AJJ
The Bible 2
SideOneDummy, 2016
produced by John Congelton
Sean Bonnette - guitars, vocals
Ben Gallaty - basses (electric, and double)
Preston Bryant - keyboards, piano, guitars
Mark Glick - cello
Deacon Batchelor - drums
singles:
- Goodbye, Oh Goodbye
- Junkie Church
This band is pretty slick. I discovered them in 2007 when their song No More Tears appeared on the Plea For Peace vol. 2 comp released by Asian Man Records. They are considered Anti-Folk, a genre that lumps Regina Spektor, Laura Marling, Michelle Shocked, Death Cab for Cutie, and Beck all in the same group.
A band with initials, or numbers, makes people wonder what the initials or numbers mean. AJJ changed their name right before this album was announced. They are now referred to as AJJ, formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad. This, of course, explains the initials. The original name was super creative, and even though the band explained the official change as a desire to no longer be associated with the "odious" historic figure, nor with the "disrespectful" use of the term jihad (they aren't actually muslim, after all).
The combination of the 7th US president and a term meaning both a religious armed struggle against unbelievers, and a praiseworthy struggle is a pretty good satirical way to describe Jackson's political career. He publicly waged wars against the budding American aristocracy, the National Bank, and American Indian tribes, and abolitionists. I guess I understand not wanting to be forever linked to America's most famous civil rights violator, and a politically/cultural/religiously charged term. But, changing your name to just the acronym isnt really changing anything, right?
Anyway, this album is pretty good.
