As they prepare for the release of their highly-anticipated sophomore LP Cool World, Oklahoma City noise rock quartet Chat Pile have revealed the album’s third single “Funny Man.” The song is about “…being a servant, indentured or otherwise. I hate having to explain the content of these songs, because I want it to mean whatever it needs to mean to those listening, but essentially it concerns illusion vs reality in regards to America and war. The title comes from an obscure British movie but otherwise there’s no relation,” says Chat Pile frontman Raygun Busch. Bassist Stin adds, “My favorite thing about ‘Funny Man’ is that we’ve finally accomplished creating our version of the ultimate Beavis and Butthead couch music. This is like our ‘Thunderkiss ’65’ or ‘Existence is Punishment.'”
The new single arrives with a music video by multi-disciplinary artist Matt Rosenbaum. Stin comments, “The patient, static nature of the video fighting against the frenetic energy of the song makes for a cool and queasy juxtaposition that I personally love. Matt was able to tap into a very specific uncomfortable feeling that conjures those depressive semi-conscious dream states that we’ve all experienced but can’t quite articulate.”
Besides being the name of a largely forgotten (and panned) 90s film, Cool World makes for an apt title of Chat Pile’s sophomore full-length record. In the context of a Chat Pile record, the words are steeped in a grim double entendre that not only evokes imagery of a dying planet but a progression from the band’s previous work, moving the scope of its depiction of modern malaise from just “God’s Country” to the entirety of humankind. “’Cool World‘ covers similar themes to our last album, except now exploded from a micro to macro scale, with thoughts specifically about disasters abroad, at home, and how they affect one another,” says Busch. “If I had to describe the album in one sentence,” He continues, “It’s hard not to borrow from Voltaire, so I won’t resist – ‘Cool World‘ is about the price at which we eat sugar in America.”
Cool World is out October 11th via The Flenser [pre-order].
See Chat Pile on the road this fall with Agriculture and Mamaleek, and get ready for late winter tour dates with Gouge Away and Nightosphere on select shows.
Chat Pile on tour:
October 31 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street $ [sold out]
November 1 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street % [sold out]
November 2 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note %
November 3 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room %
November 5 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall %
November 6 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line %
November 8 – Lakewood, OH – Mahall’s #
November 9 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre #
November 11 – Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall #
November 12 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Fairmount #
November 14 – Burlington, VT – Showcase Lounge @ Higher Ground ^
November 15 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church ^
November 16 – New York, NY – (Le) Poisson Rouge ^
November 17 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair ^
November 19 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery *
November 20 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry *
November 21 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819 *
November 22 – Nashville, TN – The End *
February 14 – Dallas, TX – Trees +
February 15 – Houston, TX – Secret Group +
February 16 – Austin, TX – Mohawk ~
February 18 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister Bar +
February 20 – Phoenix, AZ – The Nile Theater ~
February 21 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar +
February 22 – Pomona, CA – The Glasshouse +
February 23 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall ~
February 25 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater ~
February 26 – Seattle, WA – Neumos ~
February 27 – Vancouver, BC – The Pearl +
March 1 – Calgary, AB – Commonwealth Bar +
March 2 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room +
March 4 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory +
March 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge +
March 6 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theater +
April 17-20 Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn Festival
$ with Nightosphere, Nerver
% with Agriculture, Porcelain
# with Agriculture, Traindodge
^ with Mamaleek, Traindodge
* with Mamaleek, thirdface
+ with Gouge Away, Nightosphere
~ with Nightosphere
