B i o g r a p h y (by Tracy Frey)
In 1991, Caroline Finch (vocals/guitar) and Paul Jones (guitar) met while working in a shop on London's Kings Road. Three years later they began writing and playing together. Caroline's friend Dave Nice joined them a few months later on drums. Emma Tornaro, whom the band met at the 1994 Phoenix Festival, joined on bass in February 1995. The name Linoleum was chosen for its sound. But Finch said "We think it suits the band because we're not what we appear to be at first glance. And linoleum is like that." At the end of 1995, the band signed with management company CMO, who also manage Blur and Elastica. Linoleum set up their own label, Lino Vinyl, for their first release, the 7-inch only "Dissent/Twisted" recorded in January 1996. Limited to 1,000 copies, the single's sleeve was made from linoleum. It sold out in three days. In July 1996, the second single, "Smear, " was released. "Smear" was limited to 1, 500 copies, and it, too, sold out in a matter of days. In 1996, the band signed to DGC Records and recorded their debut album Dissent with producers Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade, who had worked with Radiohead and the Pixies among others. Linoleum's sound is a juxtaposition of aggression and tranquility. Some songs are angular and unnerving while others are soothing and atmospheric. Finch's cynical lyrics, delivered in her detached singing style, reflect paranoia, alienation and disillusionment, which she describes as "the antithesis of the archetypal love song."
Dissent
Marquis He wakes up Sha- sha- shaking With half a tooth missing Lifts his head feels the aftermath kick in Last night he was shining And so entertaining Today he is tired and wasted and grey And each time he says he won't do it again His head is a rhythm And muscles start twitching As he lights up a cigarette Which does him no favours Today like the others He'll spend under the covers And wait for the night to get up there again And each time he says he won't do it again But tonight you know that he'll do it again And each time he says he won't do it again But tonight you know that he'll do it again And each time he says he won't do it again But tonight you know that he'll do it again Dissent You sat down Staggered out You're acting strange And I feel tense As I can sense That you're insane Your eyes on fire Burning bright Your lips are wet I thought you could have Pulled a gun You took out your cigarette And it looked to me Like you've been going down too long It looked to me Like you've been on the ground too long Then later on I'm going home I think I see you everywhere Down in the station Round a corner In the darkness You wait to catch me unaware Will it be you Walking me home And I feel strange Like I've been in this town too long You make me strange Since I've been hanging round too long You sat down Staggered out You're acting strange And I feel tense As I can sense That you're insane I look for you Walking me home It's funny how Since I've been hanging round too long I've been in this town too long Dangerous shoes I think that you should know What's over your face And three weeks in a row is too much Why come to this place Maybe it's time to go I'm looking afright And it's tiring putting a show on every night Why should it be turning me off It's insane that it's making me strong I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered To stumble around in my dangerous shoes I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered To stumble in dangerous shoes Dangerous shoes I think that you should know Maybe it's time to go Why should it be turning me off It's insane that it's make me strong I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered To stumble around in my dangerous shoes I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered To stumble in dangerous shoes Dangerous shoes I think that you should know What's over your face And three weeks in a row is too much Why come to this place Maybe it's time to go I'm looking afright And it's tiring putting a show on every night Why should it be turning me off It's insane that it's turning me on I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered To stumble around in my dangerous shoes I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered To stumble in dangerous shoes Dangerous shoes I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered to I won't go out tonight I'll be avoiding you I won't go out tonight Can't be bothered To stumble around in my dangerous shoes On a tuesday I got a message says that you wanna know me That's how I know today it must be a friday It's been a while since we were last wasted Funny how you never call me on tuesday I wouldn't like to say that you're not a good friend But seems you're only around when it's snowing Today's a grey day but I know that you won't know I've heard you're far too busy powdering your nose I'd like to know you But when I see you, you act like I'd like to know you But when I see you, you always feel like God Don't understand why I feel nervous around you I can't explain it must be something that you do Anyway you're a million miles from me I think I live in a different world from you I'd like to know you But when I see you, you act like I'd like to know you But when I see you, you always feel like God I got a message says that you wanna know me That's how I know today it must be a friday It's been a while since we were last wasted Funny how you never call me on tuesday I'd like to know you But when I see you, you act like I'd like to know you But when I see you, you always feel like God Stay awhile Stay awhile if you want Don't wanna see you go We can sit here not moving Hardly talking Not alone If you want to pretend Everything is alright Then stay another day And I'll you watch you play Not alone But if you wanna know Which way to go, Ask somebody else And if you're wondering What's going on Remember that we're not alone For a while So for another day I'll sit and watch you play Not alone Staring up at the ceiling I can hardly remember And I'm floating freely above Just for tonight It's alright But if you wanna know Which way to go, Ask somebody else And if you're wondering What's going on Remember that we're not alone If you wanna know Which way to go, Ask somebody else And if you're wondering What's going on Don't hold me down When I want to go high Let me sit and just floating Hardly breathing Not alone Restriction Why can't you see those hands are cold are grey When her imperfections hide away And in the half-light you can Barely see that face Maybe it's better that way As you fall into waiting arms That loosen their embrace Finding comfort in restriction Eternally replace Why don't you know what's going on here The same things happen every few years As you fall into waiting arms That loosen their embrace Finding comfort in restriction Eternally replace Why can't you see those hands are cold and grey Their imperfections hide away At times you realize you Barely knew that name Maybe it's better that way As you fall into waiting arms That loosen their embrace Finding comfort in restriction Eternally replace Ray Liotta Running to the station And you're feeling just like Ray Liotta Eyes are blacker than your shades You're wearing pretty thin Tearing through the crowd 'Cause you won't wait And you can't face a weekend Staring at the ceiling The walls are closing in Life's too slow So you run away And you know Life's too slow Turn into the market And you catch him on the stairs Man, you kept me waiting And it's giving me the fear He takes you 'round the corner And he passes you the gear You bitch about the money He says that's the cost of living And life's too slow I'll have you run away And you know You can run away Back into the open And you're feeling kind of nervous Wanna get there quick So get a cab Rushing for the door It seems you're never gonna get there Now you're sitting again without your friend You're looking in the mirror but it's not at your reflection And a hit between the eyes starts your weekend You're looking in the mirror but it's not at your reflection And a hit between the eyes starts your weekend She's sick She says Why don't you let me take you home He's bored And doesn't want to sleep alone She'd like another drink And he's blinded by her clothes They sit In darkened corners everywhere She's sick He seems completely unaware He's spent too long Going nowhere He waits round for things to try She knows ways of killing time He flies He says his feet don't touch the ground She's tired But she forgets when he's around It's weird The way they always dress the same But he lies Always denying it again They spent too long Going nowhere He waits round for things to try She knows ways of killing time He waits round for things to try She knows ways of killing time Twisted I should warn you, keep away I'm seeing things in a twisted way, Anyway, And tonight, I'll be a nightmare. I see your face in a different light Tonight Laughter passes me by Talk goes over my head Think I should we avoid us Why don't you avoid me, Anyway I don't want to know the time Things that excite me Don't seem such fun today Laughter passes me by Talk goes over my head Think I should we avoid us Why don't you avoid me, Anyway I'm seeing things in a twisted way Beds The room's spinning again She can't seem to remember getting into this mess Don't try and pick her face up off the floor And all the while she waits for sleep That never comes, she'll twist her feet They tangle in the crumpled sheets She's always in He's tired of borrowed beds and feeling nothing As living takes its toll upon his teeth His kisses don't seem hungry any more And all the while he waits for sleep That never comes, he'll twist his feet They tangle in the crumpled sheets He stumbles in all shining eyed with laughter She's never been that steady on her feet They fall together blindly to the floor And all the while he softly sleeps She lies awake and listens to him breathing Entangled in the crumpled sheets They're always in And all the while he softly sleeps She lies awake and listens to him breathing Entangled in the crumpled sheets Unresolved Why talk for hours I'd rather everything remained unsaid And I see shadows So I hide away What are you thinking now, I wonder As you stand forlorn Against the wall, I wonder I'm tired of saying I don't know I tired of thinking too much Don't ask me questions any more I don't see things like you do Like you do They talk for days I'm glad I wear my name around my neck To save confusion Why must we argue in such Convoluted ways 'Cause you do I'm tired of saying I don't know I tired of thinking too much Don't ask me questions any more I don't see things I'm tired of saying I don't know I tired of thinking too much Don't ask me questions any more I don't see things Like you do, like you do Like you do. Smear There's something moving under your skin I saw it creeping in there It eats you slowly from within I watch you growing thinner Your blood is thick and sticky red All over those fingers They've warned you as it drains away But you don't listen Intent on living a lie Shame you There must be vaseline on your limbs Do you see everything in restraint? It leaves a black and dirty trail You won't recover And bleeds you dry then moves away To find another With teeth and talons in your neck You look for bidding And as it takes all it can get You say that's giving Intent on living a lie Shame you There must be vaseline on your limbs Do you see everything in restraint? There must be vaseline on your limbs Do you see everything in restraint? There's something moving under your skin I saw it creeping in there It eats you slowly from within I watch you growing thinner Your blood is thick and sticky red All over those fingers They've warned you as it drains away But you don't listen Intent on living a lie Shame you There must be vaseline on your limbs Do you see everything in restraint? There must be vaseline on your limbs Do you see everything in restraint? Ether I painted it blue It reminds me of you Blue like the skies that I saw in your eyes But I pictured them red as you dwelled in my head As you I look over my shoulder Look back into your eyes And drifting away I've got nothing to say My hands are tied My hands are tied They're tied Remember the first flash of anger I watched as they clouded to grey As I saw you grow cold Found my sap pour away And I swallowed my pride Swallowed my pride Swallowed my pride Stemmed the anger inside When it died I stand in the shadows Look up at the sky Not to remember The passing of time Surrounded by ether I almost forget that you I look over my shoulder Look back into your eyes And drifting away I've got nothing to say My hands were tied My hands were tied
Non Album Tracks Flawed Why is it my mind won't behave Today when I'm alright Four nights I slept I held you up to the light To find things you hide Why is it that I end up here Again looking downwards You claim to understand Don't hold me up to the light There's things I need to Hide away from myself Too much time makes look inwards Don't stay in my head Or prey on my mind Visit my eyes You're not invited to stay There's things my I hide away from myself Too much time makes look inwards Don't stay in my head Or prey on my mind Visit my eyes You're not invited to stay Why is it that I end up here Again looking downwards Shine brightly There's a girl who laughs all day She whiles the night away with strangers This girl's got everything Which she gives away and wonders where it's gone Why she feels wrong And how much longer, she says Will I feel this way Shine brightly but fade Look around you Take care Look around you Be aware There's a girl stays out all night Chasing dreams, but she comes home wild And how much longer, she says Will I feel this way Shine brightly but fade Look around you Take care Look around you Be aware
Swim She said, come swim with me They say, still waters run deep Today finds me asleep I pray, bring me peace She laid soft by my side Afraid, closed my eyes It's cold outside In here, together we'll hide
This game Blinded, I walk into your light Look around corners Watching in silence As you catch your reflection Your lips curl with mine Missing, I forgot you had nothing to lose In spite of the wrong night It's cold in my room As you catch your reflection Your lips curl with mine As you give into temptation You sweetly lie Distorted, you're ??? And I'm spiralling in it with you As you caught your reflection Your lips curled with mine As you give into temptation You sweetly lied And I awake, still feels the same But I have awoken Let's not play this game anymore
Un mardi ( On a tuesday French Version ) J'ai un message tu veux me revoir, Je sais comme ça qu'il doit être vendredi, Ca fait longtemps qu'on s'est pas défoncé, Etrange que tu ne m'appelles jamais le mardi. Je veux pas dire que tu n'es pas mon ami, Mais tu es seulement là quand il y a de la neige, Aujourd'hui il fait gris mais je sais que tu ne vois pas Tu es trop occupé à te poudre le nez. I'd like to know you But when I see you, you act like I'd like to know you But when I see you, you always feel like God Je sais pas pourquoi je me sens nerveuse, Tu y es peut être pour quelque chose, Quand même tu es vraiment si loin de moi, Je crois que j'habite dans un autre monde de toi I'd like to know you But when I see you, you act like I'd like to know you But when I see you, you always feel like God J'ai un message tu veux me revoir, Je sais comme ça qu'il doit être vendredi, Ca fait longtemps qu'on s'est pas défoncé, Etrange que tu ne m'appelles jamais le mardi. I'd like to know you But when I see you, you act like I'd like to know you But when I see you, you always feel like God Ways to escape Enter the room softly with hidden wings Saying you talk strange things I don't understand Maybe you'll find time someday to answer me then I saw those eyes Too delicate Just look away Ways to escape are never clear I've been holding my breath For a week and it's getting me down Sometimes I find I need a Eye takes me anywhere but here Just take a blind leap Of faith in the dark Why do you measure every guess? Seems I've been holding my breath For a week and it's getting me down Sometimes I find I need a Eye takes me anywhere but here Holding my breath For a week and it's getting me down Sometimes I find I need a Eye takes me anywhere but here