Sheesh

Item: Sheesh
Author: Steven S. Baldwin

(1997)

Reviewed by Steven S. Baldwin

Discogs YouTube

Label Grrr RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1997

alternative rock grunge post-grunge

Maybe it's something in the food over at J.P.U.S.A., Chicago's commendable Christian community, for they appear to have an endless wellspring of creativity. More likely, this is the result of their conscious choice that the arts are an appropriate arena for Christians. They are engaged in a much needed crusade to make Christianity relevant to our culture. SHeeSH is further evidence of their concerted aspirations to take the Biblical cultural mandate seriously.

SHeeSH has a decidedly raw sound. Listening to their music, you can easily imagine them cranking out their post-grunge rock in the old garage next to the souped-up Chevy. Even the cover photo of the band makes them look like they've spent as much time under the hood as they have on the stage. Regardless of where they actually formed and practiced, it was time well spent. The hypothetical garage jamming has given them plenty of time to retool their sound using a whole host of sturdy influences. SHeeSH successfully joins such grunge staples as Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden with more modern rock bands like Smashing Pumpkins, U2, and Radiohead, throwing in some punkier bands like The Pixies, and topping it all off with some nods to progressive rock bands like Kansas and Rush. They make a lot of noise, too, for a three piece of bass, drums, and a guitar that jangles and rips with appropriate amounts of feedback at all the vital moments.

The by-product of all this is an album that ranges from punked-out crankers to alternative ballads and back to full-on rockers. There are times when their influences are a bit too clear, but I hesitate to say they're just ripping off other bands. Far from it. Their music defies a clean classification. It's much too spotty for that. The overall production, also, like grease and oil mixing in the sand, ranges from gritty to slick.

Whereas the music is revved up with a youthful vigor and modern rock artistry, the lyrics are by no means about chicks and cars and laying the one inside the other. Gratefully. Instead, SHeeSH is concerned with dealing ethically with the frustrations of this life: suffering and shame; regret and responsibility; holy rage and holy reverence. By their own admission, they are geared toward glorifying God and reaching unsaved people through their music and after-concert openness, without appearing overtly preachy. Their lyrics affirm this concern and manage to be both artistic, poetic, and clearly Christian without being condemning, cheesy, or cliché. One particularly effective song, "Milk Carton Children," couples an appropriate amount of indignation both lyrically and musically with one of the most deplorable sins plaguing our so-called modern society:

Blonde-haired, blue-eyed beautiful little girl
Swinging on the swings with her lovely golden curls
The shadow is creeping, the shadow is crawling
The shadow upon her is falling.
Where has she gone?
She's gone away.
Somebody took her today.
Now the swings are all empty and the sun has gone away.
Forget about what happened; forget about today.
For the golden-haired girl of Wilson Avenue
Has fallen victim to the likes of you.
You sick worthless fools, who rob mothers of their gold.
Who eat the apple of their eye.
Who crush the diamonds of their soul.
You won't be around to see them meet again
Because heaven has no place for the likes of you.
Where has she gone?
She's gone away.
Somebody made her a milk carton child.
Painfully honest and devastatingly brutal. Bravo!

On a lighter note, the packaging of this particular Special Collector's Edition is a bit unique. I've never seen a CD jewel case quite like it, being made entirely of a cardboard and plastic combination. The CD also comes with a lyric sheet, information on how to order SHeeSH tank-tops and t-shirts, and a sticker with the band logo--stating "Long Live Corporate Rock." They also get bonus points for having one track with a great title: "Jimi Hendrix Bathtub Song." Contrary to rumor, the band is not changing their name to Madaline (which I concur is wise). You can look for a new six-song EP at Cornerstone under the SHeeSH moniker.

Grrr was right about this band. The world is ready for them to come out of the garage.