Icon For Hire has released three full length albums: Scripted, Icon For Hire and YOU CAN'T KILL US.
Released in 2011, their first album Scripted shattered first-week sales becoming the highest new artist debut in Tooth & Nail Records history. The record debuted on the Billboard Top 200, at No. 4, on the iTunes Rock chart, and No. 19 on the iTunes overall albums chart.
Icon For Hire released their second full length self-titled album Icon For Hire in October 2013 on the Tooth and Nail label. Producer Mike Green (All Time Low, The Wanted, Pierce The Veil) was at the mixer to follow up their debut album, Scripted.
After spending a remarkable 18 months touring around the world, the group returned to their hometown of Decatur, IL to write their new record. Icon For Hire is set to push the boundaries of music and fashion far beyond their debut. According to the guitarist, Shawn Jump, “We wrote and dreamed about this record away from everything. We needed a safe place where we could all get to “spirit,” and maximize our different influences.” Added drummer, Adam Kronshagen, “There’s been undeniable friction in the songwriting process. We love knowing that you will definitely hear the element of conflict inside of every song we wrote.
The band's video, “Off With Her Head,” received 200k views its first week. Frontwoman and fashion designer, Ariel, worked with the team for weeks to create an avant-garde interpretation of the hit song. The group spent two days in Compton, CA (South Los Angeles) filming the video with a variety of the hottest underground artists.
Icon For Hire moved towards a new chapter of the band in 2016. Adam Kronshagen left the band to spend more time with his family coupled with a split with their record label Tooth & Nail the band decided to go it alone, or so it seemed. The band put together a plan for a kick starter project backed by their own fans. The kick starter reached its target in a matter of days. The album YOU CAN'T KILL US was released in stages throughout the year to those who have backed the kick starter project and there were physical copies on sale in December 2016 when it was completed.
On October 23, 2018, the band uploaded a video to their YouTube channel titled "Supposed To Be Acoustic Sessions Video Teaser", announcing their first video session to come soon, as well as that the Still Can't Kill Us: The Acoustic Sessions album would be released on December 7. The band released their "Supposed to Be" Acoustic Video on October 26, their "Get Well II" Acoustic Video on November 8, and "Demons" Acoustic Video on November 23. The tracks were also uploaded to Spotify as singles. A new album The Reckoning was released in September 2022.
Ariel Bloomer - Vocals,
Shawn Jump - Guitar,
Adam Kronshagen - Drums,
Josh Kincheloe - Bass.
Cynics & Critics
Icon for Hire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands like this
Cause the rest of us are wondering what on earth we missed
If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet real loud
The rest of us could use some cheering up right now
We like our thrills dirt cheap and our irony thick
Oh whatever, never mind, we're just crying for help
I guess we'll heal the old fashioned way and do it ourselves
Oh this is all we know
Oh tragic and miserable
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
Oh this is all we've got
Oh we do what we've been taught
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
Sometimes I think we push your buttons just for fun
Sometimes I think our kind of crazy has already been done
We're a copy of a copy, everything we swore we'd not be
Yeah, the truth hurts, but it hasn't strung enough to stop me
Oh please, can't you give us something better than this
We've built up a tolerance to all your veteran tricks
You're busy smiling on cue, when you don't have a clue
We're a mess and we know it, we want you to know too
Oh this is all we know
Oh tragic and miserable
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
Oh this is all we've got
Oh we do what we've been taught
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
If you're happy and you know it then there might be something wrong with you
What's the point in holding on when all of us don't want you to
It'd make us feel better, knowing you'd be stuck forever
Sick minds stick together, we can stay sick forever
Oh this is all we know
Oh tragic and miserable
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
Oh this is all we know
Oh tragic and miserable
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
Oh this is all we've got
Oh we do what we've been taught
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
The first verse of Icon for Hire's "Cynics & Critics" sets the tone for the whole song. The band declares that they aren't cynical or critical, they just don't believe anything that people say. They are tired of feeling left out of the loop and want someone, anyone, to share the secrets of happiness. The chorus follows, with the band wishing for a little cheer to lift their spirits, but too jaded to believe that anything will come through. They acknowledge that they are flawed, but refuse to believe that they can't get through it on their own.
The second verse delves deeper into the band's psyche. They seem to be poking fun at themselves, as they state that they "like their thrills dirt cheap and their irony thick." They also recognize that they are just crying out for help, but refuse to accept anything that is given to them, instead choosing to heal the "old fashioned way" and do it themselves. The chorus repeats, with more emphasis on the fact that the band is not cynical or critical, but just hates everything.
The bridge of the song addresses the idea that the band may be enjoying pushing other people's buttons, just for the sake of it. They acknowledge that they may be repeating the same cycle that others have before, but they don't seem to care. The final chorus is the most powerful of the song, giving the sense that the band is fully committed to being unhappy and feels like they have no other choice.
Overall, "Cynics & Critics" gives a look into the mind of people who are unhappy and unsatisfied, but are too tired to put in the work to change it.
Line by Line Meaning
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We don't blindly trust what you say, we need evidence and proof.
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
We don't enjoy criticizing, we just don't find much to like.
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands like this
Cause the rest of us are wondering what on earth we missed
We're not happy, we're actually envious of your happiness and want to know what we're missing.
If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet real loud
The rest of us could use some cheering up right now
We're not happy and need some form of happiness too, so it would be great if we're shown too.
Oh please, shoot us up with something shiny and quick
We like our thrills dirt cheap and our irony thick
We want to experience something that excites us, something that feels new and unusual.
Oh whatever, never mind, we're just crying for help
I guess we'll heal the old fashioned way and do it ourselves
We're in search of help, but we'll fix our issues without it and the old fashioned way.
Oh this is all we know
Oh tragic and miserable
We are familiar with tragedy and misery, it's what we have become accustomed to.
Sometimes I think we push your buttons just for fun
Sometimes I think our kind of crazy has already been done
We act in unusual ways for our own amusement, and sometimes feel that other people have already done the same.
We're a copy of a copy, everything we swore we'd not be
Yeah, the truth hurts, but it hasn't strung enough to stop me
We have become like what we didn't want to be, but even though it hurts, we're not going to give up.
Oh please, can't you give us something better than this
We've built up a tolerance to all your veteran tricks
We want something better than what we've been getting, we're no longer impressed with the familiar tricks.
You're busy smiling on cue, when you don't have a clue
We're a mess and we know it, we want you to know too
You pretend to know what's going on, but you really don't. We're aware of our issues, and we want you to know too.
If you're happy and you know it then there might be something wrong with you
What's the point in holding on when all of us don't want you to
It'd make us feel better, knowing you'd be stuck forever
Sick minds stick together, we can stay sick forever
If you're happy all the time, something might be wrong with you because we are not. We don't want you to hold on to happiness because it makes us feel worse. We want you to be stuck with us because we are all sick in the head, and we should stick together.
We're not cynics, we just don't believe a word you say
We're not critics, we just hate it all anyway
We are skeptical about what you say, and we don't like anything that's been presented to us.
Oh this is all we've got
Oh we do what we've been taught
We only have this way of thinking because it's been taught to us, and we've taken it on.
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: ADAM MICHAEL KRONSHAGEN, AMY V ARIEL JUMP, SHAWN MICHAEL JUMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tyce Pickett
They aren't a Christian rock band, they're a rock band who's members happen to be christian. They don't preach Christianity in their songs and have made a point of saying that they aren't a Christian band. They are however FUCKING AWESOME!!
Jason Darcey
The fact I never knew they were christian says a lot.
So, so many religious people are between chill and fucking awesome. Wish more people would take notice.
𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑑
A few songs sound like conversations with a higher power (like "fix me") but they never mention a specific higher power. Religiousness in music done right.
Amy Hatfield
@𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑑In their song "Off With Your Head" they say "Savior"
𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑑
@Amy Hatfield that's a dig at someone not God. "save your own cause I don't want to be this, I don't want to be this. Death is mine I know, don't let go don't let go savior" thinking more about it it may be directed at some sort of medical professional. Like I don't want to live off medication I don't want to need it to breath I don't want to be a zombie and it's a Drs job to save people.
Chloe o' callaghan
Icon For Hire, you guys are more than just a rock band - You guys are PHENOMENONAL ADVOCATES!!! It's ridiculous that you guys are not on the mainstream because they need you guys badly!!! ❤
Haunted Highway 216
PHENOMINAL ADVOCATES. YES!! Check out "Under the knife". Especially the ending. WOW!! (And I'm not even emo).
Jade Arnot
i like how brutally honest she is with everyone and herself in her music shes not afraid to say her opinion out loud "if your happy and you know it then there must be something wrong with you" "whats the point of holding on when all of us dont want you to, it'd make us feel better knowing you'd be stuck forever" and "sick minds stick together we can stay sick forever" i fricken love it.
merkoka
I am not exaggerating, this is the best song I have ever heard. Icon For Hire, you are my favorite band. Never stop playing.
Andrew Bronson
I just saw them live tonight and it was the best concert that I have honestly ever been to. Their first album was a little managed and controlled and with this new album they had all the freedom they wanted. It. Is. Going. To. Be. Sick.