Hidden In The Sand

Hidden In The Sand:

My taste in music has a wide variety but also is quite niche. I always end up getting teased when I'm hanging out with my friends, who are all buzzing about the latest Drake and Weeknd tracks, while I’ve spent the whole week listening to this small band from a small town in Michigan. Humans thrive on social connections and love to be with their own crowd… AND THAT'S PRECISELY WHY I NEVER GET THE AUX CORD AT PARTIES—BECAUSE I DIDN'T SHOW UP TO THE LISTENING PARTY OF KANYE’S NEW ALBUM THE NIGHT BEFORE. 

Mainstream music has become very concentrated on a handful of topics: money, girls or drugs. I personally try to find some sort of meaning in songs. Even if the lyrics are compartmentalized I try to find my own philosophical thoughts to it. And one of my favourite bands whose music I have spent countless hours pondering upon is Tally Hall

An Overview of The Band:

Tally Hall has become a staple in my daily dose of music ever since I discovered them. The band consists of 5 members each represented by the different colours of their ties. Over the years the band has managed to attract a cult-like following even though they have been in “hibernation” for almost a decade now. 

They have released two studio albums named “Marvin’s Mechanical Music Museum (MMMM)” and “Good and Evil” followed by a single called “Just a Friend”. Their unorthodox style of music instantly connected to me. There is no particular genre they fit in so they made up their own genre “Fa-bloo”. They stand out not as your usual boy band who sold themselves to big record labels and are controlled by a high bureaucratic board monitoring their each and every moves. And this is why they stood out . They had no intention to please an audience; they had no strings attached to anyone, allowing them to experiment with weird sounds, lyrics and vocals and unconventional song structures. 

They also had their own internet show where they posted sketch comedy videos for their fans. This was their second biggest perk , unlike other artists living in big mansions and driving their shiny cars. Tally Hall resonated with the public as just a group of friends having fun. They were easily relatable especially at that time when sketch comedy was the hot topic on youtube. 

My Spotify Statistics 2023

 

 

My Spotify Statistics 2023

Ruler Of Everything:

The track "Ruler Of Everything" is the 14th on the band’s debut album, MMMM, and I consider it one of their finest works. I enjoy breaking down its meaning for my friends, even though I usually get a mix of concerned and judgmental looks. I still keep doing it because it's fun. The song was written by one of the lead vocalists Joe Hawley over one night as he wandered with the concept of “time” and “infinity”.

 The meaning of the lyrics is open to interpretation, but the core concept is pretty clear. Here’s my personal take on the song, which I believe is quite accurate. In the song we are introduced to two characters Juno and Time (literally time talking!). The song starts off with Time asking a question “Do you understand that mechanical hands are the ruler of everything” .

We then hear Juno. Juno defines himself by how others see him and represents an egocentric, materialistic and insecure person seeking validation from everything and everyone as he tries to add meaning to his life. We understand this as the first chance Juno gets to talk to Time ,he starts bragging about his zirconium pants (fake diamonds), powerful job and his beautiful wife all engineered to make him look good. While Time constantly mocks him , picking out his flaws and reiterating that Mechanical Hands ( hands of a clock ) are in the end the ruler of everything. 

Throughout their conversation Juno slowly starts revealing his weaknesses breaking down the facade but puts it back on to escape reality. Time, on the other hand, calls Juno out saying “ I have been you , I know you , your facade is a scam “, indicating two things. Firstly, that Time has seen and known Juno for ages and knows all the “accomplishments” are just a means to make him feel like he has control over his life and that he matters. Secondly, Juno is not one person, Juno is mankind. 

Juno soon realises what time has been trying to say and accepts reality as he describes his life as an “metaphorical scheme” then starts to have a rush of thoughts. The song later proceeds to a fast paced singing which essentially represents Junos thoughts. The lyrics start off as gibberish ,mocking and representing human thoughts but Juno even in the midst of his panic asks Time questions as he accepts reality and death. Time ends the song and the conversation ,as he made his point , by answering his own question saying “You understand that mechanical hands are the ruler of everything”. 

Overall:

Aside from the deep dive into the lyrics, the song is a classic and I’d recommend everyone give it a listen to form their own interpretations or expand on mine. Tally Hall has gained more mainstream recognition in recent years, but they still haven’t reunited, proving they’re driven by passion rather than money. While the fans wait for their comeback, we can still enjoy their other great tracks like “The Bidding,” “Greener,” and ……… “Hidden in The Sand.”