Their debut album BiRd-BrAiNs was first released on limited edition vinyl and cassette in June 2009, via the Portland-based imprint Marriage Records. In July 2009, it was announced that tUnE-yArDs had signed to 4AD, and a limited edition pressing of BiRd-BrAiNs was released on August 17, 2009.
A full worldwide release followed on November 16, 2009 (and November 17th in North America). The autumn 2009 pressing was remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Christian Wright, and includes two new bonus tracks: "Want Me To" and "Real Live Flesh."
BiRd-BrAiNs was entirely self-produced and recorded, with Garbus utilizing a hand-held digital voice recorder, ukulele, some noisy off-balance drums, and produced using shareware mixing software. Garbus described their sound as "a patchwork of sound snippets, of history in a present tense. It is a composer's commitment to the preservation of stories, however small and unassuming."
A second album w h o k i l l was released on April 19, 2011, preceded by the single "Bizness". It was produced by Garbus and engineered by Eli Crews at New, Improved Studios in Oakland, California. Comparing the act to Sonic Youth, Frontier Psychiatrist said, "if BiRd-BrAiNs was Garbus’ EVOL, a record bursting with musical ideas that attempted to subvert the notion of song, w h o k i l l is their Sister, a record that embraces the traditional pop song as a vehicle to convey those ideas." The song "Fiya" is featured on a 2010 commercial for the Blackberry Torch.
Es-So
tUnE-yArDs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pudding pie and
Es-so, es-so
Do or die and
Es-so, es-so
A baby's cry
I gotta do right if my body's tight, right?
A piece of bacon
Walk a mile round the lake and
Crunches, still on they climb up high
I gotta do right if my body's tight, right?
Sometimes I've got the jungle under my skin
Drive up the rhythms, stick a fucking fork in
Bathe it all in a wave of disgust
'I can't believe I ate the whole thing'
Es-so, es-so
Me and you
Love each other through and through
It is true, Daddy
It is true, Daddy
I'm running over my body with my own car
Es-so, Es-so
Feelin' free
The lyrics to tUnE-yArDs's song Es-So utilize repetition and variation to convey a sense of urgency around self-care and self-discipline. The lines "Pudding pie and," "Do or die and," and "A baby's cry" function as a sort of counting rhyme, anchoring the song in a childish sense of play and structure. However, the introduction of references to fitness and health, such as "Crunches, still on they climb up high" and "I gotta do right if my body's tight, right?" create a dissonance between the childlike playfulness of the language and the serious purpose of the song's message.
Throughout the song, lead singer Merrill Garbus uses a combination of spoken word and sung vocalizations to convey the diversity of emotions and thoughts that swirl around the act of taking care of one's body. The lines "Sometimes I've got the jungle under my skin / Drive up the rhythms, stick a fucking fork in / Bathe it all in a wave of disgust / 'I can't believe I ate the whole thing'" demonstrate a sense of discomfort and frustration with how difficult it can be to control one's impulses and take good care of oneself. The repeated line "Es-so, es-so" functions almost like a mantra or an incantation, calling forth the power of discipline and self-love.
Overall, Es-So is a complex and layered song that addresses the intersection of physical fitness, mental health, and emotional wellbeing. The simplicity of its structure and repetition belies a deeper emotional complexity, making for a compelling and thought-provoking listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Es-so, es-so
Repeated line to emphasize the importance and presence of the concept of Es-so throughout the song
Pudding pie and
Referencing a delicious dessert to convey pleasure and indulgence
Do or die and
Expressing a sense of urgency and importance, that the stakes are high
A baby's cry
Using the sound of a baby crying to convey vulnerability and the need for care
I gotta do right if my body's tight, right?
Linking the desire for a physically fit body with the need to make good choices to achieve that goal
A piece of bacon
Referencing a small pleasure or indulgence
Walk a mile round the lake and
Describing a healthy activity or exercise
Crunches, still on they climb up high
Describing a challenging exercise, with the implication that it is worth the effort to achieve fitness goals
Sometimes I've got the jungle under my skin
Referencing a feeling of wildness or chaos within oneself
Drive up the rhythms, stick a fucking fork in
Encouraging the use of music or other upbeat techniques to overcome negative or chaotic feelings
Bathe it all in a wave of disgust
Rejecting negative feelings or impulses to overcome them
'I can't believe I ate the whole thing'
Referencing a popular phrase associated with regret over indulgence or excess
Me and you
Referencing a close, personal relationship
Love each other through and through
Expressing deep feelings of love and commitment
It is true, Daddy
Affirming the truth of a statement or feeling
I'm running over my body with my own car
Metaphorically describing self-destructive behavior or self-sabotage
Feelin' free
Expressing a sense of release or freedom
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Merrill Martin Garbus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind