that stays with you into the next day. The swamp rock foreshadowing of "Gator", the space folk of "Saturday", and the Zeppelin vs. White Stripes riffs of "Do What I Say" present Faucett as part folk crooner, part celestial traveler, part Arkie rock hero - all parts in sharp control of their faculties as writer, storyteller, singer, composer, and guitarist. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette review of Temple states "Faucett proceeds to batter your defenses and pull you into a world thats part folk, part blues, part elemental rock stomp, part unidentifiable cosmic holler."
Axé
adam faucett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since early '01
She still stands tall, unaware of all I done
Time won't heal all wounds
I promise you that
It will rip all of the meat from all bones
That's a fact.
Glass ceiling is bowed in
Distorted rainbow dreams for some kid that's not me
Reflection is all stretched out
And the axe still swings
Ha ha, it hits and it sounds like it's laughing at me.
I don't want it for nothing
I don't need it for cheap
It come crashing down someday
Probably crash down on me
Days are just dollars
Blood, blood's just to bleed
I HOPE THIS FIGHT AIN'T ALL THERE IS TO ME!
You can stomp all the lights out
I hear you grin ear-to-ear
I may be in darkness now
But I know what I hear
The truth comes in waves
But never too soon I hear you keening woman
As others hear a tune
I don't want it for nothing
I don't need it for cheap
It come crashing down someday
Maybe crash down on me
Days are just dollars
Blood, blood just to bleed
I hope this fight ain't all there is to me.
I was D.O.A. as the lights had changed
I pretended not to care
It'll sprout its wings as the fat lady sings
Hell I'm already, I'm already there.
Become what you have
Nevermind what you don't
Our dreams come with us
Our fears they live on
The axe still swings.
The lyrics of Adam Faucett's song "Axe" evoke powerful imagery of the struggle to move forward in life despite the weight of the past. The metaphor of the oak being repeatedly struck with an axe represents the ongoing battle with one's demons and the persistent struggle to overcome them. Despite the passage of time, the singer is still haunted by the mistakes he has made and the wounds he has inflicted upon himself and others. The repetition of the line "I don't want it for nothing, I don't need it for cheap" suggests that the singer is searching for a sense of purpose that transcends superficial desires and material possessions. However, he is fearful that his struggles may ultimately be in vain, as he laments "Days are just dollars, blood, blood's just to bleed."
The theme of inner turmoil is also reflected in the distorted glass ceiling and stretched-out reflection. The singer's perception of reality is warped by the scars of his past, and he is haunted by the sense that he is not living up to his potential. The line "Reflection is all stretched out, and the axe still swings. Ha ha, it hits and it sounds like it's laughing at me" evokes a sense of derision from the singer's demons.
Overall, Adam Faucett's "Axe" is a powerful meditation on the struggle to overcome one's past and find meaning in life. The repeated motif of the swinging axe reinforces the idea that the battle never truly ends, but must continue to be fought with every passing day.
Line by Line Meaning
Put an axe to the same oak
Starting fresh and trying again
Since early '01
For almost two decades now
She still stands tall, unaware of all I done
Despite my past mistakes, the oak tree still stands tall and strong
Time won't heal all wounds
The passing of time does not necessarily fix everything
I promise you that
I am certain of this fact
It will rip all of the meat from all bones
Time has the power to leave nothing but the bare minimum of existence
That's a fact.
There's no doubt about it
Glass ceiling is bowed in
I notice a barrier to achieving the American dream is prevalent in society
And all that I see
The glass ceiling is impeding my progress and opportunities
Distorted rainbow dreams for some kid that's not me
The American Dream is not always attainable, and sometimes the goalposts keep moving
Reflection is all stretched out
The way I view myself is distorted by societal pressure and ideals
And the axe still swings
I am still actively seeking change despite the challenges I face
Ha ha, it hits and it sounds like it's laughing at me.
The difficulties I face taunt me and feel like a cruel joke
I don't want it for nothing
I don't want something for nothing
I don't need it for cheap
I don't want something that is easily replaceable or has no value
It come crashing down someday
Everything that goes up comes down at some point
Probably crash down on me
I'm prepared to face the consequences of my actions
Days are just dollars
Time passes quickly and is valuable
Blood, blood's just to bleed
The hardships I face are a part of life
I HOPE THIS FIGHT AIN'T ALL THERE IS TO ME!
I hope that my character is defined by more than the battles I fight
You can stomp all the lights out
You may try to extinguish my hope
I hear you grin ear-to-ear
I am aware of those who seem to enjoy causing others pain
I may be in darkness now
I may be going through tough times now
But I know what I hear
I trust myself and my instincts
The truth comes in waves
Sometimes the truth takes time to reveal itself
But never too soon
But I have faith the truth will always come out eventually
I hear you keening woman
I hear the pain of others even when others don't seem to hear it
As others hear a tune
Others may ignore the pain around them
I was D.O.A. as the lights had changed
I was dead on arrival, my chance had passed
I pretended not to care
I tried to play it cool despite my disappointment
It'll sprout its wings as the fat lady sings
There is still hope for change and growth
Hell I'm already, I'm already there.
I'm already experiencing the worst
Become what you have
Focus your energy on what you do have
Never mind what you don't
Don't dwell on what you don't have or can't control
Our dreams come with us
Our hopes and dreams are an integral part of us
Our fears they live on
Our fears and anxieties persist through life and can hold us back
The axe still swings.
Yet despite everything, progress can still be made and change can still occur.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Adam Faucett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jacky Griffith
on Saturday
I love this cd. great guitar playing, unusual lyrics