They originally formed as a short-term project to last only as long as that summer. With bassist Joshua Weinstein and guitarist Michael Schipper, they began to play local shows and gained a dedicated following. When fans presented a high demand for recorded material, the band decided to establish itself as a serious music group. Trophy Scars signed to Brooklyn record label The Death Scene Recording Company in 2005 and with Small Town Records (UK) in 2007.
Their first full-length, Darts to the Sea, was recorded in John Ferrara's basement using primitive sound engineering equipment. It was released in 2003 and reissued in 2006 with a bonus disc containing b-sides and demos from 2003-04. Their second release, Hospital Music for the Aesthetics of Language, gained the attention of critics in 2004. The EP was their first recording with Chris Badami and saw the band taking an unconventional, progressive approach to post-hardcore. Their next EP was Goodnight Alchemy, released in 2005 through The Death Scene. It was markedly much more dense and heavy than its predecessor. 2006 saw the release of their second full-length album, Alphabet. Alphabets.. Trophy Scars demonstrated a conglomeration of different musical genres and styles while still retaining their unique take on post-hardcore. Following the release, the group became a full-time touring band when Jones graduated from Fordham University.
In 2009 they were no longer contractually obligated to either label, so they released all forthcoming material independently. In mid-2007, Trophy Scars rented a beach house in Charleston, South Carolina to begin work on their follow-up full length to Alphabets. The band was heavily influenced by the warm climate, the city's nightlife, and psychedelia. Yet again, Trophy Scars readjusted their sound; this time to a blues-centric style. Jones titled the album Bad Luck as a reaction to the death of his best friend, Ben Brown. Ironically, when the writing was completed for Bad Luck, the band invested their savings into a European tour, but was canceled last minute by the headlining act. Unable to get a refund on their European travel expenses and with their recording contract with the Death Scene dissolved, the band could not afford to tour or raise money for the album. The band was forced to go on an indefinite hiatus with no foreseeable plans to release Bad Luck. Trophy Scars fans, however, banded together and started the "Bad Luck Foundation," which allowed internet users to donate money to the band. Within a month, Trophy Scars was financially stable and able to record their third full-length. Bad Luck was self-released on March 10, 2009, and in January 2010 it was named the 10th best album of 2009 by popular music critic website, Sputnik Music.
Trophy Scars released an EP Darkness, Oh Hell in October 2010; it is a further throwback to blues rock and psychedelic rock of the late 1960s while maintaining a sinister edge. It was included in Sputnik Music's Top 50 Albums of 2010. They released a follow-up companion EP titled Never Born, Never Dead in July 2011. The concept revolves around the several lives of two souls fixed in love through reincarnation and is much more uplifting musically and lyrically. Although a departure in sound from the previous two releases, Never Born, Never Dead was met with strong praise and elected the #1 best EP of the year by Sputnik users.
The band announced their fourth full-length album Holy Vacants to be released on April 21 in the EU and May 6 in North America through Monotreme Records. The album is a linear concept involving a romantic couple who have discovered The Fountain of Youth in the blood cells of angels. Jones states the album was heavily influenced by an intense personal relationship, his brief relocation to Los Angeles, and film director David Lynch.
YES
Trophy Scars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got some sorting I need to do, yeah
My friends all tell me to say yes
And I guess I'll try my very best, yeah
This city won't suck my broken veins
Even though my blood is bloody clean
My teeth are stuck inside my tongue
To keep my mouth from owning up
So no more complaining
And no more explaining
No more magic tricks and taps
You get what I'm saying?
I'm through with blaming all those biter trips and tracks
I want my toast with butter and jam
And I want to eat green eggs and ham
And I want to set this country straight
And I want to say up real real late
I'll let the street lamps light the way
To my indignant open grave
And I'll clap my hands and take a guess
My tombstone is marked with the word yes
In the beginning of the song "Yes" by Trophy Scars, the singer expresses their inner turmoil, stating that they hope their insides pull apart, indicating that they feel conflicted and need to do some emotional sorting. The singer's friends advise them to simply say yes. Although the singer agrees to do their best to comply, they feel trapped in a city that won't address their inner issues, causing a struggle between their desire for transparency and their reluctance to speak up. Their teeth are literally stuck inside their tongue, preventing them from owning up and expressing their true feelings.
Throughout the song, the singer becomes increasingly self-aware and begins to take responsibility for their actions, simulating the feeling of peeling off a Band-Aid. They acknowledge their tendency to complain and make excuses, signaling that they are ready to change their ways. Finally, the singer declares that they want to enjoy the simple things in life, like butter on toast and being able to stay up late, while also acknowledging their mortality by envisioning their own tombstone marked with the word "yes." This finale suggests that the singer's internal conflict has been resolved, and they are now embracing life with open arms.
Line by Line Meaning
And I hope my insides pull apart
I wish to undergo a severe mental and emotional breakdown, in order to sort out my internal conflicts
I've got some sorting I need to do, yeah
I need to figure out my life and make important decisions
My friends all tell me to say yes
My friends encourage me to be more open and accepting to new experiences
And I guess I'll try my very best, yeah
I will make an effort to follow my friends' advice, even though it may be difficult
This city won't suck my broken veins
The city I reside in will not cause me any further harm, despite my personal struggles
Even though my blood is bloody clean
Despite being physically healthy, I am still experiencing emotional pain and turmoil
My teeth are stuck inside my tongue
I am withholding words and struggling to express my true feelings
To keep my mouth from owning up
I am avoiding admitting to my mistakes and taking responsibility for my actions
So much for my brilliant honesty
My previous attempts at honesty and openness have not been successful
So no more complaining
I will stop expressing my dissatisfaction with my life and circumstances
And no more explaining
I will stop trying to justify my actions and decisions to others
No more magic tricks and taps
I will no longer use tricks or excuses to avoid revealing my true feelings
You get what I'm saying?
Do you understand my message and intentions?
I'm through with blaming all those biter trips and tracks
I will no longer blame external factors for my problems and shortcomings
I want my toast with butter and jam
I desire simple pleasures and comforts in life
And I want to eat green eggs and ham
I am open to trying new experiences, even if they seem unfamiliar or unconventional
And I want to set this country straight
I desire to make a positive impact on my community and society at large
And I want to say up real real late
I want to enjoy life and stay up late, despite potential negative consequences
I'll let the street lamps light the way
I will seek guidance and direction from my surroundings
To my indignant open grave
Even in death, I will remain defiant and unapologetic
And I'll clap my hands and take a guess
I will celebrate life's mysteries and uncertainties
My tombstone is marked with the word yes
I lived my life with openness, acceptance, and courage, even in the face of adversity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PERCELL HOLMES, KRISTIN HUDSON, JAMES EARL JONES, ANTHONY WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind