Art Rock: Anyone into Fleming & John - Delusions of Grandeur?

Wow, just heard Delusions of Grandeur by Fleming & John. Apparently they've worked with Steve Taylor, and I can hear allusions to God and the Bible especially on the last song A Place Called Love. 

The album is typically labeled as alternative rock and Christian rock. It's got grungy power chords (fairly heavy), but the feel can be as zany as Kate Bush or Sparks or some other operatic art pop/rock due to over the top vocals/melodies for a rock band and with a jazz, bossa nova, and psychedelic feel in parts. I love it. An instant Christian rock classic for me. I hear their second album is a bit softer though. 

Anyone know more about them? I've found a bit on Wikipedia and Allmusic. Any other similar Christian artists?

Yes, excellent stuff.

Yes, I like their stuff. Be sure to check out their other album, "The Way We Are." Maybe not quite as good as the debut, but still has some good tunes.

They've been working on a new album for the past couple years, too, and had a massively successful Kickstarter campaign for it. Not sure when that will be done, but they post updates fairly often: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flemingandjohn/fleming-and-john-new-album-2015

I saw them live at Cornerstone Festival sometime in the 90s, or maybe it was even twice. I definitely remember one show.

This album was in regular rotation for me and my best friend in high school. Great release. I think I still have a copy somewhere.

Nice. Yeah, I'll have to listen to their second album and look forward to this album in the works. I just went over to the local record store and they had Illusions of Grandeur on CD!   I walked out one happy camper.

Yeah, love both albums and especially the song "A Place Called Love".

The debut was cool.  They had a different sound for sure combining many styles into a hard rock alternative sound.

Soundmass.com wrote:Yeah, love both albums and especially the song "A Place Called Love".

Yeah, "A Place Called Love" is pretty metal, like an middle-eastern metal dance. Great song, easily the most clearly Christian-themed. 

My other favorites are "I'm Not Afraid" and "Delusions of Grandeur." I have to say, "I'm Not Afraid" has one of the most strange and unexpected bridges that actually works. "Delusions of Grandeur" is just flawless all around. It's got the dark melodies, the critique on the "just follow your dreams" mentality, an impeccable arrangement...just perfect.

I've never owned one of their albums, but definitely love me some Fleming and John. They were active on Facebook about a year or so, but then vanished. From what I've read about them, they have done quite a bit in the scene. Especially background work in commercials and such if I'm not mistaken. John is supposed to be pretty proficient in a lot of instruments.

Yeah, I've been a fan since they started.  One of the world's few truly unique bands.  Saw them live in Chapel Hill, NC in college mid-90s.  Delusions of Grandeur was definitely the best of the two. 

It seems to have vanished from the internet, but if you ever get a chance to hear their "Winter Wonderland" tune set to Led Zeppelin's "Misty Mountain Hop," it's awesome too.

strangerhoncho wrote:Yeah, I've been a fan since they started.  One of the world's few truly unique bands.  Saw them live in Chapel Hill, NC in college mid-90s.  Delusions of Grandeur was definitely the best of the two. 

It seems to have vanished from the internet, but if you ever get a chance to hear their "Winter Wonderland" tune set to Led Zeppelin's "Misty Mountain Hop," it's awesome too.

Nice! I would have loved to have seen them back then...at the impressionable age of 2 years old  
Love "Misty Mountain Hop". That sounds like quite the cross-over! I do hear a bit of Zeppelin in their sound, especially "Break the Circles."

Their version of Harder To Believe Than Not To is probably my favourite track from the Steve Taylor tribute album (I Predicit a Clone). Haven't heard anything else, sounds like I should.

elManique wrote:Their version of Harder To Believe Than Not To is probably my favourite track from the Steve Taylor tribute album (I Predicit a Clone).  Haven't heard anything else, sounds like I should.

 I heard that! "HARDER to BELIEVE than NOT TOOOOO!" 

The original Steve Taylor song is my favorite from him, but interesting to hear a heavy version of it. Definitely a good choice considering the operatic tendencies of Fleming & John. I had to check if the lady that sang the operatic intro for Steve Taylor wasn't Fleming herself (it's not her).

Definitely check them out when you get the chance. I've been jamming Delusions of Grandeur all week.

I'm aware of them primarily because of their working with Ben Folds and Ben Folds Five.  I know John has worked on several Folds projects, and I think I read somewhere that Ben played on one of their albums.  Never heard the album, but I've heard the song Delusions of Grandeur and I seem to remember it being pretty cool.  Sounds like I should give the album a listen.  I had no idea they were Christians.

Verbum Lux wrote:I'm aware of them primarily because of their working with Ben Folds and Ben Folds Five.  I know John has worked on several Folds projects, and I think I read somewhere that Ben played on one of their albums.  Never heard the album, but I've heard the song Delusions of Grandeur and I seem to remember it being pretty cool.  Sounds like I should give the album a listen.  I had no idea they were Christians.

Yeah, the Christianity is only barely discernible. On Delusions of Grandeur, "A Place Called Love" borrows heavily from Revelation:




"I'm Not Afriad" is about God when you think about the bridge:



I didn't  hear anything relating to Christianity on their second album, but I'll have to listen again.
Edit: Oh yes, "Devils Food":

Friday13th wrote:The original Steve Taylor song is my favorite from him, but interesting to hear a heavy version of it. Definitely a good choice considering the operatic tendencies of Fleming & John. I had to check if the lady that sang the operatic intro for Steve Taylor wasn't Fleming herself (it's not her).

Definitely check them out when you get the chance. I've been jamming Delusions of Grandeur all week.

Listening to the Steve Taylor version it's great but quite different in feel, F&J is snappier and more accessible (this is a metal forum after all).

And now, have listened to Delusions of Grandeur, wow that's fantastic stuff, quirky and unique. The opener I'm Not Afraid is stuck in my head - perfectly catchy and high-energy. Second favourite would be A Place Called Love.