Some bands leave behind sprawling catalogs, and others are one-hit wonders. Stinging Rain is neither. Stinging Rain gave us only three albums: Face of Stephen (1993), Shadows of Reality (1990), and The Dream (1991). I recall seeing them numerous times in the early 90s as I camped my way through Pennsylvania and Central NY. 

This band is an unusual choice for me, as it falls squarely within the Christian Contemporary genre. All of their albums have a down-to-earth, jangling drive so different than the heavy metal and industrial music that I followed then and still listen to today. 

By the time they reached Shadows of Reality, Stinging Rain had found its peak, at least in my opinion. It was unsettling and deeply compelling, mirroring the drive to escape to backcountry cabins to campsites. It feels like their strongest work, the one that lingers long after the last track fades. 

As I settled down and came back to Buffalo, NY, my home, Stinging Rain, the band faded away. The music stayed in my library until I wore out my cassettes. I never found a replacement, although Live and The Waterboys are close. 

Funny how you live through something, something that makes your life so different, but you don't understand how it came to be so important. I don't know why I spent that time running from my homelife from campsite to campsite, nor do I know why this band pulls on my heartstrings.

You can listen to Shadows of Reality on YouTube Music. My favorite song is Cold World. 

This post appears on both my personal blog TOG Side Channels, and MeWe's "Phil's Mixtape" group.