Well, well, well. The masked prophets from Austin have done it again, and with an even heavier dose of creativity and, uh, naked truth than before. How many bands, Christian or otherwise, can take their audience from shock to laughter to sadness to conviction at a moment's notice, touch on a dozen social, personal and religious issues and have them still humming the choruses three days later? Naked achieves just that, and is no doubt destined to be an underground cult (pardon the term) classic. The songs here range stylistically from melodic thrash to rollicking alternative dance to twilight zone poetry, all skillfully crafted to reflect the lyrical mood and surprisingly cohesive as a package (Have these guys been hanging around One Bad Pig?). The lyrics, while penned and delivered at times with all the emotional fervor of a frothing fundamentalist, are interspersed with a good amount of wit and occasional buffoonery which allow respite from what might otherwise be considered condemnation. Gene, Stanley, George and Duane apparently recorded this one live, and while the production isn't exactly flawless, the dynamic energy easily makes up for it.
Never ones to mince words, in keeping with the tradition of their first release, This Is A Condom Nation, they continue to pin firmly to the wall people or organizations whose philosophies or actions are destructive to the cause of Christ. On Naked they take a bold swipe at the New Age Movement, Planned Parenthood, U-2, the heretical doctrines of certain unnamed churches, unfaithful husbands, shallow rock singers, pseudo-intellectuals, and Dave Hunt. Did we leave anybody out? Lest you think, however, that Naked is all rebuke, there's also a gripping tune in support of Operation Rescue, a 30-second ditty threatening the editor of CCM if he won't feature them on the cover (it didn't work for Dr. Hook either, guys), and a melodic thrash song, "Deliverance," which clearly explains how to be free of the bondage of sin: "Jesus can set you free if you call out to Him/ Deliver me, oh Jesus, Your help is what I need/ Lord I repent, set me free indeed."
Although it's hard to pick favorites, some of mine are "Big Bang," an irresistible alternative dance rock tune destined for college radio (if they can handle the lyrics), and "Swimsuit Edition Wallpaper," a hook-laden number with a contagious beat and words inspired by Sports Illustrated: "You wonder why you're drowning/ while you're swimming in a sea of swimsuit edition wallpaper/ illustrations, titillations, temptations, infatuations/ Imaginations, justifications, no limitations." I'm also hooked on the title track, which sounds as if the guys got together for a no-holds-barred jam session and are dancing...nah. Here they take a playful shot at their critics, comparing their own blatant honesty to King David's dancing naked before the Lord, and suggest that those who question the validity of their ministry could share the fate of David's wife Michal. "We're used to flack, though/ We wear flack jackets, we listen to Roberta Flack/ The ones who give us flack, though, well, I wouldn't be surprised if they never had any kids!"
As I said earlier, this one's destined to be a classic. Just one small criticism (I really do want kids someday): without a lyric sheet, it's easy to miss out on content, since Gene's vocals are sometimes slurred or buried beneath a barrage of guitars and drums. But rest assured, one is included. While it's refreshing to run across a band who so unabashedly speaks their minds, one can't help but wonder whether these guys would be so bold if their identities were revealed. It's much easier to bare what's in your heart when no one can see your face. By the way guys, David wasn't wearing a mask.