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Album: A Deeper Understanding
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3070









Released: 2017
Length: 5:23
Plays (last 30 days): 4
Go to bed now I can tell
Pain is on the way out now
Look away and domino falls away

I know it's hard looking in
Knowing that tomorrow you'll be back again
Pin your head and let me in
I'm waiting
So long

I was staring into the light
When I saw you in the distance, I knew that you'd be mine
Am I moving back in time
Just standing still

I met a man with a broken back
He had a fear in his eyes that I could understand
I can even shake the hand
When I break it in

I've been pulling on a wire, but it just won't break
I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound
I resist what I cannot change
But I wanna find what can't be found

I'm aware you're tired and lost
Like a demon in the doorway, waiting to be born
But I'm here all alone, just begging

Pull me close and let me hold you in
Give me the deeper understanding of who I am
Yeah, I'm moving back again
I'm waiting here

I'm just pulling on a wire, but it just won't break
I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound
I resist what I cannot change, own it in your own way
Yeah, I wanna find what can't be found
Comments (131)add comment
A great band. PERIOD.  And I am almost 66. 
 surfnetter1 wrote:
andrew2112  This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s

40's? How about when your in your 70's!!!

Yay, someone else in their 70s!
Any other old fogies on here feel like the lead singer's voice and the band's general sound reminds you of 1980's Bryan Adams? 
 haretic wrote:

After a decade or so of listening, at least half of the music I have and actually still listen to, I either discovered or rediscovered on RP.  And, I bet that you've found at least two more excellent artists because of RP since you posted.
Bill and Rebecca G. have truly enriched my life with Radio Paradise.

I spent half a century searching radio dials for this, and I'm quite grateful to have finally found it!
I send what I can in the way of support, although I feel it could never be enough.



Likewise my friend.
Lock it in & rip the knob off.
You're home
 Michaeljcovel wrote:
There are so many guitar solos
The guitar solo in this song is one of the most Poignant ones I've heard.


I was listening to this album last Saturday and was blown away by Adam's guitar work on virtually every song. So talented. 
This needs to be followed by some Neil Young and Crazy Horse!
Cortez the Killer
Powderfinger
Like a Hurricane
+1 for cool band name.
There are so many guitar solos
The guitar solo in this song is one of the most Poignant ones I've heard.
This is very beautiful.
 haretic wrote:

After a decade or so of listening, at least half of the music I have and actually still listen to, I either discovered or rediscovered on RP.  And, I bet that you've found at least two more excellent artists because of RP since you posted.
Bill and Rebecca G. have truly enriched my life with Radio Paradise.

I spent half a century searching radio dials for this, and I'm quite grateful to have finally found it!
I send what I can in the way of support, although I feel it could never be enough.




So well said. Amen.
Such a great song from an amazing band.
10 Jears,, RP,, a great Radio! Thank RP, best Greets from Austria! :-)
 vandal wrote:

The short guitar solo between the 5th and 6th stanzas simply kills me. It's so absolutely emotive and completely crushes my heart every time. Love these guys. 



Yes! That's what drew me to this song and band! You heard it too
The short guitar solo between the 5th and 6th stanzas simply kills me. It's so absolutely emotive and completely crushes my heart every time. Love these guys. 
Fighting those red zone ratings with all I've got on this one!
i am the only one who thinks "The War on Drugs" songs all have the same atmosphere?
Nothing wrong with their music, and i really enjoy them, but imo there is not so much difference between their songs.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

You don't like tall buckets?  ; )



 surfnetter1 wrote:
andrew2112  This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s

40's? How about when your in your 70's!!!



 On_The_Beach wrote:

Aaaaargh!
All due respect to Bryan Adams; a good kid from North Van who made it big; really big!
But now all I can hear is his voice when I listen to this.
It's the "Don't think of a pink elephant" syndrome.  ; )


The war on drugs have perfected this vibe… it feels good doesnt it - if you let it
I still think they sound like a reincarnation of Dire Straights on their journey towards sublimation. 
 wolverine wrote:

The singer sounds like a mellow Bryan Adams.



Ouch!
Glorious Again ❤️
WOD is my favorite.
 gatorade wrote:
On my short bucket list. {#Dancingbanana_2}

You don't like tall buckets?  ; )
New(er) WOD fan...

Wow.  
 surfnetter1 wrote:
andrew2112  This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s

40's? How about when your in your 70's!!!


Late 50's here. Music is subjective but on some level I think the good stuff is "timeless." It still might not appeal to some but it speaks to those with an open heart and open mind. I've liked everything I've heard from this band on RP.
Was just musing that a bunch of years later, Adam Granduciel's albums are holding up really well.   
at the end it really rocks the synth
 surfnetter1 wrote:
andrew2112  This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s

40's? How about when your in your 70's!!!
 
Keep it up surfnetter!
I'm close behind.
There's a really great video for this song here: https://youtu.be/J9LgHNf2Qy0
What an awesome driving song.  I took a long, solo, socially distanced road trip in the summer of 2020 and this song was on repeat, blasting out of my speakers, as I roared along the open road. What a song...and album!
Gosh darnit I'm going out to buy this album tomorrow.
 wolverine wrote:
The singer sounds like a mellow Bryan Adams.
 
Aaaaargh!
All due respect to Bryan Adams; a good kid from North Van who made it big; really big!
But now all I can hear is his voice when I listen to this.
It's the "Don't think of a pink elephant" syndrome.  ; )
Wonder when they'll be releasing the next album and if it'll be as good as the other ones. This song for instance doesn't sound special at first, but then it sits well and it's always a pleasure to hear.
 dig wrote:
I like these guys alright, but they have to be the most overplayed band on rp. It doesn't help that all of their songs sound identical.
 
Yep ! Artists I used to like before listening to RP... Them, Tom Petty and Nathalie Merchant 
 westslope wrote:


Agreed njr.  I listened to A Deeper Understanding a couple of times on a road trip into north-central BC and although I do enjoy several songs on the album, it does not quite match Lost In The Dream.  Though it is more than good enough to seal Adam Granduciel's reputation as a noteworthy singer-songwriter.  

Maybe a few more road trips will do it?  
 

Actually I think there is something to TWOD and the landscape of BC. Some intricacies and long meandering hypnotic jams. Oddly enough I was driving in northern BC when A Deeper Understanding solidified itself for me. Not my first northern BC drive mind you. I recommend trying it a few more times! Now both of the tWoD albums you mentioned  (and some choice others) are on a playlist i'm growing called "northern drive". 
I just discovered WOD a year ago. Now I know what was missing.
Great to hear this band that I’ve been following from the beginning and this is a terrific album!
WOW This band makes wonderful music!{#Cowboy}  I would never have found this without RP.
Today PP&G apologized 84 times for the Paradise fire.  Not enough.
OK Bill, how about some Kurt Vile now???
There's a label called Secretly Canadian. Who knew?! Gawd I love this band.
 
When I first heard this band, I didn't like the way his vocals were nearly buried----but as time goes on, the mix makes total sense.  
I like it.... and, strangely enough, the album cover.
The singer sounds like a mellow Bryan Adams.
 haretic wrote:
After a decade or so of listening, at least half of the music I have and actually still listen to, I either discovered or rediscovered on RP.  And, I bet that you've found at least two more excellent artists because of RP since you posted.
Bill and Rebecca G. have truly enriched my life with Radio Paradise.

I spent half a century searching radio dials for this, and I'm quite grateful to have finally found it!
I send what I can in the way of support, although I feel it could never be enough.
 
Amen
 bobcouch wrote:
This is one of my favorite bands that I never heard of until I started listening to RP. The Shins is another one. 
 After a decade or so of listening, at least half of the music I have and actually still listen to, I either discovered or rediscovered on RP.  And, I bet that you've found at least two more excellent artists because of RP since you posted.
Bill and Rebecca G. have truly enriched my life with Radio Paradise.

I spent half a century searching radio dials for this, and I'm quite grateful to have finally found it!
I send what I can in the way of support, although I feel it could never be enough.
Make reverb cool again!
I like these guys alright, but they have to be the most overplayed band on rp. It doesn't help that all of their songs sound identical.
 agd3 wrote:
No bad songs from them.
 
Well, musically the songs don't seem to have very much variation, so if you like any one of them you're probably set.  It seems like the lyrics are more important to him, much like a lot of folk singers who came before him - and he is a good lyricist.  Their production sound is good, nice guitar sound.
As far as I can deterimine, "The War on Drugs" describes  Adam Granduciel's personal war on substance abuse which he has discussed in past interviews.

Be thankful.  Granduciel won the 'war' and went on to work really hard to produce two excellent albums.  
 ooloncoluphid wrote:
Decent song, stupid band name.
 

You're absolutely right - about the name!
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Well, for better or worse, and for what it's worth, I'll give them this; you always know it's them when songs start.
 
Indeed.  It's always the same drum pattern and, as far as I remember, every song starts the same.
I rated this up 9 to 10 because of the guitar solo this is an awesome tune
Decent song, stupid band name.
Well, for better or worse, and for what it's worth, I'll give them this; you always know it's them when songs start.
Doing the same trick over and over again. Boring.
I've listened to this song probably 10 times today... happy to make it 11 times!
I've herd them here on Radio Paradise. Founded in Internet other songs. Great band. Pierwszy raz slyszalem ich w tym radio. Bardzo fajna grupa
Lost in The Dream  is one album I keep coming back to. One I always feel in the mood for.
Damn, I'm gonna put RP off right now and dial up Tidal and listen to it again.

That's a good sign isn't it?

TWoD remind me of Hiss Golden Messenger and their album 'Haw'. From that album is 'Cheerwine Easter' - and inspired (long) track and surely ought to be in the RP stable.
Hear a little “Bob Dylan” w lead vocalist
One of the best new bands today
I'm addicted to this band.
Love this...
Such a gorgeous, rich song. Could hear it in a loop all this beautiful sunny warm afternoon. 
Sounds a lot like Bryan Adams. And still I like it. 
 Tom_Price wrote:
Nice that long songs are coming back. Attention spans must be improving. Might be Zoloft or other pharmaceuticals that have corrected the plethora of ADD and 30 second ate....BLAHBLAHBLAH
 
LOL - I had to do it ;-)
I do agree with you, it's GREAT to hear LONGER than 3 minute songs.  And I also like how many influences we can hear in TWOD's sound, like something that brewed and percolated and marinated...you know, activities that take time! 
LONG Live RP!! 
This is one of my favorite bands that I never heard of until I started listening to RP. The Shins is another one. 
He doesn't sound so much like Bob now... Perhaps he's found his own way. Or maybe I think he is Bob now.
 ploba wrote:
This band.  They can do nothing wrong in my opinion.  LOVE them!  Was lucky to see them at Osheaga a couple of years ago.  xox 
 

Agreed great band.  Lead guitar sometimes grates on me but they seem to be integrating and smoothing it in a bit each album
bumped to an 8 .. love how it builds ..
love this band! so smooth .. RP .. you are rocking my Friday night :)
 andrew2112 wrote:
This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s
 
Me too!
Lovin this tune!
 Aoxomoxoa wrote:

Really? Listen to Talk by Coldplay then listen to this again. It's uncanny!

There is a similar sound on the electric guitar and some similarities in the overall production sound of both songs, but the tempos and chord progressions are very different.
{#Bananajam}i like their music very much
 redart wrote:

Seconded.....absolutely nothing like Coldplay.

 
Really? Listen to Talk by Coldplay then listen to this again. It's uncanny!
 Deni123 wrote:
I believe they can release one more lp based on last two records they did. afterwards, I am not sure what will happen, but I am sure glad I saw them at the peek of their creativity,  last year live in Milan (Italy). 
 
Do you know they are at the peak of their creativity?  I suggest, "perhaps not".  I'm anxiously looking for more wonderful, amazing work from them.
I believe they can release one more lp based on last two records they did. afterwards, I am not sure what will happen, but I am sure glad I saw them at the peek of their creativity,  last year live in Milan (Italy). 
Hmmm. Yeah. I like that.
 Wisecrowe wrote:

I agree. My fav. band of the last 15 yrs. Not quite old enough to say last 30 yrs yet. :) I can vividly remember the time/place I was when I listened to Lost In the Dream for the first time...midnight drive down the eastern seaboard, warm Chesapeake salt air and the great tunes cleansing the soul. Beautiful memory.
 
I've never been to any of those places but yeah, I hear you.
Really like this band more and more every time I hear them.  Thanks, B & R.{#Smile}
Overplayed! I used to love this, but now I’m tiring of the Dylanesque thing.
 surfnetter1 wrote:
andrew2112  This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s

40's? How about when your in your 70's!!!
 
I agree. My fav. band of the last 15 yrs. Not quite old enough to say last 30 yrs yet. :) I can vividly remember the time/place I was when I listened to Lost In the Dream for the first time...midnight drive down the eastern seaboard, warm Chesapeake salt air and the great tunes cleansing the soul. Beautiful memory.
Just saw WonD a couple weeks ago at the Halifax Jazz Fest, of all places.  Well, actually the HJF hasn't been mostly jazz for quite a while now. I used to go for 'world' music (Vas, Susheela Raman, Rachid Taha, Ziggy Marley) but even that has given way to bands like this!  Mind you, I'm not complaining.
andrew2112  This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s

40's? How about when your in your 70's!!!
No bad songs from them.
Hey these guys are good, do it up now.
This is the best band I've heard in the last 30 years.  It's cool to find a new band that you love in your 40s
Love the liquid kazoo-like electric guitar.
 Michael_Dean wrote:
My thanks to The War on Drugs for the inspiration to write the following affirmation!

I grant myself the serenity to resist the things I cannot change, the courage to speak out about the things I can, the wisdom to stick it right up their ass.

 
{#High-five} NICE!! 

I think the same thing when I hear this song!

I'm just pulling on a wire, but it just won't break
I've been turning up the dial, but I hear no sound
I resist what I cannot change, own it in your own way
Yeah, I wanna find what can't be found

More! More! More! More The War On Drugs please!!!
 chyk5 wrote:

Uh...no. 

 
Seconded.....absolutely nothing like Coldplay.
 RParadise wrote:
Someone was listening to a lot of Cold Play when they were younger.

 
Uh...no. 
My thanks to The War on Drugs for the inspiration to write the following affirmation!

I grant myself the serenity to resist the things I cannot change, the courage to speak out about the things I can, the wisdom to stick it right up their ass.
Nice that long songs are coming back. Attention spans must be improving. Might be Zoloft or other pharmaceuticals that have corrected the plethora of ADD and 30 second attention spans. Gosh, even Twitter has increased it's number of characters. Things are looking up. Maybe jam bands are forming again, instead of 2 minute punk sonic assaults.
Someone was listening to a lot of Cold Play when they were younger.
 gmichaelt wrote:

I did a little reconnoitering. Mercifully, neither Bryan Adams nor Nickelback are to be found in the db - which is found under "Music/Artists" above. The title explains much. Whew! Some CanCon I can't.

 
Some Can't, Some Cry.... Some Do (while keeping great company and doing great things):

Since the 1980s, Adams has participated in concerts and other activities to help raise money and awareness for a variety of causes. His first high-profile charity appearance came in 1985 when he opened the US transmission of Live Aid from Philadelphia. In June of the next year, Adams participated in the two-week Amnesty International "A Conspiracy of Hope" tour alongside Sting, U2 and Peter Gabriel. In 1986, Adams performed at The Prince's Trust All-Star Rock Concert in Wembley Arena to celebrate first 10 years of the Trust and again in June 1987 at the 5th Annual Prince's Trust Rock Gala along with Elton John, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and others. The following year Adams performed at the Nelson Mandela birthday party concert at Wembley Stadium.

Adams helped commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall when, in 1990, he joined many other guests (including his songwriting partner Michael Kamen) for Roger Waters' massive performance of The Wall in Berlin, Germany. He performed the Pink Floyd songs "What Shall We Do Now?" and "Young Lust" during the performance of The Wall, and then joined Waters, Joni Mitchell, Cyndi Lauper, Van Morrison, Paul Carrack and others to perform Waters' "The Tide Is Turning" to close the concert.

On 29 January 2005, Adams joined the CBC benefit concert in Toronto for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Twenty years after performing at Live Aid in the USA, Adams played at Canada's Live 8 show in Barrie, Ontario. Later that year, he performed in Qatar and raised UK£1.5M (US$2,617,000) from the concert. He also auctioned a white Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by many of the world's prominent guitarists. The guitar raised a total of US$3.7 million for charity and thus set a record as the world's costliest guitar. The money went to Qatar's "Reach Out to Asia" campaign to help the underprivileged across the continent. Money raised also went to some of his own projects like rebuilding a school in Thailand and building a new sports center in Sri Lanka, both of which had been devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

On 25 May 2005, Adams raised £1.3M with cousin Johnny Armitage, from a concert and auction entitled Rock by the River for the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. On 15 May 2006, Adams returned to London to attend the Hope Foundation's event (hosted by designer Bella Freud), helping to raise a portion of the £250,000 to support the Palestinian refugee children. The following June, he offered individuals from the public the chance to bid to sing with him live in concert at three different charity auctions in London. Over £50,000 was raised with money going to the NSPCC, Children in Need, and the University College Hospital. On 28 February 2008 he appeared in One Night Live at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan, Jann Arden and RyanDan in aid of the Sunnybrook Hospital Women and Babies Program.
Bravo to artists that are creating long-form songs beyond 3:00 mins! Yes, there are enough people with attention spans that can appreciate long compositions when done well... like this one!
 gmichaelt wrote:

I did a little reconnoitering. Mercifully, neither Bryan Adams nor Nickelback are to be found in the db - which is found under "Music/Artists" above. The title explains much. Whew! Some CanCon I can't.

 
"Some CanCon I can't."     

Hilarious!  I totally agree with the sentiment.  
Here we are again.. perhaps I'll comment every time I hear this song on RP :P. Thanks Bill!
 hayduke2 wrote:
ghost of Pete Seegar in a way  (sorry)

 
This doesn't seem to have as much energy or urgency as Pete Seeger usually had.
When this album came out I had this song on repeat for weeks... still not sick of it!
How can something sound so "retro" and "new" at once?


                     David Hartley - bass                           Adam Granduciel                         Charlie Hall - drums
           


                     David Hartley - bass                                  Adam Granduciel                                Charlie Hall - drums
           
ghost of Pete Seegar in a way  (sorry)
I love the start ... and the rest of the song.
Like it's often the case with them, at first, there's nothing spectacular, but the musicality grows on you, almost for no reason. In the end it's good music {#Laughing} 
 The_Enemy wrote:
I was just thinking it was Bryan Adams.... "How did he get on RP?"  I had to check the playlist.

That said, I like this better than Adams.
 
I did a little reconnoitering. Mercifully, neither Bryan Adams nor Nickelback are to be found in the db - which is found under "Music/Artists" above. The title explains much. Whew! Some CanCon I can't.
not a bad song, but that solo has to go. The tone is just grating. 
 WOD - unmistakable rhythm and lyrics ....  and guitar  {#Bananajam} .... from this brilliant act  
they played at The Greek Theater in Berkeley a couple months ago.  I'm pretty sure this was the opening number.  Lovely concert.  Many posters note the nasal similarities to Bob Dylan.  For their final encore song they ripped through a cover of "Tangled Up in Blue." 
the ghost of Dylan
haunts us
so softly
so beautiful

Dr. Strangelove
 thecjester wrote:
Every time this song starts, I think, "God no, please no Brian Adams!" Every time... Finding out it isn't Brian Adams doesn't help the "Pain" this brings me.

 
{#Roflol}

I was just thinking it was Bryan Adams.... "How did he get on RP?"  I had to check the playlist.

That said, I like this better than Adams.
Every time this song starts, I think, "God no, please no Brian Adams!" Every time... Finding out it isn't Brian Adams doesn't help the "Pain" this brings me.
 wilderbill wrote:
Underwhelming and overplayed.   

 
Ditto. I swear they're played at least three times during my work day on here.  Ugh.... so much more music out there to choose from.
 Steely_D wrote:
This is starting to fall into the Elbow, Poe category: BillG plays them a lot - I always perk up and think "I like that" - and then I go on to be a big fan.

 
Whilst I don't think I could place them in that rarefied stratospheric altitude of Elbow, I certainly concur... They are a great outfit, worthy of the "RP legendary introductions" label, along with many others.
This is starting to fall into the Elbow, Poe category: BillG plays them a lot - I always perk up and think "I like that" - and then I go on to be a big fan.