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)
without
The Exies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait
I didn't see it coming
I took one last look around
The machines were out of order
The machines are out of order
Wait
I need a second dose of childhood
I need a second dose of childhood
I gotta get gone, get outta the rain
I gotta get gone, get outta the rain
I gotta get gone, get outta the rain
I gotta get gone get gone
I'm feelin'
No meaning without you
I've lost all of myself
I'm searching for the reason without you
Why can't I just pretend to keep feelin'
Keep breathin'
To save me from myself
(To save me from myself)
Wait
I can't behave now I sit around Imp such a mess
Looked around there was no one else here
(I looked around there was no one else)
Wait
I can't get the wrong blade
I lift up okay to go
want to make my lunar orbit
I try my best to absorb it
I gotta get gone, get outta the rain
I gotta get gone, get outta the rain
I gotta get gone, get outta the rain
I gotta get gone get gone
I'm feelin'
No meaning without you
I've lost all of myself
I'm searching for the reason without you
Why can't I just pretend
To keep feelin'
Keep breathin'
To save me from myself
(To save me from myself)
(I gotta get gone
Get outta the rain
I get gone
Get outta the rain
I get gone
Get outta the rain)
I gotta get gotta get
Gone
Gotta get gone
Gotta get gone
I gotta get
Gone
I'm feelin'
No meaning without you
I've lost all of myself
I'm searching for the reason without you
Why can't I just pretend
To keep feelin'
Keep breathin'
Save me from myself
The lyrics to The Exies's song Without depict a sense of desperation and loss after a breakup. The song talks about how the singer is searching for a reason to live their life without the person they've lost. The verses describe how the singer is struggling to come to terms with the break up, and how they feel lost without the other person in their life.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I gotta get gone, get outta the rain," which could represent a desire to leave behind the sadness and move on to a happier life. The singer is aware that they need to move on, but still feels the pain of the loss.
The lyrics also delve into themes of nostalgia and wanting to go back to happier times. The line "I need a second dose of childhood" indicates a desire to go back to a simpler time, free from the complexities of adult relationships.
Overall, the lyrics to Without explore the emotions of heartbreak and the struggle to move on from a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
O shove it
Expression of frustration or dismissal
Wait
Request to pause or delay
I didn't see it coming
Caught off guard or surprised
I took one last look around
Nostalgic reflection on one's surroundings
The machines were out of order
Machines or systems that were previously relied upon are no longer functioning properly
The machines are out of order
Reiteration of the previous line
Wait
Reiteration of the request to pause or delay
I never paid attention daydreamin' til the end
Lack of focus, daydreaming instead of being present
I need a second dose of childhood
Longing for a time when life was simpler and carefree
I gotta get gone, get outta the rain
Desire to leave a difficult or unpleasant situation
I'm feelin'
Expression of emotional state
No meaning without you
Feeling lost or incomplete without a particular person
I've lost all of myself
Sense of losing a part of one's identity
I'm searching for the reason without you
Trying to make sense of things without a particular person
Why can't I just pretend to keep feelin'
Yearning for a false sense of security or comfort
Keep breathin'
Encouragement to continue living or trying
To save me from myself
Request for help or intervention
(I gotta get gone
Reiteration of the previous desire to leave
Get outta the rain
Expression of discomfort and desire for relief
I get gone
Reiteration of the previous desire to leave
Gotta get gone
Reiteration of the previous desire to leave
I gotta get
Expression of urgency to leave
Gone
Desire to physically leave a difficult or unpleasant situation
Save me from myself
Reiteration of the request for help or intervention
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID WALSH, DENNIS J. WOLFE, LOUIS ALFRED HERRERA, SCOTT CHRISTOPHER STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind