Transatlantic - superb band, but those religious..

b) Whether the artist meant it or not, you can take it as a role/character they're playing for effect, rather than a representation of their world view.

 

For example, Carrie Underwood's Jesus Take The Wheel has one of the most shocking and irresponsible lyrical messages you're likely to find in a pop song. Yet I don't mind it because sonically it's fairly well constructed. Does Underwood actually think that in times of crisis we should abandon action and just hope things work out? Does she actually recommend that struggling mothers in traffic accidents with sleeping children in the back seat shouldn't even try to do anything but throw their hands up in the air and hope ghosts or other invisible life forms descend from the sky to rectify the situation? Probably not. But she was playing a character to appeal to a demographic who find the notion that in times of crisis, it's all up to Jesus, reassuring. I'm not part of that demographic but it wasn't news to me that it exists and is large enough to market product to, no reason to get upset about it.

 

Here's a good song with a Christian lyrics that I find kinda badass, about a woman whose abusive ex-partner comes back to her saying he's reformed and has found Jesus. Here's the chorus, but you might like to skip to the video and hear it for yourself:

 

"You say I should stay with you

That Jesus forgives you

You pray I will, but I won't

The difference is, Jesus loves you, I don't"

Ouch, I wince every time.

 

^THIS^ 

 

like the difference between a textbook about religions and the bible/koran/veda/what have you

 

i can enjoy the former in both cases, explorations of what it is to be human

 

the latter is usually about convincing someone, or trying to out-pious someone else, and is to be avoided at all costs

 

obviously there is a line of subtlety in the middle

 

i think earlier posters are right in that for the last 10 years or so, 'christians', or at least some of them, have been awfully irritating in the general culture and politics.  were the muslims as large a group or felt as safe (in the US) i am sure we would ahve seen the same.  so, right now, 'christian' lyrics, especially if overt, will leave a bad taste in many mouths.  this will offend some 'christians' , oh well.  these offended christians would likely be pretty upset if another religion was getting as much airplay in as many fields of music.

But my main problem with Transatlantic is not related to their lyrics, my problem is the music, which I find boring, predictable and unimaginative.

Iván

How can you possibly know how much passion the band has?  

No ideas in The Whirlwind?  Haha, sorry, but I cannot even comprehend that kind of statement. 

If you don't dig Transatlantic, you don't dig them, but, IMO, they have created some of the best symphonic prog rock ever.  In fact, I'd put their three studio albums up against just about any bands' best three albums.  They are that good. 

that's why i love them :)