I'll admit, I've been in something of a rut these last couple weeks; not keeping up with habits and practices that I've worked very hard to develop. Writing consistently was one of those habits. There's countless reasons WHY I was in that rut, but frankly that's not really what I talk about on this blog. All that really matters is that I was thoroughly prepared to not write an SPS for this week. And then this happened...
We've talked about Baroness before, but I'll give you the cliff notes version here; they're amazing, they were in a bush crash a few years ago that threatened to derail the band, they're back, and they've got a new album coming out next month, called Purple. The first single, 'Chlorine & Wine', was an absolute masterpiece, a defiant announcement that the Baroness refused to fall by the wayside and wallow in their misfortunes. They were back, and moreover, they had returned transformed. I called the new single "catharsis incarnate," and mentioned seeing them live a year after the unfortunate bus crash had occurred: that at that concert they seemed possessed by this new and furious energy. With all that in mind, Purple immediately sprang to the very forefront of my list.
Now, I'll be completely honest with you: 'Shock Me,' the second single from the upcoming album released this Sunday, doesn't match the bold new heights of 'Chlorine & Wine.' It's a great song by all means, all furious guitars and heavy drums, with an absolutely thrilling solo towards the end. But it's not quite as brilliant, as cathartic, or as game-changing as that which came before. And on a surface level that's a disappointment; we all want bigger and better things. But at the same time, this song serves a valuable role, one that I think needed to be played as Purple sneaks closer and closer.
This song, in a way that 'Chlorine & Wine' simply wasn't, is classic Baroness. It's imbued with their new energy, no doubt, but it sounds old and comfortable, like it wouldn't be out of place slotted in alongside 'A Horse Called Golgotha.' Personally - and perhaps I read too much into these things, it's something of a comfort blanket. Yes, the bad has changed. Yes, the energy is different (and better!). But at its core, this is still Baroness, and come hell or high water they will plant their feet and scream in defiance of whatever comes their way. They will be themselves, or they will be nothing at all.
It's quite the contrast, then, that lyrically the song is all about getting pushed out of your comfort zone. But given what Baizley and co. have gone through in the last couple years, it's unsurprising that they'd pen a song covering said topic. From the crash to the pain of recovery, there's got to be some exhaustion, some feeling of having surpassed your limits. But then, it's only by pushing yourself beyond those limits that you can truly experience how strong you are. Sometimes, when you're in a rut, all you really need is a kick in the ass, for someone to come along and jar you from your stasis and despondency. I know the feeling all too well, and given the last couple of weeks, I think this song is really exactly what I needed to here. I think, perhaps more than anything else, "I needed a surprise."
No comments:
Post a Comment