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Rock & Roll Worship Circus
Welcome To The Rock & Roll Worship Circus
A "welcome" from a band on its fourth release? That's OK, as Welcome To The Rock&Roll Worship Circus solidifies The Rock&Roll Worship Circus (how much y'wanna bet they shorten it to "Worship Circus" after a couple more albums?) as an entity worthy of attention to the broader audience that should come with their new label home. With names like Blurr, Zurn, Solo and Gabriel (?!), they're almost asking to not be taken seriously. But danged if their kinda rootsy/glammy/bubblegummy/goth middle split between praise&worship chorus repetition and songcraft aiming for an imaginary perfect pop universe radio format doesn't work in the way one might wish Delirious? did a bit more often. And speaking of Brits, the perfect pop universe TR&RWC sound to be referencing probably came closest to existing in England circa '70-'74. The group cites Beatles, 'Stones, Beach Boys and Monkess influences, but it sounds like T. Rex, Mott The Hoople and Roxy Music (or Sisters of Mercy, maybe?) have some culpability in the group's sway between rough and tumble hooks and sheerer downtempo textures, too. On their Godward lyrical tip, they show a bit more scriptural depth than much "adult" p&w tuneage, but don't throw out your old hymnals, either. That may not quite be the point, though. TR&RWC's point is to witness with worshipful rock'n'roll, and at that they've succeeded with enough hipness to not be an embarrassment in any given youth pastor's CD collection.
This album review is a different version than that published in HM, and thus is an "online exclusive" of sorts. Order the Print Version of HM for tons more reviews of new albums. [ Vertical Music/ Jamie Lee Rake]
©2002 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved
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