The modern rock/alternative rock world occasionally has it's litle run-ins with the CCM law. Who remembers The 77s' landmark album Drowning With Land In Sight , made famous for Myrrh's censorship of the phrase "this world has kicked my a--" on the song "Dave's Blues? Or Sometime Sunday's notorious "that was a pain in the a--" quote on Drain?
In short, nothing these days comes without controversy. But sometime's controversy rears it's ugly head in things it has no business being involved in. A first-grader innocently (and consentingly) kisses a playmate and boom! run for cover.
Or the critically acclaimed roots rock band Vigilantes Of Love find their long awaited new album, Slow Dark Train, banned from the Family Christian Bookstores chain for the lyrics to the song "Love Coccoon".
"The song is about glorious, rapturous, love-making with my wife of 16 years. It was written almost 6 years ago and we re-recorded it at the insistence of our label Capricorn/Mercury," lead singer Bill Mallonee explains. "I got the inspiration from the wonderous, guilt-free and biblical truth of God's great blessing on those who take Him seriously (about) matters of sexuality practiced under His pattern of marriage.
"As far as sexual practice in marriage goes among monogamous couples Christians ought to be better at 'it' than anyone."
So what's the big deal? We're all mature adults, right? We can handle it, right? Obviously, someone couldn't. For crying out loud, people, read a little book of the Bible called Song Of Solomon. You don't get any steamier than that. The question is, how can a band that has been so accepted by the Christian music market all of a sudden find themselves banned from one of the biggest Christian music retail chains in the U.S.? "I believe these decisions by FCB have nothing to do with biblical truth, which in this case they are actually keeping people from a healthy attitude toward God-given sexual practice in the context of marriage," says Mallonee. "Rather I believe this decision was probably made according to the gospel of St. Capitalist, a book I think of little repute, but which has been gaining ground over the years in American evangelicalism.
"In this case I believe replacing the Song of Solomon."
Some people get worked up over nothing. Believe it or not, the majority of people who are going to purchase Train aren't snickering little perverted schoolboys...they're mature college students or adults who have sat through "the talk" more than once, read Song of Solomon, maybe even took True Love Waits vows in high school or later on, like I am proud to have done.
This song was recorded six years ago for inclusion on their landmark album Jugular. It has become a concert favorite and a source of inspiration for many teenagers and young adults who often feel alone in their stand for abstinence.
"90% of the shows Vigilantes of Love have done are in college rock clubs, not safe churches. We do this to make the gospel and our art relevant to a hungry and dark world. In fact we've been at it this way since 1990. There was no need for so-called "cross-over" for us because we were already out there doing it on a minor/major label (capricorn/sony). Trying to be salt and light.
"Most of our gracious fan base apprehends this readily. The church, and Christian artists, have spoken ad nausem, for years now about Christian music being vital, passionate and culturallly relevant to the world at large. This has been the vision behind VOL. Sure we would have loved more tangible support from the CCM community, but that's not why we do this, and in fact numerous people in CCM (artists and journalists alike ) have spoken well of the band...for this I'm grateful, humbly grateful to the Lord for this."
So what am I trying to say?
Sometimes it takes a little (by the arena rock standards of todays music scene) band like V.O.L. to expose the CCM industry as an industry that needs more than a little work. How does it make Bill feel? "It's like being told by your family that you're ugly...it may be true, but it still hurts. I'm a bit amused and greatly saddened.
"But then again, we weren't making music ever for a particular group of people..."
People, this record needs all the sales it can get. I encourage each and every one of you
to buy this album in June and support a truly incredible, original band. -