Their second full length "The Answer is Never" (2004), presented Howards Alias as more mature, taking in a huge range of influences. The album was recorded mostly live, to give an honest account of the 'Howards Alias' sound and to get the intimacy of the songs and band across.
Over the next 12 months the band toured hard but growing up with the grass roots ethics of bands like The Police and The Beatles, the band were also keen to record another record, so they came back to work with 'TAIN' engineer Peter Miles. In April 2005 the band went into the studio and emerged with their third album "Beat, Heart Beat" (2005), packed with new songs and a more progressive sound. The album was very well received by fans and press alike, the press often noting the bands very unique sound and "Howards Alias sound much more at home with British rock counterparts Biffy Clyro and Reuben than their American cousins"
The band like to put forward a message of non-violence and anti-elitism, and like to consider themselves musicians playing music together, rather than a band that has to keep playing a certain type of music in order to conform to the punk rock cliche.
The band split up in 2005, then later reformed in 2006.
They are now set to record a new album, which will no doubt take them in yet another change in musical direction, with new songs on their MySpace page having a more rock feel, than the ska-punk sound which the album "The Chameleon Script".
On April 15th 2008, Matthew Reynolds announced that Howards Alias were to permanently disband. This was the first official announcement from Howards Alias in 2008, although Reynolds had been promoting his solo album - The Wreck of The Hesperus - throughout February.
Drummer Robert King had left the band in January to continue his career, and - following the initial shock - the band had decided to try to recruit a new drummer. In March, however, Matthew Roberts went on tour playing saxophone for Foals and subsequently started tour managing other bands; feeling that he could no longer commit the time to Howards Alias, he also left the band. With almost half of the core members of the band gone, Matthew Reynolds, Nicholas Horne and David Ransom agreed that it would be "a next to impossible task to replace them".
Although disbanding, Howards Alias released [ep.i.phan.ic] in a limited run for any fans who expressed an interest in pre-ordering a copy.
One to One
Howards Alias Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With you? I don't want to suffer this world all alone.
I'm trying to think of something to say,
I forever think of the wrong things to say.
We're never thinking of something to say.
Now I'll wait alone for you,
I'll make a fool of me to you.
But we're still here, (We won't budge, no.)
Don't waste your time with me. So...
I'll still be here, (We won't budge, no.)
Don't waste your time with me. So...
You made it look like I have a chance when you know
That I don't, now you won't help me stop feeling all alone.
I'm trying to think of something to say,
I forever think of the wrong things to say.
We're never thinking of something to say.
Now I'll wait alone for you,
I'll make a fool of me to you.
But we're still here, (We won't budge, no.)
Don't waste your time with me. So...
I'll still be here, (We won't budge, no.)
Don't waste your time with me. So...
But we're still here,
Don't waste your time with me. So...
I'll still be here,
Don't waste your time with me. So...
The lyrics of "One to One" seem to describe a situation of unrequited love or unfulfilled romantic desires. The singer seems to suffer from the absence of the person they long for, asking if worse things always happen when they are apart. The pain of being alone is unbearable, and the singer is trying to find a way to express their feelings, but they seem to always say the wrong things-- failing to articulate what's in their heart. Despite the pain and frustration, the singer is willing to wait for the person they love, even if it means making a fool of themselves.
The repeated refrain "But we're still here, (We won't budge, no.) Don't waste your time with me. So... I'll still be here, (We won't budge, no.) Don't waste your time with me. So..." seems to suggest a sense of resilience and determination on the part of the singer-- despite the pain, they are not willing to give up on their feelings, and they are prepared to endure the waiting and the uncertainty, hoping that the person they love will eventually reciprocate.
Overall, the song resonates with the emotional intensity and vulnerability of unrequited love, capturing the frustration, pain, and persistence of longing for something that seems unattainable.
Line by Line Meaning
Do worse things always want to happen when I'm not
With you? I don't want to suffer this world all alone.
Do bad things always seem to occur when you're not around? I don't want to face the challenges of this world by myself.
I'm trying to think of something to say,
I forever think of the wrong things to say.
We're never thinking of something to say.
I struggle to come up with the right words to express myself. We can never seem to find the right thing to say.
Now I'll wait alone for you,
I'll make a fool of me to you.
Now I'll wait for you in solitude and do whatever it takes to make you notice me, even if it means making a fool of myself.
But we're still here, (We won't budge, no.)
Don't waste your time with me. So...
I'll still be here, (We won't budge, no.)
Don't waste your time with me. So...
Despite our differences, we're still in this together. However, if you feel like you're wasting your time, I'll still be here, even if it's fruitless.
You made it look like I have a chance when you know
That I don't, now you won't help me stop feeling all alone.
You gave me hope, even though you know there isn't any. Now, you won't lend a hand to ease the loneliness I feel.
But we're still here,
Don't waste your time with me. So...
I'll still be here,
Don't waste your time with me. So...
Once again, we're still together, even though it might be pointless. Regardless, I'll be here if you ever need me.
Contributed by Emma N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.