COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

Call Me Crazy

No, really. You won't be the first, nor will you be the last. So go ahead.

Use (anti)social media if you like! In fact, right here on this site you can connect and comment on a leading platform hosting enormous flame-wars, maybe even encouraging them.

Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius have been a going concern since 2004; Joe has been 'fiddling' around for a lot longer, and hanging with some pretty illustrious musical company. Do names like Springsteen, Everclear, Renaissance, and The Who ring any bells?

Yup, "the Jimi Hendrix of the electric violin" has hung out with these and more.

But Back to Crazy

(Anti)Social Media kills. I don't think this is an exaggeration. Nor do I think it's an accident that platforms like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter are owned by mega-gazillionaires, who prefer that the average 'Joe' stays blissfully ignorant of all the divisive, hate-inducing, fire-breathing madness you can find within 1.2 seconds by using uber- intrusive GOOGLE search.

However

Joe Deninzon has the temerity to notice! "Cognitive Dissonance", the latest track from this sizzling crossover progressive act- music/lyrics by Joe- hones in on the tragic outcomes on both the granular level (innocent BFF's polluted by prejudiced rage-filled parents), yet aware of the larger consequences of social destruction, and yes, murder.

January 6, 2021 Anyone?

"COGNITIVE DISSONANCE" opens with a punchy full-band riff, then Deninzon's vocals roll right in, telling the story I've been alluding to all along. Randy McStine adds his voice on the second verse.

The music is filled with hooks, funky rhythms, catchy lyrics- all of which unfortunately spell out- as prophets are cursed/blessed to do- the insanity of the times in which we're living.

Joe's violin wails, the full band pokes and prods and propels the action, and "hatred is taught".

The little ones don't emerge from the womb spewing venom, hatred, racism, and fascism.

"Safely Behind Our Screens"

You know the trope: little punks in mom's basement are emboldened to write the most outrageous filth, and at worst, take certain calculated actions to unmask the privacy of their victims so they, their family, and their safety can be shattered.

There's a wild electric violin burst which subsides until the electric guitar hits a riff over an acoustic guitar strum.

It builds with the tasty drumming leading to an ever intensifying duel between electric violin and electric guitar, sometimes in harmony, then criss-crossing and yes, battling. Higher. Hotter. Flame-wars.

(Anti)Social Media

Tired of this theme yet? Me too.

Sick to death- it takes lives. And the antidote?

The Brave Ones

The ones who notice, who speak out, who name what is happening, like we hear in "COGNITIVE DISSONANCE".