Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 05/02/2006
Homeless J is certainly an intriguing band. Frontman
Chad Van Meter (aka "The Flash"), is a Lutheran minister, and the "J" in
Homeless J stands for Jesus.
Three Seconds to Gaze, the Indiana combo's first album, has been reviewed on
Christian rock websites -- and yet, a press release insisted that
Homeless J "is not a religious
rock band." So is
Three Seconds to Gaze really a
Christian rock release, or is it really a secular release? Perhaps it is best to describe
Three Seconds to Gaze as
alternative rock that is spiritual in the way that
U2 (one of
Homeless J's major influences) is spiritual. While
Bono's Christianity has influenced
U2's reflections,
U2 is generally considered a secular band, and
Three Seconds to Gaze doesn't beat listeners over the head with religion any more than
The Joshua Tree (one of
U2's classic '80s albums).
Van Meter's appreciation of
Bono is hard to miss on this 50-minute CD, which is not to say that
U2 is
Homeless J's only influence. Actually, one thing that really adds to the intrigue factor is the band's variety of influences.
Homeless J's sound not only includes a dose of
U2, but also, elements of bands ranging from
Led Zeppelin and
the Doors to
Jane's Addiction,
Audioslave,
Radiohead and
Smashing Pumpkins. There is plenty of
post-grunge in
Homeless J's sound, but
art rock and '70s/'80s
hard rock/
arena rock are also part of the equation.
Van Meter and his colleagues manage to be philosophical, reflective, quirky, artsy and infectious all at the same time, and
Three Seconds to Gaze is a highly promising and consistent debut from the Midwesterners.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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