Michael Knott

Item: Fluid
Author: Bob Melvin

Fluid

(1995)

Reviewed by Bob Melvin

Discogs Apple Music

Label Alarma RecordsThe LighthouseJune 1996

alternative rock art rock indie rock rock

There seems to be a lot of controversy swirling around Michael Knott these days, especially concerning the content of the new L.S.U., er, I mean, Lifesavers, uh, I mean, Aunt Bettys' album. Swirl away, because he is still arguably the most brilliant songwriter in Christian alternative rock. Fluid, Knott's au revoir to the Christian recording industry (The Aunt Bettys have a multi-record deal with Elektra) is as good as they come. The hardest working man in alternative music-15 albums in about as many years-gives the concept album a whirl again, and with unsettling and inspiring success.

Fluid is the story of Jenny May, a young girl living her life the way she wants to live it-complete with her very own "inner goddess" to help guide her into the land of instant gratification. After getting "high, stoned, drunk, or something" and beating up her boyfriend, she steals his '64 Cadillac and proceeds to total it. The bulk of the plot takes place while Jenny is in a coma, with Satan doing everything in his power to keep his grip on her. It's best not to go too much further into the story-part of the richness of the album is figuring it out, discovering the characters and who is speaking in each song. Once you've got that down, Fluid ascends to a whole new level.

What makes Knott a great songwriter is that he has a flair for subtext. Much of his music and lyrical content is extremely simple-heck, even Fluid's song titles are even simple: "Crash," "Tonight," "Drive"-you get the picture. The story behind, however, is the key. Taken in context with the rest of the album, for instance, "Thru" provides a remarkable sense of release (not to mention Knott's best Lou Reed impression). Likewise, when all of Fluid's pieces are together, "The Sky" is wrought with deliverance and love.

As Knott and his bandmates make the leap to the big bad secular side, one can only hope that the amazing body of work they have amassed will not be forgotten. And that they get huge.