Music Review: Live "Lakini's Juice"

Live

Lakini’s Juice

Album: Secret Samadhi

Year: 1997

       Ed Kowalczyk has a spiritual awakening while out a the lake in the  vague   “Lakini’s Juice.”

          A charging guitar opens the single, setting a criminal  tone. He pulls the tab open another bottle and spits it out. He thinks of his girlfriend at home, who is likely slinging another beer back herself. He’s been with her for a couple years. Both would admit to infidelities and breathing in the toxicity of their relationship, sucking them of any self. All he has ever cared about, more than his girlfriend, has been drinking and sex. (“It was an evening I shared with the sun to find out where we belong/From the earliest days, we were dancing in the shadows/More wine cause I got to have it/More skin cause I got to eat it.”)

        In the pre-chorus, somehow it doesn’t feel like he’s living anymore. Seeing families picnicking on other side of the river reminds him of what he would like to want. But the chaos is easier to slip into. Moving towards him is a saint in a pale robe. Awed by her presence, he bows to her and says he will be right back. He runs to the restroom, grabs some paper towel and dips into the toliet. He holds onto it, as though it were a wounded animal, and scrubs her feet. He says a prayer. Another layer has healed on his soul.  (“Inside the outside, by the river/Used to be so calm (so calm)/Used to be so sane/I rushed the lady's room/Took the water from the toilet/Washed her feet and blessed her name/More peace is such a dirty habit.”)

          In the chorus, he goes back home to his girlfriend and says he will change. He has found religion. However, she has to let him take the lead on it. (“Slow down, we're too afraid/Let me ride/Let me ride/Burn my eyes/Let me ride.”)

          The first verse is sung again.

          The chorus is sung again.

          Kowlaczyk says “let me ride” seven times to end the single.

         Kowalcyzk’s choleric vocals rebel against who he once was.and the lack of humanity in the world. He wants to be a good person. He no longer wants to sin. The religious element is introduced but not much is made of it. There is no reference to Lakini (who is likely Kowalczyk) yet it’s important enough to be included in the title. Simply put, there is not much to go on.

        The corrosive “Lakini’s Juice” leaves too much unexplained.