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{{Short description|Christian rapcore group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{about|the rapcore band|the concept of the person|Everyday life}}
{{about|the rapcore band|the concept of the person|Everyday life}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Every Day Life
| name = Every Day Life
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| alias = Every Day Life in Southern California
⚫
| origin =
| alias = EDL, Every Day Life in Southern California
⚫
| genre = [[Christian rap]]core, [[rapcore]],<ref name=HM>Vasey, Karen (2003) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/edl_after_signing_with_paradigm_records200306/index.php |date=* |title=EDL - After signing to Paradigm Records }}. [[HM Magazine]]. Retrieved on May 8, 2016.</ref> [[Christian metal]]
⚫
| origin =
| years_active = 1992–present
⚫
| genre = [[Christian rap]]core, [[rapcore]],<ref name=HM>Vasey, Karen (2003) {{wayback|url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/edl_after_signing_with_paradigm_records200306/index.php|title=EDL - After signing to Paradigm Records}}. [[HM Magazine]]. Retrieved on May 8, 2016.</ref> [[Christian metal]]
⚫
| label = [[Alarma Records|Alarma]], [[KMG Records|KMG]], Paradigm<ref name=HM/>
| years_active = 1992-present <small>(hiatus)</small>
⚫
| associated_acts = [[Klank]]
⚫
| label = [[Alarma Records|Alarma]], [[KMG Records|KMG]], Paradigm<ref name=HM/>
⚫
| current_members = Tedd Cookerly<br>Carl Weaver<br>Eric Wilkins<br>Jim "KingSize" Rupe
⚫
| associated_acts = [[Klank]]
⚫
| past_members = Mike Nocosia<br>Jason Bowen<br>Scott Silleta<br>Michael Albright<br>Evan Stromberg<br>Shawn Pauling
⚫
| current_members = Tedd Cookerly<br>Carl Weaver<br>Eric Wilkins<br>Mike Nocosia
⚫
| website =
⚫
| past_members = Jim Rupe<br>Jason Bowen<br>Scott Silleta<br>Michael Albright
⚫
| website =
}}
}}


'''Every Day Life''', later simply known as '''EDL''', was a [[Christian hip hop|Christian]] [[rapcore]] group. The band became identified with the [[straight edge]] movement,<ref name="7b_14"/> which advocates abstinence from sex, drugs and tobacco.
'''Every Day Life''', later simply known as '''EDL''', was a [[Christian hip hop|Christian]] [[rapcore]] group. The band became identified with the [[straight edge]] movement,<ref name="7b_14"/> which advocates abstinence from sex, drugs and tobacco.


The band's first two albums were [[pulled from Christian bookstores]].<ref name="HM_01_90"/> Their videos were played on MTV, their albums entered the college radio charts,<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> and they were nominated for a [[Dove Award]].<ref name="tb_dove">{{cite web |url=http://www.tollbooth.org/new/news/99list.html |title=Nominees for the 30th Annual Dove Awards |publisher=The Phantom Tollbooth |access-date=2009-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104100459/http://www.tollbooth.org/new/news/99list.html |archive-date=2009-11-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The band has been labeled as a Christian version of [[Rage Against the Machine]], which the band states is "kinda flattering, because when we started the band, I hadn't heard ‘em... we had no influence of theirs, and we had no starting point from them."<ref name="HM_97_68"/>


The ''Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music'' describes the band as having been "the first group in Christian music to address political issues in a responsible manner."<ref name="Powell_Fe">{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=[[Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody]], [[Massachusetts]] |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=Every Day Live (a.k.a. EDL) |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/311 311–312] |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/311 }}</ref> The band wrote about issues of social and economic justice within Christianity and in the larger world.<ref name="CSTONE_27_114">{{cite journal |last=Canfield |first=Dave |year=1998 |title=Music Reviews / ''American Standard'' |journal=[[Cornerstone (magazine)|Cornerstone]] |issn=0275-2743 |volume=27 |issue=114 |pages=62 }}</ref>
While the group saw other bands in the genre such as [[Korn]] and [[Limp Bizkit]], and even the Christian bands [[P.O.D.]] and [[Project 86]], achieve great success, that same goal was elusive to Every Day Life.<ref name="7b_28">{{cite journal |last=Bandoppler |first=Treble |title=Every Day Life: The members of EDL grow up, get on with their lives and work to change a generation |pages=26–30 |date=January–February 2000 |issue=28 |journal=[[7ball]] |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> This was partially due to bad luck regarding record labels and promotion,<ref name="HM_97_68"/> and part to controversial album content, which led to their first two albums being [[pulled from Christian bookstores]].<ref name="HM_01_90"/> Even so, the band did receive some light MTV rotation, entered the college radio charts,<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> and was nominated for a [[Dove Award]].<ref name="tb_dove">{{cite web |url=http://www.tollbooth.org/new/news/99list.html |title=Nominees for the 30th Annual Dove Awards |publisher=The Phantom Tollbooth}}</ref>


While controversial, the ''Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music'' describes the band as having been "the first group in Christian music to address political issues in a responsible manner."<ref name="Powell_Fe">{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=[[Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody]], [[Massachusetts]] |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=Every Day Live (a.k.a. EDL) |pages=311–312}}</ref> The band consistently wrote about social issues, and was not afraid to tackle harsh issues of social and economic justice, both within Christianity and in the larger world.<ref name="CSTONE_27_114">{{cite journal |last=Canfield |first=Dave |year=1998 |title=Music Reviews / ''American Standard'' |journal=[[Cornerstone (magazine)|Cornerstone]] |issn=0275-2743 |volume=27 |issue=114 |pages=62 }}</ref> EDL felt that these issues were often marginalized or poorly approached in churches, and completely taboo in [[contemporary Christian music]]. [[Larry Norman]] was an influence for the band, with the lyricist telling one interviewer that "He wrote about the issues... just as [[Steve Taylor]] did, and just as [[Rez Band]] did when they started. These artists who originally started talking about the issues of Christianity now have no place in the market, because now the market has become songs of confirmation. And it almost makes it seem as though something we're doing is unheard of, and maybe not even Christian."<ref name="HM_97_68"/> ''HM'' jokingly remarked that the [[Chick tract]] "[http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0034/0034_01.asp Angles?]", which describes the evils of [[Christian rock]], had been inspired by the band.<ref name="HM_01_90_R">{{cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Melba |title=EDL ''Every Day Life'' |pages=75–77 |date=July–August 2001 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=90}}</ref>
[[Larry Norman]] was an influence for the band, with the lyricist telling one interviewer that "He wrote about the issues... just as [[Steve Taylor]] did, and just as [[Rez Band]] did when they started. These artists who originally started talking about the issues of Christianity now have no place in the market, because now the market has become songs of confirmation. And it almost makes it seem as though something we're doing is unheard of, and maybe not even Christian."<ref name="HM_97_68"/> ''HM'' jokingly remarked that the [[Chick tract]] "Angles?", which describes the evils of [[Christian rock]], had been inspired by the band.<ref name="HM_01_90_R">{{cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Melba |title=EDL ''Every Day Life'' |pages=75–77 |date=July–August 2001 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=90}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
EDL was founded in 1992 as '''Every Day Life In Southern California'''.<ref name="7b_14">{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Bruce A. |title=Every Day Life: Righteous Anger |pages=14–17 |date=September–October 1997 |issue=14 |journal=[[7ball]] |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> Early on the band signed to [[R.E.X. Records]] and laid down some material for an album. However, the label went defunct before releasing any EDL material.<ref name="HM_97_68"/><ref name="7b_28"/> After finally being released from that contract, they signed with [[Alarma Records]] and produced their debut album, ''Disgruntled''. For the band, the delays were intolerable. Frontman Cookerly reported that "when I got into the studio, I got upset and angry and yelled my way through it ... My goal was to write the most upset record the Christian market had ever seen, to completely alienate everybody.”<ref name="7b_28"/> Production was managed by [[Lanny Cordola]].<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> In addition to sporting an [[American Flag]] with the band's name cut out,<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> the cover image of ''Disgruntled'' shows a scene from the [[Reginald Denny incident]], part of the [[Los Angeles riots of 1992]].<ref name="7b_7">{{cite journal |last=Macintosh |first=Dan |title=Bankshots: Every Day Life |pages= |date=July–August 1996 |issue=7 |journal=[[7ball]] |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> The flag was intended to represent the broken ideal of American life,<ref name="HM_95_50">{{cite journal |last=Callaway |first=Chris |date=Dec–Jan 1995 |title=E.D.L. |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=50 |pages= }}</ref> and the photo to be a graphic portrayal of the extremes of life and society.<ref name="7b_7"/>
EDL was founded in 1992 as Every Day Life in Southern California.<ref name="7b_14">{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Bruce A. |title=Every Day Life: Righteous Anger |pages=14–17 |date=September–October 1997 |issue=14 |journal=[[7ball]] |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> Early on the band signed to [[R.E.X. Records]] and laid down some material for an album. However, the label went defunct before releasing any EDL material.<ref name="HM_97_68"/><ref name="7b_28">{{cite journal |last=Bandoppler |first=Treble |title=Every Day Life: The members of EDL grow up, get on with their lives and work to change a generation |pages=26–30 |date=January–February 2000 |issue=28 |journal=[[7ball]] |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> After being released from that contract, they signed with [[Alarma Records]] and produced their debut album, ''Disgruntled''. Frontman Cookerly reported that "when I got into the studio, I got upset and angry and yelled my way through it ... My goal was to write the most upset record the Christian market had ever seen, to completely alienate everybody."<ref name="7b_28"/> Production was managed by [[Lanny Cordola]].<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> In addition to sporting an [[American Flag]] with the band's name cut out,<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> the cover image of ''Disgruntled'' shows a scene from the [[attack on Reginald Denny]], part of the [[Los Angeles riots of 1992]].<ref name="7b_7">{{cite journal |last=Macintosh |first=Dan |title=Bankshots: Every Day Life |date=July–August 1996 |issue=7 |journal=[[7ball]] |issn=1082-3980}}</ref> The flag was intended to represent the broken ideal of American life,<ref name="HM_95_50">{{cite journal |last=Callaway |first=Chris |date=December 1994 – January 1995 |title=E.D.L. |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=50 }}</ref> and the photo to be a graphic portrayal of the extremes of life and society.<ref name="7b_7"/>


One British reviewer found that the album's blend of musical styles "Can seriously affect your blinkered ideas on what [[Christian music]] should sound like," and packs "more punches than [[Lennox Lewis]]."<ref name="CR_35">{{cite journal |last=Rimmer |first=Pippa |title=EDL / ''Disgruntled'' |date=October 1996 |issue=35 |journal=[[Cross Rhythms (magazine)|Cross Rhythms]] |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Every_Day_Life/Disgruntled/4946/}}</ref>
One reviewer said that the album's blend of musical styles "Can seriously affect your blinkered ideas on what [[Christian music]] should sound like."<ref name="CR_35">{{cite journal |last=Rimmer |first=Pippa |title=EDL / ''Disgruntled'' |date=October 1996 |issue=35 |journal=[[Cross Rhythms (magazine)|Cross Rhythms]] |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Every_Day_Life/Disgruntled/4946/}}</ref>


{{Quote box|quote="When you grow up in a community like [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] that has such a wealth of culture, and you mix that with [[drive by shooting]]s that happen within a few blocks of your house, It opens up a whole range of things to talk about."|source=Tedd Cookerly<ref name="7b_14"/>|width=33%}}
{{Quote box|quote="When you grow up in a community like [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] that has such a wealth of culture, and you mix that with [[drive by shooting]]s that happen within a few blocks of your house, It opens up a whole range of things to talk about."|source=Tedd Cookerly<ref name="7b_14"/>|width=33%}}


From the start their lyrics were controversial. Their debut album contained a cover of the [[Gil Scott Heron]] song "[[Whitey on the Moon]]" (with guests [[Gospel Gangstaz]]) that used the word "nigga".<ref name="7b_28"/> Lyrically, the artist described most of their debut as being "super-personal."<ref name="HM_95_50"/> On one song, the lyricist dealt with his own childhood. His mother, addicted to [[prescription drug abuse|prescription drugs]] and [[alcohol addiction|alcohol]], and [[Depression (mood)|depressed]], had told him several times to commit [[suicide]].<ref name="HM_97_68">{{cite journal |last=Levy |first=Grover |title=EDL meets grover levy... |pages= |date=November–December 1997 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=68 |quote=And I'm sure you know as much as I do, that any slight misunderstanding or inclination that this song could go any other direction than towards Christ, is automatically construed as... I think the most confusing thing about that song is that we were positive somebody was gonna nail us on it. Like, 'How dare you sing a song where you tell people to kill themselves!'}}</ref> ''American Standard'' contains lyrics on the topics of rape, the exploitation of Native Americans, as well as the dark sides of the music business and church politics.<ref name="7b_14"/> ''HM'' described it as having "insurgent lyrics and subversive undertones that challenged the [[status quo]] of our society."<ref name="HM_01_90"/>
Their debut album contained a cover of the [[Gil Scott Heron]] song "[[Whitey on the Moon]]" (with guests [[Gospel Gangstaz]]) that used the word "nigga".<ref name="7b_28"/> Lyrically, the artist described most of their debut as being "super-personal."<ref name="HM_95_50"/> On one song, the lyricist dealt with his own childhood. His mother, addicted to [[prescription drug abuse|prescription drugs]] and [[alcohol addiction|alcohol]], and [[Depression (mood)|depressed]], had told him several times to commit [[suicide]].<ref name="HM_97_68">{{cite journal |last=Levy |first=Grover |title=EDL meets grover levy... |date=November–December 1997 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=68 |quote=And I'm sure you know as much as I do, that any slight misunderstanding or inclination that this song could go any other direction than towards Christ, is automatically construed as... I think the most confusing thing about that song is that we were positive somebody was gonna nail us on it. Like, 'How dare you sing a song where you tell people to kill themselves!'}}</ref> ''American Standard'' contains lyrics on the topics of rape, the exploitation of Native Americans, as well as the dark sides of the music business and church politics.<ref name="7b_14"/> ''HM'' described it as having "insurgent lyrics and subversive undertones that challenged the [[status quo]] of our society."<ref name="HM_01_90"/>


The band has received criticism from churches for their unusual sound and the content of their albums.<ref name="7b_14"/><ref name="HM_99_79">{{cite journal |last=Vasey |first=Karen |title=Every Day Life |pages= |date=September–October 1999 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=79}}</ref> In one incident after a show, frontman Cookerly was surrounded by a crowd of [[Bible]]-bearing teenagers who told him that his actions were a reflection of what the [[Antichrist]] would do.<ref name="7b_14"/> "I cried a lot that night," Cookerly reported.<ref name="7b_14"/> One specific criticism of the band is that they don't often use "God" or "Jesus" in their lyrics.<ref name="7b_14"/><ref name="7b_28"/> On that topic frontman Cookerly stated "It has never been our position that Christ would be [[prostration|prostrated]] to gain industry status and give foundation to our [bands'] Christianity... Why, just for the sake of using his name, should I say Jesus?"<ref name="7b_14"/> "[The] fact is this," Cookerly told ''7ball'', "some bands are called to be a [[Contemporary worship music|praise]] band like [[The Supertones]], and some are called to educate Christians like [[The Blamed]], and we are here to bear witness to the [[wiktionary:disfranchise|disenfranchised]]."
The band received criticism from churches for their unusual sound and the content of their albums.<ref name="7b_14"/><ref name="HM_99_79">{{cite journal |last=Vasey |first=Karen |title=Every Day Life |date=September–October 1999 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=79}}</ref> In one incident after a show, frontman Cookerly was surrounded by a crowd of [[Bible]]-bearing teenagers who told him that his actions were a reflection of what the [[Antichrist]] would do.<ref name="7b_14"/> "I cried a lot that night," Cookerly reported.<ref name="7b_14"/> One specific criticism of the band was that they do not often use "God" or "Jesus" in their lyrics.<ref name="7b_14"/><ref name="7b_28"/> On that topic frontman Cookerly stated "It has never been our position that Christ would be [[prostration|prostrated]] to gain industry status and give foundation to our [bands'] Christianity... Why, just for the sake of using his name, should I say Jesus?"<ref name="7b_14"/> "[The] fact is this," Cookerly told ''7ball'', "some bands are called to be a [[Contemporary worship music|praise]] band like [[The Supertones]], and some are called to educate Christians like [[The Blamed]], and we are here to bear witness to the [[wiktionary:disfranchise|disenfranchised]]."


{{Quote box|quote="Christians are still out there selling their testimony as if it's some great infomercial for the Super Salvation 9000, you know, ‘It slices, it dices, it saves you from your sin."|source=Tedd Cookerly<ref name="HM_97_68"/>|width=25%}}
{{Quote box|quote=Christians are still out there selling their testimony as if it's some great infomercial for the Super Salvation 9000, you know, "It slices, it dices, it saves you from your sin."|source=Tedd Cookerly<ref name="HM_97_68"/>|width=25%}}


''American Standard'' was named for [[American Standard Brands|the toilet manufacturer]].<ref name="HM_97_68"/> The album contains social criticism aimed at society, as explained by the lyricist: "our standards have slipped. They're crap. And without getting too vulgar, we as a society piss out all this hypocrisy."<ref name="HM_97_68"/> The criticisms also extend to [[Christian culture]], "Christianity, we're in trouble, because Christianity for the typical white family isn't that [stereotype] anymore. It's a single parent family, it's still having to deal with [[alcoholism]], it's still having to deal with [[drug abuse]], it's still having to deal with [[date rape]]. And any of the things that the world dictates happens to the average white family that's Christian in American society... Our God is a wonderful, just and redeeming Jesus Christ, but people see the need to bring out all these unnecessarily. You know, the [[Word of God (Bible)|Word of God]] stands alone, and it almost seems as though they have to put [[powdered sugar]] on what's already sweet."<ref name="HM_97_68"/>
''American Standard'' was named for [[American Standard Brands|the toilet manufacturer]].<ref name="HM_97_68"/> The album contains social criticism aimed at society, as explained by the lyricist: "our standards have slipped. They're crap. And without getting too vulgar, we as a society piss out all this hypocrisy."<ref name="HM_97_68"/> The criticisms also extend to [[Christian culture]], "Christianity, we're in trouble, because Christianity for the typical white family isn't that [stereotype] anymore. It's a single parent family, it's still having to deal with [[alcoholism]], it's still having to deal with [[drug abuse]], it's still having to deal with [[date rape]]. And any of the things that the world dictates happens to the average white family that's Christian in American society... Our God is a wonderful, just and redeeming Jesus Christ, but people see the need to bring out all these unnecessarily. You know, the [[Word of God (Bible)|Word of God]] stands alone, and it almost seems as though they have to put [[powdered sugar]] on what's already sweet."<ref name="HM_97_68"/>
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Production of ''American Standard'' was handled by [[Mike Knott]].<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> One reviewer found that the songs "tend to mesh into one another, creating the 'one long song' effect... the best way to tell each separate track apart is the tempo and length of screams,"<ref name="CM_43">{{cite journal |last=Lobaugh |first=Rod |title=EDL / ''American Standard'' |date=February 1998 |issue=43 |journal=[[Cross Rhythms (magazine)|Cross Rhythms]] |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Every_Day_Life/American_Standard/169/}}</ref> but that that didn't detract from the musical or lyrical relevance of the album. Another commented that the album could set the standard for "Christian hard, heavy, and puncturing music."<ref name="YW_XIV3">{{cite journal |last=Heckman |first=Garth |date=January–February 1998 |title=Tools / Music / Every Day Life ''American Standard'' |journal=[[YouthWorker Journal]] |issn=0747-3486 |volume=XIV |issue=3 |pages=30, 62 }}</ref> A reviewer in a more conservative publication disagreed, calling the lyrics "downright absurd" ramblings and criticized the album for the lack of direct references to Jesus.<ref name="CBAM_30_11">{{cite journal |last=Hassig |first=Gary |title=''American Standard'' Review |page=90 |journal=CBA Marketplace |date=November 1997 |volume=30 |issue=11 |issn=1092-7239 |oclc=36184061}}</ref> The song "Salt Circles" received a GMA [[Dove Award]] nomination in the "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" category in 1999.<ref name="tb_dove"/>
Production of ''American Standard'' was handled by [[Mike Knott]].<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> One reviewer found that the songs "tend to mesh into one another, creating the 'one long song' effect... the best way to tell each separate track apart is the tempo and length of screams,"<ref name="CM_43">{{cite journal |last=Lobaugh |first=Rod |title=EDL / ''American Standard'' |date=February 1998 |issue=43 |journal=[[Cross Rhythms (magazine)|Cross Rhythms]] |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Every_Day_Life/American_Standard/169/}}</ref> but that that didn't detract from the musical or lyrical relevance of the album. Another commented that the album could set the standard for "Christian hard, heavy, and puncturing music."<ref name="YW_XIV3">{{cite journal |last=Heckman |first=Garth |date=January–February 1998 |title=Tools / Music / Every Day Life ''American Standard'' |journal=[[YouthWorker Journal]] |issn=0747-3486 |volume=XIV |issue=3 |pages=30, 62 }}</ref> A reviewer in a more conservative publication disagreed, calling the lyrics "downright absurd" ramblings and criticized the album for the lack of direct references to Jesus.<ref name="CBAM_30_11">{{cite journal |last=Hassig |first=Gary |title=''American Standard'' Review |page=90 |journal=CBA Marketplace |date=November 1997 |volume=30 |issue=11 |issn=1092-7239 |oclc=36184061}}</ref> The song "Salt Circles" received a GMA [[Dove Award]] nomination in the "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" category in 1999.<ref name="tb_dove"/>


Their 2000 release ''Moment of Clarity'' marked a slight change in sound for the band - a turn toward a pop and rock oriented sound.<ref name="HM_99_79"/> ''HM'' found that change to be subtle, but enough to commercialize the music.<ref name="HM_99_79_R">{{cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |title=Reviews / ''Moment of Clarity'' |pages= |date=September–October 1999 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=79}}</ref>
Their 2000 release ''Moment of Clarity'' marked a slight change in sound for the band - a turn toward a pop and rock oriented sound.<ref name="HM_99_79"/> ''HM'' found that change to be subtle, but enough to commercialize the music.<ref name="HM_99_79_R">{{cite journal |last=Van Pelt |first=Doug |title=Reviews / ''Moment of Clarity'' |date=September–October 1999 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=79}}</ref>


After ''Moment of Clarity'' was released, the band was courted by major labels including [[Roadrunner Records]].<ref name="HM_01_90">{{cite journal |last=Pogge |first=David M. |title=Forgotten Thoughts of Our Tomorrow |pages=52–54 |date=July–August 2001 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=90}}</ref> They eventually signed to a [[Universal Records|Universal]] imprint, but that deal folded when Universal restructured and eliminated that particular subsidiary. The band fell back to [[KMG Records|KMG]], which had then been resurrected as Fashion Pop Records by Frank Chimento,<ref name="HM_01_90"/> releasing an eponymous album in 2001.
After ''Moment of Clarity'' was released, the band was courted by major labels including [[Roadrunner Records]].<ref name="HM_01_90">{{cite journal |last=Pogge |first=David M. |title=Forgotten Thoughts of Our Tomorrow |pages=52–54 |date=July–August 2001 |journal=[[HM Magazine]] |issn=1066-6923 |issue=90}}</ref> They eventually signed to a [[Universal Records|Universal]] imprint, but that deal folded when Universal restructured and eliminated that particular subsidiary. The band fell back to [[KMG Records|KMG]], which had then been resurrected as Fashion Pop Records by Frank Chimento,<ref name="HM_01_90"/> releasing an eponymous album in 2001.


In 2003, the band signed to Paradigm Records.<ref name=HM/> Since this time nothing has been heard by EDL. Though there was no news on whether EDL has disbanded or just put on hiatus, Wilkins, Weaver and Guitarist Mike Nociasa had all joined [[Klank]]'s live lineup.
Since this time, nothing has been heard by EDL. Though there was no news on whether EDL has disbanded or just put on hiatus, Wilkins, Weaver and guitarist Mike Nociasa had all joined [[Klank]]'s live lineup.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} The band more recently has reunited for shows in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/news/every-day-life-edl-reunite-for-shows-in-2017/|title=Every Day Life (EDL) Reunite for Shows in 2017|publisher=Indie Vision Music|first=Brandon|last=Jones|date=November 7, 2016|access-date=November 8, 2016}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
Line 55: Line 56:


==Members==
==Members==
;Current
'''Current'''
*Tedd Cookerly - vocals (1992-present)
*Tedd Cookerly – vocals
*Carl Weaver - guitar
*Carl Weaver – guitar
*Eric Wilkins - drums (1992-present)
*Eric Wilkins – drums ([[Klank]])
⚫
*Jim "KingSize" Rupe – bass guitar (ex-[[Focused (band)|Focused]])
⚫
*Mike Nocosia - guitar

;Former
'''Former'''
*Jason Bowen - bass ([[Overcome (band)|Overcome]])
*Jason Bowen – bass guitar (ex-[[Overcome (band)|Overcome]])
*Jensen Tripp - bass
*The Nayt - guitar
*Jensen Tripp – bass guitar
*The Nayt – guitar
*Michael "Oxx" Albright - bass (1992-1999)
*Michael "Oxx" Albright – bass guitar
*[[Jeff Elbel]] - bass
*[[Jeff Elbel]] – bass
⚫
*Jim "KingSize" Rupe - bass (ex-[[Focused (band)|Focused]])
⚫
*Mike Nocosia – guitar
*Shawn Pawling - Guitar
*Shawn Pawling – guitar
*Evan Stromberg - Guitar
*Evan Stromberg – guitar
*Scott "DJ Cool Rock" Silleta - (ex-[[Plankeye]], ex-Rich Young Ruler, ex-Fanmail)
*Scott "DJ Cool Rock" Silleta


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 20:46, 3 June 2024

This article is about the rapcore band. For the concept of the person, see Everyday life.
Every Day Life
Also known asEvery Day Life in Southern California
GenresChristian rapcore, rapcore,[1] Christian metal
Years active1992–present
LabelsAlarma, KMG, Paradigm[1]
MembersTedd Cookerly
Carl Weaver
Eric Wilkins
Jim "KingSize" Rupe
Past membersMike Nocosia
Jason Bowen
Scott Silleta
Michael Albright
Evan Stromberg
Shawn Pauling

Every Day Life, later simply known as EDL, was a Christian rapcore group. The band became identified with the straight edge movement,[2] which advocates abstinence from sex, drugs and tobacco.

The band's first two albums were pulled from Christian bookstores.[3] Their videos were played on MTV, their albums entered the college radio charts,[4] and they were nominated for a Dove Award.[5]

The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes the band as having been "the first group in Christian music to address political issues in a responsible manner."[4] The band wrote about issues of social and economic justice within Christianity and in the larger world.[6]

Larry Norman was an influence for the band, with the lyricist telling one interviewer that "He wrote about the issues... just as Steve Taylor did, and just as Rez Band did when they started. These artists who originally started talking about the issues of Christianity now have no place in the market, because now the market has become songs of confirmation. And it almost makes it seem as though something we're doing is unheard of, and maybe not even Christian."[7] HM jokingly remarked that the Chick tract "Angles?", which describes the evils of Christian rock, had been inspired by the band.[8]

History

[edit]

EDL was founded in 1992 as Every Day Life in Southern California.[2] Early on the band signed to R.E.X. Records and laid down some material for an album. However, the label went defunct before releasing any EDL material.[7][9] After being released from that contract, they signed with Alarma Records and produced their debut album, Disgruntled. Frontman Cookerly reported that "when I got into the studio, I got upset and angry and yelled my way through it ... My goal was to write the most upset record the Christian market had ever seen, to completely alienate everybody."[9] Production was managed by Lanny Cordola.[4] In addition to sporting an American Flag with the band's name cut out,[4] the cover image of Disgruntled shows a scene from the attack on Reginald Denny, part of the Los Angeles riots of 1992.[10] The flag was intended to represent the broken ideal of American life,[11] and the photo to be a graphic portrayal of the extremes of life and society.[10]

One reviewer said that the album's blend of musical styles "Can seriously affect your blinkered ideas on what Christian music should sound like."[12]

"When you grow up in a community like Long Beach that has such a wealth of culture, and you mix that with drive by shootings that happen within a few blocks of your house, It opens up a whole range of things to talk about."

Tedd Cookerly[2]

Their debut album contained a cover of the Gil Scott Heron song "Whitey on the Moon" (with guests Gospel Gangstaz) that used the word "nigga".[9] Lyrically, the artist described most of their debut as being "super-personal."[11] On one song, the lyricist dealt with his own childhood. His mother, addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol, and depressed, had told him several times to commit suicide.[7] American Standard contains lyrics on the topics of rape, the exploitation of Native Americans, as well as the dark sides of the music business and church politics.[2] HM described it as having "insurgent lyrics and subversive undertones that challenged the status quo of our society."[3]

The band received criticism from churches for their unusual sound and the content of their albums.[2][13] In one incident after a show, frontman Cookerly was surrounded by a crowd of Bible-bearing teenagers who told him that his actions were a reflection of what the Antichrist would do.[2] "I cried a lot that night," Cookerly reported.[2] One specific criticism of the band was that they do not often use "God" or "Jesus" in their lyrics.[2][9] On that topic frontman Cookerly stated "It has never been our position that Christ would be prostrated to gain industry status and give foundation to our [bands'] Christianity... Why, just for the sake of using his name, should I say Jesus?"[2] "[The] fact is this," Cookerly told 7ball, "some bands are called to be a praise band like The Supertones, and some are called to educate Christians like The Blamed, and we are here to bear witness to the disenfranchised."

Christians are still out there selling their testimony as if it's some great infomercial for the Super Salvation 9000, you know, "It slices, it dices, it saves you from your sin."

Tedd Cookerly[7]

American Standard was named for the toilet manufacturer.[7] The album contains social criticism aimed at society, as explained by the lyricist: "our standards have slipped. They're crap. And without getting too vulgar, we as a society piss out all this hypocrisy."[7] The criticisms also extend to Christian culture, "Christianity, we're in trouble, because Christianity for the typical white family isn't that [stereotype] anymore. It's a single parent family, it's still having to deal with alcoholism, it's still having to deal with drug abuse, it's still having to deal with date rape. And any of the things that the world dictates happens to the average white family that's Christian in American society... Our God is a wonderful, just and redeeming Jesus Christ, but people see the need to bring out all these unnecessarily. You know, the Word of God stands alone, and it almost seems as though they have to put powdered sugar on what's already sweet."[7]

Production of American Standard was handled by Mike Knott.[4] One reviewer found that the songs "tend to mesh into one another, creating the 'one long song' effect... the best way to tell each separate track apart is the tempo and length of screams,"[14] but that that didn't detract from the musical or lyrical relevance of the album. Another commented that the album could set the standard for "Christian hard, heavy, and puncturing music."[15] A reviewer in a more conservative publication disagreed, calling the lyrics "downright absurd" ramblings and criticized the album for the lack of direct references to Jesus.[16] The song "Salt Circles" received a GMA Dove Award nomination in the "Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year" category in 1999.[5]

Their 2000 release Moment of Clarity marked a slight change in sound for the band - a turn toward a pop and rock oriented sound.[13] HM found that change to be subtle, but enough to commercialize the music.[17]

After Moment of Clarity was released, the band was courted by major labels including Roadrunner Records.[3] They eventually signed to a Universal imprint, but that deal folded when Universal restructured and eliminated that particular subsidiary. The band fell back to KMG, which had then been resurrected as Fashion Pop Records by Frank Chimento,[3] releasing an eponymous album in 2001.

Since this time, nothing has been heard by EDL. Though there was no news on whether EDL has disbanded or just put on hiatus, Wilkins, Weaver and guitarist Mike Nociasa had all joined Klank's live lineup.[citation needed] The band more recently has reunited for shows in 2017.[18]

Discography

[edit]
  • 1996: Disgruntled (Alarma Records)
  • 1997: American Standard
  • 2000: Moment of Clarity (KMG Records)
  • 2001: Every Day Life (Fashion Pop)

Members

[edit]

Current

  • Tedd Cookerly – vocals
  • Carl Weaver – guitar
  • Eric Wilkins – drums (Klank)
  • Jim "KingSize" Rupe – bass guitar (ex-Focused)

Former

  • Jason Bowen – bass guitar (ex-Overcome)
  • Jensen Tripp – bass guitar
  • The Nayt – guitar
  • Michael "Oxx" Albright – bass guitar
  • Jeff Elbel – bass
  • Mike Nocosia – guitar
  • Shawn Pawling – guitar
  • Evan Stromberg – guitar
  • Scott "DJ Cool Rock" Silleta

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Vasey, Karen (2003) EDL - After signing to Paradigm Records at the Wayback Machine (archive index). HM Magazine. Retrieved on May 8, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Brown, Bruce A. (September–October 1997). "Every Day Life: Righteous Anger". 7ball (14): 14–17. ISSN 1082-3980.
  3. ^ a b c d Pogge, David M. (July–August 2001). "Forgotten Thoughts of Our Tomorrow". HM Magazine (90): 52–54. ISSN 1066-6923.
  4. ^ a b c d e Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Every Day Live (a.k.a. EDL)". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 311–312. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  5. ^ a b "Nominees for the 30th Annual Dove Awards". The Phantom Tollbooth. Archived from the original on November 4, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  6. ^ Canfield, Dave (1998). "Music Reviews / American Standard". Cornerstone. 27 (114): 62. ISSN 0275-2743.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Levy, Grover (November–December 1997). "EDL meets grover levy...". HM Magazine (68). ISSN 1066-6923. And I'm sure you know as much as I do, that any slight misunderstanding or inclination that this song could go any other direction than towards Christ, is automatically construed as... I think the most confusing thing about that song is that we were positive somebody was gonna nail us on it. Like, 'How dare you sing a song where you tell people to kill themselves!'
  8. ^ Jackson, Melba (July–August 2001). "EDL Every Day Life". HM Magazine (90): 75–77. ISSN 1066-6923.
  9. ^ a b c d Bandoppler, Treble (January–February 2000). "Every Day Life: The members of EDL grow up, get on with their lives and work to change a generation". 7ball (28): 26–30. ISSN 1082-3980.
  10. ^ a b Macintosh, Dan (July–August 1996). "Bankshots: Every Day Life". 7ball (7). ISSN 1082-3980.
  11. ^ a b Callaway, Chris (December 1994 – January 1995). "E.D.L.". HM Magazine (50). ISSN 1066-6923.
  12. ^ Rimmer, Pippa (October 1996). "EDL / Disgruntled". Cross Rhythms (35).
  13. ^ a b Vasey, Karen (September–October 1999). "Every Day Life". HM Magazine (79). ISSN 1066-6923.
  14. ^ Lobaugh, Rod (February 1998). "EDL / American Standard". Cross Rhythms (43).
  15. ^ Heckman, Garth (January–February 1998). "Tools / Music / Every Day Life American Standard". YouthWorker Journal. XIV (3): 30, 62. ISSN 0747-3486.
  16. ^ Hassig, Gary (November 1997). "American Standard Review". CBA Marketplace. 30 (11): 90. ISSN 1092-7239. OCLC 36184061.
  17. ^ Van Pelt, Doug (September–October 1999). "Reviews / Moment of Clarity". HM Magazine (79). ISSN 1066-6923.
  18. ^ Jones, Brandon (November 7, 2016). "Every Day Life (EDL) Reunite for Shows in 2017". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
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