What is your go-to album when you're alone in your car and you just need to get those emotional juices flowing? We all have one, right?
That album for me is: The Power of Failing by "Mineral". They were a short-lived band from Austin, TX in the early/mid 90's. In fact, it is my absolute favorite album of all time. I heard of them by word of mouth back in the late 90's/early 2000's when I worked at a video rental store (remember those?!) and my co-worker let me borrow that CD. She was into indie-rock/emo music and I quickly grew to love that kind of music. Go ahead and mock me for being an "emo kid" or whatever! It doesn't bother me because I listened to the good "emo" music!
Who doesn't love the raw, whiny singing that complements crunching guitars and powerful lyrics?
Ok, just me?!
Well, I love it and won't apologize for that!
I had never seen "Mineral" play live (they broke up by the time I found out about them), but a couple of years ago I got to see them play in Orlando on their 25 year reunion tour. It was amazing. (probably not as cool as seeing them in the 90's, but hey, I'll take what I can get!) In fact, they released their follow-up album End Serenading after they broke up and it seems more people like that album more than their first. That one is great too, but The Power of Failing is my favorite.
The main reason that album has stuck with me for 20+ years is because of the lyrics. I love the music and singing too, but this album has many Christian undertones and spiritual tension. The lyrics are so honest and piercing, I can tell this was a teenager who grew up in church (as I did) trying to figure out for themselves what significance God played in their life. This wasn't an album about getting dumped by your girlfriend, it was much deeper than that. I feel like this band should be way more famous than they are. I've always thought to myself that if I ever had billions of dollars to blow, I'd pay them all handsomely to play this album from start to finish! But I digress...
To my knowledge, Chris Simpson does not claim to be a Christian these days, which was disheartening to hear. Regardless, I feel like sharing some of the lyrics and the significance they've had in my life.
There are blue skies in my dream
And laughter that seems unending
There are green grass fields there
And happiness and hope for tomorrow
My cup is full and my heart
Spills awkward and embarrasing blood
Onto white golden streets and I
Am unashamed of the stains my steps leave
Tears stream down my cheeks
Only to meet their redeemer
And be wiped away, wiped away
And there is joy
Ah, there is joy
This includes references to Psalm 23 and Revelation 21:4. What a day that'll be, when our Redeemer wipes away our tears and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain! All these things are gone forever.
"Dolorosa"
Rejoice my soul, how long will you wait?
Rejoice my soul, how long will you fear?
I long to touch your face
May I?
The sun is falling down again
Jesus, I hope you're coming back soon
Ok, this one is not as subtle. It's not super easy to make out the lyrics if you just hear them once. When I finally realized what he was actually signing (and they way he's screeching those words!) it's just perfect!
They end the album with this song:
I wouldn't mind if you took me in my sleep tonight
I wouldn't even put up a fight
I wouldn't care if you took it all away today
I'm sure I wouldn't even miss the pain
But I know I've got to live my life
And roll around on the ground and feel the strife
And realize along the way that I'm nothing more than
A grain of salt in the salt of the earth, and everything is grace
So come on with the darkness
Come on with the fear
Cause I've got to start somewhere
And it might as well be here
And when I'm finally naked and standing in the sunlight
I'll look back at all this selfishness and foolish pride
And laugh at myself
Laugh at myself
The beginning lines are a little dark, but he then acknowledges that "everything is grace". So bring on the darkness and fear!
This reminds me of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
And 2 Timothy 1:7, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
The ending of this song has stuck with me for years. When I finally stand (or kneel) in judgement, what possible defense could I have for myself? I'll realize that my selfishness and foolish pride got the best of me more often than I'd like to admit.
I think I'll stop there, I could write something for each and every song on this album (and their second album!) If nothing else, give this song a listen (If I Could) as I remember it was the one I initially liked when first hearing the album. Or this one (Slower) which I've probably listened to the most.
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