Derek Zanetti, the one-man force behind The Homeless Gospel Choir, has a lot to say. He has experienced things that have made him angry – some related to politics and society, and some immeasurably more personal.
‘I Used To Be So Young’ provides Zanetti with an outlet for his adult angst. Here he discusses his downright disgust at American consumerism, his contempt for religious persecution and his – or his character’s – battle with depression. Each track tackles a separate topic, all pulled together under one ideological phrase – ‘Jesus Christ didn’t die for you to be an asshole’.
For such an angry record, ‘I Used To Be So Young’ is surprisingly calm. As the title suggests, Zanetti demonstrates a level of despondency, mirrored in the quirky nature of the delivery and the supporting production value. There’s a lot going on, but ultimately it’s veiled under the upbeat bounce of folk-punk and protest music. On ‘Holiday Song’ – one of the standout tracks – Zanetti almost jokes “I heard that freedom isn’t really free” in a poignant moment shrouded under his conversely jovial tones.
It’s a clever juxtaposition. Throughout the record Zanetti notes that society is largely unaware of the issues either surrounding them, or ones they are directly involved in. On ‘I Used To Be So Young’ he makes his perceived ignorance of the masses explicit. The balance between content and tone is seemingly deliberate – just as it is easy for him to hide the message in his music, so society can sweep it all under the rug.
That said, the lyrics are clear. There isn’t a metaphor in sight, nor an indication of something Zanetti meant to say. Instead it’s all laid out on the table. On ‘Musical Preference’ he outwardly notes his lack of interest in Mumford and Sons and their ilk, while on ‘Black Friday’ he doesn’t try to soften the recent deaths of unlucky shoppers. The message is loud and clear, even if it may feel hopeless. Offering a glimmer of hope as the record concludes, ‘Capitalismo’ closes with Zanetti proclaiming that if “I die with nothing, I have all I need. If you die with nothing, you have all you need”.
In some ways ‘I Used To Be So Young’ is a difficult listen, both in tone and structure. There’s not a huge amount of variation between the tracks, and the repeated refrain that dominates the record only serves to reinforce these similarities. Yet with its simple production value (provided by Anti-Flag’s Chris #2), and Zanetti’s distinctive vocals, there’s always something new to find. Most importantly, nothing distracts from the message – a message that can prove difficult, yet one that should be hard to swallow.
‘I Used To Be So Young’ may not be saying anything that hasn’t been said before, but it’s the way it’s said that packs a punch. Zanetti’s battle between anger and despair is immediately relatable, adding an unusual atmosphere to a politically charged record. Its simple nature brings the protest to the forefront – the majority of these tracks could easily be heard around a campfire at a late night demonstration. There’s just enough honesty here to both rally the troops and to hit home.
BEN TIPPLE