August 12, 2011
by Trevor
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Two weeks ago I received a message from a friend about a band called “several” which he had formed, and through which he was channeling the release of an album of music. The name of the album is “the problem with time” and it is the only only album I’ve ever come across which champions a thesis. Something not altogether unexpected from someone who is by trade a scholar and theologian. If you know me at all, you’ll know that this absolutely made my day.
The thesis, as stated on several’s website is as follows: “time-as a problem-keeps us from our goals. We work against time through inspiration, invocation and desperation, but procrastination might in the end be our truth.” At first this made me really sad. Is my truth really reducible to Angry Birds and Facebook? In that order? The more I got into the album, however, the more I realized that this is not the point at all. Operating under a time-centric mindset, playing Angry Birds becomes a sad reminder that I am not accomplishing what I should be within the available space of time.
This summer I have not been tied to a regular routine brought about by school or a job, and have been free to do what I wish when I wish it. Such an open slated period of life could yield wonderful spiritual/intellectual/emotional/physical growth. It could be utilized to meditate, read, catch up with old friends, exercise, or any one of a number of other things. Yet, when I set out to fulfill more than one or two of these activities in a day I always come up short. In the title track of several’s debut, “it’s the hint of desperation that always spoils the plan.” I am a pretty productive person until I realize I am accomplishing things, or until I set goals for myself to complete. The constraint of dividing time into manageable and manipulable units leads to the idea that humans can somehow control time and bend it to their will. How frustrating to know that we cannot and never have been able to! Those that harbor illusions of time management may have a hold on their schedules as they exist in the present, but a little thing called mortality contextualizes efficiency as maybe not the end goal to life.
several weaves together songs that narrate memory and belonging, the self in the past present and foreseeable future. To admit that life is about living, to relinquish control of productiveness and accomplishment, and to stop striving for goals that carry self-prescribed importance is an affirmation to the peace of mind achievable in the pursuit alone.
I should also mention that several is also great fun to listen to, in addition to their philosophical ponderings. Personal favorites are:
“great american novel” – relaxingly driven opener, about flirting with the promise to eventually write the great american novel (a feeling I can relate to. ha!).
“the problem with time” – folky/poppy/eclectic rhythm, best lyrics on the album methinks
“home” – As a recently relocating person, any song dealing with the idea of belonging is going to get me. Probably the most beautiful song on the album, in both the music itself and the calm it elicits.
-aaron yost
