It’s been awhile, but one of my favorite politically-charged commentary songs is Green Day’s “American Idiot”. It seems like a lifetime ago musicians and leaders alike were grumbling about George W. Bush and the Iraq War. Fast forward to 2020, and the world is topsy turvy over COVID-19 and the era of Donald J. Trump. It’s inevitable that singers and songwriters reflect int their music the times, and one such artist that throws his hat into the ring, yet again, is Bill Abernathy. His new song “More Than Meets The Eye” is quite possibly one of 2020s most important songs, and truth be told, it rocks.
MORE ON BILL ABERNATHY: https://www.billabernathy.com/
This review itself is a nonpolitical commentary. No matter what side of the aisle you found yourself voting, Abernathy brings to life and to light the way global citizens, and especially American citizens receive information. Who are we to believe? Is the information bias? Are we being fed the wrong information? In his song, Abernathy holds nothing back and his sense of urgency in his voice mirrors that of a classic rock front man – think Jack Bruce from Cream meets the kinder, gentler Jim Croce. I would say Abernathy meets somewhere in that crossroads. He’s bold. I liked his voice and the way he delivers the lines the facts are all negotiable, the talking points adaptable, designed to keep their seats come this November, I truly think he’s coming from a place of warning. He’s a bit scared of what has become of the government and the world.
Abernathy’s guitar work is like alchemy. He forges ahead with a sound that is both rooted in blues rock and turns the table with a bit of a psychedelic sheen. I’m guessing he uses this texturing to represent the madness, the idea that we’re either out of our minds or high on power. Or perhaps the media and government is high on power. To further his points, and this is so great, Abernathy drills together an organic, powerful percussion arrangement. It’s pulsating and almost overtakes the listener. I closed my eyes and imagined Custer’s last stand and a sea of Native American Indians charging the United States Cavalry. Outnumbered. These drums recall a time when freedom came at a price. I can only hypothesize that Abernathy is trying to capture that audacity and critical time in our nation’s history. I definitely had goose pimples listening to the drum arrangement in “More Than Meets The Eye”. The song is great regardless, but the drums give it that fighting chance.
APPLE MUSIC: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bill-abernathy/id466035386
It’s also worth the trek to discover other Abernathy gems. His discography boasts the conversation-inducing “Cry Wolf”, a killer track from 2018’s Crossing Willow Creek. Abernathy rose to the top of the Roots Chart in 2017 with “Goodbye Will Never Come Again”. He makes his home in Kansas City, Missouri. But, really, I think his home is in song. He is truly an American poet. “More Than Meets The Eye” is hauntingly beautiful and a roots / rock game changer.
Kim Muncie