Wednesday, January 11, 2017

“No Hell” by Cloud Cult – A Song Review

     Viewing the blogosphere in theological concepts, “No Hell” is in that temporary condition referred to as Limbo. It’s more than a year old, so a blog cannot post it as a song revelation. But it’s not old enough to qualify as a “Throwback Thursday” post.
     So, we’ll just confess that “No Hell” is yet another gem that we missed. Still, there is a current event involving Cloud Cult. This month, the band’s movie hits theaters. “The Seeker” is being presented at a number of theaters, including UA Stonestown Twin in San Francisco (January 26). The schedule is available at https://www.cloudcult.com/the-seeker. Cloud Cult will not tour with the film presentations, but “No Hell” is among the 13 songs.

     The lyrics of “No Hell” are included below the Soundcloud stream. The message is similar to a 1970’s mood ring; it can change with your disposition. Sometimes there is a negative impression:
Someone tell the devil we don't need no hell
We're all pretty good at beating up ourselves

Other times, the takeaway is a positive verse, such as
Please excuse the lights
Shooting out of my head
I keep them in a cage
But they come out
When they see a friend
You must be a friend

     The genre is difficult to pin down, but we'll select Experimental Chamber Rock. Cloud Cult resides in Duluth, Minnesota. The members are Craig Minowa (vocals, guitar), Connie Minowa (visual artist), Scott West (trumpet, visual artist), Shannon Frid-Rubin (violin), Shawn Neary (bass, trombone), Sarah Perbix (keyboard, French horn, trumpet), Daniel Zamzow (cello), and Jeremy Harvey (drums).

Website: http://www.cloudcult.com/

Lyrics of “No Hell” by Cloud Cult
Mama said the stars
Are the universe's eyes
I can feel them watching
Over me most of the time.

We grew up believing
We could learn how to fly
We came from the earth
But we belong to the sky

I saw your soul
Without the skin attached
You've got the guts
Of a coyote pack

We've been kissed
We've been cut
But we do what
Needs the doing
We're just rainbows
Dreaming we're human

Please excuse the lights
Shooting out of my head
I keep them in a cage
But they come out
When they see a friend
You must be a friend

You're never really
Gonna have control of it all
So you best get cool
With your chips are gonna fall

We are the sun
And mother's milk
And cuss words
And poetry

And there's no use in running
Unless you run like heck
The best things we've learned
We learned from the wreck

Jesus coming back as a woman this time
Handing out hugs in the clinic line
And someone tell the devil we don't need no hell
We're all pretty good at beating up ourselves

As kids we believed
That the angels talked
Everything is magic
Until you think it's not

It's easy to be thankful
For the things you've got
It takes guts to give thanks
For the things you've lost

And we grew up believing
Good wins over bad
So you gave away your heart
But the wolves attacked
But then a bigger heart grew back

Please excuse the words
Coming out of my mouth
I'm a happy man
But there's some things I need to get out
I need to get out

There's no use in running
Unless you run like heck
The best things we've learned
We learned from the wreck

Jesus coming back as a woman this time
Handing out hugs in the clinic line
Someone tell the devil we don't need no hell
We're all pretty good at beating up ourselves


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