In 1990, I had pretty much lost hope that the Christian music that rocked my world would ever win the mainstream acceptance that I felt it deserved. I took heart at signs of life in the success of U2, and the positive critical response to the likes of Lone Justice and The Call. Still, it was distressing to see bands like Petra and DeGarmo & Key softening the intellect of Christian pop/rock, thus lowering musical standards while real artists like DA, The Choir, 77's and Adam Again were increasingly ghettoized and ignored. Hey, I know that isn't a popular opinion, but it's been my main point since I first started writing about this music over two decades ago, and nothing has come about to change my mind.
Into that world, came the third disc from King's X, the prog-rock power trio from Texas with roots back to Christian music that nobody was willing to talk about. Sure, Out of the Silent Planet and Gretchen Goes to Nebraska were good albums, but too spacey and allegorical to connect with any but their small, yet potent cult fan-base, of which I held a proud membership.
Faith Hope Love — which found the band maximizing its commercial appeal by focusing their bursts of instrumental genius into pop song structures of less than five minutes in length — didn't have to be a commercial success to lift my spirits. However, it didn't hurt that "It's Love" got the band into regular rotation on MTV to reassure my conviction that if we could just build a better Christian rock field, the world would come to play on it. Okay, I was probably wrong about that, but hope springs eternal.
From Ty Tabor's opening guitar salvo, through complex yet accessible rockers that emphasize sing-along melodies, King's X mixes King Crimson prog-metal with Beatlesque harmonies in their most timely and commercial offering yet. Doug Pinnick's vocal soulfulness erupts from the mix of "We Are Finding Who We Are," while the compelling "It's Love," brought it all together in an airplay single destined for broad appeal. For old school Xers, there was "Moanjam," "We Were Born to Be Loved," and the intense nine-minute-plus title track; all of which rocked with authority, displaying instrumental virtuosity and passion. Plus it was heavy, loud, hard music, gritty, funky and real. Nothing limp-wristed and impotent about it, King's X was Christian and it rocked, really, really rocked.
But, honestly, it wasn't just the music. There was biblical imagery carved into the letters on the cover, the complete text of 1 Corinthians 13 was included, and often in the lyric references, either directly or by suggestion, that God is at work in all that is good, beautiful and true in the world. And by emphasizing that "Love," is the "greatest of these," that our relationship to our maker and each other is the source of all meaning and hope. It was a message of faith that was as inclusive and expansive as the music, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It felt like the opposite of the myopic, 'us vs. them' mentality that had stolen the heart of the Christian music subculture.
And, it passes the test of time, now twelve years later it's still a great listen, still relevant and potent in my CD player. Still a reminder that we're not just making music for ourselves, but for the world where God's love is each day being made known.
Other coverage for this album
Heaven's Metal #28Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThis third outing from this great band starts off with a moving rocker called "We Are Finding Who We Are", which finds this trio in full harmony swing. A 4 minute, 30 second song, it seems to end too quickly, leaving the listener wanting more, and then the wonderfully melodic single, "It's Love", steals my attention for another 4:34. Guitarist Ty Tabor handles the lead vocals for this song, which…Similar sounding releases
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