Number One Gun: Promise for the Imperfect
Number One Gun brings Promise For the Imperfect in a middle-of-the-road rock sort of way but the issues they raise are defined by their exploration of truth. Beginning with “Pretend� and the whole way through “Life Is What You Make It,� they search for something more than the reality they know. Nothing here that is earth-shatteringly new, but the album is still one worth hearing.
The fake lives we often live are the subject of “Pretend,� as the band hopes that in the future, that “When all of your troubles go away/You’ll know who to believe in.� Some of the beliefs center around knowing yourself better but the absolute need for belief results in seeking out a higher power, God. Knowing God allows us to reach above ourselves to be better than we could be otherwise, but Christians believe that through their relationship with Jesus, they are redeemed from their sins. This quest for truth drives Number One Gun farther in “Regrets of Photographs,� but the more telling lyrics appear in “We Are.�
This song appears to be an apology from one with experience to those who follow. The band offers an apology as they admit to not being what they were supposed to be: “You’ve been living your life in a stereotype…all you should do is die to yourself.� What do we present that we don’t mean to and how does our own behavior betray our beliefs? Regardless of who we are or what we believe, our actions cannot ever completely jive with our thoughts, because we’re imperfect. In “Fireside Wing,� Number One Gun recognizes the love of another (God?), who loves without question and beyond the reality that can be expected.
The struggle between expectations and reality serves as a battleground for faith in the next few songs. “There Is Hope� and “All You Have� are encouraging thoughts for someone struggling; “Who Are You� has more of a challenging tone to it. Here the difference between the signer and the human other is that the band represents something worth believing in (in their own estimation), and wants the other to find meaning as well.
The final set of songs are optimistic and forward-looking. In the “Golden Smile,� the voice could be Number One Gun’s or God’s looking out at a wasted life. “I could love your wasted life,� they sing, offering hope for someone who has given up on themselves. “The Time Is Now� encourages the listeners to look for the opportunities and the hope the future offers—the future could be now. And finally, “Life Is What You Make It� points to our inability to recognize the positive signs of life and peace: Life never changes, rearranges, goes on and is never over—a crazy set of contradictions and meaning.
The bottom line on Number One Gun—in a world full of uncertainty and doubt, they have something to hold onto and they believe it will work for others as well. Thanks be to God—the promises made are offered to those who don’t think they’re worthy, who believe that they’re all out of chances. Good thing they’re wrong!
The fake lives we often live are the subject of “Pretend,� as the band hopes that in the future, that “When all of your troubles go away/You’ll know who to believe in.� Some of the beliefs center around knowing yourself better but the absolute need for belief results in seeking out a higher power, God. Knowing God allows us to reach above ourselves to be better than we could be otherwise, but Christians believe that through their relationship with Jesus, they are redeemed from their sins. This quest for truth drives Number One Gun farther in “Regrets of Photographs,� but the more telling lyrics appear in “We Are.�
This song appears to be an apology from one with experience to those who follow. The band offers an apology as they admit to not being what they were supposed to be: “You’ve been living your life in a stereotype…all you should do is die to yourself.� What do we present that we don’t mean to and how does our own behavior betray our beliefs? Regardless of who we are or what we believe, our actions cannot ever completely jive with our thoughts, because we’re imperfect. In “Fireside Wing,� Number One Gun recognizes the love of another (God?), who loves without question and beyond the reality that can be expected.
The struggle between expectations and reality serves as a battleground for faith in the next few songs. “There Is Hope� and “All You Have� are encouraging thoughts for someone struggling; “Who Are You� has more of a challenging tone to it. Here the difference between the signer and the human other is that the band represents something worth believing in (in their own estimation), and wants the other to find meaning as well.
The final set of songs are optimistic and forward-looking. In the “Golden Smile,� the voice could be Number One Gun’s or God’s looking out at a wasted life. “I could love your wasted life,� they sing, offering hope for someone who has given up on themselves. “The Time Is Now� encourages the listeners to look for the opportunities and the hope the future offers—the future could be now. And finally, “Life Is What You Make It� points to our inability to recognize the positive signs of life and peace: Life never changes, rearranges, goes on and is never over—a crazy set of contradictions and meaning.
The bottom line on Number One Gun—in a world full of uncertainty and doubt, they have something to hold onto and they believe it will work for others as well. Thanks be to God—the promises made are offered to those who don’t think they’re worthy, who believe that they’re all out of chances. Good thing they’re wrong!
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