When Olde English Spelling Bee contacted us in the early hours of this morning to tell us about their new Creed tribute compilation, we looked at the date on the calendar, raised our eyebrows, and went back to sleep.

We woke up to another message from OESB insisting that this project “transcends any annual prankings” and certainly you need only look at the label’s website to see that Should Have Been Dead On A Sunday: an OESB Tribute to Creed is very real indeed, though whether or not its motivation is sincere we couldn’t possible say. It’s probably best if we let OESB explain themselves:

Creed is one of the most misunderstood rock bands of all time. Critics have described them as “taking the tackiest elements of grunge and then pumping it full of steroids and human growth hormones”. Well what’s wrong with that? What their detractors are missing is the deep existential crises revealed in the songs of Creed. The themes of endless despair, reckoning with God, and emerging triumphant through it all. It’s all about the struggles and trials of life and how we are ultimately united on this difficult path. It’s about singing with the voice of a superhuman monster – the only voice that can maybe reach the ears of our cruel God. If we can shoot lightning back His way then maybe He will take notice of our suffering. Chillwave music will never accomplish goals of this nature. God does not take Chillwave music seriously but He surely follows Creed for they are the musical choice of so many believers. True believers. The spiritual warriors of this world. There have been theories that bands like “Washed Out” psychically pre-empted the recent tsunami disaster. This was God’s punishment. Creed has music videos depicting the survival of mass floods – they see the future and envision the durability of human existence in the face of extinction. We must fight God in order to survive. The human race must unite in order to overcome the challenges He will throw our way. Creed is the soundtrack to our survival – seriously “the end is near” has never been more true. 2012 is our next door neighbor. Are you ready? Are you ready? For what’s to come.

There you have it. Visit OESB’s site here for more information and to download the whole compilation, for free, in a zip file. It features tracks by Autre Ne Veut, Alice Cohen and more that you can also stream and download individually via the Soundcloud player below. In the words of Creed: “The world is heading for mutiny / When all we want is unity / We may rise and fall, but in the end / We meet our fate together.” Hmmm.


V/A SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD ON A SUNDAY MORNING – AN OESB TRIBUTE TO CREED