Throughout the band's existence, the duo toured and recorded with a revolving door of musicians, and as of 2007, the band consisted of guitarists Mike Schey and Mark Buzard, bassist Don Raymond, drummer Adam Boyd, and its principal members, singer Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means. The band chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit. Despite this critique of the music industry, the band's aptly-titled first single--"The First Single" (from their five-song debut EP on Western Tread)--became popular in the Southwest music scene. This success led to The Format's signing with Elektra Records in 2002. Their first major label release and full-length album Interventions and Lullabies was released in October 2003. However, Elektra began to fold into a merger just as the album was rolling out its promotion, leaving the band as merely an afterthought as label restructuring began. The band toured North America for about two years while making plans for a new album and waiting out industry red tape.
The Format released a second EP on Atlantic (which had absorbed much of Elektra's roster after the label folded) titled Snails in April 2005. Although the EP was not a conventional mass release, it could be purchased at any of the band's performances, from their online merch store, and on iTunes. Not long after the release of the Snails EP, The Format was dropped from Atlantic. Due to their frustrating experiences with major labels, the band chose to record and release their second full-length album Dog Problems independently on The Vanity Label. The July 11, 2006 release of Dog Problems came two months after the band released the album for download on their website, in a move to combat an early leak.
On February 4, 2008, The Format announced that they will putting the band on hiatus because of creative differences. Nate Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later this year.
Nate Ruess, the band's singer and lyricist, left the following message on the band's website:
"We have just put out word that we will not be making a new Format album. Please understand this was a tough decision and we're both upset about it. While we accept there will be false speculation as to why, understand that Sam and I remain extremely close and in fact are still passing the twin peaks box set back and forth in an attempt to figure out who REALLY killed Laura Palmer. We also want to thank everyone with and within the Format, particularly Mike, Don, and Marko, whom without, none of this would have ever even been fully realized. We both suggest you support their musical talents and whatever they decide to do. And lastly we want to thank the fans who made this the best 5 years of our lives."
Ruess announced August 11, 2008 that he is starting a new project called fun. with Andrew Dost formerly of Anathallo and Jack Antonof of Steel Train.
The Vanity Label, an imprint of major label Nettwerk, is managed by the band.
Since the end of The Format, Sam has continued designing merchandise. He converted theformatmerch.com into hellomerch.com where he features his newest work.
On February 4, 2020, the band announced a return from their hiatus for a tour of special shows.
Sore Thumb
The Format Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems so easy just to
Blame the reception
There's something wrong
I don't know why, why you,
You never say goodnight
So please just leave
You keep the ring
I'll take the Saturdays in bed
Cause I know you need them
As for me it's nothing new
Just another two years
I wish we'd always wake up new
Refreshed and born again
With nothing left to lose
But we dream to much
Who needs a crutch?
Pull off the bandage, there's no wound
So please just leave
Oh you don't mean that much to me
Give back the ring
Keep all the summers with your friends
'cause I know you need them
As for me it's nothing new
Just another two years
While I'm here losing sleep
Your sore thumb
Your best defense is miles from home
Oh and it reads like a letter
With the words all broken
Erased them with a razor blade
'cause you're gone
I was lost then I found you
But I'm breaking down now that
Your sore thumb
Your best defense is miles from home
Oh and it reads like a letter
With the words all broken
Erased them with a razor blade
'cause you're gone
You're gone
The Format's song "Sore Thumb" is a mournful reflection on a fleeting, failing relationship. The lyrics begin with an apology for poor phone reception, but the singer seems to use it as a scapegoat for deeper problems. There's something wrong between the two lovers, and the lack of communication compounds the issue. Despite the tension, the singer is resigned to the split, suggesting that the other person can leave and take the trivial items - the ring and lazy Saturdays - with them. The singer has resigned themselves to losing sleep and just biding their time in the relationship, with no end in sight.
Line by Line Meaning
Forgive me you cut out again
I'm sorry, but I lost your call again
It seems so easy just to blame the reception
It's easy to blame the signal for our communication problems
There's something wrong
Something is not right between us
I don't know why, why you, you never say goodnight
I don't understand why you never say goodnight when we end our conversations
So please just leave
I want you to go away
You don't mean that much to me
I don't value or care about you very much
You keep the ring
You can keep the engagement ring
I'll take the Saturdays in bed
I want to rest on Saturdays
Cause I know you need them
I know you look forward to spending time with your friends on Saturdays
As for me it's nothing new
This situation is nothing new for me
Just another two years
We only have two more years together
I wish we'd always wake up new
I wish we could start fresh every morning
Refreshed and born again
Feeling renewed and reborn
With nothing left to lose
Nothing to worry or stress about
But we dream too much
We have unrealistic expectations and ambitions
Who needs a crutch?
We don't need anything to lean on
Pull off the bandage, there's no wound
We're trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist
Give back the ring
I want you to return the engagement ring
Keep all the summers with your friends
You can continue to spend summers with your friends
'Cause I know you need them
I understand that your friends are important to you
While I'm here losing sleep
I'm struggling and restless
Your sore thumb
You stand out and don't fit in
Your best defense is miles from home
You feel most comfortable and secure when you're far away from here
Oh and it reads like a letter
Your behavior sends a clear message
With the words all broken
But the message is mixed or unclear
Erased them with a razor blade 'cause you're gone
I'm trying to forget about you now that you've left
You're gone
You've left and not coming back
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind