Ball of Wax 62 Songs: James Kelly Pitts – “God Is Not a Cop”

In hushed tones barely louder than a whisper, James Kelly Pitts exhorts the listener to “Do anything at all.” Simple guitar chords and minimalist percussion frame this quiet demand to break the inertia of the everyday and to think past the easy metaphors of trust and authority most prevalent in our society. Randomized synths fade up and down to provide sonic texture or drop in and out abruptly for emphasis where required. After the final lyric, where most songs would play out the theme four more times for balance, Pitts cuts off after the second repeat, leaving a sense of unease at the end. A tidy summation of a moment of stasis in America. Only through action can we change things. Whether that change does us any good in the long run can’t be known, but it’s better to try than do nothing.