Channeling modern rock influences into anthemic choruses and themes of lust, loss and embracing your inner demons, Sparks The Rescue return with 12 impressive edgy pop-rock tracks on new album Worst Thing I've Been Cursed With. The band's second full-length is a step forward for the band, blending sassy lyrics and the dynamic, unique vocals of frontman Alex Roy into the melodic, infectious songs the five-piece have become known for.
The group is comprised of Alex Roy (vocals), Patrick O’Connell (guitar), Toby McAllister (guitar), Ben Briggs (bass), and Nathan Spencer (drums). Seasoned musicians of over a decade, the crew started playing together in high school where they spawned from three local bands. They shared stages frequently at local shows and events until they decided in 2005 to become one single entity, Sparks The Rescue (deriving their name from Nicolas Sparks’ novel The Rescue).
In 2007, STR released a six-song digital EP, The Secrets We Can't Keep on Double Blind Music. It didn’t take long for their music to catch the ear of WCYY’s Mark Kurdo, and soon the EP was getting heavy rotation on “Spin Out,” a weekly program that features local artists. Requests started pouring in for their tracks to get regular airplay on the station, and STR went on to sell over 10,000 units of their EP on iTunes as their fan base grew exponentially. Their success has stemmed from their popularity at WCYY, and they haven’t forgotten that. They’ve played over 300 shows to date and have shared the stage with great bands including All Time Low, Hawthorne Heights, As Tall As Lions, Mayday Parade, Chiodos, Forever the Sickest Kids, Mayday Parade and A Static Lullaby.
Sparks The Rescue released their debut full-length album Eyes To The Sun in 2009 on Fearless Records. Produced by Jonathan Wyman of Halo Studios, the album has gained rave reviews, with tracks receiving play on MTV’s The Hills and Real World: Cancun. 2009 was quite the year for the band, who has toured Europe with The All-American Rejects, hit the road with Hit The Lights and won MTV/Garnier's battle of the bands contest to appear at MTVU's Woodie Awards. But there's no resting for them, as they rounded off the year winning the hearts of every teenage vampire lover out there with their killer new video for single "We Love Like Vampires".
2010 found the band playing Warped Tour in its entirety along with contributing a single to compilation Punk Goes Pop 3. Most of their time in 2010 was spent writing and preparing to record their highly anticipated follow-up to Eyes to the Sun. The quintet is currently on the road with Go Radio on The District Lines Tour. "Worst Thing I've Been Cursed With" was released in 2011 on Fearless Records.
The band's new self-titled EP was released on August 28, 2012, and on August 13, the band released a music video for their new song "Disaster," which featured former member Marty McMorrow doing guest vocals and synthesizers. This led to many fans believing he had rejoined the band; however, in response to YouTube comments on the video, Marty stated that he did not rejoin, and that he was "just helping out some friends."
On December 21, 2012, the band announced on Facebook that Mike Naran, David Pait, and Dylan Taylor's last show would be December 22, 2012, at The Space in Hamden, CT. Roy and McAllister toured acoustically in early 2013 as Sparks the Rescue, and in April 2013 the band released promotion photographs with Mat Petrin (bassist) and Nick Bilotta (drummer), who are also members of Roy's side-project band Holly Heist and original high school band 2 Girls Later. The band began performing with this lineup as a four piece in the Spring of 2013, and released a new EP titled "Truth Inside the Fiction" on July 30, 2013. The EP debuted at #33 on the iTunes Top Pop Albums Chart.
On July 21, 2013, Roy and Bilotta along with a new guitarist, booked a cover show in Portland's historic downtown district at a night club called Oasis.
In the summer of 2013, the band announced the Taking The D-Tour with opening bands Kingsfoil (featuring Frankie Muniz on drums) and Lion In The Mane. The band continues to play cover shows under the STR name with a new line-up including Matt Libby (rhythm guitar/vocals), a member of Bilotta's former project The Derek Wilkinson Band. No more tours have been announced and the band is actively playing cover shows at colleges, casinos, and tourist destinations. Bilotta's departure from the band remains unknown, with no announcements made by him or the band. His last shows were in Key West at Sloppy Joe's in September 2014. Spencer is currently reseated on the drums.
Members:
Alex Roy – Vocals (2006-present)
Toby McAllister – Lead Guitar/Vocals (1999-present)
Matt Libby - Rhythm Guitar (2014-present)
Mat Petrin - Bass (2013-present)
Nate Spencer - Drums (1999-2012, 2014-present)
Marty McMorrow - Keyboards (2005-2008)
Pat O'Connell - Rhythm Guitar/Vocals (2005-2010)
Ben Briggs - Bass (1999-2011)
Mike Naran - Rhythm Guitar (2010-2012)
David Pait - Bass (2011-2012)
Dylan Taylor - Drums (2012)
Nick Bilotta - Drums (2013-2014)
The Young and The Restless
Sparks The Rescue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get me out, get me out of here
Won’t stop ‘till I’m in the clear
I swear she’s got these aces up her sleeve
All I’ve got is this king of hearts
I could be taught, she’d use the cards
I played my hand way too quick
Don’t you dare hang up this conversation
When I spent hours just calling your telly
Do you think your friends keep secrets from me, from me?
(I saw you cheating in your dreams)
And if I could just get a second of sleep
(All the secrets I can’t keep)
It’s written on my arm and it says:
Get me out, get me out of here
Won’t stop ‘till I’m in the clear
I swear she’s got these aces up her sleeve
All I’ve got is this king of hearts
I could be taught, she’d use the cards
I played my hand way too quick
This scalpel is making me sick
So clap your hands to the beat of this song
So we’ll be falling in love (in love) before too long
So here’s to the night you spilled your guts
And I drove home at 2 o’clock
Screaming the words to hurry up
You were the worst, forget me not
So now I’m just crashing in the sidewalks under bridges
Keeping every inch of my body under the leaves
Get me out, get me out of here
Won’t stop ‘till I’m in the clear
I swear she’s got these aces up her sleeve
All I’ve got is this king of hearts
I could be taught, she’d use the cards
I played my hand way too quick
This scalpel is making me sick
But you are nothing in this bedroom
I have been you one hundred thousand times before
Tell me
(I have bet you one)
Where are you?
(Hundred thousand)
That’s where there's
(Times before)
Love
But we’re not in love
We’re not in love, in love, love
Tell me
(I have bet you one)
Where are you?
(Hundred thousand)
That’s where there's
(Times before)
Love
We’re not in love
We’re not in love, no
We’re not in love
We’re not in love
And I bet you, I bet you
I bet that you loved it
When he was sneaking in your bed
And I bet you, I bet you
I bet that you loved it
When he was kissing up your leg
You couldn’t help me if you wanted to
Thought I wanted you but
I’m so alone
You couldn’t help me if you wanted to
Though I wanted you but
I’m so alone
Take me back
The lyrics to "The Young and The Restless" by Sparks The Rescue are complex and delve into themes of betrayal, heartbreak, and self-realization. The singer of the song seems to be entangled in a tumultuous relationship where trust is broken, and secrets are kept. The opening lines express a feeling of being outplayed and outsmarted by the other person, who seems to have the upper hand with "aces up her sleeve." The reference to a king of hearts suggests vulnerability and naivety in contrast to the manipulative tactics of the other person.
The chorus reflects a sense of urgency and desperation to escape the toxic situation and gain clarity. The imagery of using a scalpel suggests a feeling of being cut open emotionally and feeling sickened by the circumstances. The repetition of wanting to be "in the clear" emphasizes the desire for resolution and closure in the relationship.
The middle section of the song shifts to a more confrontational tone, with the singer calling out the other person for their deceit and questioning the loyalty of mutual friends. The mention of cheating in dreams and struggles with keeping secrets adds a layer of paranoia and frustration to the narrative. The repeated plea to "get me out of here" underscores the yearning for freedom and release from the emotional turmoil.
As the song progresses, the lyrics touch on moments of vulnerability and memories shared between the characters. The imagery of driving home at 2 o’clock and screaming words of urgency suggests a sense of desperation and intensity in the relationship. The singer's realization of being alone and crashing under bridges symbolizes a sense of abandonment and despair. The final lines express a longing for reconciliation and a desire to revisit the past, even though the relationship seems irreparably damaged.
Line by Line Meaning
I swear she’s got the aces up her sleeve
I believe she is skillfully manipulating the situation in her favor
Get me out, get me out of here
I urgently need to escape from this situation
Won’t stop ‘till I’m in the clear
I will persevere until I am free from trouble
All I’ve got is this king of hearts
All I have is my sincerity and love
I could be taught, she’d use the cards
I am vulnerable and she would take advantage of it
I played my hand way too quick
I made decisions hastily and without thinking
This scalpel is making me sick
This sharp situation is causing me stress
Don’t you dare hang up this conversation
Do not end this important discussion abruptly
When I spent hours just calling your telly
I put a lot of effort trying to reach you
Do you think your friends keep secrets from me, from me?
Do you believe your friends hide things from me?
I saw you cheating in your dreams
I noticed you being unfaithful in your thoughts
And if I could just get a second of sleep
If only I could rest for a moment
All the secrets I can’t keep
I struggle to keep all the hidden truths
It’s written on my arm and it says:
The truth is evident and undeniable
So clap your hands to the beat of this song
Enjoy and celebrate the rhythm of this music
So we’ll be falling in love (in love) before too long
We will soon succumb to feelings of romantic love
And I bet you, I bet you
I strongly believe that
She’d use the cards
She would manipulate the situation
But you are nothing in this bedroom
You hold no significance in this intimate space
I have been you one hundred thousand times before
I have encountered your type many times
But we’re not in love
Our connection is not based on genuine love
We’re not in love, in love, love
Our relationship lacks true love
Take me back
Return me to a time before our troubles began
Lyrics © ROUSTABOUT MEDIA INC DBA ALPHA NUMERIC MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Petersen
love this song!
C4LLitK4RMA
Is it just me, or do his high screams at around 3:14 sound almost EXACTLY like Shawn Milke's from Alesana? Either way, that part, and everything else by this band, is epic as hell X]
Sensual Normie
love this song, so much
CbCrayzie
This is probably my favorite Sparks The Rescue Songs! just seen them Live and was seriously impressed!
Camilla Astrid Rasmussen
Awesome song!! not bad at all :)
HNUFAR
I LOOOOOOOOVE this song. They're amazing. Brilliant.
maria do carmo Oliveira
sem o venom essa musica ñ ia ser a mesma =)
christine leighty
their newer stuff seems like it tries to conform to the other stuff nowadays, its still good, i mean alex roy has an amazing voice, but the older stuff seems more like them
Shelby Canterbury
could anyone tell me the lyrics of this song? thanks
percy hutchins
why is it sad, they still kick ass, with or with others enjoying them. At least there not like deadseason an racking up there own videos an shit, sparks is keepin it real.