Something Different from This State Comes
Listen here people, because something big is starting to happen in Texas. And, no, I'm not just saying this because I'm so lucky as to be a Texan.There is a movement of music coming from such thriving metropoli as Denton, Tyler, and Texarkana, and believe it or not, each of the bands from these respective towns are quite unlike anything else out there.
This last weekend [as referenced by Brett's post], I went to Dallas with my roommates Dan and Brett to see Midlake, Eisley and Pilotdrift (respectively from Denton, Tyler and Texarkana) for the Good Records 5th Birthday Party.
Contrary to what you may be thinking, I am not lumping these bands together because I saw them all in the same weekend. Each of these bands happen to be friends with one another, but they have so much more in common than friends, a Birthday Party and origins in 3rd-tier Texas towns.
What I would characterize as distinctives of each of these bands are as follows:
1.) Their musical sounds are both melodic and unique.
2.) Each band uses varying degrees of electronic and organic instruments to make their sounds.
3.) The subject matter of their songs include lots of fantasy or imaginary imagery and drama. (e.g. songs about people escaping evil monocle Men in home-made balloons [Midlake's "He Tried to Escape in a balloon"], horses growing out of the ground in the front lawn [Eisley's "Marvelous Things"], and Sir Ernest Shackleton's voyage to Antarctica [Pilotdrift's "Elephant Island"])
4.) As far as I know, each band has at least a few members who would consider themselves professing Christians.
5.) As far as I know, none of these bands would claim in any respect to be a Christian band.
This last three points are of interest to me for several reasons, including the fact that I too am a Christian. Beyond that, though, it makes me question a few things. Why is it that these three bands have independently found expression for their faith in forms that are so fantastical and bizarre? What is it about the bizarre and mythical that leads these three groups to employ these means to express themselves lyrically?
Having seen Midlake's live show, complete with video footage illustrating the narratives of the songs visually, I can see a definite correlation between the themes of their album Bamnan and Slivercork and the gospel narrative. In "Elephant Island" by Pilotdrift, I read into the story of Sir Shackleton and the Endurance an allegory of the experience of hoping in and waiting on the return of Christ.
What interests me is this: it seems to me that real-life stories of the daily experiences of "believers" and their struggles with faith, sin, love, hope, failure, etc. are not necessarily best communicated on a literal level. When Kelly from Pilotdrift sings "Hey, Hey, Hey/Hold Tight/To the Captain's Words/Of Shackleton's Return!" I feel my soul groan for Christ's return much more than when Rich Mullins might sing of the same thing literally (and I'm a closet Rich Mullins fan, even!). Maybe the deeper things of the faith have as great of an expression in art as they do in worship. Maybe, all of a sudden, there are Christians out there that are trying to make good music as well as lyrics that point people to something deeper in their souls.
Maybe I am reading too much into this. But maybe things are starting to change in "Christian" art.
posted by paul @ 11:10 PM
4 Comments:
Paul - Maybe we should stop blogging and just talk to each other... but I did have some thoughts on this whole Eisley/Pilotdrift/Midlake phenomenon...
I wouldn't say that this genre of fantastical story-telling music is restricted to these bands of Christians. (see The Flaming Lips and The Decemberists, for example.) That said, though, I completely agree with you that much of our story of faith, sin, grace, et al. may not be best communicated on a literal level.
I've been reading The Chronicles of Narnia lately, and ruminating on the power of allegory. As factual as aspects of Christianity are, so much remains mysterious or almost magical. You can't scientifically track down the Holy Spirit or map out exactly how God's grace can feel.
At the risk of completely aping Don Miller's thoughts, it seems that we've taken a fairly mysterious, relational document in the Bible and attempted to turn it into lists and charts to live by.
Much in the same way as the main character in the movie Big Fish tells fantastical stories to get you to feel how he felt experiencing his real life, maybe these bands are being fantastical and poetic as a way of letting us begin to experience what they feel in their everyday: the living out of a Gospel both mysterious and full of wonder.
Whatever it is they're doing, I like it.
Good stuff man definitely good stuff. The whole "Christian music" thing is one of those things that I have a huge drawn out opinion on that mabye I'll finally get to write about. Good points.
- Jordan
Paul,
Unlike Jordan, my opinion is short and probably useless when it comes to Christian music. I've never even heard any, unless you consider Flood by JoClay to be Christian. We'd sing it at young life, but we would also sing Dave Matthews (crash usually), so hey. Anyways, glad to see your blogging again. You're off the endangered list my man. Breathe easy! I know you were soooooooo concerned :)
Michael
This is a response to Brett's comment.
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I am of course aware that others write fantastical dramatic lyrics (Grandaddy, et al.). My question is why all three of these bands seemed to have chosen this "genre" with which to express themselves. What is it about Christianity that these people found best to express in the way they have.
Really I'm just glad there are some Christians out there that aren't rehashing Jars of Clay, Caedmon's Call or the singer-songwriter formulas.
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