CD REVIEW: The Jericho Machine
The Jericho Machine is simultaneously original and a knock-off of bands you've already heard.
Some songs on the band's first full-length album, Educated Donkeys, sound so much like Audioslave, Third Eye Blind and another band that I can't quite remember, I had to remind myself I was listening to a local band.
Robert Perez's voice is full and pure, but I couldn't help comparing him to lead singer Chris Cornell of Audioslave.
The album includes 12 songs that challenge the listener to consider one's existence, God and where lead singer Perez fits between the two.
Perez is the sole lyricist and it shows. Nearly every song deals with very specific themes such as God, isolation and oblivion. He often sings about someone being conscious and yet, asleep - or awake, but with their eyes closed.
As a concept album, it's a brilliant idea. The hour-long CD tells nearly the same story in a different way in every song and it all boils down to: open your eyes.
If this is about a man who discovers God is real through a mathematical equation, why is Perez singing, "I'm your daddy, little girl / I'm your daddy, I'm the one who made your world"? Okay, maybe he's singing from many different perspectives, I can accept that.
Frankly though, I don't like the character created for this album. The guy is so self-absorbed, self-important and has a superiority complex the size of Texas. Or maybe I'm just jealous that I'm not one of the self-proclaimed great minds that this fictional character seems to think he is.
One part of the song "English" refers to racist terms and how those words make the character feel sick, but only those words spoken in English. Should they be less offensive in any other language? Another song seems to ridicule atheists and while everyone is entitled to their opinion, I'm not a fan of being preached to through music.
On the surface, The Jericho Machine appears to be a Christian rock group, but they certainly don't label themselves as such. The album is controversial and effectively forces one to overanalyze the lyrics, thereby encouraging conversation and perhaps that's just what Perez set out to do.
Regardless of how much I dislike parts of Educated Donkeys, I find myself singing to a few tracks I've only heard a couple of times. The Jericho Machine are a talented trio and I'll probably continue listening to some of their songs, but the message I'm reading in this album leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
3 out of 4 stars
Worst: "Flavor"
Best: "Portable Sun"
Amy Nichol Smith is a freelance writer for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4420.
