Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad
The first two Indelicates albums, American Demo and Songs For Swinging Lovers were my favourite albums of 2008 and 2010 respectively. And while stiff competition may prevent the third, David Koresh Superstar, from making it a hat trick, it will be in my Top Five of 2011. Which is pretty good going for a band I don’t think I’ve ever heard on the radio (not even on 6 Music). I’ll keep typing this until I my fingers bleed: why The Indelicates aren’t the biggest thing since The Smiths (or at least Carter) on student hi-fis throughout the land I just do not understand. Perhaps they’re victims of society’s inexorable dumbing down. Perhaps they’re just too damned smart…
Somethin’ Going Down In Waco
Yes, David Koresh Superstar is a concept album. Yes, it scampers across the musical spectrum from C&W to Kurt Weill to Jesus Christ Superstar. Yes, it cheekily references everyone from the Bible to the Bloodhound Gang (or Rockmaster Scott and the Dynamic Three if you want to be pedantic). Yes, it features Philip Jeays as an ATF agent and Jim Bob from Carter USM as Timothy McVeigh. But for all the black humour, this is no pisstake. Listen closely to the lyrics, or better yet, read the heavily annotated lyrics booklet (available with the CD Special Edition) and you’ll find a thought-provoking, thoroughly investigated and passionately argued examination of the Branch Davidian Cult, the Waco Siege and the terrifying consequences of Church vs. State taken to its most bizarre extreme. As Simon Indelicate sums up…
“I’m not sure I’ve come to any conclusions. It’s a real SNAFU of a story and it’s hard to find anyone unequivocally innocent or guilty. I think it’s possible that Koresh led a dangerous cult that was, nonetheless, treated appallingly in a barely justified and negligent raid. I can’t come down on either side.”
Pay For It
David Koresh Superstar is available to download for whatever you think it’s worth from the Corporate Records website. If you’d prefer the physical album or (my recommendation) the signed special edition with lyrics booklet, click here. If you believe music should mean something, you owe it to yourself to buy this record and help fund whatever The Indelicates do next.
How bizarre. I’ve had my interest piqued – not by the music but by the politics behind it.