Ampendectomy

Description

Ampendectomy – a compilation of 15 unplugged recordings – is the final studio album by the American hard rock outfit Resurrection Band, independently released on the band’s own label Grrr Records in 1997, distributed by Diamante Music Group in the US. The album was recorded by Roger Heiss and Ed Bialach at Tone Zone Recording in Chicago, Illinois; with Tom Cameron and the band producing. Mixed by Heiss at Tone Zone.

After 25 years of music ministry – with 14 albums, and a couple of “best of’” projects to its credit – Resurrection Band has finally done the completely unexpected thing: unplugged all those loud guitars. A collection of decidedly acoustic covers of Rez Band favorites lifted from previous albums, Ampendectomy has a silly title with even sillier album cover art. But given Glenn Kaiser’s previous blues and worship efforts it’s actually not as big a stretch as you might expect.

The years have taught us to expect certain things from the Chicago-based outreach of Jesus People USA: some of the longest post-concert sermons, and some of the best poetry to find its way into the Christian rock arena. Then there’s Glenn Kaiser’s versatile vocal style; whether singing quiet melodic passages or at full-throttle, he’s got real chops. Of course, his wife Wendi’s voice still remains an acquired taste that I have yet to acquire, but when Ampendectomy brings Glenn’s voice and those smart poetic lyrics together in songs that sound natural in acoustic arrangements, it really works. Standouts include «Irish Garden», «Broken Promises», «Across These Fields Reprise» and «Rain Dance».

Of course, some of these songs were written to rock, and the memory of the original electric version leaves the pale acoustic rendition in the dust. It’s an experiment that works on «I Need Your Love» and «Lovespeak», but leaves me wanting on pop/rock tracks like «Can’t Stop Loving You» that just don’t need a lite version. The argument could be made that Rez’s audience has gotten older, and therefore likes its music quieter. I turned Ampendectomy up real loud, and for the most part it passed the test. If it’s too loud, maybe you’re a Barry Manilow fan. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, October 1997]

After twenty-five years at this Christian rock thing, so long in fact, that the term hadn’t even been thought of when they started out, Resurrection Band can pretty much pull off anything they want. They’ve released fourteen albums, two of them live, and several best-of’s, but nothing quite like Ampendectomy. Yes, the title may make you cringe with guilty pleasure at a pun so blatant, but the songs will surprise you. Sure, they’ve all appeared on various REZ albums over the last two-and-a-half decades, but not like this.

As you may have guessed, the amps were left at the door of the Tone Zone studio this time (though hopefully not outside – it’s a pretty bad neighborhood). Sure, it’s been eight years since Tesla did their acoustic album featuring the sixties hit «Sign», and appearances on MTV’s Unplugged shows are now as common as the word “alternative” has become as a musical description. But Resurrection Band is not into trends. They’ve made a career out of being nontrendy. And in Ampendectomy they’ve not just recorded their greatest hits with acoustic guitars, they’ve reinvented some of their best songs altogether, with a specifically acoustic, sonic style.

If Resurrection Band is the church’s Aerosmith, then songs like «Broken Promises» and «Shadows» are their «Dream On». Here they are, stripped of their hard-rock theatrics and reduced to simply brilliant songs. Other old-time faves, like Awaiting Your Reply‘s «Irish Garden» and Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore‘s «So In Love With You» are in comfortable company with newer tunes like «Across These Fields» and «Rain Dance». Then just to tweak with us, they threw in a few of the most unlikely stripdowns any fan could imagine. Try for instance the formerly technofied «2000» or «I Need Your Love», neither of which would seem to lend itself to this genre, but due to enough rearranging and accessorizing, come off quite well.

Several have been so rethought that they bear almost no resemblance to their former selves. All of which just adds to the experience. Taken as a whole, this collection of music certainly defies categorization. Their blues roots are showing, but the jangle tends to hint towards an almost country sound. The songs follow the rock formula, but are so removed from the overall rock idiom they almost sound like a new kind of music. It’s like seeing the shape of a handgun, then realizing it’s actually a decorated cake. The images clash.

The idea is so incongruous that it actually becomes it’s own thing. We’re suddenly looking at backporch, big city, country-fried Chicago hard rock, and if that ain’t enough to make you tired of comparisons then you’re a stronger fan than I am. Judging from the album art, this is also not supposed to be some heavy, self-indulgent experience as much as it’s supposed to be fun. So if they entertain their die-hard fans, and if some of those fans’ kids end up digging this little excursion, I’m sure no one will complain. [John J Thompson, True Tunes]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/ampendectomy/262533147)

CD tracklist:

01. Lovespeak – 3:59
02. Broken Promises – 6:58
03. Souls for Hire – 3:58
04. The House is on Fire – 3:36
05. I Need Your Love – 4:00
06. Rain Dance – 4:33
07. Shadows – 6:49
08. So in Love with You – 5:46
09. Colours – 4:05
10. Irish Garden – 3:55
11. Right on Time – 5:47
12. Across These Fields (Reprise) – 3:26
13. 2,000 – 5:21
14. Lincoln’s Train – 4:51
15. Can’t Stop Loving You – 3:30

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Grrr Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://resurrectionband.bandcamp.com/album/ampendectomy

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