Also, have you listened to much Okkervil River? Will Sheff, and the lyrics he writes, are also unreal.

In my opinion (which, admittedly, isn’t worth much), both of these fellows do what Bazan does… but better.

That’s true and I too appreciate the value in that.

What I can appreciate about him though is that he is directing his doubt and anger and so much at the right sources. That being either his culture that lead him to believe certain things or directly at God. What would make me more sad if he came out with an album that was singing about high school breakups and banging random people (you know pop culture crap). To me that would mean he gave up and refuses to ask hard questions.

I know what it’s like to come up in a western, evangelical church. Hell, I was fired from one. And although I have many questions and doubts about God and Christianity and how everything fits together, ultimately, I can say with confidence that I still believe God to be good and loving and am thankful that He allows me to see through all the bullshit (even if I only see dimly). And so it’s sad to see David react to his bad experiences the way he is. I don’t mean that I feel sorry for him, not that kind of sad. I guess I just feel sad that he doesn’t seem to be very hopeful, and that’s a big part of faith.

Doubt is legitimate and all, but I feel that hope really ought to win out.