J.S. Park

Music Review – Monsters Calling Home EP

Summary:
Occasionally a band comes along that I want to champion not only because of their musical ability, but for their unique bright-spot sensibilities in a radio-wasteland of cookie-cutter sameness. It’s the drive for originality that’s keeping the music scene relevant at all, and with their somewhat viral music video filmed entirely in a Honda, Monsters Calling Home caught even more attention with a surprise gig at Jimmy Kimmel Live (and that one’s officially viral with over a million views). It was quite moving to see the reaction of an unknown indie band given the best gig of their career — performing a song that’s actually plain good — and I immediately purchased their EP album.

Review:
Monsters Calling Home derives their name from being Asian-Americans: they neither feel home in the states or in Asia, instead much like wandering monsters look for a place to call home. This subtle commentary will be instantly relatable to millions of second-generation citizens who are not so much experiencing the racism of the former century, but fighting an inner-battle of seeking home in a culturally confused era. But you know, the struggle for home is not merely within races, but in the human race: the all-Asian flavor only adds the exclamation point.

As opposed to a Christian band, they are a band of Christians; they are more J.R.R. Tolkien than C.S. Lewis, using broad strokes of spirituality and gritty real life instead of obvious allegories, similar to Mumford and Sons. They include their spiritual struggles rather than being informed by them, which actually strengthens their sound. There’s no tricky balancing act between Christian and mainstream — the band is unashamedly themselves, and I can only hope they remain this grounded.

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