After the release of their major label debut, Dwell, in 2008, The Envy Corps have retreated back to the studio to record their anticipated sophomore album, tentatively entitled It Culls You. Luke Pettipoole (vocals, bass), Brandon Darner (guitar), Micah Natera (synthesizer, guitar) and Scott Yoshimura (drums) are redefining their sound by taking the pop melodies of their early work and marrying them with a heightened rhythmic sense and a more stripped down, concise approach to instrumentation. The new material has made appearances at recent live shows with fans embracing the bands’ exploration into a less syrupy landscape that stretches the boundaries of the conventional immediate pop song.
Pettipoole formed the band in Ames in 2002 and shepherded a rotating cast of musicians until 2005, in which time their debut, Soviet Reunion, was released on Ames’ Bi-Fi Records. The band really started to take shape once Darner and Yoshimura came aboard in mid-2005, marking a change in sound and aspiration. The EP I Will Write You Love Letters If You Tell Me To was self-released in April 2006 and afforded the band their first taste of national attention by charting well on the CMJ Top 200. Soon after, the band were asked to join The Killers' U.S tour. Labels began to take notice and in the summer of 2006, a Vertigo/Universal A&R rep flew in from London to attend a hometown show and the band landed a record deal. Work on the self-produced Dwell began in November 2006 and the album was completed in England in March 2007.
With recording coming to a close, the band found themselves living in a flat in South London, performing across Britain at every opportunity. They logged more than 200 shows in 2007 alongside bands like Editors, The Killers (again), Mute Math, Eisley, and even secured a slot at the famed Glastonbury festival. Near the end of the year, unexpected trauma threatened the band when Darner suffered a stroke on stage in London. He was rushed to the hospital and recovered quickly, even rejoining the band on the road the following week. Despite growing buzz, a two-page spread in NME, Dwell track “Story Problem's” inclusion in the film Run Fatboy Run and an ever-increasing European fanbase, Vertigo delayed the album release and the band returned to the U.S.
Dwell was finally released in April 2008 in the UK and appeared stateside in digital format in July. The album received positive reviews from critics, but momentum for the album had fizzled, and in the fall of 2008, the band, anxious to focus on their career in the U.S., parted ways with Vertigo.
The Envy Corps released the Kid Gloves EP in April 2009 on their own Tempo Club imprint. The five-song taster gained blog and radio attention throughout the Midwest and its songs were featured in HBO’s Entourage and Showtime’s Look. The quartet have spent time since the release attending to their steadily maturing Midwest fanbase and writing and recording at their home studio in Des Moines and Mike Mogis' ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska. Content to take the reigns of any and all aspects of their sophomore effort - recording, engineering, producing, releasing - The Envy Corps are eager to bring their new music to those willing to listen.
Briar-Rose
The Envy Corps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I take my spoons and I burn them
I thought I'd learned all my lessons, but no no, you know its not easy
When Madison took my hand, it wasn't something I had planned
She said we should take turns again, screaming the "No no no"
The Stage is yours, what have you to show for it?
I run on moonlit nights, dance in the bright glow of the copcar lights
I'll tell you all I know, when my time comes I don't want to be alone
I found the idea a bit strange, the living of life at long range
They say the first step holds all the pain, then suddenly everything's easy
When Madison took her cup and told me softly to drink up, my heart it suddenly welled full up, plump with the blood of love
The Stage is yours, what have you to show for it?
I run on moonlit nights, dance in the bright glow of the copcar lights
You know it felt like Spring, I felt it growing underneath my feet
I'll tell you all I know, when my time comes I don't want to be alone
In "Briar-Rose" by The Envy Corps, the lyrics reflect the internal conflict of the singer who has an unusual fetish, burning spoons. He is aware that his obsession is horrid, but he cannot help himself. Despite thinking he has "learned all [his] lessons," he is still struggling. Madison, a female character, then intervenes and takes his hand, suggesting they take turns screaming "no no no." This act could be interpreted as confronting the singer's internal demons, or perhaps an attempt to purge the obsession. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of loneliness and the fear of dying alone, with the singer saying "I'll tell you all I know, when my time comes I don't want to be alone."
The overall theme of the song seems to be about grappling with one's inner demons, mental health struggles, and the fear of isolation. The line "The Stage is yours, what have you to show for it?" could also be interpreted as a commentary on societal pressures and expectations, with the singer questioning what is expected of him and whether he is meeting those expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I have this horrid obsession
I am fixated on something terrible
I take my spoons and I burn them
I destroy things that are meant to be useful
I thought I'd learned all my lessons, but no no, you know its not easy
I believed I had gained knowledge from past experiences, but it is not that simple
When Madison took my hand, it wasn't something I had planned
The encounter with Madison was unexpected
She said we should take turns again, screaming the "No no no"
She suggested we express our disapproval repeatedly
The Stage is yours, what have you to show for it?
What have you accomplished with the opportunity given to you?
I run on moonlit nights, dance in the bright glow of the copcar lights
I seek thrill in the darkness, even in the presence of authority
You know it felt like Spring, I felt it growing underneath my feet
I sensed something new and promising developing
I'll tell you all I know, when my time comes I don't want to be alone
I will share my wisdom, but hope to be surrounded by loved ones
I found the idea a bit strange, the living of life at long range
The concept of living life distantly seemed unusual to me
They say the first step holds all the pain, then suddenly everything's easy
The beginning of a journey is difficult but followed by ease
When Madison took her cup and told me softly to drink up, my heart it suddenly welled full up, plump with the blood of love
When Madison shared her love, it filled me with emotion
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.