“The music is refined and potent. These songs will stick in your head. They will make you move. They aren't cock rock, they aren't stadium rock, they are super-garage rock, vibrant and fiery. ” (Nate Ragolia, 2012).Vices I Admire is an alternative rock band from Denver, CO. Formed in 2002 in Fort Collins, CO originally under the name Plan B. The current lineup is Dave Curtis (vocals, guitar; 2002-present), Dan Battenhouse (bass, vocals; 2009-present) and Alex Simpson (drums, vocals; 2012-present); for performances, a second-guitarist spot is filled by various musicians, the most recent being Scott Uhl (of Glass Delirium).
Original members included: Curtis, Robert Marston (bass, 2002-2007), Mickey Dollar (guitar, 2002-2012) and Mark Towne (drums, 2002-2012). Marston was replaced by Dan Battenhouse (formerly of the Fray) in 2009. Dollar and Towne left the band in 2012 and were replaced by Alex Simpson (drums) and Tavis Alley (guitar) later that same year. Alley left Vices I Admire in 2013 and the band continued on as a 3-piece.
Vices' music is an amalgam of various influences and – though, decidedly rock – nods to hip hop, folk and funk. They have been compared to Panic! At The Disco, Foo Fighters, Foxy Shazam, Candlebox, Incubus, My Chemical Romance, The Matches, Queens of the Stone Age, AFI and even Prince. Their songs are generally guitar-driven, but also feature unusually melodic bass lines and colorful drum work. However, the defining sound of Vices throughout its various lineups are the personal – often cryptic – lyrics and vocal gymnastics of front man, Curtis.
Vices released their first album, Plan B. in 2005 – they changed their name to Vices I Admire in conjunction with the release and titled the album in honor of their original name. The album draws heavily from the nu-metal scene and bands like Deftones and System of a Down. “Monster”, the first single from Plan B., is traditionally used to close Vices' sets – as such, it is one of their most well-known songs, second only to “Sweetest Girl” (from their sophomore effort, The Politics of Apathy). The second single from Plan B., “By the Way”, won $5,000 in a contest run by OurStage.com (2007), is featured on the punk-rock compilation, Dagger Sight Records Volume II, and is the backing track to NFMan Productions' short film, Wedding Day.
Their sophomore effort, The Politics of Apathy was released in 2010. The album was well-received by local press and fans alike. Though it did present a departure from their original sound; where Plan B. was raw, fast and angry, ...Politics... was oftentimes reserved and thoughtful and more refined. Songs like “Kiss Kiss” and “Keep Killin' Me” maintained the band's tendency toward the heavier end of the rock spectrum; while the dramatic, piano-and-vocals piece, “Denouement: An Intermezzo” and the heart-achingly honest indie-rocker, “It Is” showcased a more adult and mindful writing style.
"The new album, The Politics of Apathy, from Vices I Admire, is a nine-song combination of two of my very favorite things: an array of different styles when the band can do it right, and raw, in-your-face lyrics."
- Steffanie Giesler, Colorado Music Buzz (Jan 01, 2010)
"...a great mix of precise musicianship, very emotional and polished vocals, well written lyrics, and sonic colors from many places in the musical rainbow."
- James (JJ Rocks) Johnston, St Croix Music (Jan 01, 2010)
The first single from ...Politics..., “Sweetest Girl” is the band's most lauded track. In April, 2010, it won a competition from WeAreListening.org which granted the band 3 months of distribution through Tinderbox Music. The track went on to be placed in MTV's “The Real World: Las Vegas” and on the Oxygen Network's “Bad Girls Club”. It also earned top spins on many college radio charts that year and has been featured on several compilation albums.
Vices' third album, Venom & Pride marked yet another change in Vices' musical style. Preceding the departure of two of the groups' founding members, Mark Towne and Mickey Dollar, it is a darker and more stylistically intricate work.
"Vices I Admire is but a humble group of four Denverites, who are slowly pushing their way through Shit Creek with a paddle made of pure Rock. Their new EP, Venom and Pride, is a 15-minute dash over white-water rapids and razor sharp rocks. It’s fast, it’s crazy, it’s fun." - Harley Patton, Indie Music Reviewer (Mar 02, 2012)
Vices fourth album, Fables (May, 2013) was the first album recorded and produced entirely by the band.
By the Way
Vices I Admire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And look to your arms, a strength, your breath, a life, your will to live, and still you're by the way, you know.
No demon, no daughter, no mother, no father, got theirs by the way
No demon, no daughter, no mother, no father forgets
Really then? Are we grown? Has the future begun to reflect? Be the wrong side of hate, be the wrong side of fate, be the "re" in regret.
No demon, no daughter, no mother, no father, got theirs by the way
No demon, no daughter, no mother, no father forgets
Riddle, where we're on, all you were that you were was it all just a lie?
Riddle, turn this off, all you were that you were, was it all just a lie?
All this same, that you were, it won't bother me anymore
All this same, that you were, it won't bother me anymore
Anymore, yeah right.
The lyrics of "By the Way" by Vices I Admire seem to be a call to action for listeners to take control of their lives and move forward, despite feeling lost or forgotten. The lyrics repeat the phrase "move an inch, move the earth, move an inch, move the sky," emphasizing the idea that even small actions can have a significant impact. The imagery of looking to one's arms for strength and breath for life adds to the theme of personal power and resilience. The repeated line "and still you're by the way" suggests that even though one may feel neglected or overlooked, they still have the ability to take control of their own life's direction.
The second half of the song includes the lines "no demon, no daughter, no mother, no father, got theirs by the way / no demon, no daughter, no mother, no father forgets." These lines suggest that nobody achieves success or greatness by chance alone, and that personal responsibility and hard work are essential to success. The following section asks a series of rhetorical questions, wondering if everything that one thought they knew about themselves was a lie. The final lines of the song, "all this same, that you were, it won't bother me anymore / anymore, yeah right," could be interpreted as a declaration of independence and defiance in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Really then? Are we lost, where we stand no x for our spot, believe in your feet, move an inch, move the earth, move an inch, move the sky
Are we truly lost? Standing in a place with no clear direction, you must trust in yourself to move forward. With just a small step, you have the power to make a huge impact on the world around you.
And look to your arms, a strength, your breath, a life, your will to live, and still you're by the way, you know.
Find strength in your own arms, draw energy from your breath and your will to live. Despite all of this, you may still find yourself forgotten and overlooked.
No demon, no daughter, no mother, no father, got theirs by the way
Nobody, not even those with the closest bonds of family, have succeeded in life just by waiting around for opportunities to come to them.
No demon, no daughter, no mother, no father forgets
Even the closest of family members cannot forget how hard they had to work to get where they are in life.
Really then? Are we grown? Has the future begun to reflect? Be the wrong side of hate, be the wrong side of fate, be the "re" in regret.
As we grow older, we must reflect upon the path we have taken and consider the consequences of our choices. Avoid hate and fate that may lead you astray, and make amends for any past regrets.
Riddle, where we're on, all you were that you were was it all just a lie?
We find ourselves in a confusing situation, wondering if everything we thought we knew was just a fabrication or illusion.
Riddle, turn this off, all you were that you were, was it all just a lie?
We want to put an end to the confusion and find out the truth - was everything we believed in truly just a falsehood?
All this same, that you were, it won't bother me anymore
Regardless of what you truly were or were not, it no longer has the power to affect or upset me anymore.
Anymore, yeah right.
Though we claim to be unaffected, the truth may be different - it is hard to completely let go of emotions and experiences.
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris Williams
Great style and flow to this, love all your music, but this is so good and would sound good in acoustic, well with these vocals anything would sound great in acoustic, also love that sound from only me track
fishtankfreak
Great band. Very nice people too =)
Breezy Eff Baby
It's been a while... I worked with you on promoting a show when I was in high school.... When this dropped! 💜💜 hope you all are great
Saima Iqbal
this is fucking wicked