Michael Knott

Item: Life of David
Author: Ken Mueller

Life of David

(2001)

Reviewed by Ken Mueller

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Label Metro One MusicThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

acoustic rock alternative rock singer-songwriter

Over the years the chameleon that is Michael Knott has put out numerous records, both solo and with his various bands. The solo albums have tended to be filled with snapshots of different individuals or "characters" that have crossed Knott's path, from a cannibalistic old woman to cross-dressers to aging rock stars and other dysfunctional . This time around, however, Knott gets personal and looks within himself, while at the same time examining the life of King David. This album actually contains elements of two unrealized Knott projects: an earlier version of Life of David and another solo project called Halo.

Life of David could just as well be called Life of Mike. And in it we not only get the standard picture of the unassuming little shepherd boy/giant killer who offered comfort and praise with his 23rd Psalm. Instead we get a more complete picture of the King who was an adulterous and murderous conniver who often shakes his fist at God and has to grovel with the heart-wrenching 51st Psalm. Such is the life of David, and apparently the life of Mike.

Knott addresses this theme throughout, including the marvelous "Chameleon":

I am the adultress and the penitent man
I'm the cunning culprit and the little lamb
And I love all God's children
All but one: this chameleon

In the quietly beautiful "Into Your Heaven," Knott intones:

Slippin' and sliding and wondering why
I can't fly quite as high as I used to
Then I see in your eyes that there's something for me
Can't believe you're giving me love
And I can't wait to get caught up into your heaven
And I ask myself how can this be unbelievably true

And then there are shades of Psalm 51 in "Sorry:"

Beat me up and toss me out
Know what your anger is all about
I showed you love and I showed you greed
So much greed
I'm sorry, so sorry.

And again in "Bitterness:"

Sometimes I wanna die
How would I know the living if I didn't know the dying
How would I taste the honey if there was no pain in trying.

Over and over again Knott hammers home the theme of his, and our, unworthiness in the face of a holy God, who reaches across the chasm to bring us closer to Himself. And the key to it all is grace and the Almighty accepting us as we are, and where we are.

In the lilting "Halo" we hear:

Hell, no
I don't mind if your halo don't glow like it used to glow
I don't care if you change your mind every tempting road.

And finally in "Hospital:"

I think I need forgiveness, I think I need more than the rest
I think I need just not to know, I think I need a hospital
I think I need not to go there, I think I need a heart to share

Much of this album, produced by Chris Lizotte and recorded in Knott's home studio, is quiet and pensive with an emphasis on acoustic guitars and Knott's emotion-filled vocals. There are a few rockers here, but even those are quite laid back. And the real beauty of this disc is that while it is vintage Mike Knott, it is at once new and fresh. Not merely a re-tread of older material, it is like a new pair of shoes that fits comfortably like an old worn-in pair, while still looking new and different.

Helping out on this disc, which is scheduled for an April 17th release, are Lizotte, Jyro Xhan (Mortal, Fold Zandura), Dicky Ochoa, and Frank Lenz (CUSH, Lassie Foundation, Fold Zandura), among others.

5 tocks