The band got its first big break in the BRU Rock Hunt, an annual Battle of the Bands run by Providence commercial alternative/indie rock station 95.5 WBRU.
They have an uncanny ability to blend rock - from new wave to progressive - with ska, punk balladry, and a bit of baroque into something highly original. Miller's direct and personal songwriting derives from an unquestionable pop sensibility, while the band's sophisticated arrangements and intricate instrumentals give their songs an expansive and psychedelic edge. The band further distinguishes itself by using the electric violin as a lead instrument. Described by The Village Voice as "a cross between Eddie Van Halen and Papa John Creach," violinist Spencer Swain adds swirling textures and searing melodies that range from the pretty to the profane.
Members of the band include Eli Miller (Vocals/Guitar), John Zox (Drums/Percussion), Spencer Swain (Violin/Vocals), and Dan Edinberg (Bass/Vocals/Keys). Former members include Eli Batalion.
Currently, the band has produced three albums: Take Me Home which was released by Armo Records in 2003, The Wait which was released by SideOneDummy Records in 2006 and Line in the Sand which was released by SideOneDummy Records in 2008. The band quietly disbanded in 2009, reuniting for concerts at Lupo's in their hometown of Providence in August 2011 and October 2014.
Better If It's Worse
Zox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cut into pieces and left in the rain.
They're left in the rain.
This is the place where hearts come undone,
Spill onto the sidewalk and crack in the sun.
I'm boarding up my windows
That's what they're for.
It's better if it's worse than before.
This is the day when promises break,
curl up at the edges turn into mistakes.
So I am smashing up my suitcase
And sleeping on my floor,
I'd rather be bored.
It's better if it's worse than before.
Go on, go on
Go on, go on
Without me
Go on, go on
Go on, go on
Without me
It's better if it's worse than before.
It's better if it's worse than before.
It's better if it's worse than before.
It's better if it's worse than before.
The song Better If It's Worse by Zox is a melancholic and introspective piece that reflects on the unpredictability and fragility of life. The lyrics describe a place where dreams are shattered and hearts are broken, creating an environment of despair and hopelessness. The singer's response to this is to withdraw from the world and barricade themselves, as a defense mechanism against further pain and disappointment. They prefer to be bored and endure the mundanity of life rather than risking being hurt again. The chorus repeats the phrase "It's better if it's worse than before," suggesting that the singer has reached a point of resignation, where even negative circumstances are preferable to the uncertainty of the future.
The imagery used in the lyrics is effective in conveying the mood of the song. The idea of dreams being "cut into pieces and left in the rain" evokes a sense of despair and futility. The heart "spilling onto the sidewalk and cracking in the sun" is a poignant image of vulnerability and pain. The act of "smashing up my suitcase and sleeping on my floor" is a physical manifestation of the singer's emotional turmoil, highlighting the feeling of being lost and directionless.
Overall, Better If It's Worse is a poignant and insightful reflection on the darker aspects of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the place where dreams are unmade,
Cut into pieces and left in the rain.
They're left in the rain.
This place is where dreams go to die and are left forgotten and destroyed in the rain.
This is the place where hearts come undone,
Spill onto the sidewalk and crack in the sun.
This is where hearts are broken, and they spill out onto the sidewalk to bake in the sun, eventually cracking.
I'm boarding up my windows
And locking all my doors,
That's what they're for.
It's better if it's worse than before.
I'm barricading myself from disappointment and negative energy, hoping that things will get worse because that might be preferable.
This is the day when promises break,
curl up at the edges turn into mistakes.
This is the day when promises are proven to be hollow, they collapse and become mistakes.
So I am smashing up my suitcase
And sleeping on my floor,
I'd rather be bored.
It's better if it's worse than before.
I am destroying my belongings and sleeping on the floor because my life is so dull, but maybe it's better if it only gets worse.
Go on, go on
Go on, go on
Without me
Leave me behind and go forward without me.
It's better if it's worse than before.
It's better if it's worse than before.
It's better if it's worse than before.
It's better if it's worse than before.
Repeating the idea that things may be preferable if they get worse, highlighting it as the main message of the song.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind