Is Pop Music Finding God On The Corner Of First And Amistad?

It was early this year that soft pop-rock band The Fray released the first single off of their self-titled sophomore album, "You Found Me" The Denver-based band, led by Isaac Slade found themselves questioning not God's existence, but God's motives and timing. "Where were you when everything was falling apart... just a little late, you found me" is the taunt raised towards a distant Almighty found loafing with a cig in hand at a street corner.

Meanwhile, Regina Spektor (like The Fray, an alumni of the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack cliche) had been readying her new disc, Far, to be released next week. Lead single "Laughing With" doesn't question the Supreme Being's existence either, in fact it doesn't ask a lot of questions. It tells us the no one is laughing at God when "the doctor calls and says 'I've got some bad news, sir'" or "when they're hungry or freezing or so very poor." Why? Because "no one's laughing at God, we're all laughing with God." In fact, Regina's presentation of God as an empathic deity stands in direct contrast to Isaac's God-Come-Lately.

It's not the first time God has shown up in pop music, but I've been noticing it a bit more in recent months. Lily Allen's latest disc, It's Not Me, It's You included the "God is one of us" ditty "Him" which found God paying his taxes, listening to Creedance Clearwater Revival and shaking his head at religious violence. Katy Perry wonders if "when I pray, am I just sending words into outer space?" on "Lost" from One Of The Boys. It's a very adult question, one that fits the vibe of that prodigal-child-in-LA song. And recently Carolina Liar dropped their debut single "Show What I'm Looking For" which featured the chorus "Save me, I'm lost/Lord, I've been waiting for you."

I'm not surprised that an interest in spiritual matters has made it's way into mainstream music. It seems to happen in an explicit way every few years, and with so much economic turmoil and civil rights debate it seems like it couldn't not happen. I read a fascinating book about a year ago, which I start a post about but never finished. It's called I'll Take You There: Pop Music And The Urge For Transcendence, and the premise was that we all have an inner yearning for enlightenment and transcendence, and artists often exhibit that urge through music. Not only through words but also through instruments, arrangements and stage antics.

I think part of our current urge, as a people on the verge of frightening changes in gender politics, ecology and financial matters, is a questioning of God's place in this. Is God still there? Does God exist anymore? Where can we find God? Not because we don't want God, but because we truly don't know anymore.

Recluctantly Enjoyed: Carolina Liar - "Show Me What I'm Looking For"

Occasionally I rush to judgement on a song. Either I dislike the artist, so I don't give it chance; or at first glance it's doesn't seem like my kind of song. Sometimes, I judge too harshly and end up regretting it. Here is another song I Reluctantly Enjoyed.

At first blush, Carolina Liar's lead singer Chad Wolf looks like a southern rocker with a singer-songwriter bent. I hate southern rock, and most singer-songwriters tend to be a bit pretentious. I hated him already. Upon listening to the band's glossy emo-pop sound, you may think he's South Carolina's new Pete Wentz. Which is kinda cool, but the back story is even more glossy. Britney Spears' producer Max Martin produced the debut album, Coming To Terms and most of the band was created out of Swedish session musicians. It's all so pre-fabricated, which works for thin-voiced pop tarts but rock singers need a little more authenticity. I was planning on hating the lead single, "Show Me What I'm Looking For" because of that perception.

I was wrong. "Show Me What I'm Looking For" takes the best bits from Coldplay's grandiose symphonic rock and Phil Spector's wall of sound, throws on a gospel choir and churns out a pop-rock single that thrills me. I couldn't believe it, I was loving a rock song produced by the same man who gave us "...Baby One More Time." Listen, and reluctantly enjoy with me...