I am proud to announce that Caedmon’s Call is releasing a new album on August 28, 2007 called “Overdressed”. Being the drummer of Caedmon’s since the band formed in 1992, I can truly say that this new album captures what we were then, what we are now, and everything in between. We wanted to write and perform honestly. What you see is what you get. We are thinkers, so our lyrics encourage thought. Our different personalities and musical backgrounds allow us to cover a broad spectrum of styles musically. Our concerts are, for better or worse, informal and quite casual because our personalities are very informal and casual.
“Overdressed” comes from the idea that since the Fall (see Genesis), in order to cover up our shame or our sin nature, we put on clothing that makes us look better before others and ultimately before God. Many times unknowingly trying to reconcile the broken relationship with our Creator. Donald Miller has some great perspective on this idea in his book Searching for God Knows What. Pre-Fall we were naked before God and not ashamed. Post-Fall we are naked, ashamed, and discontent. It’s interesting to me how I’ve heard several people talk about this idea since naming the album. One of my pastors, Scott Roley, spoke recently about how Adam and Eve immediately started blaming each other after the Fall, and actually blaming God. Not to mention, desperately seeking some sort of clothing.
This reminds me of a conversation I had recently with a friend. He has a corporate job, a regular paycheck and schedule. I am a musician, I work at home; my paycheck and schedule are quite flexible. We discussed the assumptions that corporate people have about musicians and visa-versa. We somehow came around to agreeing that relationships are the common element for both of us. In the midst of our conversation, my friend mentioned how easily the “grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” factor creeps into our thinking.
This thinking is usually representing some sort of discontentment in one’s life. I have to confess that I have a difficult time living in the “present”. My personality is quick to reminisce and eager to imagine what is to come, but so often I miss out on the moment at hand. That being said, maybe we are created to long for the other side of the fence in the same way that we are created for worship. Because of the Fall, of course, we long for grass that is not green and worship what is not worthy. But, I somehow find comfort in knowing that this discontentment may be a divine condition instilled in all of us that we be drawn to know our God. Maybe it sort of validates some of my personality tendencies, or maybe it’s just one more glimpse of how beautiful the gospel is, or both. Whatever it is, I come away wanting to know my Creator more and am drawn to one that would know me and still love me.
So, no matter how many copies of “Overdressed” are sold in the future and no matter how many times I catch myself wondering what my life would be like if I would have pursued something else, my soul finds rest in the moment of knowing that my Creator is pursuing me despite my being overdressed in the grass that is not green.
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Editor's Note:
To listen to a free podcast of the band discussing Overdressed, click (here).
To buy 2 copies of the a special limited edition version of the Overdressed CD for $12, click (here).
If you are in Houston and want to see the CD release show, you can buy tickets here. You get 2 CDs for $15 and a free concert. Hope to see you there.
http://www.christtheking.com
Posted by: Lance Orton | August 10, 2007 at 07:28 PM