Send "Trophy Scars " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Sputnikmusic |
 Listening to Never Born, Never Dead without also taking into account Trophy Scars’ previous EP, Darkness, Oh Hell, is to rob yourself of an integral part of what makes NB,ND so perfect. Where Darkness was a semi-fictional apocalyptic journey through a mans drug addled summer, full of, well, literal darkness with only small handfuls of light, NB,ND fits perfectly as a companion piece; pondering the cyclic nature of love, existence, and memory, it goes beyond the tunnel vision of Darkness’ scope and creates a large, sweeping concept that exudes a charming sense of hope and thoughtfulness.Throughout the record, Trophy Scars eschew musical norms and simply do whatever is necessary to bring the album to its full potential. The lyrics are the most obvious example of this: often singer Jerry Jones disregards what someone would consider keeping his lyrics “sane” and goes off the wall with crazy storytelling and silly, but endearing phrases. “Snake Oil” details a man still obsessed with an old flame, and instead of taking itself too seriously approaches a tired cliché with cute wit: I saw my old lady Down at the the grocery store I said "who you buying them groceries for?" She said "it aint your business no more" “I don't care What's his name” She says "Baby - You just got yourself to blame." Elsewhere, the lyrical content ties together the pattern of lovers continually meeting and falling for each other, whether it ends in bliss or venom. “Messengers” takes an interesting twist on the Stagger Lee story, detailing perhaps the first ‘awakening’ our main characters have in regards to one another. However, the most poignant part of the story comes between “Angels” and “Never Dead”, as the band bridges the youthful innocence of puppy love in “Angels” and the climax of their immediately tragic ultimately serene story arc in “Never Dead”, all connected by one of the most PERFECTLY utilized samples I’ve ever heard (Lost fans will flip a ***n and probably cry. No seriously, good chance you‘ll well up a bit. Even if you're not a Lost fan. Probably an equal chance)....full text |
| Muzikdizcovery |
| Let’s get one thing out of the way—Never Born, Never Dead is expectedly excellent, and overall, an EP that displays how truly fantastic Trophy Scars really is when they are “on.” Their latest follows their last year’s rather phenomenal, Darkness, Oh Hell, a dark, grimy EP that delved into the desperation and ugliness of a man living through the darkest moment of his life. Never Born, Never Dead sort of compliments this, as it feels more hopeful and optimistic. Sure, it delves into the themes of death and relationships, but it comes off as much more beautiful, touching on the brighter aspects of said themes. The lyrical content, however, takes a backseat to the musical content, as Trophy Scars are absolutely at the top of their game, making Never Born, Never Dead one of the strongest releases from the band. The EP retains all the dirty blues and lounge sounds present on the band’s last few efforts. Because of this, Trophy Scars is one of the most unique post-hardcore bands out there today, with Never Born, Never Dead really affirming that sentiment. What makes the record so wonderful is the band’s utter dedication to a cohesive and engrossing sound. Each track flows together perfectly, meshing both musically and thematically. It’s a dramatic endeavor, feeling wholly creative, with the entire record building towards something and steaming along with purpose. The band truly is as exceedingly wonderful as always. Bluesy guitars dance with great percussion, and Jerry Jones’ ever divisive vocals. Jones in particular stands out, as you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that sounds even remotely similar. This is where the divide comes in, as many will tell you that his unique approach is a hurdle when first listening to the band. Scratchy, gruff, and menacing, Jones’ vocals match rather perfectly with the darker aspects of the music, as he sounds like a world weary singer in a smoky bar. Varied and always interesting, Jones adds an indelible amount to Never Born, Never Dead....full text |
| Theleakage |
| The band was formed by Jerry Jones (vocals), John Ferrara (guitar), Mike Schipper (guitar) and Joshua Z Weinstein (bass) in 2002. Brian Ferrara (drums) was filling-in for Trophy Scars at the time; he was only twelve years old. Soon after, Brian was added as the permanent drummer. Trophy Scars utilizes a wide variety of musical genres and non-traditional song structures in their sound. Influences have been said to range from The Beatles to Aesop Rock, from Converge to Tom Waits....full text |
Trophy Scars lyrics
