Song: "La Cerca"
Artist: Sparta
Album: "Porcelain"
Year: 2004
Place Of Origin: El Paso, Texas
Years Active: 2001 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"La Cerca" appears to be a song about opening yourself up to the realities of life going on around you. As you're young, there is a certain feeling of being safe within the walls of your house. But, outside of that window lies truths that are not so pretty. This song is kind of about gaining knowledge of the world outside, and some things you discover are hard to comprehend but, the more you learn, the more you grow as a human being.
SPARTA DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
2002 - Wiretap Scars (DreamWorks Records)
2004 - Porcelain (Geffen Records)
2006 - Threes (Hollywood Records)
CURRENT STATUS OF SPARTA:
When legendary El Paso, Texas hardcore band At The Drive In called it quits, three members of that band, guitarist/vocalist Jim Ward, drummer Tony Hajjar and bassist Paul Hinojos decided to form a new band and Sparta was born. The band first broke on the scene with their debut EP "Austere" which showed a band who quite didn't have their sound figured out yet, but the promise was certainly there. In 2002, the band released it's first full length album through DreamWorks called "Wiretap Scars". This album earned the band an opening slot on Pearl Jam's 2003 tour. The band would release a live EP, "Live At La Zona", in 2004 which tried to capture the energy of the band's live performances. Sparta signed with Geffen for their next release, 2004's Porcelain. This album peaked at #60 on the Billboard 200 charts and featured the single "Breaking The Broken" which received modest radio play. By 2006, the band went through some line-up changes and vocalist Jim Ward was beginning to question whether or not he was going to continue on with the band. Luckily, "Threes" would be released that year featuring the great single, "Taking Back Control". The band toured in support of "Threes" but by 2008, Ward announced that the band was on hiatus and without a record label. Ward began working with his new band, Sleepercar, at this time. In 2011, however, Sparta reunited to perform some shows in their hometown of El Paso, Texas. Showing some signs of life, Sparta released a new song in 2012 called "Chemical Feel". At The Drive In decided to reunite in 2012 as well, perhaps putting a delay on new Sparta material. By 2016, however, Ward parted ways with At The Drive In and announced a new Sparta line-up. Two more songs were released as well. "Graveyard Luck" in 2017 and "Cat Scream" in 2018. With any luck, this is a sign that a new Sparta album is right around the corner. Sparta has it's roots in hardcore or post-hardcore. They possess a cleaner sound than what they had when the members were in At The Drive In, but it still is a sound that carries intensity and purpose. Personally, I'm a bigger fan of Sparta than At The Drive In. I think they are a really good band and they seemed like they were getting better and better with each album. I thought "Threes" was an incredible album and "Taking Back Control", to this day, is one of my favorite songs. This is yet another band that I can't believe didn't have more success. I'm glad that it seems Jim Ward is currently working on new Sparta material and I can't wait to see what the band sounds like in 2018. If you like bands like At The Drive In, Rival Schools, Thursday, Thrice or Finch, then you would probably like what you hear from Sparta. Check em out!!
TEN SPARTA SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Taking Back Control
2. Breaking The Broken
3. Air
4. While Oceana Sleeps
5. Cut Your Ribbon
6. Erase It Again
7. Collapse
8. Farewell Ruins
9. Untreatable Disease
10. Glasshouse Tarot
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