Bill Madden

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Amplifiermagazine.com

by Tom Semioli | 10.13.08

The next revolution might not have to be televised after all. Bill Madden is a singer / songwriter with an artistic bent akin to Patti Smith, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Midnight Oil and Leonard Cohen who, rather than preach to the choir, sings truth to power. Unfortunately we don’t hear much stuff like this on commercial media anymore – you know the drill. Madden’s weathered delivery fits these modern times all too perfectly as he ruminates over our collective loss of compassion, justice, and humanity among other things. His backing band is quite dexterous as well, rocking hard when necessary (“Unfair”) or gradual ly building to a fever pitch (“Shine On”) when Madden delivers his most riveting libretto – much like Bruce and Patti’s respective ensembles. “Bosko and Admira” – a love story between a Serb and a Muslim is the sort of news we need to see more of on CNN. If you think Bono tells it like it is, wait ‘till you hear Bill Madden.

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Burgo’s Blog

by Matt Burgess | 09.23.06

So, a few weeks ago, Diana from MADMUSE got in touch with me to let me know that they were sending me a pre-release copy of Bill Madden’s new album, “Child of the Same God”. (Sidenote: I love it when overseas agencies don’t mind paying the international postage and send original copies all the way to Australia. It gives me the warm and fuzzies.) Anyway, sure enough, a week or two later, “Child of the Same God” landed on my doorstep… and I’ve pretty much been playing it non-stop since then. It’s that good.

Now, I’ll be honest; I hadn’t heard much of Bill Madden before Diana got in touch with me. But according to the release that was sent along with the album, Madden is an “activist musician, who’s work is often described at alternative folk“. To be honest, I wouldn’t personally place Bill Madden in the alt.folk scene… at least, not in the sense that regular readers around these parts would expect. But activist? Most certainly. You only have to take one look at his website to see that he wears that side of himself on his sleeve, and it’s certainly reflected in the tunes that appear on “Child of the Same God”.

From the album’s opening track of “Unfair”, it’s clear that Bill Madden is an artist that has something to say… and that outspokeness is continued through each and every song on the album. To some, I can see that being a hindrance; after all, it’s not an “easy” album. That said, those who leave it with a single initial listen are missing out… “Child of the Same God” is the quintessential “replay” album – the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you. In that respect (and also in individual songs, such as “Empire”), Madden strongly recalls – for me, at least – hints of another Burgo Blog favourite, Gregory Page. And those who have read this blog in the past would know that I mean that as high praise indeed.

Overall, the album is really a mixture of poetry, activism, and plain ol’ awesome music… and one that I would highly suggest. The one thing that makes it hard to review and album such as this is Madden’s sheer versatility: there’s some rock in there, some minimalist tunes, some blues-influenced, and even some reggae rythyms in there.

Luckily, MADMUSE has given me permission to post a few songs on here as tasters, so I decided to go with three tunes: the opening track, “Unfair”, title track “Child of the Same God”, and “Bosko and Admira”. “Unfair” opens the album with the unforgettable lines “Old soul, It’s a slipping down life“… but goes on to proclaim Bill Madden’s ultimate message of fighting optimism, with the refrain:

Listen to your heart
And follow
The road less travelled
Listen to the voice
But beware
Life can seem unfair

Bill Madde, Unfair

Title track “Child of the Same God” is perhaps the most accessible of the album’s tracks in terms of mainstream usability; but it doesn’t let up Madden’s questioning of our society for one second. It’s a cracking tune, and one who’s calm strings belie an anger and grief bubbling below the surface.

Why do we indulge
These messengers of fear
And meekly capitulate
As our freedom disappears
What’s going on
When it’s you against me
Voices of reason
Their silence is deafening
May God’s grace guide our way
May God’s grace guide our way
We’re all one
Child of the same God

Bill Madden, Child of the Same God

The final tune I’m including below is perhaps the most narrative-driven of all the songs on the album: “Bosko and Admira”, which tells the tale of the “Sarajevo Romeo and Juliet” (who you can learn more about here). It’s a haunting tale, and one you should read.

On the banks of the river
Forbidden love and
Blood run together
Forbidden love and
Blood run together
Ah, I hear the children play
Ah, Sarajevo Serenade
Ah…

Bill Madden, Bosko and Admira

Ultimately, the lyrics above really don’t do justice to Madden’s music; you have to hear him singing these songs, voice cracking with conviction and passion to truly understand the album. And I suggest you do.

Bill Madden’s “Child of the Same God” is due out Oct 14.

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Delusions of Adequacy

by Bryan Sanchez | 11.12.08

Musician and singer-songwriter Bill Madden has always been an opinionated, peculiar and highly political dude. Heck, even with the knowledge that the cover to his album, Samsara’s Grip, would bring about controversy and backlash didn’t stop Madden from continuing with his “exposed manhood” cover. Still, this hasn’t prevented Madden from writing the kind of music he desires: honest, open-hearted and substantial. But with certain freedoms arise potential flaws and Madden’s solely to blame for Child of the Same God’s insolvent and overbearing catalog.

A song that is deeply influenced by reggae, jazz and The Police’s snazzy rhythms like “What the Man Does” is completely buried in the middle of the album. Unless you undertake the mission to get through it after seven tolling songs, it’s not nearly enough to save the album from its drowning fate. It’s too bad that gentle trumpets, snappy percussion and Madden’s smooth crooning is lost in all of this. The same can be said for the march-like style of “Shall Be Heard.” Although the music is inspired and somewhat impressive, it’s stacked at the very back-end of the album.

In many ways, and fittingly so, this is Madden’s political album — a detailed recollection of opinions, viewpoints and ideas. But all of this is pure overkill for the overall mood. The album is plagued with way too many songs that go on for way too long and the crazy aspect of it all is that it clocks in well under fifty minutes. However, it is Madden’s laboring tempos, lifeless melodies and tedious arrangements that fall flat without delivering any soul or heart.

Everything starts off just fine with the rocking guitars and pulsating drums on “Unfair.” Madden sings about finding one’s self and making sometimes unsure but ultimately timely decisions; he sounds his best when he sings, “Listen to your heart and follow the road less traveled.” Things only improve with the title track and its spiritual connection. Madden shows off tribal drums, tender atmospherics and a shining falsetto.

But it’s all throughout the following that one easily gets lost in a haze of meandering chords, uninspiring singing and most importantly, borderline suffocating production. Not only does everything sound stuffy and overpowering but its slick resonance feels forced. Songs like “I Wanna Know,” “Just Like Me” and “Empire” come and go without the slightest hint of sincerity or even joy, for that matter.

Madden’s goal was simple: make a politically-charged album that encircles important decisions and the results of those choices. But he forgot that along the way, the music requires just as much attention as well. The devil is in the details and it’s just too bad that an album like Child of the Same God loses out because of lack of creativity.

File Under:
Politcal/easy-listening

Recommended If You Like:
Willy Mason, Phil Ochs, Conor Oberst, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison

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File Under

by Ewie | 12.17.08

(English Translation)

Recently, during one of my communications courses, I stumbled upon the following: there are thinkers and there are doers. The American musician, Bill Madden, seems to be a thinker. When you write songs about love, you can do this in an ‘I love you, I will be faithful to you’ kind of way. You can also turn it into a very sad story, about ‘Bosko and Admira’, who have been in love with each other since High School. However, in 1993 a sniper in Sarajevo ends this forbidden love between this Serbian man and Muslim woman. The heavy lyrics are driven by powerful, sad, and emotional music. I am touched. I believe Madden has seriously thought about it as he does with everything. With a title like Child of the Same God, this becomes obvious, even if I had not already picked up on it from his previous albums. Don’t get me wrong, it is not a religious album. It is about respect for each other. Madden not only put thought into his lyrics, but also into the music. Not a single note appears to be there without reason. It kicks off with the tones of an organ that sets the mood for an edifying atmosphere. An ensemble of musicians support him on his songs, but nowhere is it overdone. His motto is: if you don’t need it, don’t use it. Child Of The Same God sounds – in my opinion – musically like a cross between Jeff Buckley meets U2 meets Elvis Costello. Luckily, this thinker knows what to do with his great ideas. Child Of The Same God is a beautiful album. Given his previous albums, that goes without saying.

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(Dutch Original)

Onlangs kwam het op een communicatiecursus die ik volgde weer eens aan de orde: je hebt denkers en je hebt doeners. De Amerikaanse muzikant Bill Madden lijkt me een denker. Als je liedjes schrijft over liefde dan kun je dit doen in de trant van ik-hou-van-jou, ik-blijf-je-trouw. Je kunt er ook een diepdroevig verhaal van maken, over “Bosko and Admira” die elkaar al vanaf de middelbare school liefhebben. Maar aan de vanaf 1992 verboden liefde tussen de Serviër en de moslima wordt in 1993 in Sarajevo door een scherpschutter een einde gemaakt. De zware tekst wordt gebracht op een emotie opwekkend muzikaal palet. Ik ben geroerd. Madden heeft er over nagedacht, zoals volgens mij over alles. Met een titel als Child Of The Same God had ik het kunnen weten, als ik het al niet van eerdere albums wist. Om misverstanden te voorkomen: een religieus album is het niet. Het gaat om respect hebben voor elkaar. Behalve over de teksten heeft Madden ook over de muziek nagedacht. Geen noot lijkt ergens toevallig staan. Het begint al met de eerste tonen van een orgel dat een stichtelijke sfeer creëert. Een hele trits aan muzikanten staat klaar om hem verder bij te staan, maar nergens is overdaad. Het credo luidt: als het niet nodig is dan niet. Child Of The Same God klinkt – ik doe een poging – muzikaal als Jeff Buckley meets U2 meets Elvis Costello. Gelukkig weet de denker met zijn goede ideeën ook iets te doen. Child Of The Same God is een prachtig album geworden. Gezien zijn voorgangers had ik dat echter al wel gedacht.

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Groove

by Øyvind Berge | 01.12.09

(English Translation)

Poetic folk rock activism

Madden cleanly delivers masterful poetic texts with a clear political agenda.

Bill Madden is a man who believes in something and wants more from music than just a happy melody and a catchy chorus. In “”, the listener is taken on a poetic folk rock journey with a poetic sting.

Bill Madden is a relatively unknown name here in the city, but he’s far from being a newcomer. The debut album was available as of 1995. Since then, there have been two more albums and also some work from recent performances. It’s completely clear to this album reviewer, after several rounds of Madden in the player, that this is an artist who knows how to place text as well as melody. This is an artistic balance that few artists master. Many times, so-called “political rock” can easily go into a showy and arrogant lecturing of the listener. It’s a pleasure, then, to note that Bill Madden doesn’t fall into this trap. He cleanly delivers masterful poetic texts with a clear political agenda, and it’s all presented in a comfortable, airy and very well-produced recording.

It’s tempting to cite the glorious John Lennon who, after their somewhat discussed album “Some Time in New York City”, finally found a formula for how to make political music available to everyone when he released “Imagine” in 1971: “The trick is to serve the message with a little sugar too!”

One can take a lot of inspiration from John Lennon in “Child of the Same God”. One of the disc’s main tracks, “Dream With Me”, could have easily stood in for “Imagine” or “Mind Games” and defended the position both textually and musically. In other places, such as the immensely beautiful “Shall Be Heard”, shadows of Ron Sexsmith lurk in the background. Madden has a voice that, even if it’s a little higher in pitch, is very reminiscent of the mentioned Sexsmith. Another song that’s also frighteningly reminiscent of him is the absolutely exquisite “Humbled By Your Grace”.

We have already mentioned the texts. These are, I dare to say, a notch above the public pop text. The artist claims to be influenced by eastern philosophy and poets like Dylan Thomas and Hart Crane. Bob Dylan must also be mentioned in this context. No place is he more like Dylan, both textually and musically, than in the disc’s best track, “Empire”. The text can’t be construed as anything other than a bitter indictment of George W. Bush and his regime. Set to a simple and very sad melody, it makes a big impression.

Where was the outcry and voice of dissent,
who dare defy this President,
Who from his bully pulpit decreed,
traitor is he whom disagrees

When fascism comes it’ll come here,
under the guise of God, nationalism and fear,
it’ll come with slogans and a patriot’s tag,
in the form of a cross draped in a flag

Bill Madden, Empire

The last decade’s American politics and W’s fight against terror could hardly be more poetically summarized. The rest of the album is characterized by similar textual expressions, where the artist puts his finger on another theme that he takes up in a brilliant way. In the title song, he comes out with the following brilliant observation:

When did dogma become truth,
when did a belief become an absolute?

Bill Madden, Child of the Same God

I usually either love or hate an artist of this type, but Bill Madden habitually manages to never be showy or act like a know-it-all. In addition, the music is both well played and well composed. If it’s a little folksy, then I will simply say that the melody is powerfully good! Therefore, this album reviewer is dazzled by “Child of the Same God”, which has been on the way for a long time, for observant readers. Here is the element that should find the most musical interest. Great melodies, great performances and brilliant texts.

Simply a very solid musical work.

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(Norwegian ‘Nynorsk’ Original)

Poetisk folkrock-aktivisme

Reint meisterleg leverer Madden poetiske tekstar med ein klår politisk agenda.

Bill Madden er ein mann som meiner noko og som vil noko meir med musikken enn berre ein koseleg melodi og eit fengande refreng. På Child of the Same God blir lyaren teken med på ei poetisk folkrockreise med ein poetisk brodd.

Bill Madden er eit relativt ukjent namn her på berget, men han er langt frå nokon nykomar. Debutalbumet blei utgjeve så langt attende som i 1995. Sidan då har det kome ytterlegare to album og no ligg altså det seinaste verket føre. Det står heilt klårt for denne platemeldaren, etter fleire rundar med Madden i spelaren, at dette er ein artist som veit å setje tekstane like mykje i høgsetet som melodiane. Dette er ein balansekunst som få artistar meistrar. Mange gonger kan såkalt “politisk rock” lett gli over i blærete og arrogent belæring av lyarane. Det er difor ei glede å konstatere at Bill Madden ikkje går i denne fella. Reint meisterleg leverer han poetiske tekstar med ein klår politisk agenda, og det heile servert i eit behageleg, luftig og særdeles velprodusert lydbilete.

Det er fristande å sitere salige John Lennon som, etter sitt noko omdiskuterte album Some Time in New York City, endeleg fann oppskrifta på korleis ein skulle gjere politisk musikk tilgjengeleg for ålmenta då han gav ut Imagine i 1971: “Kunsten er å servere bodskapen med litt sukker attåt!”

Ein kan sanneleg høyre mykje inspirasjon frå John Lennon på Child of the Same God. Eit av skivas hovedspor, Dream With Me, kunne lett ha gått inn på Imagine eller Mind Games og forsvart posisjonen både tekstleg og musikalsk. Andre stader, som på den umåteleg vakre Shall Be Heard, lurar skuggen av Ron Sexsmith i bakgrunnen. Madden har ei stemme som, sjølv om den ligg i eit noko høgare toneleie, minner særs mykje om nemnde Sexsmith. Ein annan song som også minner skummelt mykje om han er den aldeles utsøkte Humbled By Your Grace.

Me har allereie nemnd tekstane. Desse ligg, vågar eg å påstå, eit hakk over den gjengse poptekst. Artisten hevdar sjølv å vere influert av austens filosofi og poetar som Dylan Thomas og Hart Crane. Bob Dylan må i denne samanhengen også nemnast. Ingen stader er han meir lik Dylan, både tekstleg og musikalsk, enn i platas aller beste spor Empire. Teksten kan ikkje tolkast som anna enn eit bittert oppgjer med George W. Bush og hans regime. Sett til ein enkel og særs trist melodi gjer den stort inntrykk.

Where was the outcry and voice of dissent,
who dare defy this President,
Who from his bully pulpit decreed,
traitor is he whom disagrees

When fascism comes it’ll come here,
under the guise of God, nationalism and fear,
it’ll come with slogans and a patriot’s tag,
in the form of a cross draped in a flag

Bill Madden, Empire

Stort meir poetisk kan antakeleg det siste tiårets amerikanske politikk og W sin kamp mot terror oppsummerast. Resten av plata er prega av liknande tekstlege uttrykk der artisten på ein briljant måte set fingeren på andre tema han er oppteken av. I tittelsongen slenger han, til dømes ut følgande briljante observasjon:

When did dogma become truth,
when did a belief become an absolute?

Bill Madden, Child of the Same God

Vanlegvis enten elskar eller hatar ein artistar av denne typa, men Bill Madden greier som sagt kunststykket å aldri bli blærete eller verke som ein bedrevitar. Dessutan er musikken både velspela og velkomponert. Skal ein vere litt folkeleg, så vil eg rett og slett seie at melodiane er drivande gode! Denne platemeldaren er difor, som det for lengst har gått opp for den observante lesar, blenda av Child of the Same God. Her er det element som burde fenge dei fleste musikkinteresserte. Flotte melodiar, flott framføring og briljante tekstar.

Rett og slett eit særs solid musikkverk.

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Heaven

by Kees van Wee | Vol 10 No 6 | Nov/Dec 2008

(English Translation)

Heartfelt Californian

Life is not always fair and there is a lot of misery in this world, but we are all children of the same God and should not give up when challenged. “Shine on, though the worst goes before you.” That is roughly the theme in this fourth CD from Bill Madden, a singer-songwriter from California, also known as an environmental and anti-war activist.

He writes heartfelt lyrics about power seizing politicians, genocide and the distress in his head. …And about the Serbian boy Bosko and the Muslim woman Admira that will get shot if they try to escape the civil war. “Forbidden love and blood run together.”

Sometimes he might be laying it on too thick when you just read his lyrics, but Madden performs his songs with a convincing urgency that takes away all doubt. With a pained voice, oscillating between highs and rock-charged instrumentals and energy, songs like “Unfair” have the power of the strongest works by Madrugada. His approach and free spirit are like that of Joseph Arthur, who he surpasses with these fourteen powerful songs.

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(Dutch Original)

Aangrijpende Californier

Het leven is niet altijd eerlijk en er is veel ellende op deze wereld. Maar we zijn allemaal kinderen van dezelfde God en moeten bij tegenspoed niet opgeven . ‘Shine On, though the worst goes before you.’ Dat is zo ongeever de rode draad van deze vierde cd van Bill Madden, een singer-songwriter uit Californie, ook bekend als milieu- en antioorlogactivist.

Aangrijpende teksten schrijft hij. Over machtsbeluste politici, genocide en de onrust in zijn hoofd. En over de Servische jongen Bosko en moslima Admira, die worden doodgeschoten als ze de burgeroorlog proberen te ontvluchten. ‘Forbidden love and blood run together.’

Misschien ligt het er soms wat te dik bovenop als je de teksten alleen maar leest, maar Madden voert zijn songs uit met een overtuigende urgentie die alle twijfel wegneemt. Met gepijnigde zang, die geregeld de hoogte inschiet, en soms met een rockachtige instrumentatie en energie. Zo heeft Unfair de kracht van het sterkste werk van Madrugada. Zijn benadering en eigenzinnigheid hebben ook wel iets van Joseph Arthur, die hij met deze veertien sterke songs overtreft.

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Luna Kafé

by Anna Maria Stjärnell | 11.14.08

Bill Madden follows his impressive debut Gone with an equally strong effort in the singer/songwriter genre. Madden tells stories in his songs and on the title track he examines the shaky state of the world. His insight is not stunningly original, but worthwhile anyway.

His vocal aptly conveys worry and compassion. “Just Like Me” examines the idea that everyone has a dark as well as a light side; Madden has penned a strong song with a powerful chorus. “Dream With Me” is a soft hush of a song, Madden sounds like he’s happy to be alive here. “Empire” is more about the turbulent state of the world, and it’s sung in a convincing way. Madden wears his heart on his sleeve on this album and that makes it all worthwhile.

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OnMilwaukee.com

by Bobby Tanzilo | 09.23.08

Singer and songwriter Bill Madden’s “Child of the Same God” is indie rock and roll for fans of Springsteen, Petty and maybe even The Replacements and Elvis Costello. Madden’s emotive voice renders the lyrics the focus of the alt.Americana rock workout.

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Popmatters

By Joseph Carver | 01.29.09

Bill Madden seems to be knee deep in a post political revolution. His approach appears to be less about using music to make changes than music as change. Vocally, a mixture of Jeff Buckley and Ed Kowalczyk, Madden sometimes strains to reach the emotional peaks of his lyrics but so would just about anyone else.

On Madden’s latest release Children of the Same God, he strays a bit far from his reputation as a neo-folk musician and activist. Much of this is a rock record. “I Wanna Know” sounds like it could have come straight from Throwing Copper but with a more direct lyrical approach. “Unfair” provides much of the same. Musically there may not be a great deal of new ground being broken but Madden, thanks to his outspoken activism and role in the environmental movement, has amassed enough of a following to ensure that this record will be heard. Madden has found a co-conspirator in Billy Mohler who plays everything from Bass to Organ on Child of the Same God and he is fortunate to have done so. He seems to provide direction to Madden’s vision.

A lot has changed in the world since Madden wrote this record. It would be tempting to think that we have turned the corner on so many issues that are addressed but Madden and his music are searching for something greater than policy change. He is seeking a paradigm change. And he is using his broad talent to put his mouth where his ideas are.

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Real Roots Café

By Jan Janssen | 02.11.09

(English Translation)

The CD cover foreshadowed that this would not be the most easy-listening record ever. After listening to it, however, this seemed to not be the case. Bill Madden’s fourth CD, “Child Of The Same God”, is not ambiance music, but it does have some loving feeling in it. Mostly known as an environmentalist and anti-war activist, this songwriter makes every note count. Issues like environmental problems, weapons trade, violence, poverty, materialism, etc. keep him busy, but what can he do about it? Putting it all into words and asserting his own ideas seems to be working for him. Beware, Bill Madden is not some unarmed Don Quixote that comes knocking empty handed. No – the song, Bosko and Admira, about the true story of the forbidden love between a Serbian boy and Muslim girl is much too emotional for that, which makes it feel personal and familiar. The production duo Heroes & Villains, who were also involved in “The Sky Below” by Shane Alexander last year, produced these songs on to this beautiful record. The duo also brought together the rhythm section of Charlie Paxon (James Blunt) on the drums and percussion and Billy Mohler (Macy Gray) on bass, piano, keyboards and electric guitar. “Child Of The Same God” listens like a well-written book. The message is brought to you in clear and convincing words… intriguing, exciting and especially persuading from beginning to end.

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(Dutch Original)

De CD hoes voorspelde dat we niet de aller makkelijkste plaat zouden gaan beluisteren. Toch viel het achteraf gezien allemaal wel mee. Bill Madden’s vierde CD “Child Of The Same God” is weliswaar geen lichte kost, maar heeft ook weer iets liefdevols. Deze vooral als milieu- en anti oorlogsactivist bekendstaande singer-songwriter maakt van zijn noot een deugd. Aspecten als milieuproblematiek, wapenhandel, geweld, armoede, materialisme etc. houden hem bezig, maar wat kan hij eraan doen? Het van zich afschrijven en daar waar mogelijke ook ideeën van de hand doen lijkt goed bij hem te werken. Let op, Bill Madden is zeker geen ontwapende Don Quichote die met lege handen aan komt kloppen. Nee, daarvoor grijpt bijvoorbeeld het waargebeurde verhaal over de verboden liefde tussen een Servische jongen en een Moslima in het liedje “Bosko and Admira” te veel aan. Sterker nog het komt wel erg dichtbij. Het productie duo Heroes & Villains, die ook betrokken waren op Shane Alexander’s “The Sky Below” van het vorige jaar, produceerde deze ontluisterende plaat. Deze brachten o.a. ook dezelfde rhythm sectie bestaande uit Charlie Paxon (James Blunt) op drums en percussie en Billy Mohler (Macy Gray) op bas, piano, keyboards en elektrisch gitaar in stelling. “Child Of The Same God” luistert als een goed gelezen boek. De boodschap wordt in heldere en duidelijke taal gebracht. Indringend, spannend en vooral overtuigend van begin tot eind.

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Rootshighway

by Yuri Susanna | Shortcuts #119 | Jan 2009

(English Translation)

Poor Bill Madden, abused by the English press who probably never forgave the ever annoying Eco-song from 2 years ago “Gone”… labeled as “one of the worst albums I have ever listened to” from the New Zealand critic (do these people really have musical points of view?), reality is that this latest piece of work (his 4th) isn’t one you should ignore. We’re going against the mainstream giving it a rating that’s maybe too high for what it should be; but, on the other hand the norm has a resistance to rock, the opening song Unfair gives a good gist of the sense of these 14 tracks (a few too many) that can be classified as hot and passionate; rhetorical lyrics but at the same time that dig deep into politics (Bosko and Admira), the tragic love story between a Serbian guy and a Muslim woman in Sarajevo in 1993), and spirituality (the message of brotherhood from the title track)? Yelling words with strong passion that go beyond the production which is a little lacking and also flattens the sound of the band (highlighted by Billy Moher on the bass and keyboard) — pure rock without barriers where tricks and subtleties don’t matter. This album shows its defects with little shame and prudence (not only within the production but also the ending sort of floats into space): an epic that mimics the strong vocals from the 80’s era U2 style, the evoking sound of Tom Petty or the raging soul of Lenny Kravitz (Prick Up Your Ears), loud and noisy guitar notes and an organ that holds the music together. Ballads full of pathos and soul like it should be (Shine On, the best). Nothing that will change your life, but with a little bit of time one would think otherwise. You’ll find this with What the Man Does, a nice attempt at mixing reggae with rock, similar to what the Police were doing. Keeping with the political view of the project (in the noble sense of the word), on the cover and in the booklet you will find street shots with the same mindset from the photographer Rodolphe Simeon.

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(Italian Original)

Povero Bill Madden, maltrattato dalla stampa anglosassone, che forse gli ha mal perdonato il tormentone ecologista “Gone” di due anni fa… Addirittura bollato come “one of the worst albums I have listened to” da un critico neozelandese (che siano agli antipodi anche come gusti musicali?), in realtà questo suo ultimo appassionato sforzo (il quarto) non è affatto da gettar via. Andiamo quindi controcorrente, segnalandovelo con un voto forse troppo pieno, ma del resto perché opporre resistenza al rock a tutto tondo della opener Unfair, al generale senso di urgenza di queste 14 tracce (un po’ troppe) calde e appassionate, a queste liriche retoriche ma capaci di sporcarsi le mani di politica (Bosko and Admira, ovvero il tragico amore tra un serbo e una musulmana nella Sarajevo del 1993), e di spiritualità (il messaggio di uguaglianza della title track)? Parole urlate col cuore in mano, sopra una produzione un po’ approssimativa, che appiattisce il suono della band (da segnalare Billy Moher, basso e tastiere). Un rock senza fronzoli, che se ne fotte di trucchi e belletti. Tutti i difetti (la produzione, ma anche la parte finale che gira un po’ a vuoto) questo disco li esibisce con scarso senso del pudore e sfacciata fiducia nei propri punti di forza: un’epicità che richiama gli anni ’80 degli U2, corde vocali che non si risparmiano, evocando il timbro di Tom Petty o la rabbia soul del Lenny Kravitz che fu (Prick Up Your Ears), chitarre che non si vergognano di suonare fracassone e un organo a tenere insieme il tutto. E ballate gonfie di pathos e soul come si conviene (Shine On la migliore). Niente che vi cambierà la vita, ma un po’ di tempo non si capisce perché non concederglielo. Scoprirete così What the Man Does, bel tentativo di ibridare il reggae con il rock come ai tempi dei Police. A ribadire la politicità (nel senso nobile del termine) del progetto, in copertina e nel booklet troverete alcuni scatti di strada del fotografo Rodolphe Simeon.

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ROOTSTIME

by Balsam (Valère Sampermans) | Oct 2008

(English Translation)

“Child Of The Same God” is the title of the fourth studio album from the American singer-songwriter Bill Madden. Madden is a performer that, due to his interest in Oriental philosophy and in poets like Dylan Thomas and Hart Crane, became inspired to write songs that can be identified as protest songs. This CD is the sequel to his successful record “Gone” from 2006. Bill Madden has a very critical view on everything happening in the world around him and tries to put his emotions as an activist into song lyrics. He isn’t lecturing or moralizing but rather states facts and deeds without trying to hand out a solution to the world’s problems.

This alternative album was produced by friend and multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler, who gave it a more dark sound atmosphere, similar in style to the CD-cover with the dramatic image of the hands of a very old fellow human. This picture comes from the collection “Street People” by the renowned Parisian photographer Rodolphe Simeon. On the backside of the cover is yet another picture of a similar pair of hands that have been carved by life.

In the first track on the album, “Unfair”, we can hear the explicit opinion of Bill Madden about worldly happenings. “Child Of The Same God” is perhaps a bit more difficult to understand, but maybe the listener needs to hear the tracks more than once to really grasp the full beauty and impact of the songs. The cry of desperation in his voice on the title track or in a song like “Shine On” is heart stopping and comes straight from the soul of the singer; that is more than clear.

The fourteen songs were recorded live, with most of them done on the first take, which was the best result. A number of his lyrics are clearly anti-war minded and point a finger of blame and accusation at the bloodthirsty politicians that rule his country. For example, the song “Empire” has the following line: “Throughout history, we’ve seen his ilk / Intoxicated by the power he wields / In his grandiose imperial dream / The end always justifies the means.” Eat this, Mr. Bush.

Bill Madden’s music hops from grunge rock over to blues over to reggae and it depends on his level of anger if he will whisper, sing or scream out his frustrations in the lyrics. Political protest, religious dogma or human rights; everything finds its way into one of Bill’s songs. That makes this album sometimes heavy to digest for listeners with a sensitive stomach, but we prefer that it is not easy listening all the way.

Some tracks that we recommend putting on to your iPod are: the title track “Child of the Same God”, which is about the abuse of religion by politicians as an excuse to severely violate human rights. We also recommend the epic and beautifully sung “Humbled By Your Grace”, which is a modern, but still tragic love story of “Bosko and Admira” who fled the Serbian civil war from their two different camps only to be sent to a “safe” place by a friend where they got shot for their forbidden love. We were silenced when listening to the great sadness of a mother that had lost her child in war, sung about in the song “Shall Be Heard” and the closing track “For So Long”.

This record demands indisputable controversy, which was probably the intention of Bill Madden when he wrote these songs about difficult life subjects, inviting people to give a moment of introspection.

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(Dutch Original)

”Child Of The Same God” is de titel van het vierde studioalbum van de Amerikaanse singer-songwriter Bill Madden, een artiest die door zijn belangstelling voor de Oosterse filosofie en voor dichters als Dylan Thomas en Hart Crane zelf geïnspireerd werd om liedjes te schrijven die onder de noemer protestsongs gecatalogeerd kunnen worden. Deze cd is de opvolger voor zijn succesvolle plaat “Gone” uit 2006. Bill Madden kijkt erg kritisch naar alles wat er in de wereld rondom hem heen gebeurt en tracht zijn gevoelens als activist in de songteksten te verwoorden, niet belerend of moraliserend maar eerder een vaststelling van feiten en daden en zonder een oplossing aan te willen reiken voor deze wereldproblemen.

Dit alternatieve album werd geproduceerd door vriend en multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler die er een eerder donkere soundkleur aan heeft gegeven, een beetje in de stijl van het cd-hoesje met de opvallende hand van een stokoude medemens. Deze foto komt uit de verzameling ‘Street People’ van de bekende Parijse fotograaf Rodolphe Simeon. Aan de achterzijde van het hoesje staat overigens nog zo’n foto van twee van dergelijke door het leven getekende handen.

Al in het eerste nummer op deze cd “Unfair” laat Bill Madden horen dat hij een uitgesproken mening over de wereldgebeurtenissen heeft. “Child Of The Same God” is een wat moeilijker te doorgronden plaat die misschien een aantal beluisteringen nodig heeft vooraleer de luisteraar er de volledige pracht van weet te erkennen. De klaagzang in de titeltrack of in een song als “Shine On” is bloedstollend en komt recht uit het hart van de zanger, zoveel is duidelijk.

De veertien liedjes werden live opgenomen en meestal belandde de eerste take al meteen op de plaat. Een aantal teksten zijn duidelijk anti-oorlogsgezind en verwijzen onverhuld naar beschuldigingen aan het adres van de bloeddorstige politici die het bestuur van zijn land uitmaken. Zoals bijvoorbeeld deze zin uit de song “Empire”: “Throughout history, we’ve seen his ilk / Intoxicated by the power he wields / In his grandiose imperial dream / The end always justifies the means.” Eat this, Mr. Bush.

Muzikaal vlindert Bill Madden van grungerock over blues naar reggae en afhankelijk van de boosheid in de songteksten fluistert, zingt of schreeuwt hij zijn frustraties uit. Politiek protest, religieuze dogma’s of mensenrechten: alles komt in één of andere song aan bod. Dat zorgt ervoor dat dit album soms zwaar te verteren is voor luisteraars met een gevoelige maag, maar voor ons hoeft het niet enkel easy listening muziek te zijn.

Enkele tracks die volgens ons de moeite waard zijn om op de IPod te belanden: titeltrack ”Child of the Same God” over het misbruik dat sommige politici maken van godsdienst als een excuus om de mensenrechten met de voeten te treden, het epische en knap gezongen “Humbled By Your Grace”, het moderne maar tragische liefdesverhaal van “Bosko and Admira” die in de Servische oorlog uit beide kampen stamden en door een zogezegde vriend naar een “veilige” plaats gestuurd werden waar ze allebei geëxecuteerd werden omwille van hun verboden liefde. Verder werden wij stilletjes bij het aanhoren van het grote verdriet van een moeder om het verlies van haar kind in de oorlog in de song “Shall Be Heard” en bij de afsluitende track “For So Long”.

Deze plaat lokt ontegensprekelijk controverse uit en dat moet allicht ook de bedoeling van Bill Madden geweest zijn bij het schrijven van deze songs over een aantal dingen des levens die uitnodigen om een poosje bij na te denken.

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SceneandHeard.ca

by Matt Demers | Vol 08 Issue 07 | Nov 2008

Bill Madden’s Child of the Same God wasn’t what I’d expect. I’m an admitted pessimist when it comes to new music. Whenever I receive a new album I find it hard to assume a different standpoint than ‘Hereís another one to add to the shit pile.’ However, Child surprised me.

The album has a mix of slow folk offerings and more upbeat, horn-laden tracks which bring out versatility in Madden’s voice. The tracks’ production values are top-notch, balancing each sound element well and making sure one section doesn’t stick too far above the rest.

Some bands seem to feel the need to drown out the singer’s voice with an especially loud guitar track, or wreak havoc on the listener’s sound system when he or she finds out that the band’s bassist is the only one with talent. However, this isn’t so with Madden.

Madden’s lyrics are insightful and question today’s issues, from religion to war and everything in between. Checking out his web site, www.billmadden.com, we find out that Bill’s a staunch activist for well… everything. Animal rights, human rights, rights of bloggers… I guess we have to commend Bill for having no shortage of things to sing about.

Anyways, kudos to Bill Madden for producing an album that neither makes you cringe or wishing someone would shoot you in the head. On a scale of one to awesome, it’s “pretty all right.”

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The 405

by Oliver Primus | 10.14.08

Having never heard of Bill Madden before putting this CD into my laptop I really didn’t know what to expect and off the back of the first track ‘Unfair’ I really wasn’t looking forward to the 13 tracks I had stretched out in front of me but It did grow on me quite quickly after that initial disappointment.The whole ‘activist folk artist’ tag seems to get thrown at anyone with who brandishes acoustic and references some war in their lyrics but with Bill Madden you really get the sense that he means every word he says. Although I found the vast majority of this record bordering too heavily on mount cheese, the sorrow and conviction in his voice sold it to me.

I think it’s a case of activist first musician second here.

Personal highlight for me is the haunting track, ’What the Man Does’.

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The Celebrity Cafe

by John Berkowitz | 10.14.08

Bill Madden’s latest release, Child of the Same God, is clear to stitch people a world apart together with the grand unifier that is music. We’re all the same, despite background, as we’re all flesh and bone living organisms on this Earth. Madden uses music to bring us together with lyrics that pontificate existential and evangelical ideas to which everyone can universally relate. He raises issues like he’s summoning a messiah through prayer to help us. It’s only fair that Madden’s activist work translate into his first love of music with harmonic melodies that run smoothly like a stream.

Any pain or disturbances in Bill Madden’s life, you can hear in his passionately resonating voice that is cloaked in sorrowed wounds. His lyrics are heartfelt and truly meaningful. Madden has humanistic and religious influences that personify him as a voice of a heavenly being. Even if people share a prejudice to the topic of discussion in his songs, the tracks harmoniously work together to create a diverse compilation of moderately slow music that has nobly peaceful qualities similar to the groovy ’60s and ’70s where peace was the central message.

It’s very encouraging of someone trying to get such a meaningful message out through their firm musically tuned instrument, which happens to be Madden’s soul. He acts as a spiritual vessel, spreading the word at a time in our history where it needs it the most. It’s a dangerous world we live in, but Madden’s musical gift brings us hope that we can persevere.

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The Phantom Tollbooth

by Terry Roland | 11.13.08

What’s going on here
With tribe against tribe
Religion being used
To control and divide
What’s going on when
Did dogma become truth
And when did a belief
Become an absolute
Old superstitions like
Opinions so hard held
Cling to the minds of those
Too weak to think for themselves
May God’s grace guide our way
May God’s grace guide our way
We’re all one
Child of the same God

Bill Madden, Child of the Same God

Today, in a culture of divisiveness, intolerance, and ideologues, Bill Madden’s Child of the Same God, is a welcome addition to the storm. Madden clearly operates from the fires of Genesis in their heyday when Peter Gabriel elevated them to a groundbreaking style. Madden has the same fresh glow in the arrangements, the solid instrumentation and thoughtful lyrics, inspired by his faith. The lyrics draw on a worldview that is spiritual and politically from the left. But most of the material transcends this when he sings of his own weaknesses and the insights into the foibles of the society around him.

The songs are about the vulnerability of those who walk this unique path, as in the opening song lifted from the great poet, Robert Frost, “The Road Less Taken.” The stand out track on the album is the title song. He asks, “When did dogma become truth?” Then he concludes, even through our differences we walk on common ground, “May God’s grace guide our way/We are all one/Children of the same God.” While the style has the Gabriel influence, it is just that, influence, not imitation. He has found his own voice and an original path for his spiritual journey. His press materials give little hint as to his defined faith. In this he moves in the political and mystic base of an artist like Bruce Cockburn. When you take Madden’s Road Less Traveled don’t be surprised if you find yourself engaged and absorbed in the musical texture, lyrical vulnerability and unique perspective on the Christian walk.

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