Full Frontal Lobotomy by Various Artists (Review)
I work at an engineering firm for the large world of natural gas. And I would like to sum up the work environment in two words: pocket protectors. Picture a bunch of Dilberts running around the office making natural gas jokes. Not too amusing. Don’t get me wrong, I thank the Lord for my job. It’s just that being the youngest employee where the average age is 46.3 gets a little boring. So I grab a Snickers? I don’t think so! I grab my Full Frontal Lobotomy CD and quickly insert it into my computer before the boredom envelopes me and takes control of my mind regenerating me into a 40-year-old-white-shirt-and-wide-ugly-tie-wearing, pocket-protector-carrying, jotting-everything-down-on-a-spiral-memo-notebook, covering-my-bald-spot-with-three-strands-of-hair, while-sucking-down-coffee-like-a-dehydrated-camel-trying-to-fill-both-of-his-humps.
Luckily I don’t get too much heat from playing music, just a few mindless jokes. Well one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And I have to say that this compilation is a true treasure at heart with anyone who enjoys the sounds of industrial and electronic music. Every piece of work upon this collaboration of musical wonder is an A+ itself. There is no dull monotony among this CD. It brings the talents of many musical styles (the heavy, the groovy, the eerie, the subtle, the loud, the relaxing) together to mold one great work of art.
Beyond the music itself, the lyrics can take your mind through a journey of thoughts and imagery that should keep you considering things about yourself, your relationship with the Father, and the many social aspects that we deal with every day. Lyrics, I believe, should never liberate itself as a pure escape only for the ears. Our minds can become rather bored with words that are pointless, prosaic and seem to go no where. I don’t find this with FFL. What I sense is a particularly skillful group of people who want to produce excellent music and a great mind trip. A fine one to consider for a great warp into the realms of a mindful journey is the song “Social Conditioning” by Cybershadow. I dare you to try and understand the lyrics to this one without reading the FFL track information on the Flaming Fish Homepage.
Also, throughout the Bible, and especially Psalms, we see that the authors find it pleasing and necessary to sing unto the Lord their praises. We are no different, in our spiritual element, than those who walked with the prophets of the Old and New Testament. Only the sounds of our praises have changed. Joshua Bourke’s “The Armor” speaks of the true power God gives us through faith. “Under My Skin” by The Way Sect Bloom reveals the benefits of God’s grace and how it can keep us in check. Each song has a message either completely revealing or within its rich lyrical puzzle. That’s why I think music is so important in today’s society. We all want to feel a part of something — relate if you will. With Full Frontal Lobotomy, I find myself relating with more than one track in how I feel, how I think, and what makes me part of this giant spinning orb we call Earth.
I should hardly have to describe how the compilation sounds in conjunction to what each artist wanted to reveal. It deserves much more. Maybe I can sum it up with one descriptive sentence: A pure emotional ride embarking on a highway with sights and sounds that some may consider staying away from due to its dangerous capacity.
Written by Todd Clapp. This review originally appeared on the Flaming Fish Music website.