Anger Into Passion - Common Bond

Several bands don't have a listing on Discogs.com. One such band is Christian rock/new wave outfit, Common Bond. Through my aimless browsing of Youtube I stumbled upon a song called 'Tarry' and was really taken by it. I mean, I didn't know what the guy was saying half the time but he had this kind of nice shrillness and power to his voice which really worked. Upon some research I dug up Common Bond.
Formed in 1987 somewhere in the US, Common Bond was one of the few Christian rock bands with heavy new wave influences during the era.
They released only two records, and their second, 'Anger Into Passion' is a pretty decent effort. Now, my experience in the Christian rock scene is limited to some stuff by 'Jars Of Clay' and I honestly don't have a problem with Christian themed songs. Some are really good.
Common Bond was made up of Steve Durham on guitar, Chuck Cummings on drums and Kenny Samuels on bass and lead vocals. I shit you not when I say that Kenny bears a striking resemblance to a certain Simpsons character.

Three songs stand out for me here. The first and favorite is 'Tarry'. Such a good, catchy song. The guitar makes its mark with a catchy series of slaps between verse lines. It's simple and underlying during the chorus but works and the drums fit nicely. Kenny's vocals are very up to par. The thing about Christian rock bands is they actually care about what they're singing like terrorists care about homemade explosive devices. You can tell that he feels a lot of passion about what he's singing here. I must also hold my hands up and say that it took six listens before I realized I had no idea what the word 'tarry' means. It actually means to delay, if you're interested so I'm guessing this song has a lot to do with Kenny's dismay at the faults he sees in himself and how he wants to correct them maybe with the help of a girl but also that God knows all and everything they do will be known to him.
The next track, 'See The World' has more of the same, including a clapping sound evident in 'Tarry'. It also features a punchy bassline and Kenny this time telling us about how he wants to convince others about how strong his faith is and he hates when others try to bring him down, especially with the way they view the world.
The last 'Walls Of Doubt' is a slower, shorter affair with some vivid imagery and an obvious message that is Kenny encourages a person to embrace God and break down the walls of doubt that hold them back.
These are just some cool tracks that you can obtain just to say you do own some Christian rock and have another genre on your Ipod.
As for Common Bond and Kenny Samuels, well I'd hate to even imagine how difficult that haircut was to maintain.

Here is a link to the songs on youtube
'Tarry'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuA4dng534Q)
'See The World'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2p4GpRPW6I)
'Walls Of Doubt'
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UVTUH7puG8)
and the lyrics are below
"Tarry"

Oh, when the night it calls my name
And day feels like a game
And passion, just a word that I know
That I use from day to day

And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer
And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer

And when my words, they seem to be marked
By profit and gain
While looking through the dimmer glass
I try to wipe away the haze

But I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer
I will tarry
We will carry everything to God in prayer

Hold on
Tighter
Never let me go

And when I hate myself one more time
You love me again
While looking through a dimmer glass
You wipe away the haze

And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer
And I will tarry
And we will carry everything to God in prayer, yeah, yeah
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh, woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh, woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah, oh, oh
Woah

"See The World"

Always asking people
Do you know the one?
But they just smirk and stare at me
As my heart falls down
To the sullen floor
And my faith begins to falter

Oh, oh
Go

My parents said
(This is the real world, boy)
You’ve got to use your common sense
As my heart falls down
To its deepest depths
And my tears begin to fall

And I'm crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
I see the world
And I'm crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
Whoa, whoa
Yeah, yeah

Some people take me for
Some self-righteous fool
Now you know I’m not like that
Some people take me for
Some T.V. preacher’s tool
Now you know I’m not like that
I’m not like that

And I’m crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
I see the world
And I’m crying
I see the world through your eyes
I’m crying
I see the world

The tears that I cry
They’re not mine, no, they’re yours
The tears that I cry
They’re not mine, no, they’re yours, Lord, they’re yours, Lord, they’re yours, Lord, they’re yours,
Lord
They’re yours, whoa
Tears are falling down
These tears are falling down
These tears are falling down
These tears are falling down
Tears are falling down
Tears are falling down

"Walls Of Doubt"

Hey, when I look in you eyes I know what you’re thinking
It’s just like the sixties to me
You paint it all black

It’s alright
Run if you want to
But I see you coming through
Another wall of doubt

You hear the voice in your heart
You get that longing
It goes far beyond all the words
The vain arguments

It’s okay
Long for your lover
You’ll find he’s standing out
Beyond your walls of doubt

Love
Love puts to rest
All of the questions
Love
Find it and see
The doubts will go fading away

All of the hours of the day
There’s something strange growing
The seed of laughter and light
The way down inside

It’s alright
You can let go now
Love is a master’s plough
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is the master’s hand
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is a master’s plough
Beyond the walls of doubt
Love is the master’s hand
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is the master's plough
Crash down the walls of doubt
Love is the master's plough
Crash down the walls of doubt