Several years ago I had a moment to actually talk with Daniel Smith of the Danielson Famile and asked something about his influences and about being a Christian band. He replied along the lines that he doesn't consider himself a Christan band. They are just a band that make songs about things that are important to them.
I believe that is the healthiest philosophy for anything.
Recently having rediscovered the music from 2nd Chapter of Acts, I've been enjoying the tracks that aren't so overtly Christian the most.
There was a South Park episode that illustrates this point perfectly, actually (because, you know as awful as that show is, they are very honest).
This is a huge personal win for me. This album, more than any other, influenced a great deal of my life as it is now.
Roar of Love by 2nd Chapter of Acts is a concept album telling the C.S. Lewis fantasy novel- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with fantastic '70s music with lots of synthesized effects and amazing harmonies. It is, in my opinion, the band's greatest album.
Listening to the music again, lately, I've discovered that this is most likely the source of much of the music I find passion in these days. This very record (and a few of 2nd Chapter of Act's others) where engraved on my brain from the start.
The 1970s had the best music.
On top of the great music the message is wondrous. Through the downs and ups of my spiritual walk, I have come to consider C.S. Lewis as my spiritual leader- come to realize that he is would probably be more accurate. The gospel message interlaced through the story is perfect.
And lastly, this is a fantasy story. Other worlds, witches, magic, swords and shields... you can't go wrong with that kind of world. All of the Chronicles of Narnia are wonderful and based on sound theology.
So when my kids want to hear Narnia, I consider it a victory every time.
Started listening to this on the way home from work this evening and wasn't expecting the impact it made on me.
I actually can't wait for my commute to work tomorrow morning!
The lyrical content has a whole different dimension for me now in this point of my walk.
The music strikes me over and over reminding me that this is a majority of the core that forms my everlasting interest of what I am passionate about in music. Especially the dynamic bass lines here.
