One Set of Footprints · Issue 005

I mean, with a cover like that, how can you not be intrigued?

Once my eyes healed from the burning, I started up the album with absolutely no expectations of what it might be. And it's one of those where for multiple days I didn't listen past the first track because there's so much to take in.

The best way to describe this album is a Christian rock opera, with influences across most rock subgenres. The trio is from Denton, TX, and these boys love Jesus first and Texas as a close second. The band, and the album, have grown a cult following over the years, but sadly remain incredibly niche. It's something out of a fable: 3 boys from rural TX, and legend has it the lead singer is 7ft tall.

I also have to say that I never thought in a million years I would be head over heels for a Christian rock album. It's not just "technically" Christian rock either. It's full-blown, lyrics-from-the-hymnal, one-set-of-footprints-in-the-sand type Christian rock, but somehow it works magically.

One of my first thoughts was how amazingly it was produced and mixed. It reminds me of the production on Grace, dare I say better (not that the album is better, but the production is balancing more elements). Apparently it was mixed by Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde from Cocteau Twins, so that makes it make more sense, but also opens another question of how they got in the studio with Robin and Simon.

I still really like the first track, Just As Was Told. It starts out with a long, Slint inspired spoken word segment until a train comes screaming through, kicking off instrumentation that flows in and out of different grooves, like the song has ADHD and can't stay in one place for more than 20 seconds. I think the song is about an apocalypse starting? And Texas is Zion? I can't even really tell. There's way too much going on to focus on the lyrical content.

Falling From Cloud 9 is probably the most accessible song on the album, the best starting point if you just want to dip your toe in the water. Love it lyrically as well. It doesn't pretend life is easy, and it's beautiful about it:

The God-man Christ calls cursed man to the test
And this cross crushed into my chest

The imagery points out not only the weight of Christianity and what it means to wear the cross on a necklace, but also relying on that cross to get through trials and tribulations. He is the one crushing the cross into his chest, calling on God to help him through.

Lyrically and vocally it's very dramatic, but oddly works for me.

If you were somehow questioning how Christian rock the album is, the second half will make it very clear. These Are the Days is the most popular song, and sounds like the most likely to be covered by a band of youth pastors. I love the concept of "the days" being your trials.

Finally I'll shout out Into the Storm, a metal inspired closer. Don't be discouraged by the 29 minute runtime. The one problem I have with the album is there's a hidden track bolted onto the end of it that I think is more of a novelty than additive to the album, and adds 19 mins of near silence to the project.

I'm so excited to have discovered this album, and I couldn't recommend it enough to just put on some nice headphones and let it spin front to back. It's so surreal that a Christian rock opera could be something I'm highly recommending.

You love Danger Mouse.

Even if you don't know who that is, you do love him. I'm confident in that.

If you were, like me, raised on Crazy by Gnarls Barkley, or love Feel Good Inc. or DARE by Gorillaz, you love Danger Mouse.

Danger Mouse is Brian Burton, a music producer who Esquire named one of the 75 most influential people (not even just musicians, people) of the 21st century.

He got famous in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which quickly got pulled from distribution because of the blatant copyright infringement. The album, aptly named, is the vocals from Jay-Z's The Black Album layered on top of instrumentals from the Beatles' White Album.

Immediately after getting famous in the music community, he got to work. He produced the sophomore Demon Days by Damon Albarn's Gorillaz and teamed up with CeeLo Green to form Gnarls Barkley.

He's been collaborating ever since. The criminally underrated project Broken Bells is Brian plus James Mercer (The Shins), and he has produced amazing albums for A$AP Rocky, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys and Adele. He did an album with Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and a ton of work with the late hip hop legend MF DOOM. Suffice it to say he keeps getting better and better.

Black Thought is the MC from The Roots. You might know him from Jimmy Fallon's late night show. The Roots were a hip hop group from Philly in the 90's, although the label "hip hop group" feels wrong with an impact as much as they've had.

Black Thought is widely regarded as one of the most prolific, skilled rappers of all time. As this new album shows, he also keeps getting better and better.

↗ 2022 Cheat Codes Danger Mouse & Black Thought conscious hip hopboom bap Cheat Codes is a modern return to 90's style east coast hip hop, that same decades old structure rebuilt with modern sounds and sampling techniques. In my opinion it's the best hip hop album of the decade. Start with No Gold Teeth. It was the lead single for the album and gives a good look at Black Thought's wordplay and Danger Mouse's abstract approach to production. The production, in my opinion, is a testament to Black Thought's rapping ability. The beat starts, and you're like, how could someone rap on this? And then he comes into the beat like Eileen Gu flying through moguls (does Eileen even ski moguls?). The title track is a good example of this. Strangers is where the modernity is most prevalent: the beat borders on trap and the A$AP Rocky feature has a cloud rap cadence. Because is an awesome posse cut, but Belize is the standout track for me. It's Danger Mouse at his very best, creating an eerie atmosphere with the lightly cascading piano and minor key bass line. Black Thought's rhyming is mesmerizing, then DOOM's is transcendent. In typical MF DOOM fashion, you gotta read the lyrics to see he's not actually rhyming every single word. Sweet album cover too. Hopefully it evens out the average in this week's issue.

I'll shelve some of these single tracks because I have so many I want to talk about this week. Music is just the best.

Where's Your Love Now This Is Lorelei · 2024 Listen indie popbedroom pop I had the pleasure of seeing This Is Lorelei (Nate Amos) this week. While I haven't loved his solo stuff in the past, the concert opened it up for me, as he approaches his songs very differently live. It was an amazing show. I didn't really get this song for the longest time, but I get it now.

I, the Witchfinder Electric Wizard · 2000 Listen doom metal It's the Halloween season, so I gotta point you to this song. The crushing, bone rattling riffs and fuzzed out production are not for the faint of heart. A lot can be said about this album, so check it out if you dig this song. 11 minute song that needs all 11 mins.

Indu Greg Freeman · 2026 Listen slacker rockindie rock Greg's been getting a lot of attention with his recently released album. I didn't really get it until this week. I love that he is bringing a type of grunge element into this new wave of "indie country".

locket she's green · 2026 Listen dream popshoegaze Another amazing debut album from 2026. This opening track is one of those melodies that has always existed, but was just discovered. Gorgeous, reverb soaked guitar with the vocals interwoven in. What I like most is how the vocal mixing is gradually more in front toward the end of the song.