(Just) One More (Time)

The connection between these songs is kind of neat, if a bit generalized. First, we've got the great Rev. Johnny L. Jones (a.k.a. Johnny Hurricane Jones) known for his fiery preaching and soulful singing at his Baptist church in Atlanta. The good reverend is getting on in years now, but he knows that the time is coming soon. One more time, I'm assuming, refers to Jesus's return. Right?

Rev. Johnny L. Jones - One More Time


The next song is a postmodern indie gospel tune, courtesy of Canadian hipster Jon-Rae Fletcher and his old band, The River. His father was a preacher in the rural West, and you can hear the influence. God and Jesus and his teachings have become love and sex and its lessons. It's raw, raunchy, and oozing with passion:

Jon-Rae and the River - Just One More


The parallels here are in the strong undertow: the gospel. Things you don't know empirically, things that just are because they are. They are indescribable and intangible and you feel it somewhere so deep you can't show it, you can only sing about it. The gap between the second coming and a second cumming has never been so narrow.

Sometimes, when everything else has been stripped away, there's still this feeling -- soul, you might call it -- and the gospel, a belief in what you can only take as His word.

To Maria, I give everything that was good

This not a song about the heartbreakee, it's a dedication to the heartbreaker. I don't spend a lot of time musing about my own breakup from last year -- whatever "situation" there was has ironed itself out, as appropriate -- but I can't help but think this is the best breakup song there is. It's like Jon-Rae is saying, Oh, Maria, where do I start?

Relationship history is full of baggage. Does it represent my own? Sort of, but if only from the feeling in JRF's voice. Being a great song by Jon-Rae, whom we would listen to at the right moments... that might have something to do with it. I'm not wistful at all, and since moving on I've been happy -- probably happier than I've let on. She's worth it.

Enjoy this one, please, it's top notch.

Jon-Rae Fletcher - Oh, Maria