Description
Modern Romans is the sophomore album by the American rock band The Call, released on Mercury Records in 1983. The album was recorded July-August 1982 by Richard Kaplan at Indigo Studios in Manchester, England; with Michael Been and the band producing. All songs written by lead vocalist Michael Been.
‘Modern Romans’, The Call’s second LP, renders unto 20th-century Caesars an ’80s-style rock ‘n’ roll reprimand for moral digression and socially accepted licentiousness. Throughout the album rhythmic guitars coalesce with a foundation of thundering bass and drums to counter Michael Been’s sometimes paroxysmal vocals.
Apart from being the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist, and only credited songwriter, Michael travelled as the bass player for the 2nd Chapter of Acts‘ original touring band (The Node Gang) and appeared on ‘With Footnotes‘ as well as on Jamie Owen’s (Collins) ‘Laughter in Your Soul‘. He and Scott Musick (drums) chose to pursue the lights of Los Angeles, and nearly a decade later finds them on MTV (Music Television) singing about Jericho (and America) in «The Walls Came Down», a song of warning to a war-bent culture.
In the genre of bands like Simple Minds, U2, and the Seventy-Sevens, The Call maintains their own felicitous sound: heavy, but without a wall of unrelenting screaming guitars. At times sarcastically assaulting the issues, the point gets across.
Imbued with a strong ethical content, The Call makes ambiguous spiritual statements pertaining to warnings of judgement, responsibility, and moral absolutes. “He said, ‘Come back, come back, come back home/ Living by your own rules is living all alone'” («Time of Your Life»). The title track continues with the theme of impending judgment, “Modern Romans! False gods/ Colonial maneuvers! The writing’s on the wall!”
Opening side two, «Destination» cruises with an interesting instrumental interwork of synthesizers, drums, and guitars that concludes with “Faithful servants counting the years/ Say, lead them to heaven/ They’ve no home here/ The path of faith and eternal right/ In the midst of death we are in life.”
The songs all speak of truth. However, a fascination with mystical vagueness overshadow any concrete scriptual commitment. This album may raise questions and requires thought, but there is no harm in thinking. The playing is tight and at times pleasantly unusual – particularly the punchy guitar/sax trade-off in the vertical love song «All About You».
Although not expressly a Christian album, the performance is energetic, the lyrics are based in truth, and all nine songs are well executed. Worth the money, new music enthusiasts who have heard the “Caller” will appreciate ‘Modern Romans’ by The Call. [Joe Polizzi, CCM, August 1983]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/no/album/modern-romans/1443850240)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “The Walls Came Down” – 3:35
A2. “Turn A Blind Eye” – 3:48
A3. “Time Of Your Life” – 3:27
A4. “Modern Romans” – 3:24
A5. “Back From The Front” – 4:02
Side Two
B1. “Destination” – 4:32
B2. “Violent Times” – 4:28
B3. “Face To Face” – 4:05
B4. “All About You” – 4:20
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Mercury Records.
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