so, elizabeth and the catapult’s newest album, the other side of zero, lands in stores both brick and virtual today. hooray! this is such a fun band to listen to – great lyrics and poppy beats that don’t always match their words. i’ve long been smitten with the band after discovering the very addictive taller children, off of their album of the same name.
elizabeth ziman, the singer/songwriter/keyboardest of the band, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about the new album:
have you met heather?: A number of your songs, on the surface, are very cheery sounding, yet when listened to more carefully reveal a much more nuanced, complex set of feelings. What tends to inspire your work? Do the lyrics come first, or the melody?
elizabeth ziman: I’ll usually write the melody acapella with the lyric when I’m away from the piano, that way when I finally get to an instrument- the basic concept of the song is already almost flushed out and then it’s just filling in the gaps. sometimes I consciously try to counterbalance or offset the sentiment of a dreary lyric with very hopeful, cheery sounding music and vice versa- but for the most part that kind of thing just happens unconsciously. Perhaps it’s the gemini in me:)
HYMH: You’ve got a quirky and memorable band name – how did “Elizabeth and the Catapult” come about?
EZ: I was reading James and the giant peach at the time- and I was imagining this little mischievous girl with a slingshot wandering around, looking for trouble….
HYMH: What can listeners expect from your new album, “The Other Side of Zero?”
EZ: its a little darker and rougher around the edges than our last venture, but all in all- I’d say you can expect a bunch of new simple, honest songs with some really great production by Tony Berg.
thanks, elizabeth!
james and the giant peach! love it. in a weird way, it makes me like the band even more. yes, i’m weird like that – but i’ve long been unfairly biased against bands due to bizarre band names (as documented HERE).
have a listen to you and me, the first single off the album. i’m really digging this one:
just look at me as before the first time
i’m not leaving ‘til you let me in
i’m dressed like a present that’s no longer wanted
a face full of blush
and i’m broken hearted for you
oh, yeah, i’m broken hearted for you
and take me all like we’re just beginning
no, no, don’t be cool
i want to take my bidding
ask for a smoke and then i’ll take you back
i’ll even feign surprise when you drop my hat
oh, don’t have to wonder about
what they’re laughing about
it only matters if they swallow it down
i don’t care about what anyone believes
i only care about you and me
and if you never understand a thing,
it only gets you if you let the stuff sink in
i don’t care about what anyone believes
i only care about you and me
so tell that joke that’s no longer funny
yeah, i’ll be eyeing that wine in no time honey
maybe later on if we still remember
you can be my king underneath my covers
oh, i’m broken hearted for you
oh, no, ‘cause you’re as green as the day i met you
you can tell me no, but sure is good to see you
don’t have to wonder what they’re laughing about
it only matters if you swallow it down
i don’t care about what anyone believes
i only care about you and me
and if you never understand a thing
it only gets you
i don’t care what anyone believes
i only care about you and me
if you never understand
it only gets you if you let the stuff sink in
i don’t care what anyone believes
i only care about you and me
(mp3) you and me by elizabeth and the catapult
and here’s a video talking about the song. it stars puppets. c’mon. puppets. can you resist? NO, NO YOU CAN’T. NO ONE RESISTS PUPPETS.
you can stream all of the other side of zero HERE. buy it HERE.
want to see them on tour? check out one of the following dates:
Oct 23 – NY, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall – CMJ
Oct 28 – Boston, MA @ The Red Room @ Cafe 939
Nov 4 – Easton, MD @ NightCat
Nov 15 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
Nov 16 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
Nov 18 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
Nov 19 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour *
Nov 20 – San Diego, CA @ Anthology *
*w/ Tift Merritt