The band released their self-titled debut album in 2000 on Ultimatum Records. The album can be difficult to obtain, but can often be found on eBay. Many fans of the band have described this album as perhaps The Exies' best work.
Afterwards the band signed to Virgin Records and in January 2003 they released their second album, Inertia. The album received wide distribution, and their first single, "My Goddess", received a fair amount of radio play.
After touring for over a year in support of 2003's Inertia, the Exies returned to Los Angeles and wasted no time beginning work on new material. But rather than take a more-of-the-same or stick-to-what-works approach, the band set out to carve a new sound, one with more impact and intensity. The next album had to be fueled by the live energy of their shows, showcasing the band's presence on stage. On their latest release, Head For The Door, the Exies deliver.
"We really wanted to get back to basics on this album," says vocalist Scott Stevens. "We had experimented quite a bit with programming, complex arrangements, and exorbitant amounts of tracks on Inertia, and just felt like this one should be more stripped down, more organic."
So the band recruited the talents of Grammy-winning rock producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver) to help hone the new songs. "We're all huge Foo Fighters fans," recounts drummer Dennis Wolfe. "He produced their last record, and that album was really blowing up big while we were out touring. We thought, 'Man, that's the sound we want--big drums and punchy, tight guitars, and obviously this guy knows how to get 'em.'" The band clicked immediately with Nick at their first meeting, and went straight into pre-production in Los Angeles.
Crafting a more aggressive, more forceful sound was a notion shared by all, but a concept that was largely born on the road. Fans would frequently comment on how the live show gave the music so much more power and energy, and the band set out to capture that in the studio. "We learned a lot from that year on the road," says Stevens. "We just felt we could simplify things and make them hit a little harder."
The twelve tracks which comprise "Head For The Door" feature the band at its edgiest, loudest, and most explosive. Big riffs and guitar solos abound, but nothing gets in the way of the melody or the message. Their first single "Ugly" showcases Stevens' dynamic vocal range as it moves from a whisper to a snarl, and contemplates both the ugliness within and all around us. "It's partly about feeling ugly yourself and being unsettled inside," Stevens says. "But the song is also about how we turn a blind eye to the unpleasant things we see every day, things that are disturbing yet so easy to ignore."
"What You Deserve" charges out of the gate with bitter self-loathing and karmic retribution as the primary themes, while "Hey You" recalls an old friend bent on self-destruction. But it's not all doom and gloom for the Exies. The soaring, melodic chorus in "Tired Of You" makes everything seem right, and "F.S.O.S." grooves with attitude and swagger. From start to finish, the album delivers sharp hooks, passionate performances, and a sense that the band has found its sound.
"We had a blast making this record," says guitarist David Walsh. "We had a very clear idea of what we wanted going in, and Nick had the production chops to get it done. Now we just have to get it out there."
The Exies formed in the summer of 1997 in Los Angeles, the product of mutual friends and former members of various local bands who shared the same musical sensibilities. The first batch of songs came quickly and soon Stevens was shopping their demo around town, hoping for some label interest. Little did he know, it would be all about the shoes.
"I was working as a runner for a studio in L.A., and there was an industry guy there that I wanted to listen to our stuff," recalls the frontman. "As I'm handing him the demo, he comments on how cool my shoes are, saying, 'Well, this demo's gotta be good, coming from someone with such good taste in shoes.' And sure enough, he passed it along to some friends and things just started taking off. Those shoes cost me a buck at a thrift store. Seriously."
As the A&R community started swirling around the band, they knew they were on to something, and eventually signed with independent Ultimatum Records. Their eponymous debut hit shelves in the spring of 2000, driven by the radio-friendly single "Baby's Got A New Revelation." That's when things started getting difficult.
"Well, we had two big problems," says bassist Freddy Herrera. "One, the label did not have a huge budget for touring or promotion, so the songs weren't taking off like they should, and we didn't get any major tours. Two, things with our original drummer weren't working out." It was during one of their lowest points on the road that the most unlikely of circumstances proved to be the turning point.
"Worst gig ever," recounts Stevens. "We were playing this wretched club in Miami, with nothing but a few drunks and addicts hanging around. No soundman, and a dinky P.A. which we had to run ourselves from the stage. I mean, it was awful. So we did like six songs, and said 'Screw this.' As we were packing up, this guy comes up to us and says, 'I really like your band. You got a CD? I want to send it to somebody.'"
That somebody was Grammy-winning producer and label head Matt Serletic. From that point on, things just got better and better for the Exies.
As soon as the band got back from the road, they set out to find a new drummer. A want-ad in the local music magazine caught Stevens' eye, and sure enough, it was for current drummer Dennis Wolfe. "He was the first guy we called," says Walsh. "Scott brought him a demo of 'My Goddess,' which sold him on the band. One phone call, one audition, one new drummer. That never happens."
The new lineup began rehearsing and writing relentlessly, yielding the body of work that would become Inertia. By the spring of 2001, the Exies had a new album's worth of material and a new record deal on a major label. "What a difference a year makes," laughs Herrera. The band holed up in various L.A. studios for the rest of 2001 with Serletic at the console.
Released in January of 2003, Inertia launched the band into the mainstream with their break-through hit "My Goddess." The song drew major rotation at rock radio nationwide, and the video careened to the top 10 at MTV2. Performances on David Letterman and Last Call With Carson Daly helped spread the word, and the Exies found themselves on the road for a year, sharing the stage with some of the biggest bands at the time. "That year was nuts", recalls Wolfe. "You really start to appreciate a little quiet time at home once you've been on tour for a year. But I'm stoked to get back out there."
Final band members:
Scott Stevens - lead vocals, guitar (1997 - 2011)
Freddy Herrera - bass, backing vocals (1997 - 2011)
Chris Skane - guitar, backing vocals (1997, 2006 - 2011)
Hoss Wright - Drums (? - 2011)
Past members:
David Walsh - guitar (1997 - 2006)
Dennis Wolfe - drums (1997 - 2006)
Different Than You
The Exies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was so angry, so full of pride
Lost in opinions, and in you with those
I knew everything that you didn't know
And I used to think I would show I was right
When I knew the truth from a lie
I was so stupid to think that I was...
[Chorus]
So different, so different than you
So different, so different than you
I know that I said the truth
So different; I'm no different than you
Was I just jealous, bitter, and cold?
Sins I could never... the lies that I told
I have no respect for you, only myself
A memory I'm not so fond of as well
And I can honestly say I was wrong
So can you forgive me so I can move on?
I was so stupid when I was young
I was so stupid to think that I was...
[Chorus]
We are one and the same
Only with different names
Somethings I know are changing
And I know this love I'm hating
We are one and the same
Your blood runs through my veins
For fuck I feel this failing
I love the love I'm hating
I was so stupid when I was young
I was so stupid to think that I was...
[Chorus]
Different than you
Different than you
I know I said the truth
So different; I'm no different than you
The Exies's song Different Than You explores themes of self-reflection and forgiveness, with the singer acknowledging their past failings and seeking reconciliation with someone they once despised. Throughout the song, the singer admits to their past hatred towards the person they are speaking to, referring to themselves as "stupid" and "bitter." As the song progresses, however, the singer is able to come to terms with their mistakes and seeks forgiveness in order to move on. In the end, the singer realizes that they are no different than the person they once hated and that they share more in common than they initially thought.
The chorus particularly emphasizes the idea of unity and shared experiences, with the repeated phrase "So different; I'm no different than you" serving as a reminder that despite differences in opinion and outlook, we are all fundamentally similar in our humanity. The use of repetition in the chorus helps convey the emotional weight of the singer's message, highlighting the importance of acknowledging one's mistakes and seeking redemption.
Overall, Different Than You is a poignant reflection on the power of forgiveness and the importance of self-reflection, with its introspective lyrics and pulsing rock beat making it a particularly memorable track.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to hate you, no reason why
In the past, I had a strong negative feeling towards you without any justification
I was so angry, so full of pride
My anger and arrogance blinded me from seeing the reality that you are just like me
Lost in opinions, and in you with those
I was trapped in my opinions and projected them onto you, creating a distance between us
I knew everything that you didn't know
I believed that I was intellectually superior and knew more than you did
And I used to think I would show I was right
I intended to prove that my opinions were right and yours were wrong
When I knew the truth from a lie
I thought I had the capacity to differentiate between the truth and the lie
I was so stupid when I was young
Looking back at it, I recognize how ignorant and unwise I was during that time
I was so stupid to think that I was...
My previous beliefs were foolish and untrue
So different, so different than you
I used to convince myself that I was unique and distinct from you
I know that I said the truth
My previous statements were honest and factual
So different; I'm no different than you
Despite my earlier insistence, I acknowledge that we are the same
Was I just jealous, bitter, and cold?
I wonder if my past feelings towards you were rooted in jealousy, bitterness, and coldness
Sins I could never... the lies that I told
I committed sins against you that I cannot even mention, and I fabricated lies as well
I have no respect for you, only myself
I did not have any respect for you, but only for my own opinions and beliefs
A memory I'm not so fond of as well
Reflecting on these memories brings me no joy or happiness
And I can honestly say I was wrong
I admit that my earlier behaviors and attitudes towards you were incorrect and misguided
So can you forgive me so I can move on?
I seek your forgiveness so that I can release the burden of my past actions and thoughts
We are one and the same
We are identical and share the same qualities
Only with different names
The only difference between us is our names
Somethings I know are changing
I realize that several aspects of my past perceptions are shifting
And I know this love I'm hating
I am aware that the negativity I felt towards you was unkind and unwarranted
Your blood runs through my veins
We are connected by blood and similar DNA
For fuck I feel this failing
I am frustrated and disappointed by my previous behavior
I love the love I'm hating
Ironically, I regret disliking you and wish to express love instead
Different than you
In the past, I believed I was dissimilar to you
I know I said the truth
I was accurate in my earlier statements
So different; I'm no different than you
Ultimately, I realize that I am just like you and no different
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER DAVID SKANE, LOUIS ALFRED HERRERA, SCOTT CHRISTOPHER STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jeremy owsley
this band is wat too underrated ur all rite why didnt they get bigger then they were..there music and words r beautiful man
Yara Muse - Goddess
Holy shit , so many memories
Wade Ehrlich
Underrated big time.
J Velez
For sure.
Max Zhernakov
Оказывается, есть и оф канал группы, а я всё на левых каналах пересматривал
Rock Axis
" I was so stupid when I was young.. I was so stupid to think that I was" I still remember the lyric after all this time.. lol. Good Memories <3 I wonder where is Scott now...
Rock Axis
@Chris Thank u so much!
Chris
He's now a songwriter, his Twitter can be found here https://twitter.com/scottexies?s=21
Gil Gray
i love the exies
Teyah Tha Dream 🌙
Sigh, 2009 ❤️