Blogs

• June 30, 2009

  Ask Arcana Week 19

  posted by Arcana

  Will there be a hiatus between this tour and the fall tour? And does this mean that more dates will be added in july and august?! you're the best. LOVE YOU.
  --Yes. Those kids worked really hard on this tour. I honestly don't know how they do it. There were sixty dates on this tour and on the last night in LA, Stephan could still sing the high notes in the Michael Jackson tribute--pretty good! Rest up boys.
  --There will be more dates added in the summer before a proper us tour in the fall.
  
  In the song, Why Cant You be, the line..."red balloons and ennui, and aloof to me" is that a pun to the 99 red balloons" song, or more appropriately titled "99 luft balloons" in German?
  --No, Stephan says it's a reference to the French movie, "the red balloon."
  
  Who decided to release Don't Believe a Word as the first single? The band or Sony?
  --The band makes all the decisions now. good times!
  
  What other songs are slated as singles?
  --Can You Take Me, Bonfire, Summer Town, maybe Dao if the world feels adventurous.
  
  When will the track listing be released?
  --It’s released, methinks
  
  Has Arion's bass been used on any of the tracks? If so, which ones?
  --Arion played on red star, but that was only on the EP. He also played on Monotov's Private Opera.
  
  Will the "Techno Jam" make Ursa Major? Great instrumental track to open up the new record. I think this track would add even more depth to the new album.
  --No but it may well be on Ursa Minor
  
  Of all the emotional relationship songs on S/T (Losing, Semi-charmed, I want you, Background, How’s it gonna be, Motorcycle), are any of them about the same girl(s)?
  --That boy does not kiss and tell, but most of the first album is about one person.
  
  There are a lot of bands that tend to downplay / diss their older material in favor of new or current songs, usually because they feel like their older stuff is no longer up to par with their current creativity. How does 3eb feel about all their new songs in relation to records like S/T and Blue?
  --The band wants to play new songs and obscure songs that they haven't played before. I think every member of the band still loves the old material though.
  
  Which album is Carnival Barker really going to be on? Because what Stephan recently said about it being on Minor completely contradicts what you said about it being on Major in a previous blog.
  --Dougie's got some splaining to do, that's for sure. Stay tuned for him to blog on it. He's still at the beach.
  
  The Making of Ursa Major pt. 2 ? Yay or nay? Future of Now I Don't know???
  --Trying to get the making of part two for sure. Now I don't know is going on Minor.
  
  Hey Arcana, will the new merch include a shirt specifically for the purpose of being the OFFICIAL assembly shirt that we all wear at the concerts in order to find one another?... because it should.
  --We will probably do that "assembly required" is what someone said. love that.
  
  At this point are there going to be any songs on Major that we have never heard?
  --This is really an album that was written on the road so fans have gotten to hear so much of it as is was being written. if you are intense, you've probably heard them live.
  
  Is 1 in 10 Stephan's ode to Rachel Maddow?
  --Kind of a Rachel Maddow fantasy love song. Yes, she's his favorite news lady.
  
  What can fans do to help ensure there is a "Vault Album" and how can we encourage the band to record it and record it quickly? Possibly even an online-only release. I think this would be a great opportunity for SJ to try his "record it one day and release it the next" plan for the website.
  --You should bug the living shit out of him on it. bugging him works!
  
  Dear Arcana, Every week I seem to read complaints about your responses. Well, that's fine, but I want you to know that *I'm* just fine with cryptic/amusing answers. We need to retain a little mystery. Seems to me we should be able to ask any question we want, but if we don't get a straight, bare bones answer, there's a reason behind it. So while I respect those who want to know absolutely everything ahead of time, I'm okay with the mystery. And I appreciate the information we do get from you.
  --Arcana floods your heart with warmth and karma. :)
  
  Is there any chance at all Stephen would consider changing or just completely omitting the line, "Sometimes a blowjob's not enough" from Why Can't You Be? The song is absolutely beautiful but that line is just shamefully arrogant and it really ruins it for me (I'm sure I'm not the only one). Whatever happened to subtlety? I'm concerned that people will have even less favorable opinions of our lead singer, when the album is released. Not that he can't fend for himself; I'm just looking out for him, that's all.
  --Absolutely not. That is the line that she says and it's empty and harsh and belongs in the song. People who don't understand it will have to deal with their own inability to understand things. Arcana is here because like many of you, she likes lyrics. Stephan's lyrics are as racy as something you could see on HBO. That line might ruin for you, but it makes it for me. .
  
  Will those who pre-order Ursa Major receive it before the 18th? Otherwise it would be silly to pre-order when you could just run to Best Buy that day and pick it up right?
  --You raise a point there my friend. So what pre-order it anyway!!
  
  Don’t Believe A Word is a freakin kick in the face!! Amazing production and jaw-jostling guitars. Obviously every song is different in many ways...can we expect the "big" songs we've heard live (Bonfire, Sharp Knife, etc) to sound as big as DBAW on the record? Is there much programming on the record, or is it mostly all live instruments?
  --Oh kid it's big. There is very little programming on the album. Pretty real and raw and rock.
  
  
  
  For the fall tour, will there be shows in the Northwest, and if so, is there any idea where?
  --They haven't planed the tour yet but definitely want to play the northwest.
  
  Is Stephan still deciding on the final track list? Is the album completely 100% done now?
  --100% done.
  
  How does it feel to be on your own, with no direction home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone?
  --It feels rad! I’m gathering no moss, but Arcana knows her way home, Though sometimes she has a few too many starts slipping forward in her shoes, but that was once upon a time when I dressed so fine!