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)
Lay Your Money Down
The Exies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Constant wave of sound
This is not necessary
This is not ordinary
This is my last confession
This is for my own protection now
Come lay your money down
Come lay your money down
Come lay your money down
Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt
And shame is such a dirty word
Strung out and falling down
This is not necessary
This is not ordinary
This is my last confession
This is for my own protection now
Come lay your money down
Come lay your money down
Come lay your money down
Come lay your money down
Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt
And shame is such a dirty word
Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt
And shame is such a dirty word
It's a dirty word
Punch the ballot for the talking heads they sold
Like the cars, the pills, the booze
And the soap that cleans your soul
The TV reality shows you what's a stake
So cry like you mean it till the next commercial break
And consider yourself for the wealth and consumption
Me you say, I'm no spectator at the revolution
Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt
And shame is such a dirty word
Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt
And shame is such a dirty word
Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt
And shame is such a dirty word
Dirty word, dirty word
The Exies's song "Lay Your Money Down" is a modern rock anthem about the superficiality of the entertainment industry and consumer culture. The opening lines, "Come lay your money down, constant wave of sound" represent the never-ending cycle of media bombardment and the demand for instant gratification. The following lines, "This is not necessary, this is not ordinary, this is my last confession, this is for my own protection now" reveal the artist's realization that this culture is not only unnecessary and not ordinary but also a threat to their sanity and well-being. The phrase "lay your money down" means to put your money into something, like a bet or investment, which in this context refers to the entertainment industry's consumerism.
The bridge lyrics reveal a cynical view of the political and media industry, "Punch the ballot for the talking heads they sold, like the cars, the pills, the booze, and the soap that cleans your soul. The TV reality shows you what's at stake, so cry like you mean it till the next commercial break." The artist sees politicians, advertisers, and media creators who control the messages we see as nothing but salesmen selling their products. They cynically analyze the tactics that are used to manipulate the consumer and present reality through their medium.
The repeated phrase, "Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt, and shame is such a dirty word, dirty word, dirty word," summarizes the artist's frustration with consumer culture and how it can lead to a spiral of self-loathing and self-hatred. Shame is a dirty word because it serves no purpose but to worsen the situation. The artist is tired of the pain and the shame that comes with trying to keep up with consumer culture, and they want to move away from it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Come lay your money down
Put your money on the line
Constant wave of sound
The incessant noise in our world
This is not necessary
This isn't a must
This is not ordinary
This is not usual
This is my last confession
This is my final admission
This is for my own protection now
This is for my safety
Sick of this, I'm sick of hurt
Tired of feeling the pain
And shame is such a dirty word
Feeling bad for what we did is shameful
Strung out and falling down
Overwhelmed and losing control
Punch the ballot for the talking heads they sold
Voting for politicians who they want us to elect
Like the cars, the pills, the booze
Buying material things and indulging in addiction
And the soap that cleans your soul
Believing that commercial products are the answer
The TV reality shows you what's a stake
The media manipulates us by showing us what's important
So cry like you mean it till the next commercial break
Feigning emotion for media attention
And consider yourself for the wealth and consumption
Thinking only of yourself and your own material gain
Me you say, I'm no spectator at the revolution
Claiming to be part of change and not just a bystander
Dirty word, dirty word
Shame is a dirty, hard to deal with emotion
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER DAVID SKANE, LOUIS ALFRED HERRERA, SCOTT CHRISTOPHER STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind