Brooklyn's Nick Chiericozzi, Chris Hansell, and Mark Perro formed the Men as a scuzzy post-punk trio in 2008. Before recruiting drummer Rich Samis, they self-released the albums We Are the Men and Immaculada, as well as a few tapes. The band recorded in Python Patrol studio for its Sacred Bones debut, Leave Home, which was released in 2011. They returned the following March with Open Your Heart (their first album to include Samis as well as bassist Kevin Faulkner), expanding their musical palette to meld country, psych, and surf influences with their caustic, aggressive rock.
Their fourth album, New Moon, as well as their Campfire Songs EP, arrived in 2013; by this point, engineer Ben Greenberg (Hubble, Zs) had begun his brief tenure in the band. The Men continued their musical evolution, as well as their prolific streak, with their fifth album, Tomorrow's Hits, which found them moving further away from their hardcore roots toward the earnest blue-collar rock of artists like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. In 2016, the group revisited its noisy, more experimental side with the self-released Devil Music. Returning to Sacred Bones in 2018, the Men released Drift, their most eclectic album yet. Also that year, the group gathered tracks from early releases as well as previously unreleased material on the collection Hated: 2008-2011. 2020's Mercy was influenced by styles ranging from country to '80s arena rock. New York City, released by Fuzz Club Records in 2023, was a return to noisy, abrasive rock & roll.
Biography by Jason Lymangrover
There are other artists with the same name:
2. The Human League used the pseudonym to release the Chic-influenced single I Don't Depend On You in 1979, following pressure from their label to justify their large advance signing fee. The track resurfaced in 2003 with the re-release of Travelogue.
3. The Men is a Vietnamese pop music duo – Lê Hoàng and Tiến Dũng. Tiến Dũng rose to fame in the early 2000s as member of boy band Weboys. He left Weboys after his contract with Wepro Company was over in 3/2009. Hoàng used to be member of boy band B.O.M, he also left his band just a few months before The Men was formed.
4. 'The Men' are a Mod / R&B band from Sweden.
5. 'The Men' were an early 1990s Southern California rock group best known for the track "Church Of Logic, Sin, & Love." Two members of the group were, ironically, female.
6. 'The Men' were the psychedelic backup band for Shin Jung-hyun (신중현) during the early 70s. Their most notable album was 'It's A Lie' (거짓말이야), which included a blistering 20-minute rendition of the title track. They also appeared on a split LP with Jang Hyeon (장현).
Ex-Dreams
The Men Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lick the wounds from his open gunshot
the model opens in a red balloon
she's selling the city everything she's got
I want myself wanna be more like them
I wonder we're feeling all the time
I make spit shit jealous for me
But no one cares when I hit the ground
So keep cause on 34th street
I lick the wounds from his open gunshot
she's flashing the city everything she's got
I like myself wanna be more like her
I wonder who picks up all the town
I make shit space jealous crashing
But no one cares when I hit the ground
The Men's song "Ex-Dreams" is a song that delves into the ideas of rejection, envy, and self-criticism. The lyrics showcase the feeling of wanting to be like others and the frustration that comes with it. The song paints a picture of a city, with a model selling everything she's got and flashing the city, indicating that the singer may feel overshadowed and lost in the grandeur of it all. The lines, "I want myself, wanna be more like them" and "I like myself wanna be more like her" indicate a feeling of envy and the need for approval.
The opening line "So keep calling as I play it 4th Street" may refer to the singer trying to find solace in music or perhaps trying to drown out the noise of the city. "I lick the wounds from his open gunshot" could be interpreted as the pain of rejection or past negative experiences. The line "I wonder who picks up all the town" could be a reference to the people who are successful and admired in the city, leaving the singer feeling like a failure in comparison.
The song seems to express the idea that feeling unfulfilled and unappreciated is commonplace in a city environment where people constantly strive for success and validation. The chorus, "But no one cares when I hit the ground" adds to the feeling of loneliness, which adds a layer of melancholy to the already sad song.
Line by Line Meaning
So keep calling as I play it 4th Street
I will continue to play my music on 34th Street and ignore any distractions.
I lick the wounds from his open gunshot
I am dealing with the emotional pain caused by someone else's actions.
the model opens in a red balloon
A beautiful and attention-grabbing model appears in a unique and creative way.
she's selling the city everything she's got
She is using her beauty and charm to sell herself and her products to the city.
I want myself wanna be more like them
I admire those who have the traits and qualities that I aspire to have myself.
I wonder we're feeling all the time
I am curious about the emotions and thoughts of those around me.
I make spit shit jealous for me
I am so impressive that even those who are typically unimpressed are envious of me.
But no one cares when I hit the ground
Despite my accomplishments and successes, no one will be there to help me when I am struggling or defeated.
Contributed by Violet L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.