Somewhere between the secular and Christian musical worlds there exists a peculiar place where minstrels roam and speak of things not usually well-received by Top 40 radio. When the occasional troubadour or group of troubadours breaks through to the mainstream (for example Bob Dylan or Victoria Williams), they are hailed as possessing genius and insight far beyond that of mortal man. Others, whether or not they have obvious Christian leanings, toil in relative obscurity with only a select few to appreciate their brilliance (take Mark Heard, Vigilantes of Love, or Bruce Cockburn). They all, however, share a common characteristic: a knack for honesty.
Enter Dime Store Prophets, who with their strong debut, Love Is Against The Grain, find themselves a fair way down the road to minstreldom. Theirs is rock music pulled from the ground, exposing its roots of folk and blues. It is honest portraits of everyday people with everyday problems. It is profound in the midst of its simplicity.
One of the keys to the album's success is frontman Justin Stevens. His impassioned vocals let you know that he believes what he is singing, and will probably make you want to believe, too. Stevens also has the likable ability to make mostly non-rhyming free verse flow without becoming uncomfortable to the ear, ala Natalie Merchant and The Innocence Mission's Karen Peris. Another key is the band's ability to keep it real, musically. This is definitely not polished stuff. It's rough in spots, and Stevens isn't afraid to allow his voice the occasional crack (check out the title track and "Baby's Got A New Dress"). All of this is not to say that the band is sloppy-far from it. Honest rock and roll is seldom pretty.
Thematically, the album is a bare-bones statement that we are all beggars, regardless of our class or station. Love is everything, and it can set us free. They are a little less overt than some in disclosing the source of that love, but all the clues are there. The project is full of anthemic tales of broken hearts, searching souls, and questions not easily answered-not unlike early (and extremely recent) Bruce Springsteen. Standouts include the aforementioned "Baby's Got A New Dress," a haunting tale of bulimia, betrayal, and Christ's redemptive grace, and "Hobo's Jungle," a song about a man who, after discarding the "fear from his influence," discovers that the homeless are no different than anyone:
...And a beggar's eyes meet mine His smile felt like forgiveness Like mercy for a crook's last meal He said you and I share the same roof Yours is wood, and mine is sky... Spare me your change, it's your ear I want No one talks to someone standing alone These streets fill your head with poison We could talk for a while, let it all come out
Another highlight is the opening track, "Feels Like Rain," which traces a search for enlightenment in today's increasingly relativistic world (and which asks the musical question, "If truth is all so relative, then why do we still reach?"):
The road was filled with followers Panting for a cure A streetside hippie guru beckoned me "Come near" His clothes smelled like patchouli His blanket offered oils Tried to sell me talismans For the road that was within Oh, feels like rain I wish the sky would open up all over me... We've got angels on the television Prophets on the news Doomsday rocket scientists To save me from my blues A spiritual awakening for the working stitch I never walk into the light Unless I know who turned the switch
Just above the spot in the liner notes where the lyrics begin, there is a brief message: "Everybody's got something to say." They do indeed, and Dime Store Prophets have done an impressive job of capturing that. Now, I could go into all the other songs and break down meanings and extract nuggets of wisdom all day long, but I've got a better idea-buy the album. You'll be supporting yet another great Five Minute Walk artist, and you'll probably learn something in the bargain.
Similar sounding releases
1995The WaitingBlue Belly Sky
1997Vigilantes of LoveSlow Dark Train
1997Split Levelglo.bal
2000Paul Colman TrioTurn
1999Lost DogsThe Best of the Lost Dogs
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