Probing, brazen, provocative...at times even comically absurd - the eleven songs on "godless" encompass a wide variety of acoustic and acoustic/electric musical styles.
The album is unified by the overall haunting, iconoclastic character of the l [+]Probing, brazen, provocative...at times even comically absurd - the eleven songs on "godless" encompass a wide variety of acoustic and acoustic/electric musical styles.
The album is unified by the overall haunting, iconoclastic character of the lyrics - conscientious, nonconformist and questioning. The CD's irreverent title is a twist on that mean-spirited epitaph used by those on the "right" to deride the lives and work of those on the "left". It also happens to sum up my own strong anti-religious convictions.
"godless" opens with the sparse and driving WE ARE THE HAUNTED, in which the singer, confronting homophobia head on, expresses shock and sorrow over bigotry against AIDS victims in today's world. More indictments of oppressive modern culture follow with the amusing, Beatlesque MEAT-EATERS' SONG (co-written with Bernie Langs), the medieval, marching COURTSHIP OF EUROPA, and a nasty bottleneck-blues called IT'S ONLY LOVE. In the monumental rocker CUBES OF LIGHT, a capitalist hack slowly goes mad in his own office surroundings. In the acoustic coming-out ballad IN MY SHOE, hopeless sexual longings for straight friends cease as the singer learns to accept his own brave new identity.
In addition to singing all the vocals, Robert also plays all the instruments. That includes acoustic and electric guitars, piano, organ, bass guitar, an assortment of live percussion, penny-whistle, sampled drum kits and sampled orchestral instruments. The entire production was mastered at Atlantic Recording Studios by renowned sound engineer Steve Innocenzi.
One song of special interest on "godless" is WHEN GOD LETS MY BODY BE (by E.E. Cummings) - which he set to music and performed for the recent centennial celebration of Cummings's birth, held at the New York City Public Library. ______________________________________
ROBERT URBAN Singer-songwriter, composer, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist Robert Urban was born & raised in Fairfield County, CT. He received a B.S. degree in Philosophy and Music from the University of Bridgeport, CT.
Moving to Manhattan, Robert began composing scores for an array of professional music, dance, theater and film productions. Also a session guitarist, vocalist & producer, he has contributed to the projects
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