The Ice is Getting Thinner

Album: Narrow Stairs (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Guitarist and producer Chris Walla cited this to MTV News as a personal favorite. He explained: "'The Ice Is Getting Thinner' is terrifying. That's one of those cases where I got really excited about the soundscape of the song matching the lyric. It's particularly icy and particularly cold. There was a point, when we were in the middle of it, where I kept checking in with everybody, being like, 'Guys, this is kind of weird. Just making sure everyone is aware of that. And everyone seemed into it. That's just how we worked this time out. We committed to everything really quickly. It's less brain and more gut."
  • Bassist Nick Harmer told Billboard magazine: "'The Ice Is Getting Thinner' just breaks my heart every time. It's a really pretty, electric guitar song... it's somber like [the last album's] 'Brothers on a Hotel Bed.'"
  • Walla added to VH1 News: "With 'The Ice Is Getting Thinner' I really wanted something that felt icy and literal. I wanted a certain chill about it. The demo came in like a major heap of piano. I really just wanted some gravity in it. I wanted to strip the piano out of it and rethink it as this really studied, careful, stark song."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.