| Civil Rites | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Tone Zone Studios, Chicago, Illinois | |||
| Genre | Christian rock | |||
| Length | 42:47 | |||
| Label | Grrr | |||
| Producer | REZ, Tom Cameron | |||
| REZ chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Cornerstone | [1] |
Civil Rites is the tenth studio album, by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band (known at this point as "REZ"), released in 1991.
By now, REZ had perfected their recent formula of blues-based rock, as evidenced in songs like "Footprints" and "In My Room", interspersed with AC/DC-inspired heavy metal numbers like the album's opener, "Lovespeak", as well as "Comatose". Co-lead singer Wendi Kaiser is given more to do on this record, which is good or bad depending on the listener's opinion of her vocal style. Along with "Comatose" and "Death Machine," she duets with her husband Glenn Kaiser on the uptempo blues number "Hotfootin'" and closes out the album with a cover of the classic Jefferson Airplane song, "Somebody to Love". Given that her voice has often been compared to Grace Slick, it's an appropriate choice.
Civil Rites is also more forcefully evangelical than REZ' two prior releases. The band returns to issues of importance to its younger high-school-aged audience, like casual sex and its emotional aftermath (song "Players"), family turmoil ("In My Room"), and drug addiction—specifically crack cocaine ("Little Jeanie"). Prostitution and drug use ("Comatose"), the remaining cultural aftereffects of slavery ("Lincoln's Train"), and harsh criticism of the military-industrial complex ("Death Machine")—a frequent, ongoing REZ theme—are topics dealt with as well. On a brighter note, however, the upbeat "Hotfootin'" pays tribute to the tireless work of street preachers.
'Production
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection Band is credited as one of the forerunners of the Christian metal genre. Christianity Today called them "the most influential band in Christian music history." Following their debut in 1978, the band's greatest popularity was during the early 1980s, but later in the decade they received some crossover success when they had two music videos featured on MTV.
Four Chords & Several Years Ago is the seventh album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1994. The title is a play on the first sentence in Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Glenn Kaiser is a Chicago-based Christian blues musician, singer, songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser Band.
Awaiting Your Reply is the debut album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1978.
Rainbow's End is the second full-length album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1979.
Colours is the third full-length album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1980.
Mommy Don't Love Daddy Anymore is the fourth full-length album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1981.
D.M.Z. is the fifth full-length album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1982. It was the band's final release for Light Records.
Live Bootleg is the first live album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1984. It was the band's first release for Sparrow Records, and also their first under the shortened moniker "Rez Band." Live Bootleg was the group's biggest selling album.
The Best of REZ: Music to Raise the Dead was the first compilation album, from American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1984.
Hostage is the sixth studio album, from American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in late 1984.
Between Heaven 'N Hell is the seventh studio album, from American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1985. This is the first album on which Resurrection Band shortened its moniker to "REZ", and it also marks the band's final album for Sparrow Records.
Silence Screams is the eighth studio album, by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1988.
REZ: Compact Favorites was the 11th release, and second compilation album, by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, known at this point as "REZ", released in 1988.
Innocent Blood is the ninth studio album, by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1989.
XX Years Live is the 14th release, and second live album, from American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1992.
Lament is the twelfth and last studio album of original material, from American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1995. The band also reverted to their original moniker with this album.
All Your Life is an independent cassette from American Christian rock group Resurrection Band, released in late 1974. It features a collection of acoustic songs that the band would play for audiences that were unreceptive to its otherwise hard rock and heavy metal style.
Can't Buy a Miracle is an album by Randy Stonehill, released in 1988 on Myrrh Records.
"Mistreated" is a song by the British rock band Deep Purple taken from their 1974 album Burn. The song was written by the band's guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and new vocalist David Coverdale, who, along with new bassist Glenn Hughes, brought new blues and funk elements to the band.
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