Anyone Else Think The Great Escape Artist Is...

[Mike]

Does anyone else feel / think The Great Escape Artist is somewhat autobiographical in nature?

It could just be me getting into the album but I keep thinking it is.
I tried asking the band about this during their web chat thingy the other day but my question went unanswered.

[shadow]

Mike, the question sounds interesting but let me better understand, what do you mean for "autobiographical in nature?"

...sorry...i guess the great escape artist is real autobiographical album....quite explicit....but i don't understand....in nature...what's mean?

[danhans]

Yeah. I've noticed that a lot of lyrics seem a little more personal on this album.

[helicine]

most of JA's music has been really personal hasn't it?

[vikkivale]

Yeah, I felt that way too. Some things that stuck out immediately...the title "I'll Hit You Back". Isn't that Perry's ASCAP publishing name? (if that's the right term...but ya know what I mean). Twisted Tales FOR SURE! The mother part and later sleeping in a car...also, the description of Perry and Etty's cliffside wedding in Ultimate Reason. It definitely seems more personal than Strays...maybe that's why I like it more!

[helicine]

...the title "I'll Hit You Back". Isn't that Perry's ASCAP publishing name? (if that's the right term...but ya know what I mean).

yep

I def agree it is far more personal sounding than Strays. In fact, that's probably one of Stray's biggest flaws - that unlike the rest of the band's music, it just doesn't have that personal feel to it.

[Mike]

Mike, the question sounds interesting but let me better understand, what do you mean for "autobiographical in nature?"

...sorry...i guess the great escape artist is real autobiographical album....quite explicit....but i don't understand....in nature...what's mean?

I just mean that it is autobiographical.
I probably could have left the "in nature" part out of the question and it would have still had the same meaning.

[Mike]

I asked Perry about this on twitter.

@perryfarrell Is is just me or does the new record have an autobiographical vibe to it?

Hi Mike- Just telling tales (somewhat twisted)

Perry is being mysterious / evasive to an extent with his answer but the more I listen to this record the more I'm convinced I'm right in my assumption.

Both danhans and vikkivale bring up good examples of what I'm talking about and there are plenty more throughout the album.

I'll try and post some more examples of the things that make me feel this way soon.
In the meantime is the album striking anyone else this way?

[shadow]

I guess the most of the lyrics are really interesting. I like, this passage really touching in the deep

I have no mother, i felt no trust, no family structure, yes i've been busted

the songwriting is eclectic as the Farrell style is! He sings very well, always really personal. really original. really touching the way he has. Really dinamic and introspective. The good way to sing this kind of lyrics and the good music for this way of singing

this record sounds intimate and often regards private life, yes could be a perry farrell solo album, and maybe it should be more logic having another mark on the cover. at this point i ask if the mark has some importance...

ps: words right out of my mouth reminds me a song of The Cut