21. Singles Group

 BACKGROUND:

At this point in their career, ApologetiX felt a financial crunch. As a cost cutting measure, ApologetiX decided to focus less on performing concerts and more on recording music. To also help increase their income, instead of releasing albums annually, the band shift to releasing singles biweekly. Several fans, however, reached out to ApologetiX, communicating that they still liked CDs. The band obliged (reluctantly?). Once 12-13 parodies released, ApologetiX put them on a CD. Singles Group is the first volume of the series, as it contains the first 13 singles.

TITLE:

This CD is called Singles Group because it is a group of singles. Yes, I know that a singles group can refer to a group of singles people (possibly with the intention of dating). Yes, I know lyricist and lead singer J. Jackson gives it a secondary meaning in his journal, stating ApologetiX became a singles group because it was a group (band) that made singles. Still, even with these alternative meanings, the truth remains that meaning that sticks out the most is the most literal meaning. It lacks originality. What are we going to name this group of singles? Singles Group!

CRITIQUE:

Once again, let me briefly summarize why I am not a fan of new model of releasing songs. It sets fans up for a lose-lose situation. Fans who downloaded the singles will not waste money buying them again on a CD. Fans who want the CD will have delay their patience even further as they wait for the CD to come out, while other fans can enjoy the singles downloaded. CD fans will also suffer financially, as they will end up purchasing 3 CDs of 12-13 tracks each, while when the ApologetiX produced traditional albums, fans typically got 1 CD with 18-22 songs, thus getting more for their money. With a traditional album, bands take careful consideration when it comes to what tracks belong on the album. With these CDs, it very felt like these are 12-13 singles just thrown onto a CD, without that careful consideration. As mentioned in the background section, I constantly wonder if ApologetiX didn't want to release these songs on a CD, but they gave into the fans' demand, in fear of losing out on precious income. Like I said so many times before, in a way, these CDs are single compilations, and as compilations, they should not really belong in this ranking. The only reason they are on this ranking is because all the tracks on them are brand new and studio recorded. In essence, these parodies are making their debut on this CD, and that's why these CDs need their consideration. Still, I can't help but have a negative bias against these CDs, hence why are they are ranked so low.

Indeed, most of these parodies are brand new. I have to say "most" because there are 2 exceptions. Those two exceptions are "Such Impressive Loving Smart Close Friends" (parody of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by The Beatles) and "With Little Help from My Friends" (parody of "With a Little Help from My Friends" by the Beatles). These 2 spoofs were originally on the cassette Beatleg (Beatles Bootleg), but they never even made it to the Rare Not Well Done rarities. Apparently, ApologetiX felt they sounded that bad. Since the cassette is no longer in print, and since ApologetiX never released Beatleg as a CD, these 2 songs would otherwise be lost media, so I'm OK with them re-recorded for Singles Group. I'm also OK with it because lyricist and lead singer J. Jackson did a really good job rewriting the lyrics. If familiar with the background of the original Beatles songs, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "With a Little Help from My Friends" are usually played together, back-to-back, because they flow together so smoothly. J. Jackson knew this, so he knew both songs had to parody the same Bible story or same theological theme. J. ended up picking the book of Job, and the book of Job fits so well with these spoofs. "Such Impressive Loving Smart Close Friends" introduces the premise of Job, and it also introduces Job's three friends. "With Little Help from My Friends" goes into detail about the dialog between Job and Job's three friends. The 2 parodies flow together, both instrumentally and lyrically (especially with that line "We're still here!"), just like the original songs. I do appreciate the little things, too. The references to lie detectors, police and attorneys on "With Little Help from My Friends" give Job's suffering a comedic atmosphere. Also worth appreciating, did you notice how J. simply removed 1 letter from original song title, going from "With a Little Help from My Friends" to "With Little Help from My Friends," and it makes all the difference? "With a Little Help from My Friends" sounds like the friends contributed what little they could, and it got the person off on the right start, an overall positive connotation. "With Little Help from My Friends" sounds like the friend did so little, it's almost like they did nothing at all, a negative connotation. These 2 tracks almost made it as my favorite song, but then I would have to bend the rules to make it a tie between 2 songs because these 2 songs belong together. Don't worry, I still got a good choice for favorite song.

Once again, let me blitz through the rest of the parodies on the CD, culminating up to my favorite song. Despite "Brush" (parody of "Tush" by ZZ Top) being the 4th Samson parody, it still brings a fresh new approach to the Bible story found in Judges. "Cousin Zephaniah" (parody of "Cuts Like a Knife" by Bryan Adams) is just fine or just OK. While I appreciate ApologetiX covers a Bible book not often touched by pastors in the church setting, to me "Cuts Like a Knife" is the Bryan Adams song that's not "Summer of '69." "Devil Fell" (parody of "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol) covers the fall of Satan. It sounds just like any other Billy Idol song, but that's more on Billy Idol and less on ApologetiX. "Calling Dr. Luke" (parody of "Calling Dr. Love" by KISS) is a wonderful biography of the apostle Luke. I love the line "And did I say I was a Greek M.D. // with a Ph.D. in history?" The rest of the spoof plays on that title of doctor. By the way, this is also the closest (to date) J. has come to sounding like Gene Simmons. "I Want That Crown" (parody of "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty), J. uses the same illustration of pursuing a crown that Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. "Jezebel" (parody of "Just a Girl" by No Doubt) is the first ApologetiX with solely female vocals, starring Janna Jackson, J.'s oldest daughter, as the lead singer. Boy, does it show. Janna sounds nothing like Gwen Steffani, not even remotely close. I'm not saying it's bad, but I'm not saying it's good, either. It's fine; it's OK. Don't worry, Janna, your father did not sound like these rock artists when he began either. Just like him, with enough practice, you will get there. Two songs that deserve extra recognition is "Rolling in the Yeast" (parody of "Reeling in the Years" by Steely Dan) and "Some Sign from Above" (parody of "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream). Usually when Christian think of Bible stories, they think of action-packed ones, not ones when Jesus debated religious leaders. These 2 spoofs cover stories about Jesus debating religious leaders, and J. did a very good job rewriting these lyrics. J. continues on a roll with "Communion Ain't Just Bread Now" ("Coummication Breakdown" by Led Zepplin). While ultimately this spoof finds its basis in 1 Corinthians 11, it covers an important topic in church liturgy discussed throughout church history.  J. stays on a roll with "Flirting with the Pastor" (parody of "Flirting with Disaster" by Molly Hatchet). While this song's title sounds scandalous, it's not really, but in a way, it is. This track discusses the very hard subject of how some Christians concern themselves more with what they want to get out of church, while their focus should remain solely on what they are giving to Jesus and the church. Also worth noting, the first time I head that song, the first thought that went through my mind was "Oh my gosh, is that actually the literal Jimmy Elkins?" It's not perfect, but it is that good. It is still impressive that J. didn't just rewrite the lyrics; he wanted to sound like Jimmy Elkins. That leaves one song left...

FAVORITE SONG: "Gimme Helper" (parody of "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones)

So many songs almost made the favorite song. On top of "Such Impressive Loving Smart Close Friends"/"With Little Help from My Friends," "Calling Dr. Luke" and "Flirtin' with the Pastor" almost made it. I ultimately have to give it to "Gimme Helper," though. This parody wonderfully mashes together the theology taught in John 14 & 15 with the events unfolding in Acts 1 & 2. J. sounds the closest he's even been to Mick Jagger (up to this point). Keely Singer sounds like Merry Clayton on "Gimme Shelter" (again, I give credit to J. for knowing his daughter Janna's voice would not cut it for this song). This spoof sounds good, and its lyrics are top notch, so indubitably it becomes my favorite song on the CD, although I will still acknowledge the close 2nd, 3rd and 4th place.

FINAL VERDICT: 21st.

This Singles Group CD ranks so low because it is ultimately just a collection of singles, thrown together haphazardly, unlike an album (notice I am very careful to call Singles Group a CD and not an album). It does not have the unity or consistency of an album. True, most of the songs fall under the genre of classic rock, but with the song's original dating from 1967 to 1995, it's all over the place. Single Group ranks so high, however, because these singles, when standing alone, make good singles. "Gimme Shelter" is indeed my favorite song, but "Such Impressive Loving Smart Close Friend," "With Little Help from My Friends," "Calling Dr. Luke" and "Flirtin' with the Pastor" all make a top 5 close race. If these songs would have all appeared together on legitimate album, they still would have probably been all in the top 5. Despite the lack of creativity in the background and title of this CD, the well-thought out lyrics and instrumental composition of the individual singles put this CD at 21st.