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Campbell Natale and Social D K
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Campbell Natale’s CD, “Social Decay (Agnostic Concept Metal Anthem),” is about to be released and the Fuzz community has had the opportunity to preview this collection.
It is not for this reason alone that the title song, “Social D K,” and other CN pieces deserve review and reflection. Let me, thus, follow up on "shrink’s" description of a timeless and wild Rock N’ Roll ride down memory lane with Campbell Natale [which review comments are apt], with a few observations of my own that focus on the title work of the group’s forthcoming release.
As with all songs, Social D K should be heard and appreciated on two levels: First and foremost, the piece should be enjoyed as a total “in the moment” experience [KABOOM!] - an integrated composition of words and music for surprise and delight – to appreciate that, indeed, “Life is Great” [a recurrent CN theme]. Second, for reflection that, only maybe, life could be even better, and perhaps we shouldn’t blow ourselves up after all.
While listening to the basically dark side of Social D K, one notes the lighter and irreverent flip-side that weaves itself throughout and finishes the piece. The actual lyrics take you, along with CN’s wailing guitar, incessant beat, and guttural voice through the “Gates of Hell.” The piece seems to be saying, take note of the social decay of which we are all a reflection, but for “Heaven’s Sake,” lighten up.
It is revealing that the CN songs recently uploaded at Fuzz [most of whose lyrics can be found at http://www.campbellnatale.com ] are divided into a “harder side” and a “softer side.” CN’s body of work suggests an awareness that everything in life and art must be thus balanced. In fact, this self-described hard/soft cleavage may also be a good clue to demystify the mysterious in Social D K {decay), both the song and with respect to the human condition.
On a final note, Campbell Natale’s title song reminds us that “[a] democracy can disappear at any time, if it ignores the truth about itself.” [see Bill Moyer’s reflections in the RS 40th Anniversary Edition, p. 112]. Lots of tears and laughter.
NB: a note to readers of my reviews: the text of my reviews at this site may change from time to time. As I listen for futher nuances in a song or body of work, I keep modifying or adding to my thoughts, making my reviews an organic "moveable feast". Since Fuzz artists are constantly evolving, as are our own perspectives, I think Fuzz reviews should not be frozen in time. It's time to extend the power of real-time, web-based music discovery, by making our reviews, "wiki-reviews."
It is not for this reason alone that the title song, “Social D K,” and other CN pieces deserve review and reflection. Let me, thus, follow up on "shrink’s" description of a timeless and wild Rock N’ Roll ride down memory lane with Campbell Natale [which review comments are apt], with a few observations of my own that focus on the title work of the group’s forthcoming release.
As with all songs, Social D K should be heard and appreciated on two levels: First and foremost, the piece should be enjoyed as a total “in the moment” experience [KABOOM!] - an integrated composition of words and music for surprise and delight – to appreciate that, indeed, “Life is Great” [a recurrent CN theme]. Second, for reflection that, only maybe, life could be even better, and perhaps we shouldn’t blow ourselves up after all.
While listening to the basically dark side of Social D K, one notes the lighter and irreverent flip-side that weaves itself throughout and finishes the piece. The actual lyrics take you, along with CN’s wailing guitar, incessant beat, and guttural voice through the “Gates of Hell.” The piece seems to be saying, take note of the social decay of which we are all a reflection, but for “Heaven’s Sake,” lighten up.
It is revealing that the CN songs recently uploaded at Fuzz [most of whose lyrics can be found at http://www.campbellnatale.com ] are divided into a “harder side” and a “softer side.” CN’s body of work suggests an awareness that everything in life and art must be thus balanced. In fact, this self-described hard/soft cleavage may also be a good clue to demystify the mysterious in Social D K {decay), both the song and with respect to the human condition.
On a final note, Campbell Natale’s title song reminds us that “[a] democracy can disappear at any time, if it ignores the truth about itself.” [see Bill Moyer’s reflections in the RS 40th Anniversary Edition, p. 112]. Lots of tears and laughter.
NB: a note to readers of my reviews: the text of my reviews at this site may change from time to time. As I listen for futher nuances in a song or body of work, I keep modifying or adding to my thoughts, making my reviews an organic "moveable feast". Since Fuzz artists are constantly evolving, as are our own perspectives, I think Fuzz reviews should not be frozen in time. It's time to extend the power of real-time, web-based music discovery, by making our reviews, "wiki-reviews."
Comments
Your initial reaction was Kaboom, yeah, one person a while back said BAM, I'm listening.
I wanted something that is [news current] today to grab people's attention and what better way than to literally explode right into the subject matter. You are right on in my conveyance of the meanings and messages when I wrote "Social Decay".
I am the pointing out the pompous hubris of religion while also illustrating from the "broken window" theory of when a window is broken and not repaired = more broken windows = material & moral & ethical devaluation [decay] of neighborhoods = spreading virus = social decay. Quite frankly it really is worrisome to me. Coupled with the fact that some people don't see it, shut it out, or don't care when confronted with it.
At the same time I think people need to lighten up and see things for what they are and drop the political correct protocol and simply do what's right. I myself think people can do this with or without being, as they say, a religious person. There is right & wrong it's as simple as that. Religion is certainly an old tool and it has proven time & time again that it can be used to control large masses of people without them being AWARE as you and I have connected on several times in our discussions of [aware]. The misusage and reliance on religion is what unsettles me most.
I try to balance the immensity and frightening possibilities of continued unabated social decay with humor in the fact that it is all so ridiculous when you consider soldiers with weapons in their hands thinking that God is on his side and guess what? ...the guy on the other side believes the same damn thing, yet there they are locked in immortal combat knowing that God is on their side in essence saying my God's better than you God and by God I'll kill you if you disagree...what a moronic dumbing down of man. We haven't come far from the cave after all???
Terry @ Campbell Natale