Their HQ is on the corner of Mott and Broome, on the edge of New York's Chinatown. Push through the graffiti-ed door, clamber up the rotten stairs, past the sweatshops, and you'll find the place. It's where the Bravery have spent the past two years planning operations, obsessively working up their wire-y garage-electronics, and occasionally venturing out into the city to play the results.
Their first gig was in the Stinger Club in Brooklyn in 2003. Twelve months later, their name was plastered all over the Lower East Side to celebrate a sold-out residency at Arlene's Grocery on Stanton. In that time, the Bravery -- singer/guitarist Sam Endicott, guitarist Michael Zakarin, bassist Mike H, keyboardist John Conway, and drummer Anthony Burulcich -- had honed their sound to a dark garage-electro and made sure everyone knew what they were all about.
"We're called the Bravery because that's the mindset I was in when I was writing the songs," explains Sam now. "Everyone in my age group wants to know what they're going to do with their lives. They all think that they're worth nothing and they're heading nowhere. People are drowning in these thoughts and I just got sick of it. I didn't want to be like that."
"The name is also connected with living in New York in this really weird time. People are constantly waiting for something bad to happen. I wrote these songs and formed this band to make sure I didn't get overcome by that sense of fear. That's what this band is about--standing tall and not being afraid."
Sam has no time for excuses. He grew up in Maryland, in the D.C. suburbs, and was heavily influenced by the area's intense post-punk scene. He'd go and see bands like Fugazi and Jawbox and be impressed by their DiY ethic. He quickly adopted it as his own philosophy and it's something that feeds directly into the Bravery. They do everything --they make the records, the artwork, the videos. Everything. They know what they want and how they want to do it.
"I don't really like mainstream music at all," admits Sam. "When I listen to the radio or watch MTV, 99% of it is like listening to an air-conditioner or a hair dryer. Sometimes, though, something comes along that jolts you. When I was growing up, it was bands like Nirvana and Jane's Addiction. Those bands elevate culture. I don't think there's any point in aiming for anything less."
One thing that sometimes puzzles people about the Bravery is why they sound electronic when all the bands they like are punk guitar bands. Sam doesn't know why they sound like they do. He just wanted to do something different. Of course, the circumstances in which they recorded their album (most of which was constructed in a Sam's bedroom with Radio Shack mikes and an old iMac) and the fact that Sam's best friend John Conway is totally obsessed with analog keyboards obviously helped shape their sound.
The Bravery are now signed to Loog in the U.K. and Island Def Jam in America. Their first release arrived in November, 2004 in the form of a brilliant three-track EP. The Bravery have since had success with their self titled debut album, released in 2005, and a top ten hit in the UK with their single 'Honest Mistake'.
In late 2006, the band played a limited number of small shows on the US East Coast and in South America to showcase new material from their upcoming 2nd album. Endicott describes the new album as a departure from the synth-heavy sound of their debut. The Sun and the Moon is currently scheduled for release May. In February, the band uploaded a medley of three new songs onto their official page, with minute long clips of three new tracks due to be included on the forthcoming album. Since then, their newest album 'The Sun and The Moon' has been climbing the charts, with the first single 'Time Won't Let Me Go' receiving praise from critics. its test
After the release of The Sun and The Moon, The Bravery has taken a leave of absence for the members to pursue their own individual projects. An excerpt from The Bravery's official website:
"To answer your many queries, the band has not “broken up,” nothing so dramatic as that. We just aren’t doing anything together and don’t have any plans to for the foreseeable future. There’s been no “falling out,” no bad blood, we all just have different interests now and are involved in our own projects." -Sam Endicott 4-25-14
Unconditional
The Bravery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I've spent my whole life alone
I wonder why I never wonder why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want something
Something, something for nothing
I'm a beggar and I'm a chooser
I'm accused, I'm an accuser
But nothing's unconditional
I hold the whole world accused
I've only got myself to blame
I wonder why, I never wonder why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want something
Something for nothing
Something, something for nothing
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want something
Something for nothing
Something, something for nothing
I'm a beggar and I'm a chooser
I'm accused, I'm an accuser
But nothing's unconditional
The Bravery's song Unconditional is a reflection on the paradoxical nature of human desire. The singer starts by saying that they have spent their whole life surrounded, but also feeling lonely. They wonder why the easiest things in life are so hard to achieve. All they want is love, but it never seems to come easily. They want something for nothing, something that is unconditional.
The lyrics suggest a certain sense of desperation and hopelessness, as the singer admits to being both a beggar and a chooser, and accuses and is accused. They hold the whole world accused, but also recognize that they only have themselves to blame. The message seems to be that no matter what we want in life, there are always conditions that we must meet, whether they come from others or from ourselves.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the complexities of human existence and the conflicting impulses that drive us. The singer's longing for love and acceptance is universal, but their recognition that nothing comes without strings attached is a sobering reality that many of us can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
I've spent my whole life surrounded
Despite being surrounded by people, I feel alone and disconnected.
and I've spent my whole life alone
Even though I crave meaningful relationships, I've always felt isolated.
I wonder why I never wonder why
I question why I don't actively seek answers to my problems and instead just accept them.
The easiest things are so hard
Tasks that may seem simple to others are extremely challenging for me.
I just want, I just want love
All I truly desire is to be loved and accepted by someone unconditionally.
I just want something
I'm searching for something meaningful in my life.
Something for nothing
I yearn for a connection that doesn't require any effort or sacrifice on my part.
I'm a beggar and I'm a chooser
I both beg for and select opportunities and relationships, but struggle to find a balance.
I'm accused, I'm an accuser
I feel as though I'm constantly being judged and criticized, but also have a tendency to do the same to others.
But nothing's unconditional
The relationships and love I seek are unlikely to exist without conditions and sacrifices.
I hold the whole world accused
I tend to blame others for my problems and dissatisfaction with life.
I've only got myself to blame
In reality, I am responsible for my own happiness and wellbeing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES LORELL MOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mel Miller
The Bravery - Unconditional Lyrics:
I've spent my whole life surrounded
And I've spent my whole life alone
I wonder why I never wondered why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want
Something, something for nothing
Yeah, something, something for nothing
'Cause I'm a beggar and a chooser
I'm accused and accuser
But nothing's unconditional
I hold the whole world accused
And I've only got myself to blame
I wonder why I never wondered why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want
Something, something for nothing
Yeah, something, something for nothing
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
Something, something for nothing
Yeah, something, something for nothing
'Cause I'm a beggar and a chooser
I'm accused and accuser
But nothing's unconditional
Written by: Samuel Bingham Endicott
Album: The Bravery
Released: 2005
Lyrics provided by Musixmatch
𝙈𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝘿.
I've spent my whole life surrounded
and I've spent my whole life alone
I wonder why I never wonder why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want something
Something for nothing
Something, something for nothing
I'm a beggar and I'm a chooser
I'm accused, I'm an accuser
But nothing's unconditional
I hold the whole world accused
I've only got myself to blame
I wonder why, I never wonder why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want something
Something for nothing
Something, something for nothing
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want something
Something for nothing
Something, something for nothing
I'm a beggar and I'm a chooser
I'm accused, I'm an accuser
But nothing's unconditional
richard21solava
Omg I love how the song starts!!!
Keys start it off
Then
Keys and bass
Keys, bass, and drums
Keys, bass, drums, guitar
And finally the vocals kick in
It's a great sound
Oh and another cool thing is the UK version
Sam says I've spent my whole life surrounded
(This video is the bravery surrounded by ppl
and having fun)
Then he says I've spent my whole life alone
(The U.K. Video is them in the middle of nowhere alone)
TatsumakiSenpuu Kyaku
The Bravery - Unconditional
I've spent my whole life surrounded
And I've spent my whole life alone
I wonder why I never wondered why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want
Something, something for nothing
Yeah, something, something for nothing
'Cause I'm a beggar and a chooser
I'm accused and accuser
But nothing's unconditional
I hold the whole world accused
And I've only got myself to blame
I wonder why I never wondered why
The easiest things are so hard
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want
Something, something for nothing
Yeah, something, something for nothing
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
I just want, I just want to love
Something, something for nothing
Yeah, something, something for nothing
'Cause I'm a beggar and a chooser
I'm accused and accuser
But nothing's unconditional.
guy who does stuff
God this brings back the countless hours I spent playing American Wasteland, no regrets there.
Josh Hansen
Joey Boehm amen to that lol
LCGdude
Joey Boehm Im sad now...
Sprux
+Joey Boehm ive come to the age of being able to circlejerk about my childhood
damn i love that game
Kevin Fuentes
You just reminded me of the painful hell of a time i had trying to 360 hardflip over that damn dumpster lmao fuck i love that game
Baba Voorhees
my love for American wasteland shall live in this song
James Price
I know the song has depressing lyrics but I can't help getting goosebumps Everytime I hear that opening it just kicks my brain straight back to being 13 years old, sitting on my living room floor trying my absolute damnedest to beat my brother's high score in Tony hawk's American wasteland this and wash away by alkaline trio trigger my mind to revert back to when I was a kid and the world didn't suck where we didn't have to pay bills and we got to live life as we pleased with our only fear was getting grounded but we still did the shit we weren't supposed to anyway ... I love this song alot
SHADOW
Loved your comment , puts me back in pretty similar place , perfect resemblance of nostalgia . sadness and happiness at the same time . Wish you al the best
James Price
@SHADOW thank you mate same to you
BlueTheChannel
That's great! I hope your brother and you are still close.