Soda Cracker Jesus – My Anthem (2021)
If you call your song ‘My Anthem’ then you had better deliver something upbeat, catchy and singable. Thankfully, Soda Cracker Jesus (the alter ego of Regan Lane, who is also the lead singer of the psych-rock band Strangely Alright) has written a punky, driving song with plenty to hook you in. Lane plays everything on the track himself (except programmed drums), but the song has a polish on top of the do it yourself ethic. ‘My Anthem’ was recorded in a home studio with SCJ playing bass, synths and guitars to create a wall of melodic noise.
Lane explains the lyrics as being about who you are meant to be: “In simplest terms, I want to have a clear mind and heart. I want to be comfortable enough in my own skin to be the real me and free to be who I was meant to be. I know that’s different for everyone, but for me, that’s what it means.”
This is a song that wears its heart on its sleeve and the lyrics are belted out with a passion that you don’t often hear. I suppose this should not be surprising from a man who states his philosophy is ‘”Love Always Wins, So Don’t Be A Dick.” It may not happen as quickly as we’d like and hate and anger are far louder, but love always wins – a sentiment that I am sure we can all get behind.
The song feels as though it is cathartic for Lane, both lyrically and musically, and the listener feels the benefit of the effort that has gone into the track’s creation. Overall, the song is bordering on more modern pop-punk, so maybe more like Blink 182 or Green Day than The Ramones or Buzzcocks. In fact, there is a hint of ‘This Is A Call’ by Foo Fighters in the melody and structure, which can only be a good thing.
The personal nature of the upbeat lyrics and the home recording and self-mixed instrumentation make it clear that this song means a lot to Soda Cracker Jesus; he has invested a lot of himself in it. It is his anthem, maybe it could be yours too?
For more from Soda Cracker Jesus check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
