Music Review // Sonic Fuel "Karma"

As someone who is older I think about time a lot and with that how there are adults out there who are legally allowed to consume alcohol in the United States but were not alive in the 20th Century.   While I'm not sure of the exact time to pinpoint it, there was a time when rock n roll used to be dangerous but at some point in time (and if you were born in or after the year 2000 you likely missed it) music just stopped being so much of a threat.

The video for "Karma" opens with a little boy named Donnie rocking out on his guitar while listening to Sonic Fuel.   His mom busts in and tells him that he's not allowed to listen to that devil music and there are some strong "Detroit Rock City" vibes happening.  Right away though, this video makes me question whether or not there are children out there listening to modern bands and wanting to grow up to be like them the way kids did with Kiss, for example.   I don't even want to think about what bands might be considered in this day and age.

Eventually, during the music video, Donnie ends up watching the band Sonic Fuel play the song "Karma" and they just rock out with it.   With hints of Seether and Puddle of Mudd, Sonic Fuel has a line in the chorus about how karma is a bitch which makes me wonder if the radio would edit it out or let it slide.   This is also part of that idea of making rock n roll dangerous again, just to the extent that so many mainstream rock bands are non-threatening.

At the end of the video, Donnie has a conversation with the leader singer of Sonic Fuel and is reassured that he won't be going to Hell for listening to their music.   I like this video not just because this is such a great song and not just because it has that concept of a child wanting to grow up to be a rock star (which I think society is lacking right now) but also because it demonstrates how music can feel dangerous (such as the idea of playing the records backwards) and yet at the same time be safe.