The Listening is a six-track CD-EP by the American rock band The Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus (later renamed The Listening), released on L-Town Music Group in July 2004. The album was produced by the Glitter Twins.
There is, if you’ll excuse the pun, an almighty buzz around this worship band. The music has been described as a blend of “late ’60s psychedelic and ’70s glam”, but whatever that means, they’ve got some great tunes. It’s rare to find a six song EP with such range. ‘The Listening’ is replete with shifting tones, tempos and textures, sometimes all within one song, which makes this experimental alternative rock a joy to listen to. From the atmospherically moody intro to the ambient noise which brings the EP full circle, RRWC have serious musicianship. «(untitled)» is a genuinely affecting worship song, whilst the Beatles-esque «Like I Do», with its jazzy piano cuts and wailing guitar has real pop vitality. The band, who have recently modified their line-up – again – have gone back to basics to produce a great leftfield rock record, which, like an air raid siren, is most effective when played really rather loud. Happily, ‘The Listening’ is planned to be released as a full album, which we here look forward to with bated breath. [Daniel Hames, Cross Rhythms, January 2004]
After steady musical strides forward with the consecutive releases of Welcome to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus and A Beautiful Glow, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus has emerged from a hyperspace jump with the release of their latest recording, The Listening EP. This collection of six tracks is the first offering from the new line-up, featuring founding members Gabriel Wilson (vocals/guitar) and Solo Greely (guitar/vocals), Josiah Sherman (keysman/vocals), and Eric “The E” Lemiere (drums/vocals/guitars).
The EP begins with «Are We Listening», a one-minute mix of layered effects and garbled sonic nonsense, which forces the listener to strain to hear just what’s being said. Direct, powerful lyrics from Wilson later carry through with this theme. Whereas previous RRWC material has been aimed directly heavenward, The Listening switches the current flow from the top down with songs relaying words from God to his people.
“Have you climbed to the top of the mountain yet?/ You walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death/ It’s the sound of the man taking a breath/ The feeling of the devil beating on your chest/ Will you lift up your head/ Look for a sign/ Hope in the hope that won’t leave you in time?” Wilson asks in «Untitled», a pounding, keys-driven rocker. Sherman rocks sincerely throughout this disc, and the sounds he creates are mesmerizing!
The rebirthed Circus capitalizes on the strengths of Pink Floyd («I Love The Rain»), The Beatles («Like I Do»), and The Cure («Untitled»), mixing soaring guitars, mysteriously tasty electronic seasonings, big drums, and gigantic musical builds to construct a solid bridge between classic and modern rock. With this new batch of songs, the Circus also ushers in some darker elements that make bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Radiohead, and The Violet Burning so intriguing (see «Dead Man» from the EP).
The standout track is «The Way That Love Is Made». Glorious, baby! The lead guitar line is catchy beyond belief (just one example of Greely’s truly fantastic guitar work on this record), and Sherman’s keys are shimmering on the high end and deliciously fat on the low end. The frequent change-up in tempo swings the song into a realm of its own.
The Listening EP really shines with the gleam of Glitter Twins production by Wilson and Greely. Everything these two touch SOUNDS amazing. The overall audio quality is unlike anything out there crisp, defined and bright. The Glitter Twins are able to put the listener INSIDE the instruments in a dreamy world where all the right effects are applied to beef up the sound so it’s better than sitting in the same room while it’s played. Studio perfection.
This EP really demonstrates the incredible strength the Worship Circus has found with its current line-up. The band’s previous efforts are outstanding, but there is something about these new songs that really shows a four-legged balance that is solid, solid, solid. [Greg Adams, The Phantom Tollbooth, 10/4/2004]
CD-EP tracklist:
01. Are We Listening
02. (Untitled)
03. I Love The Rain
04. Like I Do
05. The Way That Love Is Made
06. Dead Man
