The current incarnation of the band, with the addition of guitarist Clay Haywood, has been together a little over two years, but Human Resources, their debut album for Wind-up Records, boasts the camaraderie of four like-minded musicians on a mission. The first single, "Pieces," offers a taste of this "burning sound," a heavy rock and roll bottom provided by the rhythm section of bassist Dean and drummer Matta that gives way to lush melodies, characterized by Webb's full-throated, emotional vocals and Haywood's anthem-like guitar riffs. It's Alive's debut is the album the band has prepared all their young lives to make.
"We've really studied the structure of how to turn a good pop melody into a great song," explains Webb, originally from California, though he moved with his family to Lake Mary when he was just five. "Taking those guidelines, and being patient, has made a big difference in this band since we started."
It's Alive take their name from a dream in which Zach saw the name plastered across a giant computer in a recording studio. "It's dark and ominous," he says, "but also positive. It's not about death or anything morose. It's more along the lines of being here and relevant…right now."
For a young group, all still in their early 20s, It's Alive sound like established veterans, from the intense rush of the thudding "The Bottom" and the emotional conviction of "Here's to You," to the righteous anger of "Liar" and "Questions," a song "for anyone who's ever been cheated on." On the other hand, you can hear Webb's prog-rock leanings in the album's only ballad, the wide-screen "Selfless," as well as the keyboard-laden pop of "Back Into The Rain" and the whisper-to-a-scream dynamics of "Dialysis," about comparing a particularly painful break-up to removing that individual from your blood.
Webb claims the recording process helped the band hone their song structures. "More than anything, it was about just really grooving together, finding that niche where four people are playing as one," said Zach. "It's like each of us has this shit-eating grin on our face because we're in the pocket, feeling each other out. It's a vibe thing, very organic."
All four members of It's Alive had reputations as ace session players and songwriters before coming together as a band. And while Webb is the main lyricist—a particularly difficult post-high school break-up with a girlfriend influenced several of the songs, like "Pieces,""Here's to You,” "Back Into The Rain"and "Dialysis”—the other members all contribute.
Zach describes himself as an art-rock fan, with Peter Gabriel, Genesis and Nine Inch Nails among his faves, while he prefers raw, backof-the-throat vocalists like Kurt Cobain, Billy Corgan and Steven Tyler, "who don't necessarily have the best singing voices, but they're so distinctive."Drummer Eddie's influence comes mainly from heavy rock, but has studied drums and song writing across all genres of music. "Rock/metal head"guitarist Haywood is influenced by Billy Idol band member Steve Stevens and bassist Juice is a big hip-hop guy who "loves hard-core beats he can feel in his chest." "It all boils down to great sounds, taking it to the third dimension and pounding rhythmically,"explains Zach, describing the It's Alive approach onHuman Resources.
And while the band deals with some pretty heavy, dark personal issues, Webb is clear that songs like "Selfless,"with its orchestral string arrangement featuring Dave Eggar on cello and Bon Jovi violinist Lorenza Ponce, leave a slight crack open in the door for optimism.
"There's always a particle of hope,"he says. "We'll be OK, we'll make it through. I've always made it a point to frame the problem then state the solution, so people know I'm strong enough to survive. The whole message is it's worth getting through all this stuff. I didn't think I'd come out whole at the other end. But I love the idea of unconditional love. It's a beautiful thing."
Indeed, the anger of "Dialysis"and "Liar,"the latter an "I told you so"to an old friend of the band who never felt they would succeed, eventually gives way to the tuneful "Back Into Rain"and "Selfless,"a tribute to the commitment of It's Alive to one another and their burgeoning career.
"We're definitely family,"explains Zach. "We made a vow to each other to do this until our high school classmates graduated college. By that time, if we weren't signed and our career on its way, then we'd go back to school. But this has been our higher education. It's been an awesome journey and I can't wait to start the next chapter with these guys."On Human Resources, It's Alive do just that.
Pieces
It's Alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I already knew
I'm now discovering this
Awful, burning sound
This feeling's sharpening
So take it, take it back
My mind's rebelling
And just watch me come undone
What the hell was I thinking,
Believing in you, believing in you?
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now (pieces now, whoa)
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now (pieces now)
She loves the taste of pain
And it's clear she's already used
I somehow find in her
This easy kind of love
This love is deepening
So shake it, shake it off
But my body's needing it
Just watch her set me off
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now (pieces now, whoa)
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now (pieces now)
Well I can't, I can't
Never will I ever let the
Things you said cut through me
And I won't, I won't
Never will I ever let the
Things you said...
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now, pieces now
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now (pieces now, whoa)
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now (pieces now)
In "Pieces," the singer is coming to terms with the end of a relationship. His ex-girlfriend has moved on, but he is still feeling the hurt and pain. He is experiencing a burning feeling and his mind is rebelling. He questions himself for ever believing in her, and feels as though he is being ripped into pieces. Despite this, he vows to not let her words get to him and tear him down.
The song describes the feeling of heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on from a relationship. The singer is grappling with his emotions, and the rawness of his pain is evident in the lyrics. One of the most interesting aspects of the song is the contrast between the intensity of the emotions described and the upbeat rock music that accompanies it. This contrast makes the song even more powerful, as it emphasizes the singer's struggle to hold on in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
She said she's over it
She told me that she has moved on from our relationship
I guess I already knew
I had a feeling that she was done with me before she even said anything
I'm now discovering this
Even though I suspected it, it still hurts to know that she's really over me
Awful, burning sound
The feeling of heartbreak is overwhelming and feels like an intense, painful burn
This feeling's sharpening
The pain of heartbreak is getting more intense as I come to terms with the breakup
So take it, take it back
I wish I could go back in time and change things so that we wouldn't have broken up
My mind's rebelling
Even though I know it's over, my mind is struggling to accept it
And just watch me come undone
I am falling apart emotionally and psychologically as a result of the breakup
What the hell was I thinking, Believing in you, believing in you?
I am questioning my own judgment for believing that our relationship would work out
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now (pieces now, whoa)
The breakup is causing me immense emotional pain and is tearing me apart, piece by piece
She loves the taste of pain
She has a tendency to seek out relationships that are emotionally damaging and painful
And it's clear she's already used
She has been through similar situations before and is almost desensitized to the pain of breakups
I somehow find in her
Despite her unhealthy relationship patterns, I still have strong feelings for her
This easy kind of love
Our relationship was comfortable and uncomplicated, even though it may not have been healthy
This love is deepening
Despite the pain of the breakup, my love for her is growing stronger
So shake it, shake it off
I know I need to move on from this relationship, even though it's difficult
But my body's needing it
Despite my logical understanding that I need to move on, there is a physical and emotional need to hold onto the relationship
Just watch her set me off
Even though I know it's not healthy, I cannot resist the pull of her toxic relationship patterns
Well I can't, I can't Never will I ever let the Things you said cut through me
I am trying my best to not let her hurtful words and actions affect me
And I won't, I won't Never will I ever let the Things you said...
I am resolute in my decision to not let her have power over my emotions and psyche
Whoa, you're ripping me into pieces now, pieces now
Despite my intention to not let her words and actions get to me, the pain of the breakup is still causing me immense emotional distress
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDWARD MATTA, GREGG WATTENBERG, ZACH WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Mills
Heard this song in my gym…how did I miss this band in my emo days?! Everything has just changed so much…
bidi bidi yapma kral
I love this song its amazing..
Madeline Bilodeau
I used to listen to this song a lot in 2011, it feels nice to reunite with it.
V for Vegan
I want more from this band! they have unbelievable talent, I love all their songs.
Dr. Satan
I remembered listening to this as a teenager, looking it up it's been 10 years and so much has changed I want to cry
kidd5pujols
i cant shake this song out of my head! soooo awesome!! thanks Octane :D
Erik Hansen
This song is cool as hell.
Tripcode
Randomly heard this in Planet Fitness and thought "wow, I love this, sounds like something I would've listened to in my teenage days". Idk how I missed this back then, lmao. So, thanks Planet Fitness, I guess. 🤣
Alex Shpiner
awsome song !!
Music Madness
Just came across this song after not hearing it for so long!