Ball of Wax 65 Songs: Bubba Bach – “Ready”

Bubba – FKA Sebastian A. – Bach sure knows how to pack a lot of weight and depth into a small musical package. “Ready” clocks in at under two minutes, with only a couple lyrical phrases carrying it through, but every time I hear it I both think “dang, it’s over already” and “was that really just a couple minutes?” This song is addressed to God – or a god, anyway – but unlike Shellac’s “Prayer to God,” my other favorite song-addressed-to-God, the singer doesn’t let us in on his prayer, merely states his readiness to move forward when it’s granted, when his dreams come true. Through the lush yet simple arrangement of guitars and keys, and Bubba’s emotional, almost fragile vocal delivery, we are made to embrace this mystery, to look forward to the day when those dreams come true, whatever they might be.