That’s all we need: another cult leader. I think the world has had more than enough of those, and does it ever end well? Well, this time, it does, yes, very well indeed. Adam Tilzer only uses the image, a metaphor if you like, of being a cult leader to pay homage to the like-minded creatives —the great and the good of the music world — that he gathered around him to bring this, his debut solo album, to life.
But it is hard not to have such ideas of cults and charismatic leaders, despots and dictators on your mind in the world today, where authoritarianism and cults of personality, entrenched ideas and unenlightened views are the norm. And although he admits that he didn’t set out to write a message-driven album, such thoughts have certainly coloured its lyrics.
And if opener, “Choking on Vomit” lays out the eclectic and expansive nature of his music, moving from spoken word minimalism to the banshee howl of alternative rock at its most extreme to Santana-like Latin-infused psychedelic rock, it is “I’m Gonna Start a Cult” that blends that angst with no small amount of humour, sort of like a hard-rock, politically hardcore Randy Newman.
“My Man” is a screaming slice of 80’s metal brought up to date for a modern audience, serving as a collective rally against authority, much like “The Best Fucking Plan,” which mourns the state of healthcare in the US. But it isn’t all big and bombastic, political and poignant, as “Gram” proves, a countryfied duet in the style of the titular Mr Parsons and his musical beau, Emmylou Harris.
This is the sound of someone gathering his friends around him to collectively express themselves, both sonically and by getting something off their chest, a group of people coming together to share in each other’s company and, in some small way, trying to change the world, or at least change a few minds, which is the same thing really, its all a matter of scale. And if we are going to have cults in the world, these are the ones I want…these are the ones we need.
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