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)
These Are The Days
The Exies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the words get in the way
Loneliness is so hard
Loneliness is so hard
Ordinary I confess
Living under house arrest
Maybe I belong here
Maybe I belong
Suddenly there's beauty in
The way my heart is caving in
And every scar reminds me how
I can't deny
These are the days that last forever
A time in my life I won't surrender
For better or worse, these are the days
In my life I've loved no other
We all have pain, we all have suffered
For better or worse, these are the days
I will remember
The more I learn, the less I know
The final act of letting go
Of everything that life takes
The reason why my heart breaks
Suddenly there's comfort in
The way the world comes crashing in
And every tear reminds me I'm alive
Tonight
These are the days that last forever
A time in my life I won't surrender
For better or worse, these are the days
In my life I've loved no other
We all have pain, we all have suffered
For better or worse, these are the days
I will remember
The more I talk, the less I say
When the words get in the way
Loneliness is so hard
Loneliness is so hard
Ordinary I confess
Living under house arrest
Maybe I belong here
Maybe I belong
These are the days that last forever
A time in my life I won't surrender
For better or worse, these are the days
In my life I've loved no other
We all have pain, we all have suffered
For better or worse, these are the days
I will remember
I will remember
I will remember
The Exies' song These Are The Days is a powerful reflection on the paradox of life - the more we talk, the less we say, and the more we learn, the less we know. The song speaks about the beauty and comfort in embracing the pain and loneliness that life inevitably brings, and cherishing the moments of love and connection that come with it. The lyrics express a sense of acceptance towards one's fate, even if it feels like living under house arrest, because every scar reminds us that we are alive and every tear shows us that we are capable of feeling.
The opening lines of the song "The more I talk, the less I say, when the words get in the way, loneliness is so hard" suggest a struggle to articulate one's feelings to others, leading to a sense of isolation. However, as the song progresses, the lyrics shift to a more positive outlook, where the pain and struggles of life become a source of comfort because they remind us that we are alive and capable of feeling. This is summed up in the chorus, "These are the days that last forever, a time in my life I won't surrender, for better or worse, these are the days, I will remember." The chorus emphasizes the idea that we need to hold onto and cherish the moments of pain and joy because they shape us into who we are.
There are several interpretations that can be drawn from the lyrics of These Are The Days; however, it’s clear that the song celebrates the beauty and struggle of life, and the importance of valuing every experience it has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
The more I talk the less I say
My words are empty and meaningless
When the words get in the way
Talking only obstructs true communication and understanding
Loneliness is so hard
Being alone is difficult and painful
Loneliness is so hard
The feeling of isolation can be overwhelming and haunting
Ordinary I confess
I admit that my life is mundane and unremarkable
Living under house arrest
Feeling trapped and confined in my own life
Maybe I belong here
Perhaps this is where I am meant to be
Maybe I belong
I feel a sense of belonging in my confinement
Suddenly there's beauty in
Unexpectedly, I find something in the midst of my pain
The way my heart is caving in
The way my heart is breaking feels strangely beautiful
And every scar reminds me how
My wounds serve as a reminder of my struggles and hardships
I can't deny
I cannot ignore the truth of my experiences
These are the days that last forever
These moments will stay with me forever
A time in my life I won't surrender
This time in my life holds significant meaning that I refuse to let go of
For better or worse, these are the days
Regardless of how difficult they may be, these experiences are a part of my life
In my life I've loved no other
No other time has been as significant as this
We all have pain, we all have suffered
Everyone experiences pain and hardship
I will remember
I will not forget the lessons learned and experiences had
The more I learn, the less I know
The more I understand, the more I realize how little I truly know
The final act of letting go
To truly move on, I must release what is holding me back
Of everything that life takes
Everything life throws at me, both good and bad
The reason why my heart breaks
These experiences are the cause of my pain and heartache
Suddenly there's comfort in
Unexpectedly, I find comfort in realizing that everyone faces struggles
The way the world comes crashing in
The world can be harsh and unforgiving
And every tear reminds me I'm alive
Crying serves as a reminder of my humanity and the emotions I feel
Tonight
In this moment
I will remember
I will not forget the lessons learned and experiences had
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DONAL HINELY, JOE SCUTELLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TeoForgetti22
I think this song has a totally different meaning for me than most people... my wife had just left me when I first heard this song... I was devastated, heartbroken, angry, and every other emotion you can think of... and with all the emotions I felt, thinking, contemplating, dying inside, I began to think that even though it was the most heart wrenching time in my life, it was an experience and for all I learned about life and about myself during that time, I wouldnt have traded those days... suddenly there's beauty in the way my heart is caving in, for better or worse, these are the days I will remember... that's what that song meant to me, and tonight I revisited it 12 years later... thanks for taking the time to read this if you did... does anyone understand my connection here?
@joshuadejonge5664
NICE BROTHER KINDA HOW I READ THE LYRICS TOO....THE HARDEST TIMES WILL BE THE TIMES YOU REMEMBER BUT KNOW THAT LESSONS ARE LEARNED AND THAT YOU CAN DEFEAT ANY SITUATION IN THE FUTURE.....I THINK WELL I GUES THATS HOW I VIEW IT
@andgomorra
thanks for sharing brother. the song meant a very similar thing to me once upon a time in college and throughout my deployment to Afghanistan. these are the days that last forever.
@brandonmoreyfromcaseyillin2508
Lost a friend yesterday at age 32 of colon cancer and I found myself listening to this again after all these years ❤. It has such a deeper feeling now
@--The_Forgotten_Light--
One of the most underrated bands of all time
@johnathanrhodes6177
Just found these guys on streaming today. I’m F$&k blown away. They are obviously very underrated. I’m ashamed of myself for never hearing them before.
@BustyPanda222
"suddenly, there's beauty in the way my heart is cavin' in" - pure poetry.
@CassyRawrA7X
i havent heard these guys in forever..id almost forgotten just how amazing they are! :)♥
@daftpunkmoney
I don't know why these guys never get any radio time. They are, by far, one of my favorite bands and I never hear them!
@Sammytammy101
"I would DIE for my friends because they inspire me for everything I do." :26 seconds. I'm so honored to be in this video;; I wrote that quote.