New Track: Priest's Simmering 'Carol' Tells Us What the Politicians Won't
Tristan Young @talltristan
Priests were one of the undisputed MVPs of 2017 (fight us) with their album Nothing Feels Natural. Two years later and things have only gotten more weird with the release of their new record The Seduction of Kansas. In Nothing Feels Natural, Priests carved out a well earned reputation for their bitting critiques towards capitalism, corruption and how they intersect. While that line of thinking continues, this is a vastly different experience from their last record. Those differences are acutely realized in the terrific track ‘Carol’. After an album of feral, unmitigated fury, lead singer Katie Alice Greer sounds surprisingly calm here. This makes perfect sense as The Seduction Of Kansas seems more focused on articulating arguments in more robust form as opposed to seizures of anger. In ‘Carol’ as with the rest of the album Priests dig even deeper into the systemic rot of American institutions, looking through history to dismantle the misleading legends that define the idea of ‘Americana’. The rumbling bass from band member Alexandra Tyson is a perfect vessel for momentum but also calmness. Greer’s derisive commentary is registered in a form of tranquility, except when she spikes in protest, “you’re not an officer anymore!” The line captures the idea of injustices we have allowed in the name of institutional norms it seems. The idea of those norms failing us appears to be a theme of the song. She sounds beautifully rhythmic as she makes this point. Coiled scales of electric guitar accompany Greer as she examines the inverse relationship between faith in our elections and the urgency to fight back. She continues to display a fascinating talent to list relics of capitalism’s past in haunting terms, “I felt nothing at all, nothing I can recall, besides a dollar tree, Sears, and Thai bistro”. The very utterance of a Sears truly evokes some kind of temporal panic. With 'Carol’ and The Seduction Of Kansas, Priests prove they were never just lashing out against the system, but a project that carefully documents the immorality of the American caricature. From its modern day surrealism dating back to the stolen land it was founded upon, they will make sure you know.