Black Eyed Sceva
Way Before the Flood
Reviewed by Chris Well
It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what's most compelling about Way Before the Flood, the label debut from Black Eyed Sceva (pronounced "see-va") - there is so much to absorb. From the opening strum and jangle of "Justified" it's apparent this musical package is hard to beat: Hailing from the same post-modern folk/rock territory of, say, Toad The Wet Sprocket and Gin Blossoms, Jeremy Post (vocals, guitars), Brad McCarter (bass, vocals) and Brent Nims (drums and percussion) have woven together a steady, sturdy sound that rocks, yet turns on an emotional dime, depending on the circumstances.
But beyond the artsy-college vibe of the music, there is an intelligent heart in these lyrics. Jeremy Post's poems abound with questions of philosophy, politics and society, all the while struggling with how our faith should permeate the whole spectrum of our lives: "Way Before The Flood" deals with the impatience of those who refuse to follow God's timing ("is it busy up there/we're waiting"); "Mudhouse" reveals the psychological and physical consequences of pre-marital sex; "Adrien James" is about the family an absentee father leaves behind.
The most philosophical of all is "Happy Face." Where many songwriters in Christian music might go for the easy answers, here Black Eyed Sceva takes the hard-thinking route: "What's with all this nihilism?/ in a culture of relativism know the context and the content and the consequence of being born again/ God only knows my fate, anyway."
Although at times the band becomes too self-conscious stylistically, Way Before the Flood is a thoughtful and challenging discourse on Grace and Fallen Humanity. The bonus is that you'll catch yourself singing along, too.