Sunday, May 27, 2012

Album titles

I recently bought The Temper Trap's second album entitled, confusingly and disappointingly 'The Temper Trap'.
I find it disappointing because it's just unimaginative and uncreative.  I find it confusing because now, if someone refers to 'The Temper Trap', it is unclear if they are talking about the band in general or the album specifically.
Other bands that I like who have committed this crime include Casting Crowns, Franz Ferdinand, Jars of Clay, The Kissaway Trail, The Libertines, Lifehouse, Sixpence None the Richer, Sonicflood, and Stellastarr*.  British Sea Power almost did it, with 'The Decline of British Sea Power', as did The Rock'n'Roll Worship Circus, with 'Welcome to the Rock'n'roll Worship Circus'
The most disappointing of these was Lifehouse's third album.  After the wonderfully named No Name Face (greatest album ever) and equally wonderfully named Stanley Climbfall (not too far behind), Lifehouse (the third album, not the band) was not of the same standard and also had a disappointing and confusing name.  Insult to injury.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Phatfish - In the beginning

I quite like Phatfish.  They've written some really good stuff and are decent live performers.  I've listened to their music for over a decade.  A few weeks ago I saw them at Spring Harvest.  It was mostly a good gig, but one song in particular drove me up the wall.  It's called In The Beginning.


I can't find the lyrics online but as far as I can tell they go like this:


You’ve got Dawkins standing on a pedestal
Shouting at the creatures God is dead
You’ve got people thinking that they’re scientists
All agree the notion God’s not there
But please tell me in this theory
Explain how life ever first began
Could such genius precise details
Just appear without a master plan?

In the beginning God
In the beginning God created
Life exploded
In the beginning

You’ve got people telling us the science deal
Answering the questions, hows and whys
You’ve got mockers scoffing at the Bible
Thinking they are smart and faith is blind
But the leap is so much greater
To think chance is alone responsible
When I’m faced with love and beauty
There’s just one explanation plausible

In the beginning God
In the beginning God created
Life exploded
In the beginning

Right at the start there was the word
And the word was with God
Right at the start the word was God
Yes the word was with God
And through him everything was made
Nothing made without him
In him was life and that’s the life
That’s the life I’m wanting


This song makes me angry.  Not just because I disagree that science and Christianity are as opposed as the song suggests.  Not just because the lyrics suggest that you can't believe the Bible and agree with evolution.  Not just because the song is critical of scientists like myself.  Though these reasons alone would wind me up.

It's because it's by Phatfish.  One of the longest-standing Christian bands we have in Britain, and one of the most popular.  They should know better than to write a song about such a divisive issue from such an extreme standpoint.  Not only could this song alienate Christians who accept evolution, like myself.  Not only could it confirm the fears of well-meaning but confused Christians who don't know enough about evolution but suspect it might be against Christianity (it isn't, but the way).
Songs like this could alienate other people from even giving faith a chance.  This song presents Christians as paranoid fundamentalists who feel threatened by evil scientists.  Some research has suggested that one of the most significant things that prevents young people from becoming Christians is the perceived dichotomy between science and Christianity.  Regardless of the personal views of Phatfish on evolution, they should know better than to write a song that could present an extreme viewpoint as a middle-of-the-road one.

Encores

Does anyone else get a bit annoyed with encores?  They're just so contrived.  The band go off, the lights stay low, no-one moves, people shout and clap, and the band come back on to play songs that everyone knew they were going to play, because they include the bands biggest hit, and the band planned them into the setlist before the gig.
I wish we could have real encores.  Where the band play their whole set as planned and then they go off and the lights come up.  If it has been a particularly impressive show, or if the crowd are particularly partisan, they shout for more and the band reappear and play a song that they've already played because they hadn't planned an encore.

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Olympic Sports

I've been saying for a while now that the only sports allowed at the Olympics should be those sports for which the highest honour or achievement is the Olympic Gold medal.  Therefore sports such as athletics, swimming, judo, canoeing, gymnastics should be Olympic Sports.  Sports such as football and tennis should not.  In football, the World Cup is the highest achievement.  In tennis, it is the four majors of Wimbledon, French Open, US Open and Australian Open.
Steve Cram wrote about this today.  I share his concerns.