This is an album ahead of its time in many ways. It has received a lot of praise from critics, and many bands have cited it as a source of inspiration. However, there is one very relevant social issue that Glassjaw explores on the album which tends to be overlooked.
Natives of Long Island, New York, the members of Glassjaw were doubtlessly affected by the attacks on September 11, 2001. Additionally, they’re a band renowned for their ability to translate anger into a sonic fury just as intense as the emotion itself. You would think their response to the attacks would be executed in this fashion. But it wasn’t.
One of the album’s most underrated tracks, “Radio Cambodia,” responds to the attacks in a way that is so mature and relevant that most listeners don’t even make the connection to the song’s inspiration. This track stands out on the album, as singer Daryl Palumbo’s vocals are soothing and pop sensible; a contrast to his signature screaming and his frantic deliveries which frequent the rest of the album.
In 2002, no one would have blamed Glassjaw if they had put out a track that was culturally insensitive; if their signature fury had been harnessed and aimed at the culture of those who had attacked the band’s home. But they didn’t and it wasn't. They wrote a song that commented on the dangers of ignorance and violence; a song aimed not at any specific peoples, but all people. They wrote a song about the human disposition.
“I’m not impressed---I guess I’m not impressed with this dialect, which dialect marches best and who reaches heaven in what order---when our kids are baptized in mortar. It’s a shame that our messiahs moved their pawns from different mountains, and we’re left to dance these bodies ‘round the fountain. If a leader preaches worship to the sheep within the valley, who’ll be riding in a tank that says ‘just married’? We’ve found that ultimately you can make it snow in the summer. Contrary to what you believe, we oscillate and vary speed. The food in jail is sulfury. How do Inuits spell ‘relief’? Summer’s trudging closer and a flurry of white as well. It’s the heart of nuclear winter and I’m scared as hell."
When I hear the phrase 'the human disposition' (even though I might have used another phrase, 'the human condition'), I immediately want to hear the song...and I'm really glad you concluded with lyrics.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure when I started using the phrase human disposition (or where I got it,) but I do make a distinction between that and human condition. To me, the human condition applies to physiological events such as birth, growth, sex and death. I feel there needs to be a distinction between that and humanity's tendencies, habits and temperaments---so disposition just makes more sense to me.
ReplyDeleteThen again, if I'm the only one that thinks the phrasing is appropriate, it's not really helping the reader engage with the article the way I want it to...
ReplyDelete