13. Nothing Is Real (3:52)

[mechanismj]

Can't stop listening. I keep thinking of abandoned grocery stores.

Whoa! When I was a kid, I had this dream about an abandoned grocery store. The only thing left in the place was a single can of green beans. I still have the image stuck in my head to this day.

Interesting connection!

[WorkerAtThePosyPalace]

someone seems to have added 'the internet is evil, wake up' to the bocpages article for this track

I'm in a rush right now so I can't even check if this is true, but if it is I'm thinking about that old Hexagon Sun site which had that line, and it was mirrored.

It's there alright. http://bocpages.org/wiki/Nothing_Is_Real#Comments

There's also a weird screenshot that's in the bocpages article for Nlogax. http://bocpages.org/wiki/Nlogax#comments

[purgruv]

someone seems to have added 'the internet is evil, wake up' to the bocpages article for this track

I'm in a rush right now so I can't even check if this is true, but if it is I'm thinking about that old Hexagon Sun site which had that line, and it was mirrored.

It's there alright. http://bocpages.org/wiki/Nothing_Is_Real#Comments

And appears to have an interesting source src="http://web.archive.org/web/20030324213853im_/http://www.hexagonsun.com/images/hs.gif" alt="hs.gif"

[Wheeljack]

It may sound crazy, but when peeling this track back I swear that I hear samples from the original Transformers cartoon. The lazer blasts are highly audible, but I think that there are some musical samples in there as well.

All this being said, I'm a huge G1 Transformers fan, so like a lot of BoC I'm likely projecting and perceiving what I want to perceive

[JosephG]

Besides the hidden messages and meanings...
What a powerful bass line! The melody shifts as the bass kicks in with its two-note influence. Though the (synth, oboe, flute???) carries the piece with that sampled riff, those bass notes are what really moves me.. a strong and perfected change.

[bravo777]

I also think this track communicates the idea of disillusionment with Christianity, which promises eternal life and yet seems to simultaneously deny the value true present, physical life.

That pretty much summarize the potential meaning of that specific hidden message. But one also have to analyse it through the wider spectrum of the overall concept of the album which is the downfall of mankind. From my point of view, the title 'Nothing is Real' refers to the common religious belief that life on earth is just a short and painful passage to an other 'real life' somewhere up above.

Paradoxally, most of these so-called Christians are self-righteous and are using their beliefs to justify their greedy lifestyle in the present physical life; they don't care much about the spoilage of the earth. Even the most polluting nations are Christians.

However (that's where I have to disagree with Boards of Canada), I don't think that the deny of the present life was the essence of Jesus message. He did enjoyed physical life, food, wine and people's company. He used to make sure that everybody around him felt comfortable and fulfilled and he comdemned those who are using superstitions and religious beliefs to justify selfish actions.

I disgree with boards as well. why did they have to get jesus involved, especially with his name being so loud and clear. i thought they were really good at being subtle. but this new "nihilistic" thing is what made them lose my place for my favorite band. i've heard someone say on a forum "boards wouldn't give us another campfire headphase. they just wouldn't do that." I say why not? i think it's their best stuff. One of the first comments for reach for the dead on youtube also said they tried to recreate geogaddi with cheap beats. i can see their point of view here. one of the songs notes in the beginning is exactly similar to corsair on geogaddi (go listen), and the beats on music is math in the beginning. don't get me wrong, i like geogaddi, but this was, as i have heard before, just to please the general fanbase i think. just look at the comments in this thread. im just aggrevated that they would release a song like this when their unreleased stuff they could re-create or even re-release in different forms is probably way better and they are just hoarding it. i hope this gets around to them so they can see that at least some of the fans want their happy sound back, and of course, the guitar. and play a live show instead of texting us saying you love us.

[Opothecary]

I disgree with boards as well. why did they have to get jesus involved, especially with his name being so loud and clear. i thought they were really good at being subtle. but this new "nihilistic" thing is what made them lose my place for my favorite band. i've heard someone say on a forum "boards wouldn't give us another campfire headphase. they just wouldn't do that." I say why not? i think it's their best stuff. One of the first comments for reach for the dead on youtube also said they tried to recreate geogaddi with cheap beats. i can see their point of view here. one of the songs notes in the beginning is exactly similar to corsair on geogaddi (go listen), and the beats on music is math in the beginning. don't get me wrong, i like geogaddi, but this was, as i have heard before, just to please the general fanbase i think. just look at the comments in this thread. im just aggrevated that they would release a song like this when their unreleased stuff they could re-create or even re-release in different forms is probably way better and they are just hoarding it. i hope this gets around to them so they can see that at least some of the fans want their happy sound back, and of course, the guitar. and play a live show instead of texting us saying you love us.

Why do Christians need to have such a persecution complex? The idea of being upset about a song about "losing your faith" (if that is even what it is about) comes off seeming like getting mad at someone for not believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny anymore. I don't mean to trivialize it, and am totally cool with whatever people believe in and practice, but it truthfully does get irritating when people can't live and let live when a piece of art does not fall in line with their own belief system - don't let someone else's beliefs (or lack thereof) or approach to life affect your own.

I feel that I sort of had this despondency toward organized religion before discovering BoC, they helped me find my faith again 15 years ago, but via alternate means - through psychedelics and ego loss, which has probably put me on more of an Eastern path of spirituality, if anything. It is kind of interesting to see BoC making music that is sort of along the lines of where I was at before discovering them. I get the idea that maybe being responsible parent(s) has led Mike and Marcus away from the world of psychedelicism and back toward cynicism in its absence. Or maybe it's just a concept album?

[Scories]

Bravo 777 talks about the lack of subtlety, but personally, I'm more concerned about the opposite; an hidden message with ideas your conscious mind would not necessarily endorse. I'm taling about ethics here.

If I had the chance, I'd like to have chat with the two brothers. I'd have some weird questions that no magazine ever asked.

[Spaced]

Besides the hidden messages and meanings...
What a powerful bass line! The melody shifts as the bass kicks in with its two-note influence. Though the (synth, oboe, flute???) carries the piece with that sampled riff, those bass notes are what really moves me.. a strong and perfected change.

cool, i mentioned the bass a couple of pages back. nice to see someone else getting it. don't give a hoot about the voice samples. i treat them as just another instrument being used.

[d e n]

I disgree with boards as well. why did they have to get jesus involved, especially with his name being so loud and clear. i thought they were really good at being subtle. but this new "nihilistic" thing is what made them lose my place for my favorite band. i've heard someone say on a forum "boards wouldn't give us another campfire headphase. they just wouldn't do that." I say why not? i think it's their best stuff. One of the first comments for reach for the dead on youtube also said they tried to recreate geogaddi with cheap beats. i can see their point of view here. one of the songs notes in the beginning is exactly similar to corsair on geogaddi (go listen), and the beats on music is math in the beginning. don't get me wrong, i like geogaddi, but this was, as i have heard before, just to please the general fanbase i think. just look at the comments in this thread. im just aggrevated that they would release a song like this when their unreleased stuff they could re-create or even re-release in different forms is probably way better and they are just hoarding it. i hope this gets around to them so they can see that at least some of the fans want their happy sound back, and of course, the guitar. and play a live show instead of texting us saying you love us.

it isn't a "nihilistic thing"... they simply said they've felt more nihilistic over the years.

and honestly: "we want their happy sound back"

...grow the fook up.

[FernieCanto]

don't get me wrong, i like geogaddi, but this was, as i have heard before, just to please the general fanbase i think.

i hope this gets around to them so they can see that at least some of the fans want their happy sound back, and of course, the guitar.

I hate to pile up on the guy, but, really? Being upset that BoC is pleasing some fans but not others?

As for the christian persecution complex, don't even get me started. I've been there, and I know what kind of crazy crap can go on in the head of someone who was born into that stuff. It's absurdly sad and scary when you realise that, deep down, all your belief system was based solely on the fear of Hell. I have no idea how a person can have a genuine and sound sense of ethics and morality when the prospect of eternal punishment is lurking just around the corner, and you have no idea how the judgement works. It boggles the mind.

[mondaysleeper]

seeing as though every1 is reversing boards, why not reverse jesus? it's sausage. and that's what the albums about

[Scories]

As for the christian persecution complex, don't even get me started. I've been there, and I know what kind of crazy crap can go on in the head of someone who was born into that stuff. It's absurdly sad and scary when you realise that, deep down, all your belief system was based solely on the fear of Hell. I have no idea how a person can have a genuine and sound sense of ethics and morality when the prospect of eternal punishment is lurking just around the corner, and you have no idea how the judgement works. It boggles the mind.

I can't speak for Bravo777 and I get your point Fernie. But blaming Jesus for the religious abuse is about the same as blaming Nietzsche or Wagner for the rise of nazism.

[monochrome]

If you take the vocal samples in Boards songs too personally, and you've stuck with them this far, then you pretty much have to be a Branch Davidian dabbling in Satanism who absolutely loves Sesame Street and Pornos.

[mc10101]

If you take the vocal samples in Boards songs too personally, and you've stuck with them this far, then you pretty much have to be a Branch Davidian dabbling in Satanism who absolutely loves Sesame Street and Pornos.

Jesus! That's me lol!! Although I draw the line at those old Sesame Street porn tapes - you just can't un-see Big Bird in that position!

[bravo777]

I disgree with boards as well. why did they have to get jesus involved, especially with his name being so loud and clear. i thought they were really good at being subtle. but this new "nihilistic" thing is what made them lose my place for my favorite band. i've heard someone say on a forum "boards wouldn't give us another campfire headphase. they just wouldn't do that." I say why not? i think it's their best stuff. One of the first comments for reach for the dead on youtube also said they tried to recreate geogaddi with cheap beats. i can see their point of view here. one of the songs notes in the beginning is exactly similar to corsair on geogaddi (go listen), and the beats on music is math in the beginning. don't get me wrong, i like geogaddi, but this was, as i have heard before, just to please the general fanbase i think. just look at the comments in this thread. im just aggrevated that they would release a song like this when their unreleased stuff they could re-create or even re-release in different forms is probably way better and they are just hoarding it. i hope this gets around to them so they can see that at least some of the fans want their happy sound back, and of course, the guitar. and play a live show instead of texting us saying you love us.

it isn't a "nihilistic thing"... they simply said they've felt more nihilistic over the years.

and honestly: "we want their happy sound back"

...grow the fook up.

you might wanna notice that you aren't being constructive at all. grow the "fook" up? this album is depressing. Got a problem with the word happy?

[mondaysleeper]

blaming Jesus for the religious abuse is about the same as blaming Nietzsche or Wagner for the rise of nazism.

ye. and the album IS depressing, it's an anti climax. they've said that is what they were going for but I still don't believe them. there's more to this album, it's not over yet. geogaddi still had sunshine recorder,, julie candy and dawn chorus.... there's something missing and i think that's what it's all about

[mondaysleeper]

there are several things you shouldn't talk about in a pub. same applies to interpreting boc music

[d e n]

I disgree with boards as well. why did they have to get jesus involved, especially with his name being so loud and clear. i thought they were really good at being subtle. but this new "nihilistic" thing is what made them lose my place for my favorite band. i've heard someone say on a forum "boards wouldn't give us another campfire headphase. they just wouldn't do that." I say why not? i think it's their best stuff. One of the first comments for reach for the dead on youtube also said they tried to recreate geogaddi with cheap beats. i can see their point of view here. one of the songs notes in the beginning is exactly similar to corsair on geogaddi (go listen), and the beats on music is math in the beginning. don't get me wrong, i like geogaddi, but this was, as i have heard before, just to please the general fanbase i think. just look at the comments in this thread. im just aggrevated that they would release a song like this when their unreleased stuff they could re-create or even re-release in different forms is probably way better and they are just hoarding it. i hope this gets around to them so they can see that at least some of the fans want their happy sound back, and of course, the guitar. and play a live show instead of texting us saying you love us.

it isn't a "nihilistic thing"... they simply said they've felt more nihilistic over the years.

and honestly: "we want their happy sound back"

...grow the fook up.

you might wanna notice that you aren't being constructive at all. grow the "fook" up? this album is depressing. Got a problem with the word happy?

depending on your perspective, yes, this is an extremely discouraging album.

re 'grow up',

it is immature and i'd even go as far to say selfish (this sounds too harsh but i can't think of another word) to immediately want "happy sound" in reaction to this record when BoC is trying to create something that reflects humanity's current position. BoC could just numb themselves in order to be ignorantly blissed out and produce a record that aims to bring "their happy sound back" ... but does that sound right to you?

i am not at all trying to say "you should like it"... this is just saying that it's unfair to judge Tomorrow's Harvest based on your dissatisfaction with it not relating to their sound on a record that came out 8 years ago.

i don't want to be unfair at all but it's hard to stay quiet when reading that you are aggrevated because they released a song like this when instead they could have release something that is probably way better. do you not see how that is an immature POV?

EDIT:


dude, also, claiming that "one of the songs notes in the beginning" being the exact same* as corsair is a sign of anything "cheap" is a moot point. it is not strange that the beginning of two songs happen to share one of the 12 notes in western music.

[euue]

there are several things you shouldn't talk about in a pub. same applies to interpreting boc music

"never ask a boc fan about boc" -- aristotle