The West Exit began in the spring of 2003 as the studio project of Kevin Jenkins, a vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist residing in Seattle, Washington. His previous musical affiliations include the bands Greg, Dim at Asia, Otis P & the Jivefunk, La Push, and Emblematic.
The West Exit's first album, Nocturne, was released in February 2004. In addition to steady local and online sales, the album has received extensive podcast exposure. The West Exit's music has also appeared in independent films and on several commercial websites and promotional media.
In the spring of 2004, a group was formed to take the music to the stage. Jenkins recruited his perpetual band mate Timothy Harper along with Nocturne contributors Shane Smith and Dave Billin for the task. Harper, a drummer and percussionist, had worked with Jenkins in live bands and studio projects since 1995. Smith provided his bass guitar talents to the album as well as the live band. Billin lent his sound design and engineering skills to the studio sessions and added his keyboard and vocal abilities to the stage show.
After a year and a half of performing in Northwest clubs and bars, Jenkins put the live show on hiatus and headed back into the studio to begin work on a new album. He retained the services of bassist Shane Smith for the recording sessions and in November 2006, The West Exit's second album, Modern Interiors, was completed. It became available for download in early 2007.
Jenkins and Smith reunited in the fall of 2008 to record The West Exit's third album, Extra Century Perception. Seattle guitarist RL Heyer lent his talents to the album as well. The new record continues in their vein of smooth, soulful electro-pop. But the stylistic elements have become more magnified and mature, with bigger beats, soaring melodies, thick harmonies, and more addictive hooks that will get your body moving. Extra Century Perception was released in November 2009.
Snake Oil
The West Exit Lyrics
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And then you kill your brother to show respect for the dead
And disregard the motive that contradicted your words
You're too insane to notice you get the world you deserve
You give up enough to get all that you need
You ain't done enough to get up above anyone
You ain't giving up, you can't get the lies out your mind
Got no history to blame it on
When you show no concern for anyone
Let's get this fire started, stand by and watch it all burn
We can't remember nothing so what the hell do we learn?
It's the same way it always goes
If you're scared of the truth what do you know?
Well goddamn it all, got to get it on
And you never know til the end of it all
The lyrics in this song reflect on the destructive nature of greed and the lengths people will go to for personal gain. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song, with the singer suggesting that the more someone talks about their desires and aspirations, the more mentally unbalanced they become. They then go on to describe how this mindset can lead to violent acts, even towards one's own family. The singer seems to suggest that those who are so consumed by their own ambition are unable to see the true consequences of their actions.
The chorus reiterates this idea of sacrificing oneself for personal gain. The singer suggests that some people are willing to give up anything to achieve their goals, including their own dignity and self-respect. However, despite these sacrifices, they are still unable to escape their own lies and the self-destruction they have wrought upon themselves.
The final verse takes a more philosophical stance, with the singer questioning the value of knowledge and experience in the face of such greed and selfishness. They suggest that all human progress is ultimately meaningless if it cannot counteract the negative effects of these destructive tendencies. Despite this bleak outlook, the singer seems to suggest that it is still possible to rise above this destructive cycle, even if it's only by the skin of one's teeth.
Line by Line Meaning
The more you talk about it, the more demented you get
Talking too much about something makes you crazy
And then you kill your brother to show respect for the dead
You commit a crime on behalf of someone who has died
And disregard the motive that contradicted your words
Ignoring the hidden motives conflicting with your words
You're too insane to notice you get the world you deserve
Mental instability doesn't let you comprehend the consequences of your actions
You give up enough to get all that you need
You sacrifice what you should to get what you want
You ain't done enough to get up above anyone
You haven't achieved enough to surpass others
Give up enough to live down on your knees
Lowering yourself enough to live as a servile person
You ain't giving up, you can't get the lies out your mind
The lies you tell yourself are too ingrained to give up
Got no history to blame it on
You can't blame your actions on anything in your past
When you show no concern for anyone
You don't care about others' well-being
Let's get this fire started, stand by and watch it all burn
Let's initiate the destruction and chaos and watch it happen
We can't remember nothing so what the hell do we learn?
Forgetting everything doesn't let us learn anything
It's the same way it always goes
This is how things always end up
If you're scared of the truth what do you know?
You don't really know anything if you're afraid of the truth
Well goddamn it all, got to get it on
Damn everything, we must move forward
And you never know til the end of it all
You won't know how everything will turn out until it's over
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.