January A-Side: The Drum Strikes Back
Added 2025-01-29 17:58:49 +0000 UTCCover art by Billis Helg
Writing:
This first idea to come up for this song was the chorus vocal melody, originally backed with a different chord progression. The two-note guitar riff and accompanying chords that start the song came separately; when I tried marrying the two together, the song really took off, and music was completed in short order from there.
Lyrically, I wanted something that matched the brightness and optimism of the music. I looked back on an old track like “The Drum”, a character sketch with a rather heavy dose of irony to it. My goal is to use these four-track songs to stretch my writing muscles, and tread in territories I’m less comfortable in - including ditching the irony and pessimism that has entered so often into my older material, and trying to write from a perspective both optimistic and sincere. I thought about what would make me happiest on reencountering a character like the Drum, and felt that him getting sober would be a triumph worth celebrating. I wrote the lyrics accordingly, trying to capture a portrait of someone uncertain about the future, yet with some assurance that even uncertainty is better than what they had before.
My mind kept going back to The Who song “Early Morning, Cold Taxi” as I wrote, an early favorite of mine. In the end, this developed into a new character detail, as I started envisioning the Drum as a rideshare driver, groping his way through another morning of grouchy customers, all laden with the same negative thoughts he used to cultivate in his own mind. More and more, he’s finding he’s able to “not tune in”.
Recording:
I admit that so far I have lacked the resolve to truly limit myself to four tracks, so instead I cheated a bit, by recording the first four tracks and bouncing out to the computer. Moving to a blank piece of tape, I’d send the bounce back onto the first track, then overdub onto the remaining tracks, creating a virtual 8-track. Finally, I bounced back to the computer, and mixed everything together.
The MIDI drums were also made on the computer, and vocals were sent through Ableton first for effects.
Track 1: Drums
2: bass
3: rhythm guitar
4: melody guitar
5-8: vocals
Lyrics:
Spent years thinking
He was better off bitter
Loving to hate himself
It’s a cold cold morning
Fresh pain is coming
But this time he’s facing it
The drum comes round the corner
Taking his orders
He’s got the whole world on his mind
Temptation coming/going
At twelve weeks sober
He’s taking it one day at a time
Customers are waiting
Fresh indignation
But he’s not tuning in
He was struck by a vision
Of better living
If he puts a bit of work in
The drum comes round the corner
Taking his orders
He’s got the whole world on his mind
Temptation coming/going
At twelve weeks sober
He’s taking it one day at a time
No longer on the common
Old friends say he’s lost it
But he’s got the sunshine in his eyes
Days are plus and minus
His life is just like this
He’s got the rest of it on his mind
And you’re never gonna know what the future holds
But you’re hoping that it might hold you…
The drum comes round the corner
Taking his orders
He’s got the whole world on his mind
Temptation coming/going
At twelve weeks sober
He’s taking it one day at a time
No longer on the common
Old friends say he’s lost it
But he’s got the sunshine in his eyes
Days are plus and minus
His life is just like this
He’s got the rest of it on his mind
The drum comes round the corner
Blowing his horn off
He’s got the whole world on his mind
The world is coming/going
At one day older
He’s making it one more at a time
(Customers:)
How long must I wait?
How much can I take?
I can’t wait all day
I’m not going to pay
Go easy on the brakes
I’m busy can you wait?
Turn off the radio
It makes me insane
Comments
Its nice to see the drum actually accomplishing something
Sac
2025-04-27 23:45:49 +0000 UTCoh how i love the drum and this track more than anything if the drum is ok, maybe there is always hope for all of us <3
bowie!!
2025-03-08 11:54:26 +0000 UTC“Your never gonna know what the future holds but your hoping it might hold you” hits just like someone finally wanting to live. It’s a beautiful feeing. <3
Alex
2025-02-20 02:07:47 +0000 UTCOH HI KARA!!!!!!!!!! GOAT
horseshoeballoon
2025-01-31 18:32:17 +0000 UTCI think everything is gonna be okay
Grayson hendrix
2025-01-31 11:01:23 +0000 UTCI love it!!!
Lia
2025-01-31 02:57:45 +0000 UTCDamn I don’t think I’m gonna like the new album :(
Elijah
2025-01-31 02:30:29 +0000 UTCDude, I am so STOKED for the new Sincerity of Car Seat. I welcome this exploration with open arms. It gets easier, even if things are less clear. Maybe we're made to not know all the answers. To quote Nana Grizol: "Cynicism isn't wisdom, it's a lazy way to say that you've been burned... It seems, if anything, you'd be less certain after everything you ever learned"
Kenny Rohan
2025-01-30 19:26:14 +0000 UTCthis came out at such a wonderful time for me. relating to the drum as a character and going through many life changes this year, being extremely uncertain about the future and my role in it, this one really hit. so grateful for your music every day, but especially right now:)
alo
2025-01-30 12:43:54 +0000 UTCI Am Kara
wern
2025-01-30 12:42:55 +0000 UTCim gonna be honest i do not recognize you here, what's your 𝕏
horseshoeballoon
2025-01-30 09:56:07 +0000 UTChello wuzz (wern huzz)
horseshoeballoon
2025-01-30 09:54:44 +0000 UTCFrom passing out in hospital hallways to seeing the sunshine at 12 weeks sober; The Drum is shaping up to be quite the fellow
very.happy.ben
2025-01-30 02:32:32 +0000 UTCwhen it go lalalaalalalalaalalalalalal and i go lalalalalalalala with it
very.happy.ben
2025-01-30 02:28:34 +0000 UTCLove love love!!!!!!
nate!!
2025-01-30 01:48:14 +0000 UTCparticularly love the little “lalalala”s in the chorus break (?) & the outro with the customers is sooooooo good i just wanna dance!!!!!!!!!
Luka Buchanan
2025-01-30 01:41:17 +0000 UTCThis was so sweet , I love the more optimistic music 💜 and that the character from The Drum turned his life around! hopeful music is so important at the moment
Carmen✨
2025-01-30 00:36:59 +0000 UTChi horseshoeballoon
wern
2025-01-30 00:29:45 +0000 UTCI love this sm.
lunaoel
2025-01-29 22:38:44 +0000 UTCreminds me of sparks!!!
sam liptak
2025-01-29 22:20:06 +0000 UTCThis seems like an awesome song to shovel snow with
Cooper
2025-01-29 22:18:47 +0000 UTCthis changed my life
eden
2025-01-29 22:10:19 +0000 UTCThis is so good
Ricky Manchego
2025-01-29 21:52:10 +0000 UTCwoowww!!! what a perfect way to brighten up this week. such a distinct sound yet comfortingly CSH all the same. Reminds me of the uniqueness in the other one-offs like Culture and War is Coming!
Eric (pyrrhicloss)
2025-01-29 20:26:36 +0000 UTClisten to the who song that will mentioned its very similar imo
Ashley Fox
2025-01-29 20:15:25 +0000 UTCLuixo :D
2025-01-29 20:04:25 +0000 UTCthis is so sweet. i woke up today feeling a lot of dread about the state of the world, but this really helped ease my mind a bit. the drum is one of my favourite songs, i'm really glad to hear he's doing better now! i'm curious if the ending was at all inspired by kendall :3's "waiting", with the repeating "how long can you wait/how much can you take" refrain?
avian
2025-01-29 20:03:18 +0000 UTComg this is SO so great, it feels like it’s the soundtrack to a transformation montage in an 00s movie!!!! so danceable!!! sincerity suits your writing :’) the accompanying text is very interesting too, thank you so much for sharing!! is it challenging to share all this?!
Luka Buchanan
2025-01-29 19:25:01 +0000 UTClove the part that goes “and you’re never gonna know what the future holds but you’re hoping that it might hold you…” such a good track
elliott
2025-01-29 19:23:54 +0000 UTCi love 4-tracks so much
scranton
2025-01-29 19:16:20 +0000 UTCOH HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE!!! what a wonderful gift for today. amazing
alo
2025-01-29 18:58:52 +0000 UTCvery very in tune with how i am feeling post graduation and post recovery, thanks will love u!
Naz Kaynakcioglu
2025-01-29 18:49:38 +0000 UTCHas the energy of your old demos from the early 2010s, love love it!
Scrade Cottontail
2025-01-29 18:33:35 +0000 UTCNot intentionally, I have just been afflicted by talk radio for 12 years.
Car Seat
2025-01-29 18:30:52 +0000 UTC🩷🩷🩷🩷
Sarahbeth White
2025-01-29 18:29:57 +0000 UTCI love this!
Jack
2025-01-29 18:26:59 +0000 UTCwe used to pray for times like this
adn dot
2025-01-29 18:13:22 +0000 UTC⁉️⁉️⁉️
horseshoeballoon
2025-01-29 18:13:16 +0000 UTCI love this. It has a nice hopeful feeling to it. Like that first walk outside when you can tell that Spring is coming.
Sarah O
2025-01-29 18:12:24 +0000 UTCthis is the dose of optimism i needed this morning. it’s a cold cold morning, fresh pain’s coming, but this time i’m facing it
sylvie
2025-01-29 18:10:39 +0000 UTCthis has its own distinct style from madlo, the start of the matador era, and the self-released stuff— and all of the styles including the new one are amazing in their own ways! thanks for making music, csh :)
callicoeidoscope
2025-01-29 18:09:58 +0000 UTCI fw this heavy!
Tal
2025-01-29 18:08:38 +0000 UTCCool!
Alien
2025-01-29 18:08:22 +0000 UTCMissed the drum glad to hear from him again
Alex Stewart
2025-01-29 18:07:20 +0000 UTCgreat stuff!!!! 🔥🔥🔥
endstoppedline
2025-01-29 18:07:01 +0000 UTCI am running on the Treadmill to this rn thank you
Human Cigarette
2025-01-29 18:06:47 +0000 UTCholy peak
Drew
2025-01-29 18:06:13 +0000 UTCI’m so happy to see the drum get revisited as I love the song and the character
Cpc
2025-01-29 18:06:07 +0000 UTCplane crash blues refrence at the end?
Caiden
2025-01-29 18:05:51 +0000 UTCthe most christmas sounding csh song
peiner
2025-01-29 18:05:49 +0000 UTCYeeeees
Luixo :D
2025-01-29 18:05:35 +0000 UTCHELLS YEAH!!!!!!
woozer
2025-01-29 18:05:07 +0000 UTCBillis' art is so lovely!
surfjerk
2025-01-29 18:04:32 +0000 UTCchat clip this
Embry Pierce
2025-01-29 18:02:37 +0000 UTCoh my
sylvie
2025-01-29 18:01:36 +0000 UTCHOLY FIRE 🔥🔥 just in time for me to dance in the shower to this
frankie
2025-01-29 18:01:33 +0000 UTCoh we’re eating good today
oxroot
2025-01-29 18:01:24 +0000 UTCpeak
oddtrovert
2025-01-29 18:01:23 +0000 UTCGELL YEAH
Elise Brown
2025-01-29 18:00:46 +0000 UTC🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
barfingraiinbows
2025-01-29 18:00:46 +0000 UTCWHAT
Jessie
2025-01-29 18:00:41 +0000 UTCPEAK
horseshoeballoon
2025-01-29 18:00:38 +0000 UTCWhat is this unc
Thom Pyle
2025-01-29 18:00:18 +0000 UTC
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