ThoughtPolice is a song by English alternative rock band
Reckoner from their critically acclaimed third studio album
Everything X. The song was said to be co-written by JC Anderson and Troy Mascenon in the band's tour bus using only a keyboard, later on the song progressed with more complex chords and instruments like an electric and acoustic guitar, unique drumbeats, and electronic synthesizers. The experimental feel of the song was inspired mainly by The Beatles' later albums. The song was released as a single on September 10 and is accompanied by its music video which was directed by
Dale Tucker.
Single Details:ThoughtPolice-The song starts off with a haunting piano melody played by JC accompanied by a melodic echo created with the use of synthesizers. Tristan pounds on the bass drum and tom toms as he continuously hits the crash cymbals.Carl starts playing with his reverb and delay as he plays a one note riff while using a unique blend of the two effects slowly fading away. JPC's bassline stops and starts unexpectedly stating that the bass wasn't necessarily needed in the song, he just wanted to play it. Troy plays the acoustic guitar in this song as he accompanies JC's melody. Troy sings with the melody of the piano as an echoing voice is heard in the background, eerie. Carl joins Troy in the second verse as he uses vocal distortion to add to the creepy sound of the song. The song has no chorus, it's form is a verse-middle section-verse-middle section-outro. The outro of the song changes key as all instruments go crazy. The drums keep time as Tristan pounds on his snare and cymbals, JPC drops the bass and goes to the synthesizers to create more melodic noises, Carl plays a random note with his effects while JC improvises on his piano. Troy's voice fades out with an echoing effect as the songs ends.
B Side:
Eyes and Ears-Eyes and Ears originally started as a poem written by Carl Morrisson but was made into a song courtesy of Troy Mascenon. While on tour, Troy noticed that Carl was keeping this little green notebook and was never shown to any other person. With curiosity, Troy stole the notes while Carl was sleeping and copied it on to another piece of paper. The next morning, Troy read the poem and was amazed by its content. Troy secretly collaborated with the other members of the band to create the melody of the song without Carl noticing. The only time Carl knew the secret plan was when they began to record it. There were no hard feelings between Carl and Troy and the song was finished easily. It features a bass solo in the intro with a jazzy drumbeat by Tristan. Carl narrates the poem as JC and Troy interrupt stanzas with random solos. The poem's content is about living in a peaceful world, free from all the worries and just living in complete happiness only to realize that there is no achieving happiness in life but only when you are asleep.
Music Video:The music video was directed by the band's close friend Dale Tucker who has previously directed the band's earlier videos. The video starts off showing a man sleeping in his bedroom. The camera ventures in deep into his mind and into his dream world, a perfect land where sadness or anger does not exist but only happiness and daylight. The man wanders happily into the forest when suddenly the scenery changes into night and the forest later gets filled with fear and scary creatures. The man runs away to find a way back home but later realizes that there is no way out of the forest. The camera zooms out of the dream and it is shown that the man is inside a laboratory wearing a device on his head as numerous scientists watch the events that occur inside his mind. One scientist operates his computer and later on gives a thumb up to the other scientists who nod in reply. The camera goes back into the dream world where the man lays down on the ground staring into the sky. It zooms out and later reveals the man, who was actually a victim of mind control, staring into nothing. The song ends as the man looks at the camera.
Other Information:
Label: V-Records and Comatose Records
Release Date: September 10, 2010
Genre: Alternative Rock, Experimental, Art Rock
Length:4:10
Writers: Reckoner
Producer: Regan Futrell 