|
diversions
Homage
to Catalonia lays it on table
By Greg Smith
On-line Forty-Niner
You may have seen
Homage to Catalonia on MTV before, but not on Total Request
Live. Kadd Stephens (he records and performs under the moniker
Homage to Catalonia) made his first appearance on MTV in a
news segment where he was just another unnamed face, eyes
red with mace, being dragged off by police at a World Trade
Organization protest rally in Washington D.C.
Homage to Catalonia
is next in the line of recent singer-songwriters to burst
onto the scene. He joins the likes of Ryan Adams, Rocky Votolato
and Dashboard Confessional as a new breed of soul-searching
singers armed with acoustic guitars, diaries and the occasional
backing band.
Of the latter groups,
Homage to Catalonia is most similar to emo-favorite Dashboard
Confessional. Both wear their feelings on their sleeves but
Homage doesn't sing so much about love and loss. He sings
about rebellion.
Homage to Catalonia's
debut CD "The Estimated Temperature of Heaven" on Status Records
is a remarkable record packed not only with impressive musicianship
but also with powerful songwriting that has been uncommon
for many years.
"The Estimated
Temperature of Heaven" is stark, much like Stephen's view
of the world. Most songs are comprised of only an acoustic
guitar and Stephen's passionate wail.
Stephen's personal
politics are front and center in this record. His song writing
reflects his own strong feelings on oppression, viscous authority,
civil rights violation and globalization.
"Eulogy for a lucky
Pierre" opens the record with a stark guitar and Stephens
inviting the listeners to open their ears to what he has to
say. He sings softly "I think I'd gladly hand over my life
for that peace / for the assurance that I've survived my worst
mistakes / so don't say a word / we'll just pretend that nothing's
different / that nothing's changed." The guitar is sad, yet
inviting; hooking you into the trip that Stephens is taking
you on.
"Letter to a class
traitor" starts slowly and works into a fury as Stephens expounds
the rage and contempt he feels for Washington D.C. Police
Chief Charles Ramsey. The song sounds similar to Stephen's
previous musical excursion with the D.C. band Midvale. Stephens
sings furiously in the chorus "this rage has grown sickening
/ and I / would tear the wings from your back myself / just
to watch you descend into hell."
Homage to Catalonia's
debut record "The Estimated Temperature of Heaven" is packed
full with impassioned lyricism that reflects Kadd Stephen's
personal struggle with the foundation of this country and
the world in general. There is no sap, no crying, nothing
but passionate rock 'n' roll that seeks not only to entertain,
but also to honestly educate.
A
|
