The band was formed in 1991, when Chris Murphy and Andrew Scott met at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax. Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson joined soon after. In 1992, the band created their own record label, called Murderecords, for themselves and other Halifax area bands, and the outfit released the 'Peppermint EP' (the release also known as just 'Peppermint').
According to Sloan's official website, the band's name refers to a friend's nickname. Their friend, Jason Larsen, was called 'Slow One' by his French-speaking boss, which with the French accent sounded more like 'Sloan'. The original agreement was that they could name the band after their friend's nickname as long as he was on the cover of their first album. As a result, it is Larsen who appears on the cover of the 'Peppermint EP'.
Later in 1992, Sloan released their full-length debut, titled 'Smeared', on Geffen Records. Like many indie rock groups before them, the band found that major label dealings were basically as much trouble as they were worth. In 1994, Geffen did not promote their second album, called 'Twice Removed', due to artistic disputes, although it sold well in Canada. Spin named the album one of the "Best Albums You Didn't Hear" in 1994. A 1996 reader poll by Canadian music magazine Chart! ranked it as the best Canadian album of all time only two years after its release. The same poll in 2000 ranked the album third, behind Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' and Neil Young's 'Harvest', while the 2005 poll once again ranked the album first.
After the release of Twice Removed, the band went on hiatus and were rumoured to have broken up, as they had rejected Geffen's offer for their next album. In 1996, however, they released the widely praised One Chord to Another on their own Murderecords label. Following 1998's Navy Blues album, Sloan released their first live album 4 Nights at the Palais Royale in 1999. Those albums were followed by Between the Bridges in 1999, and Pretty Together in 2001.
Sloan made a concerted effort to break into the US market on their 2003 release Action Pact. Songs were recorded in L.A. with Tom Rothrock producing. The glossier, radio-ready sound failed to raise Sloan's profile in the US, though they continued to be highly popular in Canada.
Sloan's first compilation album A Sides Win: Singles 1992-2005, included two new songs, "All Used Up" and "Try to Make It". The Japanese release included two additional new tracks.
Now signed to Yep Roc Records for their US releases, they put out their eighth disc, Never Hear the End of It in 2006. The album contained 30 tracks with all the members of the band contributing new songs. It was met with widespread critical acclaim and became the highest charting Sloan album in the US up to that point.
In 2008, Sloan followed up their longest album with their shortest release Parallel Play.
In November 2009 Sloan added a digital music store to their website. The band released an online-only EP called Hit & Run to promote the store. The EP featured two songs by Chris Murphy, and one by each of the other band members. Murphy's Take It Upon Yourself was released as a free single. In February 2010, the band released another online exclusive, the compilation album B-Sides Win: Extras, Bonus Tracks and B-Sides 1992 - 2008.
In 2013, the band revealed plans for a double album, with each of the four sides featuring a solo suite by a different band member. In May 2014, it was announced that the new album would be titled "Commonwealth" and would be released in September 2014. On July 14, 2014, the band announced the official release date for the album (September 9, which turned out to be accurate) and the release of the album's first single, "Keep Swinging (Downtown)". The album cover portrays the band members as four-of-a-kind kings. The suits of these playing cards correspond to the titles of their solo sides: Jay Ferguson's side is called Diamond, Chris Murphy's is Heart, Patrick Pentland's is Shamrock, and Andrew Scott's is Spade.
It's Not The End Of The World
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But into a ball you are curled
Winter will pass when it does
You can go ‘cause it isn't what it was
Say the snow made us do it just because
While we weighed the pros and the cons
The sun had unfrozen my palms
I don't know if you will call me your friend
Say it's so or I'm liable to pretend
Now you've made your mark on the world
At times into a ball I have curled
So I had to move on
But I'll always be fond of you
Winter was hard on us all
Bundle up ‘cause it already feels like fall
I'm all right but I don't mind when you call
We can talk about our brief time in the sun
In Sloan's song "It's Not The End Of The World," the singer addresses a friend who has gone through a difficult time. The chorus reassures the friend that things will get better, that it's not the end of the world. The singer invites the friend to move on and focus on the future. The first verse describes the friend's current state: curled up into a ball, overwhelmed by winter. The second verse reveals that while the friend was struggling, the singer was trying to figure out if they should stay or go. The third verse acknowledges that both the friend and the singer have gone through difficult times, but that they will always be fond of each other. The final verse encourages the friend to call, and the song ends on a hopeful note.
While the lyrics of "It's Not The End Of The World" are relatively straightforward, the song is musically complex. Sloan is a Canadian rock band known for their intricate, multi-part harmonies and tight instrumentation. In this song, the band seamlessly shifts between two different keys and time signatures, giving the song a sense of tension and release that reflects the emotional journey of the lyrics. The song also features a prominent bass line and intricate drumming that drive the song forward. Overall, "It's Not The End Of The World" is a beautifully crafted song that both uplifts and challenges the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not the end of the world
Don't be too upset about the current situation, it's not the end of the world.
But into a ball you are curled
You're feeling very down and small right now.
Winter will pass when it does
Things will get better in time.
You can go ‘cause it isn't what it was
You're free to move on because things have changed.
Say the snow made us do it just because
We can blame our mistakes or decisions on winter, even if it wasn't the real reason.
While we weighed the pros and the cons
We were trying to decide what to do, considering the advantages and disadvantages.
The sun had unfrozen my palms
The cold winter had ended, and my hands were now warm in the sun.
Winter had come to an end
The hard times we experienced together had ended.
I don't know if you will call me your friend
I'm not sure if we're still friends after everything that's happened.
Say it's so or I'm liable to pretend
Tell me if we're still friends or I might just act like we are.
Now you've made your mark on the world
You've accomplished something significant.
At times into a ball I have curled
I've also felt depressed and helpless at times.
So I had to move on
I needed to leave and start over.
But I'll always be fond of you
Even though things didn't work out, I still have positive feelings towards you.
Winter was hard on us all
We all struggled during the hard times.
Bundle up ‘cause it already feels like fall
The weather is getting colder, so we should prepare ourselves.
I'm all right but I don't mind when you call
I'm doing okay, but I'm still willing to talk to you.
We can talk about our brief time in the sun
We can reminisce about the short period of happiness we had together.
Contributed by Adam N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thelma
on Everything You've Done Wrong
Thelma I like the title