Finding Melody in the Broken

      This post features songs from bands that include the term “Broken” in their band names.

     Broken Back is based in Saint Malo, France. Broken Back is the performance name of Jérôme Fagnet, a singer and songwriter perhaps most aligned with the Folktronica genre.

     "Wind Says Low" by Broken Back
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrokenBackMusic 

Lyrics of "Wind Says Low" by Broken Back
Morning breaks, the road's long
Shadows stretch where I belong
Every turn hide the sun
I take a step, but I come undone
 
Map is torn, the trail's gray
Miles weigh like damn stones
Dreams I held drift away
Oh God I am tired to walk alone
Oh yes I am tired to walk alone
 
But wind says low: carry on
Night is slow, but it's not gone
I may bend, I may fall
But still the path will find it all
Yeah still the path will find it all
 
Heading on my way
But Moon hide its face
Still I move, come what may
Cause I know light waits in some place
 
Map is torn, the trail's gray
Miles weigh like damn stones
Dreams I held drift away
Oh God I am tired to walk alone
Oh yes I am tired to walk alone
 
But wind says low: carry on
Night is slow, but it's not gone
I may bend, I may fall
But still the path will find it all
Yeah still the path will find it all

     Broken Social Scene is a Canadian (Toronto) indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members. The credits for the recently released single “The Call” identify:
   Andrew Whiteman - Vocals, Organelle, Trez
   Jill Harris - vocals
   David Newfeld - bass, electric guitar, drum machine
   Justin Peroff - drums
   Evan Cranley- trombone, percussion
   David French - sax
   Rachel McLean - percussion, hand claps
   Charles Spearin - synth, trumpet
 
     “The Call” by Broken Social Scene

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokensocialscene/
Website: https://brokensocialscene.ca/
Bandcamp: https://brokensocialscene.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “The Call” by Broken Social Scene
I doubted I was alive
dreaming only
she said to not just describe but
be something holy
I read the verse in her eyes
It’s real experimental
It’s on a different level
she’s my favourite rebel
I heard my name
I held my breath
Glistening sweat on the back of my neck
keep up! keep up!
Because we are what we are stripped down to
elemental scar that needs you, feeds you
Forget the mind, the body’s wearing thin
your bones and your skin
and you must follow them
I heard my name
I held my breath
Glistening sweat on the back of my neck
Let me hear the call
“We’re going!”
Either restless or reborn, we’re going
 
She’s my favourite rebel
she’s holy and austere
something about the claim of the breath that
glistens like sweat on the back of my neck.

     The Broken View, is an independent alternative rock band originating in Saratoga Springs, NY. The band was formed in 2018 by singer/song-writer Austin Kranick and drummer/producer Tyler Hayes. The two quickly bonded over their shared love for intricate songwriting and  lyricism while working together on Austin’s solo project at the time
 

     “Nobody Knows (Who She Is)” by The Broken View

Website: https://www.thebrokenview.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebrokenview/

     “I Want To Hold You (Forever)” by The Broken View

Lyrics of “Nobody Knows (Who She Is)” by The Broken View

Poor man
He's changed his ways
Poor man
Makes you wonder what went astray
 
Got a new girl
She weighs heavy on his mind
Yeah, he'll swap the button up for leather
And only small talk about the weather
 
She's got a hold on him
Tighter than a noose
Whispering pretty little evil thoughts
He's feeding a love that will eat him alive
And who she is, nobody knows
 
She comes in, dressed in burning red
No one dares to meet the eyes
Fear she'll take thеm with him to the end
The violеnce he feels
In silence is surreal
You know he'll love her till the end
 
She's got a hold on him
Tighter than a noose
Whispering pretty little evil thoughts
He's feeding a love that will eat him alive
And who she is, nobody knows
 
She's got a hold on him
She's got a hold on him
She's got a hold on him
Tighter than a noose
Who she is, nobody knows

     Broken Chanter is a project based in Glasgow, UK. The project is spearheaded by David MacGregor, but he typically recruits talented musicians.
 
     “Shake It To Bits” by Broken Chanter

Website: https://www.brokenchanter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrokenChanter/

“18th Floor Balcony” by Blue October

 

     A band’s “sound” is sometimes characterized by a specific instrument, such as the jangly 12-string guitar of early releases from The Byrds. Other times, the “sound” is based on a distinctive framework, such as the minimalist Bluesy Garage Rock of The White Stripes. For Blue October, their songs have wide-ranging musical styles and lyrical messaging, but the unifying energy lies in the charismatic, deeply emotional vocal deliveries.

 

Blue October at The Fillmore
in San Francisco 2017

     Blue October’s 2006 album “Foiled” exemplifies the diversity. In celebration of the twenty-year anniversary, the band is sharing videos of selected songs, releasing the first-ever vinyl of the album, and touring in Europe and then North America. Scheduled visits include San Francisco and Sacramento. The full schedule of the FOILED tour is available at https://www.blueoctober.com/tour-dates.
 
      “Hate Me” showcases the 2006 album. The song is an admission of drug addiction and depression, as well as an urging to “hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you.” The song begins with an actual voicemail from the mother of frontman Justin Furstenfeld. She expresses concern in her voicemail as to whether Justin has been taking his medications.
 

Blue October at Mountain 
Winery 2024

     Blue October recently shared a new video for “18th Floor Balcony,” which is also from the “Foiled” album. In contrast to “Hate Me,” the song is about vulnerability, trust, and that rare moment of finally feeling safe enough with someone to open up. Yet, the video is dark and open to interpretation, perhaps because fans of Blue October understand and embrace pain that is part of appreciating the emotional experiences relating to the band's music. The video shows Justin watching himself from afar while he creates, then investigates, and finally sanitizes and mourns a murder of a loved one – as if witnessing relationship destruction caused by your dependence on drugs.  
 
     In March, the band shared a new music video for "Congratulations" which kicked off the anniversary year. That video is also included in this post.

     “18th Floor Balcony” by Blue October

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueoctober
Website: http://www.blueoctober.com/
 
Lyrics of “18th Floor Balcony” by Blue October
I close my eyes
And I smile, knowing that everything is alright
To the core, so close that door
Is this happening?
 
My breath is on your hair, I'm unaware
That you opened the blinds and let the city in
God, you held my hand
And we stand
Just taking in everything
 
And I knew it from the start
So my arms are open wide
Your head is on my stomach
And we're, we're trying so hard not to fall asleep
Here we are
On this 18th floor balcony
We're both, flying away
 
So we talked about mom's and dad's
About family pasts
Just getting to know where we came from
Our hearts were on display
For all to see
I can't believe this is happening to me
 
And I raised my hand as if to show you that I was yours
That I was so yours for the taking
I'm so yours for the taking
That's when I felt the wind pick up
I grabbed the rail while choking up
These words to say and then you kissed me
 
I knew it from the start
My arms are open wide
Your head is on my stomach
And we're, we're trying so hard not to fall asleep
Here we are
On this 18th floor balcony
We're both, flying away
 
And I'll try to sleep
To keep you in my dreams
'Til I can bring you home with me
I'll try to sleep
And when I do I'll keep you in my, dreams
 
I knew it from the start
So my arms are open wide
And your head is on my stomach
And we're, we're trying so hard not to fall asleep
So here we are
On this 18th floor balcony, yeah
 
I knew it from the start
So my arms are open wide
And your head is on my stomach
No, we're not going to sleep, sleep
 
Here we are
On this 18th floor balcony, we're both
Flying away
 

     “18th Floor Balcony” by Blue October

“Honeypot” by Lethal Sister

     The Paris-based band Lethal Sister shared their song about the society-generated seductive pull of status and riches. Radio, television, newspapers, and even your personal laptop present a trap fashioned to pressure people to pursue wealth and power. That is, they present a “Honeypot.” As stated in the lyrics, “They all say the same shit / About things you need to get /It’s just a honeypot.”
 
      The song blends Rock and Post-Punk sensibilities into an energetically aggressive melodic fabric with an emphasis on tension. The gritty guitars present a steady rhythm almost throughout “Honeypot.”
 
     Lethal Sister recently released the nine-track song album “Plunge,” which is available at their Bandcamp site https://lethalsister.bandcamp.com/album/plunge. The members of the band are Vincent Dangla (drums), Lubin Lemonnier (bass, vocals), Pierre Massé (guitar, vocals), and Martin Teychené (guitar, vocals). Their bio states:
  Lethal Sister is a rock band built on a love of post-punk and stoner rock. Initially formed for a concert, this project is now our outlet, our window, our refuge. “Everyone puts a piece of their soul into it. The world is as beautiful as it is disgusting, life is as magnificent as it is insane, I still need to shout it out.”
 
     “Honeypot” by Lethal Sister

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lethal-Sister/61572333864823/#
Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/lethal_sister

Lyrics of “Honeypot” by Lethal Sister
When you’re poor it ain’t funny,
I see my mother’s face
She told us we could get honey
But I'm sitting in front of a plate that doesn’t look tasty, sorry…
 
When you’re rich you ain’t lucid,
You have to crush your own brother,
They told us we could have power
But now I have no one to call except the guy who takes care of my money
 
On the magazine
On the radio
On the TV screen
On your personal laptop
 
When you read the newspaper
When they sell you happiness
When they tell you to work hard
When they smile at you
 
They all say the same shit
About things you need to get
It’s just a honeypot
 
Being alive makes no sense
I heard that from a cousin
Sometime I feel like I need to change
Sometime my eyes are caught by a screen I just can’t stop watching
It changes as I’m scrolling
I just can’t stop watching
It changes as I’m scrolling
 
I could have no face, it wouldn’t change
I could forget how to smile and greet
I could become invisible
The zombies never pay attention…
 
To the magazine
To the radio
To the TV screen
To their personal laptop
 
They all say the same shit
About the things they need to get
It’s just a honeypot
 
Money!
Or people…
Money!
Or people