Civil Rites
Encyclopedia
Civil Rites is the 13th release, and 10th studio album
, by American
Christian rock
band Resurrection Band
(known at this point as "REZ"), released in 1991.
-based rock, as evidenced in songs like "Footprints" and "In My Room," interspersed with AC/DC
-inspired heavy metal
numbers like the album's opener, "Lovespeak," as well as "Comatose." Co-lead singer Wendi Kaiser is given more to do on this record, which is good or bad depending on the listener's opinion of her vocal style. Along with "Comatose" and "Death Machine," she duets with her husband Glenn Kaiser
on the uptempo blues number "Hotfootin'" and closes out the album with a cover of the classic Jefferson Airplane
song, "Somebody to Love
." Given that her voice has often been compared to Grace Slick
, it's an appropriate choice.
Civil Rites is also more forcefully evangelical than REZ' two prior releases. The band returns to issues of importance to its younger high-school
-aged audience, like casual sex
and its emotional aftermath (song "Players"), family turmoil ("In My Room"), and drug addiction--specifically crack cocaine
("Little Jeanie"). Prostitution
and drug use ("Comatose"), the remaining cultural aftereffects of slavery
("Lincoln's Train"), and harsh criticism of the military-industrial complex
("Death Machine")--a frequent, ongoing REZ theme--are topics dealt with as well. On a brighter note, however, the upbeat "Hotfootin'" pays tribute to the tireless work of street preacher
s.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
(known at this point as "REZ"), released in 1991.
Recording history
By now, REZ had perfected their recent formula of bluesBlues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
-based rock, as evidenced in songs like "Footprints" and "In My Room," interspersed with AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
-inspired heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
numbers like the album's opener, "Lovespeak," as well as "Comatose." Co-lead singer Wendi Kaiser is given more to do on this record, which is good or bad depending on the listener's opinion of her vocal style. Along with "Comatose" and "Death Machine," she duets with her husband Glenn Kaiser
Glenn Kaiser
Glenn Kaiser is a Chicago-based Christian blues musician, singer-songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser Band.-Childhood:...
on the uptempo blues number "Hotfootin'" and closes out the album with a cover of the classic Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
song, "Somebody to Love
Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane song)
"Somebody to Love" is a rock song that was written by Darby Slick and originally recorded by 1960s folk rock band The Great Society and later by the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane...
." Given that her voice has often been compared to Grace Slick
Grace Slick
Grace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
, it's an appropriate choice.
Civil Rites is also more forcefully evangelical than REZ' two prior releases. The band returns to issues of importance to its younger high-school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
-aged audience, like casual sex
Casual sex
Casual sex or hooking up refers to certain types of human sexual activity outside the context of a romantic relationship. The term is not always used consistently: some use it to refer to any extramarital sex, some use it to refer to sex in a casual relationship, whereas others reserve its use for...
and its emotional aftermath (song "Players"), family turmoil ("In My Room"), and drug addiction--specifically crack cocaine
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
("Little Jeanie"). Prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and drug use ("Comatose"), the remaining cultural aftereffects of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
("Lincoln's Train"), and harsh criticism of the military-industrial complex
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
("Death Machine")--a frequent, ongoing REZ theme--are topics dealt with as well. On a brighter note, however, the upbeat "Hotfootin'" pays tribute to the tireless work of street preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
s.
Track listing
- "Lovespeak" – 3:29
- "Mission Bells" – 3:36
- "Comatose" – 3:31
- "Death Machine" – 2:57
- "Players" – 4:17
- "Lincoln's Train" – 4:42
- "Hotfootin'" – 2:54
- "Little Jeanie" – 4:29
- "Footprints" – 2:37
- "Pauper's Grave" – 4:30
- "In My Room" – 2:44
- "Somebody to Love" – 3:01
Personnel
- Glenn KaiserGlenn KaiserGlenn Kaiser is a Chicago-based Christian blues musician, singer-songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser Band.-Childhood:...
- Vocals, guitars, harmonica - Wendi Kaiser - Vocals
- Stu Heiss - Electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards
- Roy Montroy - Bass guitar, keyboards
- John Herrin - Drums
Production
- Producers - REZResurrection BandResurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
and Tom Cameron - Engineers - Ed Bialach, Roy Montroy and Roger Heiss
- Mixers - REZResurrection BandResurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
with Roger Heiss - Mastering - Steve Hall