David Bazan, Jim Morrison and Jesus Christ
When I was maybe 15 I found one of my father’s old tapes, It was Strange Days by the Doors. I was mesmerized, It was somber and despairing, and I immediately related to it. At the end of the album was a track called When the Musics Over. I remember being young and open to accepting lots of new thoughts, but when I got to this song, I remember feeling sad, and detached, but not detached from myself, or my faith, or who I was; but from the artist. It was Morrison cursing and yelling at God, it was him saying “I hate you”. One line more than any other struck me: “Cancel my subscription to the resurrection Send my credentials to the house of detention”.
David Bazan’s new album Curse You Branches is his When the Musics Over. But what I get from Bazan’s album is a sense of inconsistency, and a bad taste in my mouth, much more than when I first hear Morrison cancel his reservation to heaven. Maybe it was the fact that Morrison was long dead and I was so young, but when I hear Bazan not only curse the branch, but God, I get alot more emotional. I fell bad for the guy. I can’t help but want to hug the dude or punch him square in the face.
Listening to Bazan he is plain and settled in his distaste for God, as understood by Christians. He seems to want to make it clear that he sees it as stupid or ill-conceived.
So do we honor David Bazan’s honesty and authenticity even if he is authentically taking a jab at Christianity. I guess defending Jesus wouldn’t be hip.
Some people seem to be fine with Bazan still being treated as some Spiritual guide, even though I doubt he would call himself one.
One final question, in regard to Hard to Be: Do you think its easier for him to be, now that he has walked away from Jesus and all that makes up Christianity?
Derek Webb’s Black Eye
I really liked Derek Webb. One of my college roomates had She Must and Shall Go Free and I thought it was pretty good, so I saw him at my college when he toured. When he came out with Mocking Bird I heard the first track on a podcast and immediately picked up the album and loved it. I loved Mocking Bird’s hold-no-punches attitude, its an album still in regularly played in our home.
I pre-ordered The Ringing Bell and spent the extra money to get the graphic novel.
I would have considered myself a Derek Webb fan, but with all the viral marketing for Stockholm Syndrome I’ve really been pushed back from even wanting to buy the album.
Maybe it’s a sign that I’m getting past the age that games are fun, or maybe I’m just a grump, but when I downloaded the first viral clip and it consisted of 5 seconds worth of audio, I though “Im not wasting my time on this.” The idea of spending hours trying to find an album was unappealing to me.
I have no doubt there was a real problem with his record label, which postponed the release of his album, but I wanted the album not a goose chase.
Here is what really puzzles me – Derek Webb’s music is challenging and poetic. It is rightly anti-consumeristic and provokes people to think differently on major issues like poverty and Christian Liberty. At the same time, his marketing seems disconnected from that live-differently attitude that his music espouses.
I get that he has to pay the bills, but to make a viral “help-me-fight-the-men” campaign and immediately follow it up with a pre-orders of his album with “Exclusive Stockholm Syndrome T-Shirt” for 29.99 makes me wonder whats going on.
I still like Derek Webb, I want to like Stockholm Syndrome but I don’t know if I am gonna buy it.
Tuesday Tunes: Good Night, States
While checking out the wyep concert calendar last night I found out that Good Night, States was playing this Friday. God Night, States are a local Pittsburgh band, though some of their members now travel from Philly and NYC.
I found out about the band because one of their Guitarists, Joe , lived with a friend of mine.
Last year when Good Night, States put out their first album I picked it up and it was great.
Be sure to check out their album “Short Films On Self-control”
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