Alone, Jealous and Stoned

Secret Machines are so good at capturing loneliness. In this song and in "Sad and Lonely," I really hear it. That emptiness and longing from solitude. It really makes me sad for them. They must have really felt it strong at some points in their life to be able to describe it so well.

This is about a kid home alone waiting for someone who said they'd be there or said they'd be together in some shape or form, but left him there waiting for them.

Although their previous album contained veiled lyrics throughout, this is pretty heart-on-the-sleeve material. It says exactly what it means. It's a wonderful expression of that deep heartsinking feeling you get when you're anticipating spending time with someone... perhaps a new girlfriend or boyfriend you're just starting to fall for... and they leave you hanging with no explanation. Anyone who has been stood up can relate.

There's a line missin, which I think is:

"Can't have been too late," As I was still warm, Fighting off heavy eyes, Still thinking you would call.

I love this song, it's got something of U2 about it, without it being mainstream. It's very earnest and yet not cheesy. I think they've just grown apart and he hadn't noticed it happening and is now regretting everything. I'm not quite sure how much the stoned is an accusation at himself.

His voice really suits this style of music, it's still got a great uplifting feel to it, despite the subject matter. This is the best form of music there is: "Life's a bit crap but there's always something better on the horizon.".

Check out Jeniferever, they've done a couple of songs that are quite similar, especially "You Only Move Twice".

This a very good song. I think the song personifies a childhood relationship, but as they grew up, they drifted apart. Only one of the two still loved the other. If any one is into the anime thing, there is a good story that goes along with this song here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3039916/1/ It's pretty good.

Perceptive comment about U2-y ness. I can't write about music that well, but the singer's quite gravelly and intimate; the drums are pumping; the guitars & synth have a floaty echoey seasound going on; and the bassline's pretty persistent.

In other words, yes, I like.

i read an interview with the singer (brandon curtis?), where he said that the song was about returning home from tour, expecting just to be part of family and friends etc again, the same old usual stuff, but returning to find everyones grown and changed and he felt like an outside, and spent a lot of time in his old room.

thats obviously paraphrased, but it was along those lines.

I love this song, I feel empathy for the singer, and how he seems very, "outside lookin' in," type-feel, with the whole alone theme going on. I'm being extremely inarticulate, that is so not like me...ah well. I love this song, this band is amazing at capturing emotion.

I agree with RaineBM1185. They really do capture the lonliness and pain, which you can really relate to. Their music really compliments their lyrics well. It gives it a lonely feeling, but not too sad. The singers voice makes it mellow and soft.

this reminds of the "semi-early" days of Smashing Pumpkins. Their song Starla comes to mind. Fuzzed out guitars on a stoned jam.