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.
questions
It's Alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I'm not surprised
Girl, I've been as patient as I can
You've dragged this out
I'm over the lies
And my mind is wasted on these fights
What the fuck do I do
Gives themself to another?
Well I need closure still
When he is inside you, do you think of me?
When you're screaming his name, is it the same?
All of these questions, they are haunting me
And I'm not the same and won't be
'Til you're not okay
Just give me it straight
So I can move on
I need all the details
Right or wrong
You call me insane
I need to know everything
I just need a reason to end this game
What the fuck did I do?
Should've seen straight through what you do
But I was too blind to see
All the shit that you put me through
When he is inside you, do you think of me?
When you're screaming his name, is it the same?
All of these questions, they are haunting me
And I'm not the same and won't be
'Til you're not okay
I said
Not a soul in this world
Could have ever loved you more
With my heart in my mouth
And my brain on the floor
Not a soul in this world
Could have ever loved you more
With my heart in my mouth
And my brain on the floor
Now I'm gone
I'm gone
Now I'm gone
I'm gone
Now I'm gone
I'm gone
Now I'm gone
I'm gone...
The lyrics to "Questions" by It's Alive express the frustration of trying to get the truth from a partner who has been lying and cheating. The singer is asking for honesty so that they can move on. They feel like they have been patient for too long and their mind is consumed with thoughts of the other person's infidelity. The singer is asking for all the details, whether they are right or wrong, so that they can have closure and end the game that the relationship has become.
The chorus talks about the haunting questions that are on the singer's mind, such as whether the other person thinks of them when they are with someone else. The singer is clearly hurt and feeling betrayed. Despite their love for the other person, they know they need to move on and won't be able to until they know that the other person is okay.
The bridge of the song is a heartfelt plea that emphasizes the love that the singer once had for the other person. However, the betrayal has left them with their heart in their mouth and their brain on the floor. The final repetition of "Now I'm gone" shows that the singer has finally reached the point where they are ready to move on and leave the relationship behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Just give me the truth
So I'm not surprised
I need to know the truth about us, even if it hurts me, so that I'm not caught off guard.
Girl, I've been as patient as I can
You've dragged this out
I'm over the lies
And my mind is wasted on these fights
I've waited so long for us to work out, but you keep lying and fighting, and I can't take it anymore.
What the fuck do I do
When the one that I love
Gives themself to another?
Well I need closure still
I don't know how to move on when you've given yourself to someone else, so I still need closure from you.
When he is inside you, do you think of me?
When you're screaming his name, is it the same?
All of these questions, they are haunting me
And I'm not the same and won't be
'Til you're not okay
I can't help but wonder if you still feel something for me when you're with him, and these questions are consuming me. I won't be able to fully move on until you're no longer in pain.
Just give me it straight
So I can move on
I need all the details
Right or wrong
You call me insane
I need to know everything
I just need a reason to end this game
Please be honest with me so I can finally move on. I need to understand everything that happened, even if it paints me in a negative light. You may think I'm crazy for needing to know, but I just want a reason to finally end this relationship.
What the fuck did I do?
Should've seen straight through what you do
But I was too blind to see
All the shit that you put me through
I'm questioning my own actions and wondering how I missed all the warning signs that you were mistreating me.
Not a soul in this world
Could have ever loved you more
With my heart in my mouth
And my brain on the floor
I loved you more than anyone else ever could, and now that you've hurt me, I feel emotionally wrecked.
Now I'm gone
I'm gone
Now I'm gone
I'm gone
Now I'm gone
I'm gone
Now I'm gone
I'm gone...
I've finally left this toxic relationship behind and won't be coming back.
Contributed by Daniel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.