The 90s was such an interesting decade for music in general, but for the Christian scene in particular. There was such a diversity of sounds and multiple genres exploding in all different directions from alternative to metal to punk to hardcore to hip-hop and electronica. Then even within each of these there was a multiplicity of subgenres all moving in different trajectories at the same time. It wasn’t uncommon to go to a gig in the 90s and see a ska band opening a show that also included indie rock and hardcore. It was weird, but also beautiful.
Black and White World inhabited an alternative rock space that leaned towards the funky, but in a very lo-fi sort of way. Their debut, self-titled album featured a diatribe about Elvis, quirky ballads about commitment, and funky rompers with lots of wah peddles. They excelled in this latter category. From album opener “Ocean” to our featured song “Love is the Law” the band put forth their simple yet profound theology:
I don’t wanna be up, I don’t wanna be down
I wanna be true in the face of this town
I looked at a page in the book that saw
I listened to Him, He said “Love is the law”
Love! Love is the law!
These weren’t theological treatises, but they weren’t really meant to be. What they did, however, was to remind us of what was important. And in these troubling times, I can’t think of a more appropriate message than one that focuses on love.
Black and White World released one more album, also on Blonde Vinyl Records, call Life Explodes, which incidentally featured contributions from future No Doubt members on the album’s most memorable track “Ruby Goes to Heaven.” Lead vocalist Rob Gallas later joined Undercover for one album, 1994’s Forum. He has more recently teamed up with Gym Nicholson (Undercover, Dead Artist Syndrome), Ric Alba (ex-Altar Boys), Gary Olson (Undercover) and others for a project entitled Moral DK. They released an independent full-length album in 2019, called Cold in August.
Check out the low-budget video for “Love is the Law” below, which I only recently found out existed.