- Murray MacLeod (Lead Vocals & Guitar) - Jordan Smith (Backing Vocals & Ba… Read Full Bio ↴- Murray MacLeod (Lead Vocals & Guitar) - Jordan Smith (Backing Vocals & Bass) - Tom Heron (Backing Vocals & Drums) -
In the sleepy town of Beth Page, New Jersey, THE XCERTS may as well have been The Beatles – British AND in a band?! It's true what they say: Americans LOVE that kind of thing.
Staying in a dorm-like hotel room with a cosy kitchenette for two weeks and recording in a basement studio, The Xcerts' second album had been coming together for around nine months. But a mere four weeks had passed since the band found out they'd be recording it with the mighty Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Public Enemy).
Their debut, 'In The Cold Wind We Smile', was recorded with Dave Eringa (Idlewild – '100 Broken Windows') in Wales, and secured the band supports with Funeral For A Friend, My Vitriol, Fightstar, Feeder and Idlewild, and was greeted as warmly by indie-pop fans as fans of heavy rock. Labeling themselves 'distorted pop', they had a combination of sweetness and angst akin to a colder, darker, cosier Jimmy Eat World. This time around, though, The Xcerts are a much more ferocious beast – and they're happy to admit that not everyone's going to like it.
“If we didn't sound different, I'd be worried,” frontman Murray Macleod explains. The first album was – as for most new bands – something of a 'greatest hits' from the band's early years, when they were still finding their feet. This time, the album was almost entirely written in a six-week break between tours and as a result paints a much more vibrant picture; a single body of work that makes sense; a proper album that it would seem blasphemous to shuffle.
The influences have changed too. “There are certain records that we're all really in to that have a similar sound – a balance of raw emotion and good production. ‘In Utero’ by Nirvana, ‘Pinkerton’ by Weezer, 'Either/Or' by Elliot Smith, ‘The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me’ by Brand New, ‘Nebraska’ by Bruce Springsteen and ‘For Emma Forever Ago’ by Bon Iver. That's pretty much exactly how we wanted this record to sound.”
The result is something certainly more akin to the louder of the aforementioned bands. In fact, The Xcerts had to cancel shows scheduled for the week of their return from NY on account of Murray having screamed his throat to pieces in the studio. There are quieter, more tender moments – which 'Aberdeen 1987' from the first album showed they can do brilliantly – but this record is no soft touch. And the Springsteen curveball comes in to play on the big sing-along chorus of 'Belane' – a song that miraculously makes sense on an otherwise unconventional record.
“There's a lot of experimentation on this album,” says Macleod, who credits Sapone for encouraging and cultivating the creative process. “He came up with crazy ideas, and watching him come out with them, I didn't feel worried about throwing an idea into the hat. It was almost like Mike was the fourth member of the band – there's parts that would never happened, had we not worked with Mike.”
Lead single, 'Slackerpop' is a prime example. The original demo was a mere ninety seconds long until Sapone insisted The Xcerts “find the middle eight”. What they found was an intense and unforgiving middle eight that makes the song.
“We'll be more suited for a slightly heavier bill now,” Murray says, unsure of where exactly 'Scatterbrain' fits in the current musical landscape. “It's really 90s influenced, but Mike's made it a really forward thinking album, which is something we definitely needed.”
Murray sums up the record as “the sweet sound of a young man losing his mind”. It's a bit bewildering, overwhelming and even a little unsettling, becoming more clear and clearly troubled with every listen.
“This is an album lover’s album for the fans of the band. It’s not about a particular track or single and should be listened too as an entire body of work with an open mind. We hope everyone falls in love with it like we have.”
The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here’s what the press had to say:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5
In the sleepy town of Beth Page, New Jersey, THE XCERTS may as well have been The Beatles – British AND in a band?! It's true what they say: Americans LOVE that kind of thing.
Staying in a dorm-like hotel room with a cosy kitchenette for two weeks and recording in a basement studio, The Xcerts' second album had been coming together for around nine months. But a mere four weeks had passed since the band found out they'd be recording it with the mighty Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Public Enemy).
Their debut, 'In The Cold Wind We Smile', was recorded with Dave Eringa (Idlewild – '100 Broken Windows') in Wales, and secured the band supports with Funeral For A Friend, My Vitriol, Fightstar, Feeder and Idlewild, and was greeted as warmly by indie-pop fans as fans of heavy rock. Labeling themselves 'distorted pop', they had a combination of sweetness and angst akin to a colder, darker, cosier Jimmy Eat World. This time around, though, The Xcerts are a much more ferocious beast – and they're happy to admit that not everyone's going to like it.
“If we didn't sound different, I'd be worried,” frontman Murray Macleod explains. The first album was – as for most new bands – something of a 'greatest hits' from the band's early years, when they were still finding their feet. This time, the album was almost entirely written in a six-week break between tours and as a result paints a much more vibrant picture; a single body of work that makes sense; a proper album that it would seem blasphemous to shuffle.
The influences have changed too. “There are certain records that we're all really in to that have a similar sound – a balance of raw emotion and good production. ‘In Utero’ by Nirvana, ‘Pinkerton’ by Weezer, 'Either/Or' by Elliot Smith, ‘The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me’ by Brand New, ‘Nebraska’ by Bruce Springsteen and ‘For Emma Forever Ago’ by Bon Iver. That's pretty much exactly how we wanted this record to sound.”
The result is something certainly more akin to the louder of the aforementioned bands. In fact, The Xcerts had to cancel shows scheduled for the week of their return from NY on account of Murray having screamed his throat to pieces in the studio. There are quieter, more tender moments – which 'Aberdeen 1987' from the first album showed they can do brilliantly – but this record is no soft touch. And the Springsteen curveball comes in to play on the big sing-along chorus of 'Belane' – a song that miraculously makes sense on an otherwise unconventional record.
“There's a lot of experimentation on this album,” says Macleod, who credits Sapone for encouraging and cultivating the creative process. “He came up with crazy ideas, and watching him come out with them, I didn't feel worried about throwing an idea into the hat. It was almost like Mike was the fourth member of the band – there's parts that would never happened, had we not worked with Mike.”
Lead single, 'Slackerpop' is a prime example. The original demo was a mere ninety seconds long until Sapone insisted The Xcerts “find the middle eight”. What they found was an intense and unforgiving middle eight that makes the song.
“We'll be more suited for a slightly heavier bill now,” Murray says, unsure of where exactly 'Scatterbrain' fits in the current musical landscape. “It's really 90s influenced, but Mike's made it a really forward thinking album, which is something we definitely needed.”
Murray sums up the record as “the sweet sound of a young man losing his mind”. It's a bit bewildering, overwhelming and even a little unsettling, becoming more clear and clearly troubled with every listen.
“This is an album lover’s album for the fans of the band. It’s not about a particular track or single and should be listened too as an entire body of work with an open mind. We hope everyone falls in love with it like we have.”
The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings! Here’s what the press had to say:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5
Teenage Lust
The Xcerts Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Teenage Lust' by these artists:
DKT-MC5 Back in Lincoln park where I was mostly raised Hanging aroun…
DKT/MC5 Back in Lincoln park where I was mostly raised Hanging arou…
Jesus & Mary Chain Little skinny girl she's doing it for the first time little…
MC5 Back in Lincoln park where I was mostly raised Hanging aroun…
Oliver North Boy Choir Little skinny girl she's doing it for the first time little…
Scared Of Chaka Back in Lincoln Park where I was mostly raised Hanging…
The Jesus & Mary Chain Little skinny girl she's doing it for the first time little…
The Jesus and Mary Chain Little skinny girl she's doing it for the first time Little…
The Jesus Mary Chain Little skinny girl she's doing it for the first time Little…
Your Demise Falling down, falling down into the deepest blue, The world…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Xcerts:
Aberdeen 1987 (Telephone message) Hey you, do you remember me? Fifteen…
Ache Hear me Calling out, calling out for you Catch me Fading out…
Blame Sitting on a park bench waiting for the sun to…
Car Crash Culture Dig deep look into your soul Tell me what you want…
Cool Ethan We used to talk, we used to love Each other but…
Crisis in the Slow Lane I still have your painting It's set on my wall And is…
Daydream Gonna take it slow because i gotta know Why we bend…
Distant Memory Well I was outside in the snow when I first felt…
Do You Feel Safe? Cry, it's not your problem, It's not your fault, There was a…
Drag Me Out I wish I could tell you everything The silence in this…
Everything I Cannot Live Without Standing in the pouring rain Waiting for the bus to…
Feels Like Falling In Love Keep yourself safe, keep yourself safe she said You broke yo…
GIMME Gimme like something like whatever cool I never feel it when…
Gum Lay down and don't you dare say a word to me I've not…
Hold On To Your Heart We set the house and our love on fire We saw…
Home Versus Home Why am I so scared to be home? Is to 'cos…
Home vs Home Why am I so scared to be home? Is it cause…
I Don't Care Can you hear my voice? Begging to come on home Can you…
I Scare Easy She was on the bed whisperin somebody help me Yeah her room…
I See Things Differently She often dances around in my head, Her thoughts and dress…
Inbetween Days Yesterday I got so old I felt like I could die Yesterday…
Inhale Inhale me Can't you see You've been wasting your time Patien…
It Aint Easy Madness talks to me just like a hummingbird Soft and sweet…
Jealousy Is this really happening? Another night spent listening To …
Just Go Home Here is my problem I'm like a car with no headlights I'm…
Kevin Costner If you shake my heart You should know the clock will…
Kick It Oh I'm too drunk to talk So let's just stop, yeah…
Kids On Drugs I am losing you an I am losing my mind But…
Let's Run I was outside When I first heard you singing the blues Yeah,…
Listen Don't Panic Maps are not, What I think they are, They leave me lost…
Live Like This Somebody bring me back Somebody bring me back to life I'm wi…
Lost but Not Alone We sat on a bridge, And smoked until our lungs collapsed, Li…
Lovesick Say it You're looking at me like you kind of wanna…
Lust In Translation There was a party last night Yeah I think i was…
My Friends Forever Northbound train on a Saturday night Got me thinking bout yo…
Nightschool Lie through your teeth, It's not a problem if you make…
North East Kid I can see your pain You're too ashamed to show your…
Scatterbrain Well the scatterbrain...(?) Well the scatterbrain...(?) Wil…
Shaking In The Water Well I was shake shake shaking in the water Held out…
Slackerpop Well everyone take cover 'cause I am loading up my guns You…
The Dark You found love and i found loss, that's just the…
There Is Only You If it takes all night I'll be by your side Her voice…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found