Blessid Union of Souls
Walking Off the Buzz
PUSH/V2
When a friend of mine told me to listen to a song called “Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me)” without looking at who the artist was, I would have never guessed in a million years that it was the same band who sang the over-played, monotone soul ballad, “I Believe.” I was much more impressed with the incorporation of guitars and rock lines, not to mention lyrics that had a hint of humor (unlike the painful and preachy “love is the answer” lyrical overtones of the debut single). This single is totally derived from all the pop-culture headlines… “Not because I sing like Pavarotti/ or because I’m such a hottie/ Not because she’s phat like Cindy Crawford.”
Still, however, I am almost tired of the parody-driven rhymes that play upon whatever frills, slang, and idols are hot in pop culture at the moment (plug for anything by the Barenaked Ladies). Upon first listening to play on lyrics songs, they sound as avante-guard as pop rhymes can get. But after a few listens, there is more of a realization that the topics are once-again passe, the rhymes too juxtaposed to be intelligent. However, not every Blessid Union song has a zany hook and line, as shown by the title track, “Walking Off The Buzz.” The song, which deals with breakups and real world personal stuff experienced by the band members, is much more meaningful, and gives the listener a look into the songwriters’ journals: “I could walk off the fear/ Crawl throught the hate/ Beg you to forgive/ my every mistake.”
A more traditional Blessid Union soul ballad was still present, ever more confusing the listener – who would by now be wondering what category this CD would most likely be found. “Standing At The Edge Of The Earth” once again reclaims the band’s usage of almost a capella vocal arrangement with little musical variety to give the song any distinction in melody and sound. And it was almost used as the love song for the movie Armageddon , which as if rated on a mush factor alone would have fit in quite well.
