The Damn Choir - Creatures of Habit (2014)

The Damn Choir’s Gordon Robertson has a saying that encapsulates his worldview. Laughing, he shares it: “I have no problem with God but I don’t like his fan club.” Robertson grew up with a sincere fear of hell and damnation – he was home schooled in a fundamentalist household, the result of a brother who was cured of an inoperable brain tumor via faith healing.

Despite his growing skepticism as a young boy, his fear of eternal flames kept him compliant until high school, when he found music. “I disliked the music in our church because it seemed insincere. I wanted to write a proper hymn, about what really goes on.” Robertson’s quest resulted in 25 new songs, pared down to 13 for Creatures of Habit, out February 7th, 2013. Produced by Bryce Goggin (Antony and the Johnsons, Apples In Stereo, Swans, Dean & Britta), it was recorded live to tape at Trout Studio in Brooklyn during the fall of 2013. Mastered by Fred Kevorkian (Willie Nelson, The Walkmen, The White Stripes, Iggy Pop), the album features sparkling tunes with off-kilter rhythms and warm guitar/cello accompaniment to Robertson’s rough-hewn vocals, delivered with a slight quaver that belies his heartache.

Standout tracks include the title track, “Radiator” and “Violet,” named for the producer’s daughter. “'Radiator' is about a cold, lonely Chicago winter. The song is based on me telling the story of a broken relationship to my broken radiator. The song also touches on the Carl Sandburg's poem "Chicago" with a line I borrowed "The City of Big Shoulders," explained Robertson. “’Violet” was originally written as a punk rock song, as punk rock as The Damn Choir can get. We were demoing all tracks and sending them to Bryce. He heard the song and wanted us to change the lyrics and the melody. We changed to whole the feel of the song, thanks to our new drummer Marty Kane.”