together PANGEA do rock ‘n’ roll as it was meant to be – raw, unpredictable, and probably dangerous, but also blazing with intelligence, emotion, and edgy experimentation. The Los Angeles-based trio made their bones as purveyors of post-millennial punk, but with their third full-length release – and Harvest Records debut – BADILLAC, they pay their debt to the supersonic 90s rock that first inspired them. The band has not sacrificed a spurt of precious energy, instead integrating nuance and dynamic momentum to songs like “No Way Out” and the undeniably badass title track. The volcanic riffs and massive melodies are matched by an equally provocative lyrical stance, with songs like “Sick Shit” and the album-closing “Where The Night Ends” casting an acerbic eye over the wreckage of the party they helped start – it’s 3am and the drunken fun has given way to sexual panic, anxiety and self-doubt. Slightly stoned but by no means slack, BADILLAC reveals together PANGEA to be both confident and surprisingly committed, their audacious ambition already impossible to contain.
“It might be confusing for people, assuming we’re like this garage punk band and then hearing this record,” says singer/songwriter/guitarist William Keegan. “But we really don’t want to get trapped at all.”
Keegan first started writing and recording in his Santa Clarita bedroom, his teenage tapes eventually coming to full flower with the aid of bassist Danny Bengston and drummer Erik Jimenez. Known then simply as Pangea, the band played countless beer blasts in and around CalArts, their boozy mayhem and breakneck pop hooks quickly earning them frenzied crowds throughout the Southern California DIY scene and beyond. A string of seven-inches, cassettes, and LPs – including 2011’s ace second album, LIVING DUMMY, released by Burger Records and The Smell’s Olfactory label – followed, as did gigs alongside a veritable who’s-who of like-minded rockers, including Ty Segall, Mikal Cronin, Wavves, and The Black Lips (not to mention 2013’s epic “Burgerama Caravan of Stars” US tour).
BADILLAC was recorded with their longtime producer/engineer Andrew Schubert over three intensive sessions at his Tarzana studio, their roster augmented by second guitarist Cory Hanson (of the electronic pop outfit, W-H-I-T-E). While many bands in their position would have simply continued banging out the party punk, together PANGEA decided to throw a curveball at themselves and their fervent fanbase.
“We wrote like 30 plus songs for this record,” Bengston says, “half of which have the same punky bubblegum vibe of our last record. Then we had this other batch of songs, a little more melancholy, a little heavier, a little darker. I think in the end we just decided to try to not make the same record twice.”
“When I write, there are certain songs that I feel fit the band,” Keegan says, “and then there are songs where it doesn’t feel like they fit. At some point, I was like, maybe we should try some of the songs that don’t necessarily fit. Because I realized that they do fit – they’re just different.”
Though Keegan cites such unexpected heroes as Pete Seeger and 21st Century K Records artists like Little Wings and the Microphones, he fully fesses up to BADILLAC’s most primal inspirations. Indeed, songs like “Why” and the cello-laced “No Way Out” fuse classic post punk ambivalence with fist-pumping stadium rock, their neurotic hooks, throat-rending vocals, and fat, distorted riffs hearkening back to the glory days of the alternative nation.
“To me, the album is so obviously influenced by the shit that I was listening to when I was 16,” Keegan says. “Growing up in the 90s, all that stuff – Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer. It wasn’t conscious, the album just sounds like that. It feels like that music is etched in deeper that music I’ve listened to as an adult. For whatever reason, the music you listened to when you’re confused and young gets in deeper than anything you might listen to later.”
BADILLAC also sees together PANGEA stepping away from their association with a much-hyped scene they believe too often revels in its own idiocy, Keegan’s wry lyrics pushing both their music and subject matter towards unsettling themes of impotence, fear, ennui, and detachment.
“We think less and less about how we fit into this garage punk scene that we never even technically felt a part of,” Keegan says. “We just kinda get lumped into that. I’m not really stoked on what a lot of those bands are saying, there’s a lot of misogyny and stuff I’m not into.”
Like any angst-ridden tunesmith worth his salt, Keegan also directs his gaze inwards, coming to turns with his own cynical view of relationships on songs like the mordant “Offer,” their cracked melodies and jaundiced skepticism fueled by his recent romantic struggles.
“I went through a really difficult relationship where we were breaking up every three months for four years,” he says. “At the end of it, I was just like, “This is never gonna work.’ It was pretty intense and I think that informs a lot of the songs on the album.
“It’s kinda funny,” he adds. “As soon as we finished this record, we broke up for good.”
BADILLAC will drive together PANGEA through 2014, their imminent plans essentially consisting of touring until they drop. Nevertheless, the band finds themselves in the unprecedented position of having to ponder the future.
“We’ve been discussing where the next record is gonna go,” Bengston says, “we still haven’t put our finger on it yet.”
“It’s weird,” Keegan says, “because we never had to have those formal discussions, like, ‘What should the next record sound like?’ It’s always been pretty natural. Hopefully that’s what’ll end up happening again.”
November 2013
Cat Man
together PANGEA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's the taker of life
He′s a bad man
He's got oceans for eyes
They say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
They say that he′s a winner
Nobody can look away
He says that nothing′s for free
He's got an eight inch claw
He spreads the disease
He′s the cat man
He's the taker of lives
He′s a bad man
He's got ocean for eyes
They say that he′s a winner
Nobody can look away
They say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Away
Possible interpretation:
The lyrics of "Cat Man" by together PANGEA depict a dangerous and captivating figure, who is both a killer and a seducer. The title character is described as having feline traits, such as eye color and sharp claws, but also a human form and demeanor. He's presented as a "bad man" who spreads disease and takes lives, but also as a winner who commands attention and admiration. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes his magnetic appeal and the fascination he arouses in others. The song suggests that the cat man is a symbol of primal impulses and predatory instincts, embodied in a charismatic persona that transcends morality.
The lyrics can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the context and the perspective of the listener. One possible reading is that the cat man represents a dark side of humanity, a reminder of our primal instincts and our capacity for violence and lust. Another possible reading is that the cat man is a mythical figure, a manifestation of archetypal themes such as the trickster, the predator, or the lover. Yet another possible reading is that the cat man is a political metaphor, symbolizing a charismatic leader who wields power through fear and charisma, and who exploits people's vulnerabilities and desires.
Overall, "Cat Man" is a provocative and enigmatic song that invites multiple interpretations and raises questions about the nature of identity, desire, and power.
Line by Line Meaning
He's the cat man
The subject being described is known as the 'cat man.'
He's the taker of life
The 'cat man' takes lives, suggesting he is a violent and dangerous individual.
He's a bad man
The 'cat man' is not a good person, perhaps indicating he is immoral or wicked in some way.
He's got oceans for eyes
The 'cat man' has eyes that resemble oceans, possibly indicating they are deep, dark, and mysterious.
They say that he's a winner
Others describe the 'cat man' as a 'winner,' implying that he is successful or accomplished in some way.
Nobody can look away
The 'cat man' is captivating or mesmerizing, causing others to be unable to look away from him.
Cat man
Repeating the title of the song, signifying that this is a key aspect of the 'cat man's' identity.
He says that nothing's for free
The 'cat man' believes that everything has a cost or a price, indicating he may be driven by greed or self-interest.
He's got an eight inch claw
The 'cat man' possesses a claw that is eight inches long, suggesting he is physically powerful and potentially dangerous.
He spreads the disease
The 'cat man' is responsible for spreading disease, indicating he may be a carrier or a transmitter of some sort of illness or affliction.
He's the cat man
Repeating the title of the song, emphasizing the subject's identity and importance in the narrative.
He's the taker of lives
Repeating an earlier line, underscoring the 'cat man's' violent tendencies and the danger he poses to others.
He's a bad man
Repeating an earlier line, once again characterizing the 'cat man' as a negative or unpleasant figure.
He's got ocean for eyes
Repeating an earlier line, calling attention to the unusual, mysterious quality of the 'cat man's' eyes.
They say that he's a winner
Repeating an earlier line, establishing the perception that the 'cat man' is admired or respected by others despite his violent tendencies.
Nobody can look away
Repeating an earlier line, highlighting the captivating, mesmerizing effect that the 'cat man' has on those around him.
Away
A concluding line, possibly meant to emphasize the finality or danger of the 'cat man's' actions.
Writer(s): Erik Jimenez, Danny Bengston, William Keegan
Contributed by Muhammad V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Erin
He's the cat man
He's the taker of life
He's a bad man
He's got oceans for eyes
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Half-man
He's says that nothins' for free
He's got an 8-inch claw
And he spreads the disease
He's the cat man
He's the taker of life
He's a bad man
He's got oceans for eyes
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Away
Dien
the "nobody can look away" line came on right when I was thinking that I can't look away from this
KHGuitars
I figured this video would be cool to show to my daughter because she loves cats... probably gonna pass on that haha. Awesome video though!!!!
—ĪNSANITY • PŁUS—
hearing this while on drugs has had me in a weird place these last few weeks..
lia
I love this song so much
Nitasha S.
So much
Atakani
me too
Erin
He's the cat man
He's the taker of life
He's a bad man
He's got oceans for eyes
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Half-man
He's says that nothins' for free
He's got an 8-inch claw
And he spreads the disease
He's the cat man
He's the taker of life
He's a bad man
He's got oceans for eyes
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Say that he's a winner
Nobody can look away
Away
Rey's the name
Thank you brah
Emo Cowboy
I've always super been into together pangea and this if the first time I've ever seen this song
Kaya Jade
Sweet video and great music as always