|
Album Review
Enter the life of Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego. Enter their fire. Then realize we were never
promised a Christian walk without fire. Once this reality
settles, pick up Cool Hand Luke's sophomore release, The
Fires of Life. Based on Isaiah 43:2 and Psalm 30:5, Mark
Nicks, Chris Susi and Brandon Morgan lift scriptures and
paste them right into the song, creating a mosaic of
language mixed with delicate instrumentation.
Mark wrote most of the songs during a tumultuous time in his
life, and one can see the turmoil within the lyrics.
"Sequence #3" says, "You came and changed my life / You came
to save my life / You turned Your ear and You heard me
(Psalm 116:1,2) / Why can't I feel what I believe?"
"Skydive" asks, "On top of a skyscraper / With a foundation
of fears / Empty works and dreams / He thinks can't come
true / For what can he do? / What has he to offer to You?"
This hopelessness arises from sin, a sin that Mark equates
to rats in the song "Rats in the Cellar." Reminiscent of
T.S. Eliot's poem, "The Hollow Man," Mark says that "To
set these traps / And kill these rats / I must expose the
lie." But the lie cannot be destroyed by his own hands; he
screams, "I can't clean my charcoal soul / What I need is
the hand of an exterminator." The fire experienced in these
songs arises from a sense of damnation. When rats run in the
cellar of our souls, what can we offer to the King? And what
happens when the fire feels more real that the presence of
our Savior? What if life ended today; would God be pleased
with the end result ("Cinematic")?
Cool Hand Luke is not afraid to address issues of real
concern. Rather than create an album of sugarcoated songs,
this band exposes the rats we're supposed to ignore. The
guys put need on display and show humanity's vulnerability
to compromise in "The Zombie Song": "Remember when we were
real / Back when we could feel? / Once we were in this / Now
we're of this / Jesus, turn these tables over." When the
world becomes too comfortable, when the rats blend in too
easily, the vermin must be burned by the hand of a King. In
"I'm Not Running," we study the point of surrender: "I have
given up on breathing and all I need is You / I am never
going down for air again." God answers the invitation, as
described in "Rest for the Weary." Within this song, Mark
croons, "Oh, I just want to sing / I only wish there was a
word / For what You mean to me / I would only say it once /
In hushed tones / So it would not grow old / But all I have
/ Is 'I love You'." "Rest for the Weary" is a passionate
blend of guitars and drums that crescendo with Mark's voice
on the phrase, "You're the one who comforts me / When
everyone is gone away."
Cool Hand Luke strives to offer real hope in the midst of
the fire. In the title track, Mark comforts both the
listener and himself: "Weeping may last for the night / The
longest night of your life / But I can promise you that /
Rejoicing comes in the morning." This song brought tears to
my own eyes as I rested on the scriptural promise. We might
feel like we're falling, but we end up landing in our
Maker's arms ("Skydive").
The music to this project highlights and accentuates the
lyrical poetry. Embracing a clear emo sound, this is the
perfect album to calm a worried soul. The piano lines allow
listeners to reflect on their current state of being. I'm a
huge fan of albums that can serve as soundtracks to personal
moments of meditation. When I need to unwind after a day of
heavy artillery, when I need to nurse my burns, this is the
album of choice. In reaching beyond simplistic CCM and
embracing real life, Cool Hand Luke has produced a
transparent album that will minister to many hurting
individuals.
~Hollie Stewart
(Continue)
Cool hand Luke
(homepage)
Interviews
Musical
Stylings
Godcore
Interview
07-07-01
Interview
ChristianityToday.com,
First Impressions: Cool Hand Luke
Lyrics
godcore
djpeanuts.co.uk
|
