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"When they ask you to play Cornerstone," I responded. The Phantom Tollbooth publishers are always on the lookout for great indies, but the ones asked to play at Cornerstone Festival get our immediate attention. As official typist of the Cornerstone website, I was one of the first to learn that indeed, they were asked to play Cornerstone '97, winners of a new band showcase berth. With a better-than-average attendance at their afternoon show, they turned in another good set. "Draggin Man", "I Love You Anyway," "Tantalize," "Anastasia," Not the Joneses introduced their music to a sector of the public that could appreciate the subtly of their message, but who, for the most part, would never consider hearing them in their typical venue. Lead singer and guitarist Mark Chaffee and bass player Russell Bergum (who has recently left the band to return to medical school) started creating music together in 1993. They added lead guitarist Doug Schoenbeck and drummer Vince Consolo in 1995, and became a professional band. Professional means hired-for-pay, and like most cities, the majority of paid entertainment in Chicago is consumed with alcohol. Not the Joneses is a bar band. They play loud, tight, comfortable rock with catchy choruses and plenty of flashy moves to get the imbibing patrons to pay attention to their act. They write it and play it well:
Ashes to ashes, yeah we all fall down Tryin not to feel while we're trying to look real Ashes to ashes, yeah we all fall down They meet their audience where they are, sympathize, then offer a solution. In the memorable "J-lite" over a bed of "J-lite the way," Mark lists the social ills of our times, and concludes, "where have we gone - we've lost our way/ This is our home - and all we like sheep have gone astray." In case you still haven't got it, or you need another nudge, the ballad "For the Cross" spells it out,
I cry for the martyrs who don't know to pray I cry for all people those wandering lost I cry for the cross."
God is dead' was written on the wall and it was signed Mr. Nietschze Alone in the dark I felt a helpless sinking in my heart But my spirit lifted When I saw those words so gifted Cuz someone wrote beneath in red 'Nietzsche's dead' Signed, God This is not a proselytizing band, yet as Chaffee explained it to me, "Each of the members are truly committed Christians, but we have been led to the dogs - meaning the mainstream market. Our booking, management, record company--almost everything else around us - are secular based. All we do is write music, rehearse, and pray a lot and walk through the doors God has been opening for us. I am beginning to realize more and more that it is not necessarily lyrical content that keeps Christian bands of the mainstream market. Let's face it, major labels and radio stations alike don't care what the lyrics say as long as they think it can be force fed to our youth who have the purchase power to keep the ball rolling! With this in mind, I think it is more imperative for Christian musicians to get out there and participate in life. We just need to be who we are, not hide behind the walls of our churches and coffee houses, and act like the saved people filled with the love of Christ that we are!" The recording is first-rate for the most part, although like most studio productions, it doesn't do their live show justice, and there are one or two rough spots buried in some of the slower tracks. Despite the minor quibbles, this is a good, upbeat listen you can play outside with pride while you wax your car. It might even convince your neighbors to accept your invitation to hear Not The Joneses the next time they're in town. Linda T. Stonehocker 10/97
It's hard to know where to start with this band. Not The Joneses' eponymous debut album is a tight, well-polished classic rock album, yet very much a product of the 90's. By this, I mean that on one hand, the album is full of those big pop hooks and rock riffage that is associated with the 70's, but on the other hand, there's a definite modern rock edge to the music. It's almost as though there are two distinct band sounds on this album; the classic-rock stylings on some of the songs ("Ashes To Ashes," "J-Lite," "Draggin' Man," to name a few) and the modern rock stylings on others ("I Love You Anyway," "God Is Dead," etc.). Some songs bridge the gap, however, such as "Time Ain't No Reason," with its Soundgarden-meets-The Guess Who sound. In short, the musical package, for the average rock fan, will fit well within their listening comfort zone, no matter what that zone may be. This is because the players, guitarists Dug
Schoenbeck and Mark Chaffee, bassist Russell Bergum, and drummer Vince Consolo
are adept at the various styles on this disc. Chaffee's vocals change to fit the
nuances of each track. Chaffee, as the principal songwriter, also contributes
some noteworthy lyrics to the album. In the track "God Is Dead,"
(hopefully not destined to suffer the same fate as Steve Taylor's "I Blew
Up The Clinic Real Good") the lyrics focus on the second verse: Inside a dim lit tunnel I saw somethin'This sense of humour permeates the lyrics of most of the songs. It's not really a hilarious album, but the band's sense of humor is certainly evident throughout. The song "I Love You Anyway" is from the perspective of Christ to us, His often stupid and unlistening people. I Love You Anyway!It's hard not to like that song, because it shows God's grace to us, the people who play these games. Plus, it has a very catchy, upbeat melody. This is a solid, well-produced, straight-up rock album. And I think that that's also its drawback. It's too tight, and needs a little more room in spots just to let it fly. But that's not necessarily a problem, as it depends on where your tastes lie. There's a lot of room for this band to grow from this first outing. Alex Klages 10/15/99
Not the Joneses is well-named. This isn't your little brother's garage band -- your little brother only wishes he could jam like this. Russell Bergum, Mark Chaffee, Vince Consolo, and Dug Schoenbeck are the stuff labels dream of -- talented, committed and just waiting for the right deal to come along. Not the Joneses, new to True Tunes Records, was originally released independently and proves once again that John Thompson knows good music when he hears it. It would be easy to dismiss this accessible, hooky CD as ear candy on first listen. Don't make that mistake. Despite the fact that you'll like it right away, you'll also find more substance as you dig into it. It's poppy without being trite; it's late '70s- or early '80s-style guitar rock without being a caricature of that genre. The songs range musically from poppiest pop (upbeat, catchy rhythms in "One Time Woman" and "Ashes to Ashes") to rockiest rock (crunchy, classic rock guitars and heavy drums in "Time Ain't No Reason," "Wait for Love," and "God is Dead") to a ballad or two ("For the Cross" and the hidden track at the end of "I Love You Anyway"). There are even elements of country (6/8 time and harmonica on "For the Cross") and old-style punk (strident guitar and screamed background vocals on "I Love You Anyway") to be found. A lesser band would sound ridiculous trying to pull off that sort of mix, but Not the Joneses does so masterfully. The skillful instrument handling and tight vocals are a big part of the reason why Not the Jonses comes together despite the divergence of styles. This is a great CD to listen to while reliving your '80s rock star fantasies while driving over the speed limit (with the top down, if possible). [Please note that The Phantom Tollbooth is not responsible for any speeding tickets incurred by listening to this CD. Some restrictions may apply. Contents may have settled during shipping. Void where prohibited by law.] Lyrically, these guys wear their faith on their sleeves without bashing listeners upside the head. They tackle themes of faith, despair, temptation, marital infidelity, and people who look for The Answer while ignoring it right before their eyes. There are no rose-colored glasses to be found here: Not the Joneses realize that there is beauty to be found despite the frustrations and ugliness life often shows us. This view is a refreshing break from the sugarcoated worldview often found in the mainstream Christian music industry. It's a bit more gritty, but it feels more *real*, more like these guys are living in the same world you and I inhabit. A couple of the songs present themselves as
radio-ready single material: "Ashes to Ashes," which has a single mix
conveniently provided as the last track, and "J-Lite," whose poppy
beat is the background for lists of problems in the modern world a la
Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire." Unlike Joel's more famous
song, though, "J-Lite" ends with a hopeful refrain: Where have we gone - we've lost our wayThe only problem to be found anywhere is one of oversight; the second track, "God is Dead," espouses just the opposite view, but its hook asserts that: Hey now God is dead, that is what Mr. Nitchze saidThe kicker, of course, is that the end lyric is: But my spirit lifted when I saw those words so giftedBut the listener walks away singing "God is dead, God is dead," unfortunately undercutting the meaning of the song. All in all, though, this may be one of the few great albums around. You'll like it the day you get it, and you'll still be listening months later. How rare is that? Lisa Reid 10/16/99
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