This weekend, veteran independent rock and roll act Prophets of Addiction will release its latest album, Face The Music, through the fledgling independent record label, BraveWords Records. The band’s fourth album and first for the upstart label, it spans 11 songs at just under 40 minutes. The record is a clear DIY effort from the band, having been produced and mixed by the band’s bassist Phil Soussan. The work shows what with the rough, raw sound presented in each arrangement. Speaking of the album’s musical content, it is just one part of what deserves attention in this new album. The record’s lyrical themes make for their own interest and will be examined a little later. The noted production rounds out the album’s most important elements and puts the finishing touch to the presentation. When it is considered alongside the album’s content, the whole makes Face the Music a work that rock and roll purists will agree is worth hearing at least once.
Face The Music, the latest offering from Prophets of Addiction, is an intriguing addition to this year’s field of new rock albums and independent albums. The album’s interest comes in part through its featured musical arrangements. By and large, the arrangements presented throughout the album are works that are sure to appeal to any guitar rock purist. The vintage rock and roll-tinged compositions take listeners back to another age while still ensuring each song’s own identity. For all of the vintage rock sounds that abound throughout the album, there are also some southern rock style compositions, too. They come in the form of ‘Last One in the Bar’ and ‘Hollywood.’ That blend of musical material and the sequencing thereof ensures listeners’ engagement and entertainment in its own right.
Adding to the record’s interest is the lyrical content that accompanies the noted compositions. The lyrical content spread across this record touches on a variety of topics. One of the notable lyrical topics touched on in this record comes early in the album in the form of ‘Let’s Get High.’ According to front man Lesli Sanders, the song’s title is not a drug reference but rather a reference to the high that a person gets from getting that new music after so much anticipation to get that music. That is a feeling that we all get after waiting for a new album from our favorite acts for such a long time. The feeling is expressed quite well right from the song’s outset as Sanders sings, “Like my heart keeping time/It’s a sound that I wanna hear/I’ve got no words/Can I can’t rhyme/It’s a sound that I wanna find/Spin the record/Drop the needle down/Let’s get high.” Again, the title is a bit troublesome, considering Sanders had to explain it away. But also, in being explained, such lyrics do well to illustrate that dopamine rush that we all get on finally hearing our favorite act’s latest record. It is a great high.
Another strong example of the importance of the album’s lyrical content comes late in the record’s run in the form of ‘Take Me To Your Leader.’ The song is clearly a social commentary about the state of society today. This as Sanders sings, “This generation needs a shot/Of Stimulation from themselves/Where are the dreamers/Where are the stars/Who’s gonna lead you now/This situation needs a fix/Of realization/Something quick/Where are the dreamers/The stars/Who’s gonna lead you now?” Sanders is right. This generation is so focused on itself thanks to social media. It needs that proverbial shot in the arm. It needs a dose of something to bring it around. It needs some fix and now. As the song progresses, Sanders sings to “take me to your leader/I wanna get my message through.” That message is more needed today than ever. To that end, this song that also promotes rock and roll, is sure to resonate with plenty of audiences.
One more example of the importance of the album’s lyrical theme comes earlier in its run in the form of ‘Walk The World.’ This song is another commentary. This time, the commentary is a message of support for another. Whether the support noted is plutonic or romantic is left to interpretation but is there. This as Sanders sings, “You can walk the world in silence/Or you can stand up/For what you believe in/But I believe in everything you do/’Cause I believe in you being you/And I would bleed for you/You can leave this world in diamonds/Or take a stand/Hold on to what we believe in/But I believe in everything you do/’Cause I believe in being true/And I would bleed for you.” Again, this comes across on the one hand as a love song of sorts. At the same time, there is that more plutonic vibe. The song’s driving arrangement leaves things up to interpretation, too. Regardless, the song delivers a message that will connect with audiences in its own way because of its overall positivity. To that end, it and the other messages examined here work with the remainder of the album’s lyrical content to make the album’s overall lyrical material clearly just as important to its presentation as its musical arrangements.
The overall musical and lyrical content delivered throughout Face The Music is just part of what makes the album worth hearing. The record’s production rounds out its most important elements. From one song to the next, the album’s production does an impressive job of balancing the instrumentation with the vocals. No one part overpowers the others. Each musician’s performance compliments that of his fellow artists. The result is a positive aesthetic effect that makes the listening experience just as positive as the album’s overall content. To that end, this element and the overall content makes for all the more reason for audiences to hear this album at least once.
Face The Music, the new album from Prophets of Addiction, is an interesting addition to this year’s field of new independent and rock albums. It is a record that will appeal to many guitar rock purists, thanks in large part to its featured musical arrangements. The album’s lyrical themes are slightly more diverse, touching on social matters, personal relationships, personal life experiences and more. The record’s production puts the finishing touch to its presentation, ensuring a positive listening experience through the time and effort put into balancing each musician’s performance. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of Face The Music. All things considered they make this album an independent rock album worth hearing at least once.
Face The Music is scheduled for release Friday through BraveWords Records. More information on the album is available along with all of the latest news from Prophets of Addiction at:
Website: https://prophetsofaddicition.com
