Our grandparents had the war, our parents had marijuana, and we have prozac. It’s not much, but it seems like the theme of my generation is, “eat what they feed you.” Gone are the days when the youth took to the streets in hunt of live culture. Gone are the days of revolutionary art. Maybe, unchecked idealism was a failed policy, but at least they tried.
Not long ago, kids would stalk artists for years; hungering for the fresh meat of a new release from a band that had something to say. Today, we can rest in the comfort of our underwear, caressing our wireless optical mice, resting our fingers on supple ergonomic keyboards, and drowning in the stagnant waters of passive entertainment. Well I’ve had enough! I want to bite into a steak of raw guitars. I want the chemical smells of seared strings. I want to be enthused, hell, I want to be ecstatic about the release of a new LP.
“Where do we go from here?”
That’s the question that burns through the varied tracks of Fluoxetine’s debut CD, “Best Western Religion.” The title track asks, “What is important in life?” Is it rock and roll? Is it network television? Is it possessions? Marketing experts instruct us to buy more. Does your head ache? Take this pill. Is your life meaningless? Buy this television. There’s nothing like the high you experience from exchanging money for goods or services. It never lasts. You get home, setup your new television, and you’re still not fulfilled. There’s still something missing. Fluoxetine, named after the generic form of Prozac, poses the question, “are we, as a society, ready to accept the pursuit of happiness as a means to an end, or will we always view those who seek meaning in life as egocentric lunatics?”
This cycle of boredom often results in a life of tacit acceptance. Such is the fate of the boy in “Waiting for a Sign.” Accustomed to following orders and failing to examine his actions, he ends up a cog in the military machine; or is he merely playing out the confused imagination of a video game addict? Without a plan and unable to gain control of his life, he falls prey to the twisted goals of any power grabber within reasonable proximity.
The media’s preoccupation with fallen-angel teeny boppers assures that most people won’t know about the real issues of the day, such as a political machine run amok. In “Reclaim Your Vices,” Fluoxetine delves into the realm of political satire, through a tongue-in-cheek biographical piece about a corrupt leader, drunk on power. He pays lip service to the poor and disenfranchised, but his actions only solidify his power base and make his rich friends, richer.
Stay alert. Stay present. The life you save may be your own! This is not a public service announcement, this is not genocide, this is live action rock and roll. It’s coming soon, to a town near you. Are you ready?
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