Good Omens by Mudhouse
Thoughts on the debut album of one of Christian Indie's most promising bands.
Hi Pal,
Before we get into it, I just want to welcome those who subscribed in the past few days. I hope you stick around.
I remember listening to a song titled I Think I Love You back in 2021 on one of those playlists that Spotify tends to recommend. It was one of those rare occasions that Spotify gave me music that I love and since that time I’ve had Mudhouse on my radar.
When I stumble upon music as good as this, I tend to get a tad obsessive about the artists/band, especially when they have not released a debut album or EP. For some reason, I did not have this experience with these folks and when the band — comprising of members Tyler Kenepp, Lauren DuBois, Michael Giacomoni, Mitch Cavanaugh, Matt Varney and Alyssa Brandon — finally announced the release of their album, Good Omens, in late 2023, it was a pleasant surprise.
“Sinking Ship” opens this album and coincidentally was my most-played song of 2023 — a progressive indie rock tune that starts camouflaged as alternative folk. It does a good job of giving the listener a taste of the band’s musical range because no one would have complained if the song continued with its initial calming quality.
However, as the title of the song suggests, there is an undercurrent of chaos that steadily builds in the guitar strums and the arrangement of the vocal harmonies and it culminates in one of the most satisfying endings to a song I’ve heard in quite some time.
“Bruised and Bleeding” is a beautiful song that speaks of redemptive love. It’s quite reflective in its lyrics as the writer reflects on feelings of being undeserving and even questioning the good in themselves. All the emotions coalesce in the chorus:
…You found me where I am
Broken down not knowing where I've been
You say I'm worth a chance
Bruised, bleeding the pain of that…
…You found me where I am
Broken down not knowing where I've been
You paid my final debt
Bruised bleeding the pain of that…
I have a soft spot for male-female vocal harmonies and this song does a lot to fuel my already established bias in this regard. In “Flesh and Bone” we have an indie tune with strong arena rock feels. The guitars are front row and centre here as the feelings of mortal inadequacy in the presence of boundless eternal love continue to drive the album. I particularly love the lines:
..Lord I know I'm the one to blame,
but I'm sick of the shame
That I can't erase
Oh I know that I'm not enough
But still You come
To fill up my cup…
Since it was my introduction to this band, “I Think I Love You” will always be my go-to recommendation tune for first-time listeners. I don’t think it is the best song on the album, but it has a feel-good aura to it that is palpable.
Maybe it’s the warm campfiresque strums of guitar or the sing-along arrangement of the vocals but it’s a song I was humming to after two or three listens. It also has a deceptively energetic ending which seems to be a style of writing that the band is fond of.
Anyone who wants to listen to a modern retelling of the story of the prodigal son from the young man’s perspective should probably listen to “Prodigal”. Lauren DuBois does a good job painting a picture of the repentant emotional disposition of the principal character of this story. Once again, the consistent theme of undying love in the face of our earthly failings is reflected here.
“Make Me New” and “Ghost Story” are both prayers focused on two related themes. The former is a prayer for intimacy with God and a realignment of our focus on the relationship with our creator and not the benefits. The latter is a prayer for a personal experience with the Spirit of God that will strengthen our relationship with Him. These two songs are very dear to me and one of them may have been my favourite on Good Omens if the album closer did not exist.
Anyone who has struggled with sin or has had any experience fighting inner demons in their Christian life will connect with the album closer, “Haunted House”. As someone who has dealt with some of these things and is still walking with Jesus daily to live a life of holiness, this song always brings me to tears when I listen. There is just something viscerally honest about these words from Michael Giaconomi:
…Oh my God I’m tired of being broken
I wanna by holy
I wanna be good
I wanna feel better…
It’s a song that cuts me deeply and represents everything great about this album.
Good Omens, as I have alluded to, is an album that contrasts imperfect humans with a perfect God. It is full of reflections of God’s love and acknowledgements of man’s frailties and the pain that comes with it.
I have been listening to indie for a very long time and I believe that it is a genre of music that can be used to communicate complex emotions with clarity. Unfortunately, not all artists, even within the indie scene, know how to use it to do this. For a new band to achieve this is an impressive and applaudable feat.
Genre(s): Indie Rock, Indie Folk
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