Comments on: 10 Years Later – the Music of Exile

By: Heather P.

Heather P. — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 07:03:31 +0000

I forgot (until I saw the Bloggernacle Times mention) that I too wanted to say thanks for sharing these. Cool stuff. And you had to be brave to share such a real part of yourself. You and Steve must have had some interesting conversations about exile.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:37:07 +0000

Thank you.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:05:28 +0000

A lot of talent, Jonathan. Writing, singing, playing all those instruments. Well done.

By: Ronan

Ronan — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 12:47:03 +0000

J.
I just played your songs and my two boys were dancing to them. I don’t know whether that’s good or bad…!

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Sat, 19 Mar 2005 01:28:59 +0000

Steve…wow. That is definately worthy of a post in and of itself. Thank you for giving me a voice.

By: S. Hancock

S. Hancock — Sat, 19 Mar 2005 01:10:00 +0000

This is actually the first time I’ve hard Splendid Sun. Carrie and I were impressed. I think that the exile is certainly important. The context for the discussion, I thik is Said, though I don’t think you really need to read him to understand it. We remove ourselves from the world in order to become something else. At times, we even remove ourselves from other members of the church because we are striving to understand things that are difficult to understand. The practice hopefully takes us beyond easily available communal knowledge at times–when it is productive. Because we are willing to get beyond comfortable knowledge at times, we are able to learn what God wants to teach us. And yet the process can also be alienating at the same moments when it is most enriching because God is not going to teach everyone the same things. the prophet Joseph apparently felt that no-one could understand him because they could not understand the knowledge he had gained. I’m not suggesting that I am nearing the prophet Joseph, only that when we do gain spiritual knowledge, it may be hard to communicate, which becomes a problem not only in terms of our own isolation, but also in terms of our ability to help others with whatever knowledge we’ve gained. I think the key is 50: 17-23. We need to learn by the spirit and then seek to reach out with the spirit. I think that’s what makes the difference between isolation and Zion, fellowship in the household of God. Isolation, however, can be a step on the way and one that we may have to make more than once. Perhaps there will come a day when we are all united and need no longer feel isolated. In the meantime, we have these cycles of isolation and reaching out for connection.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 17:08:05 +0000

Thanks Mark and Geoff. I wasn’t quite sure whether I should have posted this – very personal. I do think that the emotional tension in change is an integral part to the Mormon narrative. Whether it is going on a mission, crossing the plains (or the Atlantic), converting or repenting, we look forward with hope (even though it is often painful). The sum of our change is tantamount to Exile, we become outsiders because of what we do.

As for the music, there really isn’t a place to find it around. I’ve heard that you can find the album in used music stores in Provo. I have a couple personal recordings as well. We recorded the Album during finals week and then I bolted for my mission. They got a replacement guitarist, but I had invested so much of myself into the music, I think it just fell apart after I left.

By: Geoff Johnston

Geoff Johnston — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 07:31:25 +0000

I like the second song. As Mark mentioned they both have a Berkely acid rock circa the ’60s flavor to them — though it also sounds 90s grunge-ish too. How were the album sales? (Do you still have boxes on boxes of CDs around like most of us former rockers do?)

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 05:13:37 +0000

Wow. I found your music intriguing. Honestly it took me back to Berkeley, Ca. I felt like I was in a club there listening to one of the bands I use to listen years ago. I kept trying to think of words to describe the feelings your music brought out in me. Edgy: There is a degree of bite to the sound. It is not harsh, but certainly not soothing or peaceful. Remorseful: I think this best describes the lyrics to me. Probably someone in pain who is not completely overcome with his emotion, but beneath the surface that everyone sees there lies within the lyrics a degree of tension between two worlds–A world moving forward, but an eye glancing backward over the shoulder at what was or use to be.

Eeh, that’s enough psychobabble for one comment. Good of you to be willing to expose your soul to the rest of us. Is there a link to listen to some more of your music?