When sifting through this year's favorite albums, it did not take us long to deem David Bazan's Curse Your Branches "Album of the Year." As we have already mentioned, recognizing particular artists/albums over others often says more about the listeners than it does the artist themselves. We acknowledge this.
So, what does it say about us?
While rednoW is not solely dedicated to the fusion of art and theology, it certainly grabs our attention when it shows up. And with Bazan's most autobiographical album to date, it has certainly shown up. But it's not Bazan's particular theology that draws us in. Rather, it is his ability to rest in the tension of reality - even if this means questioning his (our) perception of God.
We had the opportunity to explore this recurring theme with Bazan during a house show that we hosted this past April. When asked the distinction between God's existence and his reality today, Bazan commented:
"I have to accept that he exists, that I perceive him to - that's my ground zero, my reality. For me, the question is ‘Who could he be?' ‘Who could he possibly be, given the data that exists and what could his intentions toward us be, what could his relationship with creation be, what sort of interventions might he be engaged in?'"
In fact, it's the "data" that Bazan speaks of that continues to beg the questions. Historically, the "data" has been contained to scripture - we "know" because the Bible "told me so." But for Bazan (and many today), this is no longer sufficient in and of itself. If it does not speak to reality, it does not speak. In his clever play on the evangelical notion of "Bearing Witness", Bazan sings:
"When the gap between what I hoped would be and what is makes me weep for my kids.
I take a cleansing breath and make a positive confession, but Is that what bearing witness is?
Though it may alienate your family, and blur the lines of your identity.
Let go of what you know in honor of what exists,
Son, that's what bearing witness is. Daughter, that's what bearing witness is."
In his quest to match that which is seemingly known with that which is, Bazan is "cutting strings with [an old] version of God, only to find out that there could be another version of him that is truer."
And it is on this quest of what (and who) is real that we discover that the questions have only begun. But again, I guess this says more about us than it does an album.
Read our original write-up on Curse Your Branches here.
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