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.
Who Loves Life More?
Sloan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until late in the evening
I had so much fun
I couldn't help myself
I knew I had to see the rising sun
I did and thought even then
I didn't want that moment to end
For some it's enough
But gimme some more
Staying up or staying in:
Who loves life more?
Though I have to confess
I blacked out while I was still dressed
Some do the work
That others ignore
They'll be busy but:
Who loves life more?
Early to rise
I was working one morning
I got so much done
I had been up for hours but knew
I had see the setting sun
I did and thought even then:
I didn't want that moment to end
For some it's a pleasure
And others a chore
Schedules or sleeping in:
Who loves life more?
Though I have to admit
Near the end I slacked off a bit
Some people play
But are they secure?
They get by but:
Who loves life more?
Restoring the mind
Or minding the store
Punching in or punching out:
Who loves life more?
Though I have to suggest
A small dose of both would be best
For some it's enough
But gimme some more
Breathing in or breathing out:
Who loves life more?
The lyrics of "Who Loves Life More?" by Sloan express a contemplation of the different ways in which people experience and appreciate life. The singer reflects on two specific experiences of theirs: staying up late and working hard. In both cases, they find themselves captivated by the passing of time, longing for those moments to never end. The singer then poses a series of questions, asking who truly loves life more: those who "stay up or stay in," those who work hard or those who play, those who keep strict schedules or those who sleep in.
Overall, the song seems to suggest that there is no one right way to love life; rather, it is up to each individual to find their own path and live in a way that feels most fulfilling to them. The repeated refrain of "gimme some more" reinforces this idea of a constant quest for more experiences and moments of joy.
Overall, "Who Loves Life More?" is a thoughtful and introspective song that encourages listeners to reflect on their own relationship with life and how they choose to experience it.
Line by Line Meaning
Stayed up one time
I stayed up late one night
Until late in the evening
Until very late at night
I had so much fun
I was enjoying myself a lot
I couldn't help myself
I was compelled to continue having fun
I knew I had to see the rising sun
I had a strong desire to stay awake until morning
I did and thought even then
I achieved my goal and reflected on the experience
I didn't want that moment to end
I wanted to keep experiencing the fun
For some it's enough
Some people are satisfied with less
But gimme some more
I want more than just the basics
Staying up or staying in:
Having a wild night out or relaxing at home
Who loves life more?
Which lifestyle represents a fuller, happier life
Though I have to confess
I'll admit
I blacked out while I was still dressed
I had too much to drink and passed out
Some do the work
Some people work very hard
That others ignore
Other people don't consider this kind of work important
They'll be busy but:
They'll have a lot on their plate, but...
Who loves life more?
Which lifestyle represents a fuller, happier life
Early to rise
Wake up early
I was working one morning
I was productive in the morning
I got so much done
I accomplished a lot
I had been up for hours but knew
I had already been awake for a while, but was aware
I had see the setting sun
I wanted to experience the end of the day
I did and thought even then:
I accomplished my goal and reflected on the experience
I didn't want that moment to end
I wanted to keep enjoying myself and being productive
For some it's a pleasure
Some people really enjoy working hard
And others a chore
Other people find work to be a burden
Schedules or sleeping in:
Having a strict routine or letting yourself sleep in
Who loves life more?
Which lifestyle represents a fuller, happier life
Though I have to admit
I'll confess
Near the end I slacked off a bit
I lost some motivation as the day went on
Some people play
Some people have fun without worrying too much about work
But are they secure?
However, are they financially stable or happy in the long run?
They get by but:
They are able to manage, but...
Who loves life more?
Which lifestyle represents a fuller, happier life
Restoring the mind
Taking care of your mental health
Or minding the store
Being responsible for your business or finances
Punching in or punching out:
Working a shift, or leaving work for the day
Who loves life more?
Which lifestyle represents a fuller, happier life
Though I have to suggest
I would recommend
A small dose of both would be best
Having a balance of work and play is ideal
Breathing in or breathing out:
Taking a deep breath, or exhaling calmly
Who loves life more?
Which lifestyle represents a fuller, happier life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
not me
should've been the lead single. what a chorus!
Zack Smart
Great song.