New Perspective on Old Music
I’m getting to know a whole new Over the Rhine as I sit and listen to more stuff from when Ric Hordinski was in the band. The OtR that I know and love is the Good Dog, Bad Dog and Ohio OtR: quiet, sensual, and focused on Karin and Linford.
The OtR I’m hearing right now is a much more rocking band: the Amateur Shortwave Radio, Besides, and Cutting Room Floor OtR greatly benefitted, sonically, from Hordinski.
This makes me ponder the parallels that I, as a Caedmon’s Call fan, will see as the band transitions from its first era [with Derek Webb as vocalist/songwriter and Aaron Tate as songwriter] to its second [with Andrew Osenga in Derek's place and other non-touring songwriting voices like Randall Goodgame].
Now I know how new Caedmon’s fans feel—hi, Rick!—ones who don’t know what the My Calm // Your Storm fuss is all about, people for whom Aaron is just a name in the liner notes.
I myself drifted off into Aaron-awe this past weekend when I sang “I’m Coming Home” at a wedding. The metaphors in that song alone would’ve taken me a lifetime to have come up with.
I am shell-shocked
And I have walked
Through the trenches full of tears
With the mortars of memory
Exploding in my burning ears
You strip the trees of Lebanon
And now you’re stripping me, too
Of the bark of false morality
And the bite of selfish greed
Can you hear me?
Wow.
June 2nd, 2004 at 06:53I’m the same way, Mark; I appreciate Aaron’s contributions far more these days than I ever did when he was actively writing for the band.
There’s something wrong with that.
June 2nd, 2004 at 07:00