Odonis Odonis – Hollandaze: Track By Track
Odonis Odonis are a noisy indie band from Canada, who release their debut album Hollandaze on Fact Cat records this week. They like Big Black, The Pixies and The Cure. And so do we. Agreeing on those three fundamental things, we thought we’d have them tell us about each and every song on their record. Here are their words, plus three tracks to sample.
Hollandaze
Hollandaze was originally part of the Soft Boiled Hard Boiled sessions, but ended up setting the stage for a very different album in Hollandaze. The inspiration behind this track was The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour in that it represents an audio introduction to the album. In my case, you’re set down a hazy, hyped-up trip into what I’d like to refer to as the Hollandaze.
Busted Lip
I’m inspired by a lot of Jesus & Mary Chain and wanted to incorporate the Reid Brothers’ shimmering guitar work, simple powerful drum beats and just overall cool factor into this track. Enter ‘Busted Lip’. Thematically, it’s about that moment when you know you blew your chance with a girl. The chorus, for example, revolves around the protagonist fantasizing about the things he should’ve done, but didn’t.
Odonis Odonis - Busted Lip (7" Version) by Odonis Odonis
White Flag Riot
‘White Flag Riot’ was inspired by the G20 summit in Toronto but in an apolitical manner. I witnessed a group of Goth kids getting arrested for no reason other than their attire. So, the song is semi-autobiographical in that it incorporates the perspectives of younger-Dean listening to industrial music and failing at getting laid.
Blood Feast
The title is borrowed from the identically named 1970s exploitation film. While the song is thematically about a broken-heart; lyrically, the song describes the physical manifestations of such an event.
Odonis Odonis - Blood Feast by Odonis Odonis
Seedgazer
I was listening to Outkast/Andre 3000’s ‘Hey Ya!’ and wondered what would happen if I married that track with My Bloody Valentine-esque shoegaze. The result is Seedgazer. The track was initially borne out of a video game soundtrack called Seedracer that I was working on at the time; and morphed into this. Lyrically, it’s a collage of my friends Ian Alexander’s and Coral Osborne’s words.
New World
I’m a filmmaker and this track was borne out of the reality that much work is now being outsourced overseas. New World is not intended to be critical of this dynamic; but rather, a statement of this new reality.
Handle Bars
Thematically, Handle Bars borrows from The Shangri-La’s Leader of the Pack and musically from The Buzzcocks. Frankly, the song is less about the lyrics and more about the musical vibe I was trying to create.
Basic Training
I wrote this track the night my 5-year relationship with my ex -girlfriend broke down. It was very stream of conscious - the initial idea was laboured on for months after the relationship ended. There is no resolution and a feeling of hopelessness is all that is left by the end of the track.
We Are The Left Over
I’m part of one of the first modern generations that, in a real way, have parted with antiquated notions of success and happiness. In the past, people have paid lip service to the pursuing one’s life passions; however, I truly believe that Generation Y’ers are actively making this decision in a way that seems incongruous and nonsensical to our predecessors.
Ledged Up
This track is about a bizarre love triangle and is written from the perspective of someone who is living vicariously though a friend that is cheating on his lover. The chorus lyrics, “You put your brain on overload” describes the feelings one experiences when considering the consequences of cheating, guilt, etc…
Odonis Odonis - Ledged Up by Odonis Odonis
Tick Tock
This track is drawn from various human-sourced ecological disasters. It’s disheartening to know that even the most basic steps have not been taken to address these problems on both a micro and macro level. My lyrics are generally not hyper-political, but these issues seem beyond politics and into the realm of common sense.
Artists in this article: Odonis Odonis