October 2004

As he opened the Year of the Eucharist, Pope John Paul II stated, "The Eucharist was celebrated and adored as 'light and life of the new millennium.' Light, because in the Eucharistic mystery shines the presence of Christ, Light of the world; life, because in the Eucharist Jesus has given us Himself, the Bread of life."

The band Backyard Galaxy sees how we behave toward this wonderful Blessed Sacrament and asks the question, “Why do we treat the Bread of Life like fast food?” This and other amazing questions are posed in the band's first full length CD called Drive-Thru Jesus. It features 12 original songs that fuse pop melodies with a classic rock sound. It's sometimes a little Less Than Jake, sometimes a little Dave Matthews, but all the time spreading God’s love and the truth of the Catholic Church.  The CD opens with the powerful Ska sounds of “Just Live It.” It's one song that makes you want to get up and feel the power of His love. The lyrics tell us to let the world see the love of Christ in all that we do. This idea shines again in “Satellite,” a song written by band member Joe Zelek (who released his own CD, Long Distance Sunday, last year). This is a personal prayer to make us closer to God while sharing His love with others--kinda like a satellite that reflects the TV pictures from one place to another.  "My Important Life" is a look at those who are "too busy" in this fast pace life for Jesus. These poor fools think they have lots of "stuff" to keep them happy, but they are still empty inside. This is echoed in the tune “Hungry,” which has the lyrics: “… But I wonder why I am still hungry when I have had my fill of all I touch and see…but I’m never uninvited to Your feast...” The guitar solo in this one is awesome. In the rocking tune “Photograph” we see why we must always try to act like Jesus in our day to day witness. When we lose our temper and flip off person in the car that cut us off, we forget that we may encounter that same person on some other occasion, perhaps when we are trying to share our faith.  Only then will we realize how we've undercut our own witness.  When you see Jesus during His passion, you see someone who hardly looks like a man, with the blood and crown of thorns and all, but Backyard Galaxy see something “Beautiful,” as they tell us in song that bears the same name.  Drive-Thru Jesus delivers the message that we should fast from the material things of this life so we can fill up at the eternal feast.

It wasn’t that long ago that we got word that one of our favorite groups, Critical Mass, had disbanded.  It looked like the group was heading toward that bright light at the end of the tunnel when lead band member David Wang took out the defibrillators and shocked the band back into existence. God wasn’t through with the Catholic band. Wang reformed with new members and with that Critical Mass has just released its new album entitled Grasping for Hope in the Darkness. This is a winner, folks! I was wondering if Wang and his fellow members could pull off again what the band did with the first two CDs, Faith Looks Up and Completely. "Grasping for Hope in the Darkness" is the bomb! I was blown away by this CD! T he music – excellent…the songwriting – excellent…we may just have the best CD of 2004 here.

I have always been a sucker for the concept CD. For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about, a concept CD is one in which all of the tracks are stand-alone songs. If you take the songs and play them back to back it creates a kind of story. What Critical Mass has done is to mix modern rock and Catholic Christianity with a storyline involving a jaded man, his daughter who becomes pregnant and a priest who saves the baby's life. If I were to break down every song I'm afraid that I might give the "plot" away. It's almost like telling a friend about the ending of a movie or book.  One of my favorite songs on the CD “Reverend Larebil.” It is Wang’s song to vent about religious leaders who water down God’s laws so they can fit in and find a paying public.  It also deals with the doctors who teach "safe sex" that isn’t safe and spreads STDs. The only cure is to be pure. “Time Slave” is a tune that deals with the lack of time we have and how fast it seems to go by. We will never know what minute or hour God will come knocking on our door. Taking its name from the classic novel, “Dorian Gray” deals with the evils of pornography. You may seem OK on the outside but the pictures eat at your soul and mind making you numb and craving for more. Some of the songs on the CD were played at WYD 2002, such as the attempted theme song, “Make Us One,” and the pro-life anthem, “Running With Eyes Closed.”  Yet, the one song that every one will know is the cover of the Kansas song, “Carry On Wayward Son.” Wang adds a modern flavor to this classic rock piece with a spiritual rap mixed in. That song was the theme to a little-known film starring Henry Winkler and Sally Fields called, “Heroes.” Critical Mass is becoming heroic with Grasping for Hope in the Darkness, as they are not shy in exploring edgy topics such as premarital sex, pornography, the abuse scandal and righteous anger, while still sending the ultimate message of hope and redemption.

We all experience God in so many different ways.  Julie Carrick says she is amazed at all the ways she sees Him. The songs on her new CD, The Face of God, reflect the ways in which she sees Him as a parent, a sibling, a friend, a confessor, a lover, an artist, a music maker, a companion, a healer, and through Jesus Christ, her savior. Carrick’s adult contemporary style and her breathtaking vocals make “The Face of God” a pleasant change. In “Every Season,” Carrick shares about the Lord's handy work in the beauty of the seasons. As we look at each one, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, we are in awe of what He does with the world and with us as well, as we go through our own seasons.  The song “How Could I Ask For More,” talks about how in the springtime of life we do not have not a care in the world.  The simple truths keep you going and the simple loves keep you strong. Carrick gives thanks for those times.  Who helps to make the simple time stay that way? Carrick answers that in the song, “A Mother’s Love.” God gives special graces to mothers, she explains, and helps them to help their children. This is a special song for a mother’s birthday or Mother’s Day. Carrick’s vocals excel in the pro-life song, “My Baby.” This is the song of a mother wondering what the future holds for her unborn child. Carrick also adds older, familiar songs to the collection with the standards, “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name.” Carrick not only gives new polish to these songs with her vocals, but with “All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name,” she adds some beautiful lyrics to make it more of a song of adoration and worship. This makes The Face of God a great addition to this Year of the Eucharist.

After Fr. Stan Fortuna performed Everybody Got 2 Suffer on Life on the Rock, many people went searching for a CD single of this moving song.  Fr. Stan did one better. Everybody Got 2 Suffer is now a music video on DVD.  The video is professionally done and shares a positive message about suffering. The song tells the stories of a rich woman losing her husband and a poor woman who must sell herself to feed her 10 children. The video was shot in the Bronx, Queens and in Vienna, Austria. One of the best scenes is the tribute to those in history who have suffered and made an impact in the world. For those who love Fr. Fortuna’s teaching bits on Life On The Rock, this DVD has a special bonus for you. The grey Friar breaks down into ten segments Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, “On The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering.” This would be a great teaching tool for youth ministry leaders as it is broken down into 10 sections.  Another bonus is a Fr. Stan interview in Austria on the Gospel and Culture. Want more? There is also a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Everybody Got 2 Suffer.  This DVD is Region Free, which means it will play in any country that uses the NTSC format.