Published on Jan 30, 1999
How did I miss All Star United’s 1997 eponymous debut disc? This
group is fun!
Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, this five-man band makes some
very interesting musical choices and that makes them a little hard
to categorize – but I don’t have a problem with that. Think of the
music from the film
That Thing You Do, add just a touch of Spandau Ballet and
the Beach Boys, and mix in a Christian worldview informed by irony.
The band is a mishmash of genres, but underneath it all is a desire
to tweak some sensibilities – all in the name of fun.
At times, lyrically, the point can be missed. But most of the
time the lyrics stand up as well as the music. The disc’s first
single is “Superstar” and it’s a good example of oddball lyrics not
quite making sense – but man are they fun:
“Wistful for disco/We get a little misty remembering Menudo/And
all those old pros/The Bay City Rollers and Pinky Tuscadero/It must
be our breeding/Call us like cattle we come stampeding/To the new
romantics/Everybody wants a love titanic/And Tiger Beat keeps us on
cue.”
It seems it’s a bash at society’s inclination to worship
something – anything – even if it’s the “Flavor-of-the-Month” that
goes soaring up the pop music charts but really doesn’t have any
substance. ASU claims Jesus as their “Superstar” in the chorus:
“It’s true/We were born to worship someone/It’s true, I
do/…You are the only One by far/Because You are never
changing.”
ASU is comprised of Dave Clo, electric and acoustic guitars;
Christian Crowe, percussion; Ian Eskelin, vocals and keyboards;
Patrick McCallum, synths and samples; and, Adrian Walther, bass.
Eskelin seems to be the driving force of the band. He has a hand in
all 11 (oops, make that 12 with the “hidden” track) songs and sings
lead on all of them. If memory serves, he was a solo artist of
minor success before ASU.
But, ASU doesn’t just make fun of Americans who flock,
unthinkingly, to the vapid playground that is the current pop music
scene. No sirree. They also take on the bands themselves. In the
song “Popular Americans,” Eskelin and crew nail the bands who take
themselves so seriously, especially those in the Christian music
market.
“When you’re so prestigious/It makes you half-religious/In a
patriotic sort of way/Our money says we trust/But you know it’s
only just/A party slogan we were taught to say.”
The disc was written and constructed live in the studio with
Neill King, a producer who, according to band member Crowe, “didn’t
have a clue how Christian records ought to sound.” King has,
however, produced for the secular acts Green Day, Elvis Costello,
The Smiths, and Madness. This technique gives the music a very edgy
and immediate sound. Everything is right there up front. In fact,
it takes until the seventh cut for ASU to slow down the sound at
all. On “I Need You Now,” Eskelin sings of his need to have Christ
in his life, even if he doesn’t always admit it.
“So here I am/Cold and afraid/I’m not the kind to cry “Jesus”/Or
put my heart on parade/But oh there are four words I want You to
know/I need You now, more than ever Lord/Give me truth over
mystery.”
All Star United is one great band. With increased listening more
is found, lyrically and musically – and that’s always a good sign.
Now, to pick up that debut disc.