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Rating: The soundtrack of an unrealized film. The title: "Dusk at Cubist Castle".
These are the premises for approaching the listening of the first work by Olivia Tremor Control, a leading group along with their "cousins" Neutral Milk Hotel of the Elephant 6 collective-ideal of life-microcosm.
The 27 tracks of this double album move between pop and avant-garde, psychedelia and surrealism, arrangements on the brink of baroque and various cacophonies, Sgt. Pepper and Barrett, lo-fi and Brian Wilson.
A meta-musical experience, rich in countless aspects resting on a very specific substrate: pop. It’s difficult to identify an album where the deconstruction of pop reaches these levels while maintaining such sublime quality standards of writing for more than 70 minutes. Monumental, yet never boring or pretentious.
Dream and madness, catharsis and joy, Dusk at Cubist Castle.
One of the most surprising albums of the '90s decade.
In loving memory of Bill Doss
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 The Opera House (03:12)
we're in the movies
watching some people move their mouths
and a religious figure
who's not really a religious figure
'cause he's an actor
we feel ok
which is how we feel most of the time now
nothing can be done without the willingness
to succeed
let's go to the opera
since all of our favorite memories have failed us
you make the choice, you make the choice
you make the choice, you make the choice
historic properties, historic places
the next generation
lost in a sea of faces
there's no hope for generating electricity
no sidewalks
i just need some kicks
you make the choice, you make the choice
you make the choice, you make the choice
05 No Growing (Exegesis) (03:00)
if i should discorporate
trying to illuminate the lines
of my time
please tell the here and now
present the case somehow
and open up their lines
there is no growing
in knowing where you're going
without the light inside
what do you do when the magic's gone?
what do you do when the magic's gone away?
there is an ideal and i'm going to reach for it
there is an ideal and i'm going to try
open up your heart, open up your heart
there is no growing in knowing where you're going
without the light inside, without the light inside
without the light
06 Holiday Surprise 1, 2, 3 (06:11)
spending my last dollar on a hotel and a restaurant
sky looks gray but the sky inside is a mighty great one
don't worry
don't worry
taking the time to waste your sunny day
taking the time to waste your sunny day
holiday surprise and a bright one at that
it's a holiday to last even though we spent the last year
in a dream, in a dream
taking the time to waste your sunny day
taking the time to waste your sunny day
imitating you
your image floats two feet above the ground
i sit down in my seat and wait to take off
i can't wait for the oxygen to get thin
i twist around in my seat
i'm flying like a star (a star taker)
taking light from the sky
teasing all the people with pictures of you
cause it's a holiday surprise
ooo-ah
remember the beliefs we had back then
said we'd never change our minds
but oh, and then again
all the dreams were just early plans
well please, please
don't you ever change your mind on me
don't you ever change your mind on me
conflict in our heads makes us see
without the depth that we used to
all of the problems in our way
make it so very hard to say
well please, please
07 Courtyard (02:57)
Here's your ticket, you better believe
(better believe it's true)
Long live the life we led at 210
(two one ooh that's you)
We're on a journey so you'd better run
Try to get to your train on time
I'm always going back
Always going back to
Always going back to where you are
Down in the courtyard
Is where you'll find me
Going back to where you are
And there's nothing that i can tell you
That you don't already know
That you don't already know my dear
I might get away from these 4 walls
(i might fly away)
I might escape from what's holding me
(i might run away)
Here in apple town is where i called you
Here is where i called you for advice
I'm always going back
Always going back to
Always going back to where you are
Out in the turning tide
That's where you'll find me
Going back to where you are
And there's nothing that i can tell you
That you don't already know
That you don't already know my dear
25 Dusk at Cubist Castle (07:35)
Dusk at cubist castle
Dreams of the old wake up the new
You can find me out there
Among the grass and the animals i knew
In my head all day
It rained a lot
But the dream that's out there
Doesn't make much sense to me
Dusk at cubist castle
All the clouds are in past tense
All the kingdom is in fragments
And these paintings don't make sense
27 NYC-25 (04:37)
here we go around the world
we spin around on the turnstiles
we create
here we are in caravan
blinders up high were the dreamers
and don't forget you're the only one
(you're the only one)
you hold your kite on a string
don't sleep too long
cause everything you need is right here
don't sleep too long
pleasant dreams but please don't sleep too long
everything you need is right here
don't sleep too long
pleasant dreams but please don't sleep too long
here we are in candyland
one million dreams are realizing everyday
here we are in apples corps
four million feet walk right by me everyday
here we are in old New York
ten million eyes stare right through me
and don't forget you're not the only one
(not the only one)
who turned your life all around?
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