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
Marijuana
together PANGEA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spring a better man, siblings all of them
I believe in mine, I believe in time
I believe in life, up over everything
You can have it if you wanna
Feel a train to Arizona
Learn to smoke that marijuana
Life on the stage, life alone again
Spring a better man, siblings all of them
I believe in mine, I believe in time
I believe in life, up over everything
You can have it if you wanna
Feel a train to Arizona
Learn to smoke that marijuana
Only you can make it stop
Only you can make it stop
Only you can make it stop
You can have it if you wanna
Feel a train to Arizona
Learn to smoke that marijuana
Only you can make it stop
The lyrics of "Marijuana" by together PANGEA can be interpreted as a reflection on the complexities and choices of life. The repetition of the phrase "life on the stage" suggests a sense of performance or display, possibly referring to the various roles and personas we adopt in different aspects of our lives. The mention of being "alone again" implies a feeling of isolation or detachment, highlighting the inherent solitude that can come with navigating life's challenges.
The line "spring a better man, siblings all of them" could be seen as an acknowledgment of personal growth and the interconnectedness of individuals. It suggests that through experiences and time, one can emerge as a better version of themselves. The belief in one's own journey and the passage of time is emphasized, underscoring the importance of personal development and the understanding that life is a continuous process of growth.
The chorus of the song speaks to the idea that individuals have the power to shape their own experiences. The invitation to "have it if you wanna" implies that one has the agency to pursue their desires. The mention of taking a train to Arizona may symbolize embarking on a new adventure or seeking change. The line "learn to smoke that marijuana" could be interpreted metaphorically as a metaphor for life's experiences, suggesting that embracing new and different perspectives can lead to personal growth and transformation. Ultimately, it is emphasized that the power to stop or change one's current situation lies within oneself.
Overall, "Marijuana" explores themes of personal agency, growth, and the choices we make in life. It encourages listeners to embrace their individual journeys and take ownership of their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Life on the stage, life alone again
Existing in the spotlight, living a solitary existence
Spring a better man, siblings all of them
Transform into a better person, all connected like family
I believe in mine, I believe in time
Having faith in one's own abilities, trusting in the passage of time
I believe in life, up over everything
Valuing and prioritizing life above all else
You can have it if you wanna
If you desire it, you can possess it
Feel a train to Arizona
Experience a journey to Arizona
Learn to smoke that marijuana
Gain knowledge and experience in using marijuana
Only you can make it stop
You possess the ability to put an end to it
Only you can make it stop
Only you have the power to make it come to a halt
Only you can make it stop
It is solely within your control to bring about its cessation
You can have it if you wanna
If you desire it, you can possess it
Feel a train to Arizona
Experience a journey to Arizona
Learn to smoke that marijuana
Gain knowledge and experience in using marijuana
Only you can make it stop
You possess the ability to put an end to it
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Bengston, Eric Jimenez, William Keegan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Atakani
Life on the stage, life alone again
Spring up better men, siblings all of them
I believe in mind, I believe in time
I believe in life, up over everything
You can have it if you wanna
Fever dreams of Arizona
Learn to smoke that marijuana
Only you can make it stop
Life on the stage, life alone again
Spring up better men, siblings all of them
I believe in mind, I believe in time
I believe in life, up over everything
You can have it if you wanna
Fever dreams of Arizona
Learn to smoke that marijuana
Only you can make it stop
Only you can make it stop
Only you can make it stop
AllHailHelms
Is this new or something old that's been unreleased? I love that I can't tell, it definitely has more of a classic Together PANGEA vibe
daveronhertpark
@Daya It was Consequence of Sound "Protect Live Music" l, on 09/10/21.
Daya
@daveronhertpark Where did they the livestream? I missed it 😢
Philip Tamony
Coming from one of my favorite bands I love them so fucking much
daveronhertpark
It's new. They played two new songs, Marijuana was one of them, on a livestream some days ago
transfuge
Exactly what i thought !
Anten
Man I will love if they came back to their old sound, and if they do it will be one hell of a ride
Tapenguin
I love this band so much
Angel
x2
Atakani
Me too