Bill
Madden recently released a new album, New Religion, so this seemed like
a good time for a review.
One
thing I have found is that I am not relaxed listening to the music. I feel more
on edge. I think this is due at least partly to some of the higher sound
registers that are accessed, but it occurred to me that this may also be for
the best. Madden's Twitter handle is Activist 360, and there is a strong
activist bent to many of the songs. Perhaps listening should be uncomfortable.
In
general I responded better to his 2008 release, Child of the Same God. It's
a little more rock-oriented, though with a strong folk influence. One of the
songs the struck me more there was "Bosko and Admira". I had noticed
it for the tune, but watching the video I learned it was based on the true
story of a Muslim and Serbian couple who died during the conflict.
The
video shows the lyrics, along with general art and photos of the couple and
their news coverage. On one level it heightens the very simplistic lyrics,
which could be a drawback, but at the same time it puts a face on the conflict,
reminding us that every statistic of a tragedy is a person, and so it becomes
emotionally affecting, and the most effective of his videos.
I
do think fans of X Ambassadors would like this music, and my favorite track,
"Save Is From Ourselves", reminds me a little of Roy Orbison and the
Traveling Wilburys, so those fans should check it out as well.
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