Mirrors

First of all, this band soooo fucking nails the formula of intro/2nd track cohesion. When Tommy's keys bleed into "Obfuscation" at the end of the intro, I get the biggest goosebumps since first hearing Colors (which STILL gives me chills EVERY TIME I listen to it). If there was anything I would hope to be repeated on each album, it's that combination. Of course, these two stand apart more than previous pairings, (I simply can't listen to "The Backtrack" without "Decade of Statues", and vice versa) I mean, "Mirrors" is three and a half minutes, but it's still an intro next to the beast that is track 2 :) They have their seperate appeal, but the chemistry is there nonetheless.

I love "Close one eye, step to the side..." because I actually have been playing with my vision that way since I was a kid. You know how if you're looking at something with one eye, then the other eye, it seems to move, even if you sit still, because it's actaully a slightly different vantage point for each eye? Always been fascinated by that :) I think it just speaks to the idea of looking at things from a different perspective. "Obfuscation" means "to confuse or obscure" (everyone's in fragments, the great misdirect, etc), while "Mirrors" eludes to there always being a reverse to anything you might think you understand, and the brain references obviously point to perception in general. I mean come on, when is Tommy NOT talking about EVERYTHING in the damn universe? I imagine this 2-parter is all about the human condition and our feeble presumptions of our purpose here, and our perception of this experience... whatever it is.

Also Tommy is telling us to put a bib on because our "brains" are in for an auditory feast :) Heh, sorry, my ears are so gay for this band...

I think the "Close one eye, step to the side." Refers to changing our perspective but then doing something that brings it back to the way it was before, or stepping to the side. In doing this you are avoiding the alternative perspective. It could be advice like "Hey why care to understand, just step to the side" or stating that's what humans do and are incapable of completely understanding things because we can't look at things from other perspectives.

"This step will allow the universe to run it's course" could refer to stepping to the side, or going back to your perspective and not trying to understand would be better.

That's my $.02

Alright, I just HAD to create an account to point this out, since it appears no one has yet. "Close one eye, step to the side" is basically a very compact description of the method of parallax. (Hmmm...where have I heard that term before?)

In this method, you can measure how far away a horizontal object is by closing one eye and changing your viewpoint in a perpendicular direction to the object. By measuring the angle of the object's apparent displacement relative to some background, you can determine how far away from you it is.

What the metaphorical meaning of this is, I have no idea. Possibly it has to do with attempting to understand ideas that are difficult to see from our mortal perspective. But Tommy seems to be using a lot of terminology related to optics recently (Specular Reflection, Mirrors, Parallax, etc.), so remember your physics, people!

really now... haha.

apparently by ear.

everyone who reads this, go to victorymetal.com for instant streaming of their new song obfuscation. amazing.

wow i heard this song just now... just wow...

awesome awesome awesome

Everything's a novelty. Everyone grows but me.

Close one eye. Step to the side. Everyone grows but me.

Everyone's in fragments. Close one eye. Step to the side.

From the simple idea of Change Blindness, our minds are not as they seem. An entire existence revolving around what we cant acknowledge. A brain malfunction we'll never admit as defeat... a constant determination to find truths... to find reason... to find comfort. An unspoken religion in being the ALL-DOMINANT... This is what we call a brain.

This step will allow the universe to run its course. We have a short ticket and a lot is hiding... so lets take in what we can for now. Just like here on Earth (a notion we do comprehend) Hide what "others" can't understand. The universe is the biggest threat... overachiever that commands attention. Brute force of hysterical reasonings... There will always be a Marfa

Close one eye. Step to the side

As humans we could never be content with knowing all, yet we cant be content with the fact that our brains will never know. A mental surgery... a never ending journey... a technological drawback. Pushing us further from our natural minds.

There will always be a Kryptos.

Even things created by other humans should be considered in the experiment of an entire species of understanding. A magician's pure joy... A mind bend for the common folk... Follow the straight line... (A full house watching what we cant see)

The ultimate deciever...

Close one eye. Step to the side.

We will ALWAYS be pert of the great misdirect... stepping in and stepping out. Mirrors and Obfuscation.

ok, this is my interpretation of it, breaking it down by each verse

Everything is a novelty... Everyone grows but me...

i think this is having to do with a breakup and the person being dumped and just being left in the cold. everything is a novelty because you feel deceived of what once was. Everyone grows, including your friends and the person who broke up with you, but you dont want to grow Close one eye, step to the side...

you still have your eye on that person, but you cant have both eyes on them and you have to step to the side because they are going on without you Everyone grows but...

Everyone's in fragments... Close one eye, step to the side...

same thing... everything has been torn apart and fragmented and the only thing you can do is step to the side and see it happen

fucking amazing

This definetly forms a suite with Obfuscation, but it contrasts almost entirely comsidering it is a soft 3 minutes of only singing while Obfuscation is a louder 9 minute epic consisting only screams. it's rather obvious too because the chorus of Obfuscation is also "close one eye, step to the side" and the last line is "Mirrors and Obfuscation". Therefore this is the first part to the idea of "opening your eyes" and how everyone besides him is blind to the truth.

I love this song, it's a perfect intro to the album, especially the middle jazz section.