  |
|
|
|
by Paul Landkamer
Visiting musicologist Paul Landkamer drops in with his thoughts on Skillet's "Comatose" and a group he has recently discovered, Pristina.
Paul Landkamer , a former editor for Suite 101 and a regular at Faithwriters.com, shares the following: I was hooked at the first heavy orchestral sounds of Skillet’s “Comatose,” reminiscent of Evanescence or Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” The intensity of “Comatose” is toned down faintly from Skillet’s previous album, “Collide.” Despite the tone-down, a listener would run no risk in operating heavy machinery under its influence. Skillet sticks with their blend of industrial and hardcore instrumentals with yelled and sung, almost emo, vocals. If you like relentless intensity, you’ll like “Comatose.” Lyrically, “Comatose” touches on many societal ills, including loneliness, cutting, domestic violence, and relationships. Though not especially overt, the Christianity is there. This album could easily find acceptance outside of the Christian market. He who has ears, let him hear! A less well-known artist, as well as genre, is Sarah Masen and her electro-indie-alternative sound. While I was trying to find more of her albums, Google revealed a new band, Pristina. Pristina is sort of a supergroup of female artists on the more artistic fringe of pop. I’d heard of some of the Christian artists involved, Sarah Masen and The Echoing Green’s Chrissy Jeter, but the others were unfamiliar to me. Masen and Jeter were enough for me to want to check into more of what Pristina had to offer. Pristina’s MySpace pretty well describes their sound: “Beauty meets technology” and Downtempo / Lush / Electronica. My take is that Pristina’s debut album, “Stars and Sirens,” is beautiful, non-gimmicky ethereal vocals blended with laid-back electronic and traditional instrumentation to produce wonderful ear-candy. The lyrics don’t come across as overtly Christian, but they sing of life experiences. Start your day by getting wound up with Skillet’s “Comatose,” then mellow out after work to Pristina’s “Stars and Sirens.”
The copyright of the article Skillet & Pristina in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Skillet & Pristina in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
