1996-2001: Hollywood Records years
In 1995 the band signed to Hollywood Records, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. 1996 saw the release of their first album, Destruction by Definition. Its blend of punk rock and ska brought the national attention in the midst of the mid-1990s punk rock mainstream revival. The single "No Face" became a minor hit on modern rock radio stations and the album was supported through extensive touring across the United States. They released a follow-up in 1998 entitled Battle Hymns, which continued their ska punk style while incorporating more aggressive elements of hardcore punk, with nearly all of its songs lasting under two minutes in length.
Following the release of Battle Hymns Grant left the band. He went on to play with numerous groups including Thoughts of Ionesco, The Vandals, face to face, and Telegraph before finding a permanent position in the Alkaline Trio. He was replaced by Erin Pitman for some touring before new permanent drummer Ryan Vandeberghe joined. In 2000 this lineup released The Suicide Machines, a more pop rock oriented effort that moved away from the ska influences of their earlier releases. They received some radio and video play for the single "Sometimes I Don't Mind" and performed on the Warped Tour that Summer. In 2001 they released Steal This Record, which continued their exploration of pop punk style while mixing in elements of their earlier ska punk and hardcore albums.
2002-2005: Side One Dummy years
Following touring in support of Steal This Record bassist Nunley left The Suicide Machines to start his own band, Blueprint 76, and was replaced by Rich Tschirhart. The band also ended their contract with Hollywood Records, fulfilling their contractual obligations by releasing the compilation album The Least Worst of the Suicide Machines. They then moved to the independent label Side One Dummy Records. Their next album A Match and Some Gasoline, released in 2003, found the band abandoning the pop experimentations of their previous two albums and returning more to the ska punk and hardcore styles of their earlier years. They also began to explore sociopolitical themes in songs such as "Did You Ever Get a Feeling of Dread?" and "Your Silence," which were critical of President George W. Bush's administration, its response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They toured internationally in support of the album and again performed on the Warped Tour.
In 2005 the band released the album War Profiteering is Killing Us All, which continued their political themes by openly attacking the Bush White House, the continuation of the Iraq War, and conservative Republicanism. Navarro also launched his own record label, Noise Riot Records, and released On the Eve of Destruction: 1991-1995, a compilation of the band's early EPs, singles, and demos.
2006: Breakup and post-Suicide Machines activity
In 2006, while touring in support of War Profiteering is Killing Us All, the band abruptly broke up. Explanations given by the band members for this included Vandeberghe's desire to take a break from touring, which he did while friend Steve McCrumb filled for a performance at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on May 11. A tour of Mexico had been planned to follow this, and Navarro had suggested that the band perform its final shows that Christmas. However, interpersonal tensions came to a head after the Troubadour show when Lukacinsky refused to finish the tour. Lukacinsky himself further elaborated that the band had been planning to break up for some time.
Following the band's breakup, Navarro and Vandeberghe continued working with Left in Ruin, a band they had started as a Suicide Machines side project and had worked on and off with for almost 6 years. Vandeberghe also joined the new band Hifi Handgrenades. Lukacinsky, meanwhile, started his own band Bayonetting the Wounded. Navarro is currently fronting Hellmouth. Tschirhart is in The A-Gang.
Sincerity
The Suicide Machines Lyrics
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They know everything there is to know
So they talk, talk, talk and everyone listens
It sounds real good, but the sincerity's missing Buy
You try so hard to change the world
You'll be into something else next year
You try so hard but its just not there
Everyone thinks that they've got all the answers
Everyone thinks that they've found the truth
But no one thinks that we could die tomorrow
Gotta make the right choice about the path that you follow
You try so hard to change the world
You'll be into something else next year
You try so hard but its just not there
Take a look at your own and change yourself
Seems okay but when I scratch your surface
I can see that your hearts not in it
yeah, yeah, yeah
You talk so much but you're saying nothing
You got good lines, but nobody's listening
It's a hard road when the world is against you
It seems that way from time to time
Well its probably just your imagination
True sincerity can be your salvation
You try so hard to change the world
You'll be into something else next year
You try so hard but its just not there
Take a look at your own and change yourself
Take a look at the world and change the future
Take a look at everything and start the change in yourself
The Suicide Machines' "Sincerity" is a song that critiques those who talk a lot about changing the world and spreading their truths but lack sincerity. The opening lines of the song establish this theme by saying that there are people who claim to know everything and talk a lot, but they lack sincerity. The song suggests that even though people think they have all the answers and the truth, they do not truly understand that life is unpredictable, and one could die tomorrow. By focusing too much on changing the world without truly understanding their own selves and what they want to change, people can end up trying too hard and getting nowhere.
The song uses repetition to emphasize the idea that people try too hard to change the world, but they end up changing their minds about what they want to change anyways. The lyrics read, "You try so hard to change the world, You'll be into something else next year. You try so hard, but it's just not there." The song suggests that instead of trying to change the world, people should start with themselves and make the necessary changes for the future.
In short, "Sincerity" by The Suicide Machines critiques those who lack sincerity in their attempts to change the world. Instead of trying to change the world, the song suggests that people should focus on changing themselves first.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people'll tell you all about it
There are some people who claim to know everything
They know everything there is to know
They think they are knowledgeable about everything
So they talk, talk, talk and everyone listens
They speak incessantly and people pay attention
It sounds real good, but the sincerity's missing
Their words may be impressive but they lack authenticity
You try so hard to change the world
One may make great efforts to impact the world positively
You'll be into something else next year
But in the following year, they may have moved onto something else
You try so hard but its just not there
Despite their efforts, it may not be effective
Take a look at your own and change yourself
One should focus on themselves and make changes there
Everyone thinks that they've got all the answers
Most people believe that they have all the solutions
Everyone thinks that they've found the truth
Everyone thinks they have found the absolute truth
But no one thinks that we could die tomorrow
Despite their beliefs, they may not consider the transient nature of life
Gotta make the right choice about the path that you follow
One has to make wise decisions about the choices they make in life
Seems okay but when I scratch your surface
Appearances may be misleading
I can see that your hearts not in it
Someone's sincerity may be questioned
You talk so much but you're saying nothing
Talking excessively without substance
You got good lines, but nobody's listening
Their communication may be good but nobody is paying attention
It's a hard road when the world is against you
It may be challenging to achieve one's goals in a world that opposes them
It seems that way from time to time
They may have moments of doubt and feeling discouraged
Well its probably just your imagination
It could be purely imaginary
True sincerity can be your salvation
Being sincere can help one achieve their goals
Take a look at the world and change the future
One can have a significant impact on the world
Take a look at everything and start the change in yourself
The first step to making a difference is to start with oneself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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