The InBetween
by
Scarlet White Black or white. Hot and cold. Good and evil. Dead or Alive. Extremes on continuums. And in-between? An infinite series of points on the scale. Something that seems to define Scarlet White....
If the internet era has bequeathed artists anything, it is the ability to find and grow an audience, and from there attract notice from the music industry. The independent musical landscape is...
From the opening cut, "Alone," to the very last track, "Falling," you know that you are listening to something distinctive. Free from Ordinary is anything but ordinary- it's an optimistic, uplifting collection of modern pop/rock/worship from new Slanted Records / Spring Hill artist Caleb Rowden.
Reading the guy's bio gives you an inkling that this guy is an exceptional "everyman." Rowden was a talented multi-instrumentalist and accomplished songwriter by the time he was old enough to drive; founder of a non-profit ministry, and a successful independent artist who has opened for MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp and Audio Adrenaline... all by the age of 23.
Caleb exhibits a talent for varying his vocal delivery to suit the mood and message of each song; on "Wait," suggesting Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik, then bringing a completely different vibe with a Jason Veda-like (Acceptance) delivery on "You Are Holy," and subsequently creating a Chris Tomlin vibe on his worship tracks- all without compromising his own voice.
Each song flows organically from one to the next, giving Free from Ordinary a very cohesive sound. The music and lyrics of Free from Ordinary are kind of like 7 UP- natural, crisp, clean and refreshing... all the while remaining relevant to the 20-something generation. Free from Ordinary is a magnetic and engaging collection of tracks without being more o' the same ol' same ol'. Do yourself a favor if you're a fan of Switchfoot, early David Crowder, Keane and Jadon Lavik- track down this extra-ordinary album.
Reunion Records' latest addition is singer / songwriter and Nashville native Brandon Heath. As a Nashville native, and an insider, he polished his songwriting skills at the legendary Bluebird Café with comrades Bebo Norman, Philip LaRue and Ben Glover. Brandon has two indie releases under his belt and a slew of credits as writer for such artists as Joy Williams, Christopher Williams and the aforementioned Bebo Norman.
A self-avowed fan of artists Shawn Colvin, Sting and David Wilcox, Brandon's sound takes inspiration from these artists as well as fellow Nashvillians Ryan Adams and Josh Rouse. It goes without saying that Heath's songwriting is above average. He segues effortlessly from intimate, vertically oriented worship songs like "Our God Reigns" and " Beauty Divine" to horizontally relational gems like "Let's Make It Last" and "Simple Man." Many of his songs, while stylistically very different from Chris Rice's, brought the veteran singer / songwriter to mind.
The songs of Don't Get Comfortable cover the spectrum from sparse acoustic arrangements, featuring acoustic guitar or piano driven melodies, to slick, fully layered Top 40 fare. They are like favorite clothes: reassuring and comfortable. Brandon's music is mainstream without being stale or derivative. Don't Get Comfortable is a solid assortment of sanguine, heartening modern pop-rock and worship songs. If you enjoy fellow singing songwriters Matt Wertz, Caleb Rowden, and Jason Upton check out his debut.
A tremendous debut from a fantastic group of musicians. This could easily be one of my favorite rock albums for 2007. Driving guitar riffage, plenty of head-bobbin' beats and direct lyrics abound. This is a seriously talented band!
Put simply, HFS rocks... and they ably demonstrate they can do it well! If you enjoy the music of Wavorly, Anberlin, Decyfer Down, or Half Past Forever check these guys out.
Potentially one of the best rock releases of 2007 is Half Past Forever's Take a Chance on Something Beautiful- the band of American Idol alum, Chris Sligh. Sligh's background as a worship leader lends itself well to the speculative vibe of Take a Chance on Something Beautiful's lyrics. The musical synergism produced by the core trio of HPF keep things compelling and moving briskly.
Keen lyrics and inventive songwriting, are a hallmark on HPF's debut album. You don't have to be a member of the "'Fro Patrol" to enjoy the addictive, astute rock music created by this group. For fans of U2, The Strokes, NeedToBreathe, and The Afters.
Much like the mythic tale of the Phoenix, small label band Over Ashes' start came from the "ashes" of another promising young band. O.A.'s debut, Begin Again, is a fresh start for the former frontman of Cross Culture and his new bandmates. Fans might expect their sound to be similar to his previous band's fun, funk flavored-sound, but O.A. opts for a thoroughly modern rock sound.
This Buckeye State trio creates a sound that packs a solid musical punch. Over Ashes' music is full of energy and zeal. Denver Shindle's percussion is crisp, tight and compelling. Gardy Garcia, O.A.'s bassist, reinforces Shindle's drums and seamlessly blends with David's solid guitar work. No two songs of Begin Again are alike, but they all are held together by tight musicianship and the varied vocal stylings of David; who can deliver quiet, raspy lyrics and plaintive, shouted vocals with equal deftness.
The songs of Begin Again resonate with themes of hope and encouragement delivered in strong beats and catchy rhythms. Head-banging rock (i.e. Riot), riff-driven power anthems (i.e. The Author, Hangin' On, etc.) and radio-friendly modern rock (i.e. Where I Want To Be and Annual Father- one of my personal favorites) abounds. When the band slows things down, their ballads become worshipful, intimate, vertically-oriented songs.
Over Ashes' debut is a stirring message of redemption and trust delivered in a rockin' package. If you like Pillar, P.O.D., Linkin Park, and Chevelle make a point to check out this bands fantastic debut.
After Edmund is a five piece band that creates a distinctive but accessible sound by blending and fusing the various backgrounds and experiences of its band members. While influences from alternative, modern and indie rock are easily identifiable, the band also recognizes and embraces their classical, jazz, progressive and classic rock influences to fashion intelligent, worshipful and thought provoking music.
From the blazingly fast, guitar and percussion driven opener "Thank God" through to the breathy, acoustic closer "To See You Leave," Hello moves the listener through an emotional sonic soundscape. Producer Scotty Wilbanks (Third Day, Echoing Angels, DecembeRadio) ably facilitates the melding of the five band members' musical talents and abilities in such a way that each instrument is apparent without one dominating or subduing the other. The vocals of Hello are fantastic, with Mitch Parks showing the ability to deliver smart, emotion-laced lyrics positioned in a variety of musical tempos.
It is easy to see that After Edmund regards music as an art form to be intelligently crafted and entertainingly presented to the listener. Hello is a musical gem that enthusiastically greets the listener, holds their attention, and avoids accosting them with the predictable. Fans of mould-breaking musicians alá Mute Math, The Police, Pink Floyd, Hundred Year Storm and Red Umbrella should enthusiastically welcome this band into their musical libraries without hesitation.
Article One is the latest import from our neighbors to the north, Canada. And if you're a fan of Starfield and Downhere, you should definitely check into AO's self-titled Inpop debut. The trio's album is a pleasant blend of pop, rock and crossover country with influences ranging from John Mayer and U2 to The Beatles and Keith Urban.
AO's sound is polished, lively and fun without being flat or shallow. Nathan and Matt Piche's harmonies and delivery have a quality similar to Snow Patrol or The Fray, less the languid melancholy. The brothers Piche and fellow bandmate DeSmit create a sound that brings to mind the genuineness of Mercy Me and the liveliness of Big Daddy Weave.
Newcomers Rush of Fools deliver a catchy debut with their self-titled release. Falling squarely within the modern worship genre, RoF's album is like listening in on a modern praise & worship band's recording session. No surprise given that's how this young four piece outfit got their start. And considering the production talent (Brownlee, Ingram, and Davis) that helped shape the band's debut, the buzz surrounding this band is credible.
The band's delivery demonstrates that they wear their hearts on their sleeves as worship leaders/artists. The songs of RoF are simultaneously disarming and bracing; authentic adoration and encouragement abound. If you enjoy the modern worship of Foolish Things, Casting Crowns, By the Tree and The Listening (aka RnRWC), then by all means hurry out and get this CD.
Candlefuse delivers a spark with their debut, Never Go Unheard. Ben Honeycutt, Drew Garrett and Steven Howell borrow stylistically from almost every genre-defining band of the last two decades. Their anthemic sound is influenced by the likes of U2, Matchbox20, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and The Goo Goo Dolls.
Smoldering guitar work and crisp, pounding drums serve as the backbone that shapes their sound. The liberal and varied use of effects processors and guitar pedals add distinctiveness to each track and epitomize the songs of Never Go Unheard.
These guys deliver a scorching take on the modern worship anthem Hungry (Falling On My Knees). Other standout tracks include: Bulletproof, Turn Around and Shut Your Eyes. If there's an area for improvement, it's in the somewhat bland and sometimes forced lyrics of several tracks. Flickers of the untapped potential of this band abound throughout the album though and the promise of Candlefuse's future appears bright indeed.
Checklists. Those mundane, repetitious lists skydivers, scuba divers, pilots and the like go through on a regular basis. They are a necessity when you're placing your life in the hands of an external support. It's easy to rush through or become complacent when going through the ritual but all it takes is one small failure and... Well, you get the picture. This Beautiful Republic's Even Heroes Need A Parachute unashamedly reminds us that there's more to life than meets the eyes and our lives are in Another's hands
It's been a while since Forefront broke a new band, but that's part of their mission statement- to paraphrase a particular vintner, "we'll release no band before their time." The talent and effort of these five guys from the Buckeye State is apparent on every cut of their major label debut. It's evident from the lyrics, music and execution of each song that this group transcends being just a band- they are friends who share a common vision and passion for God and music.
This Beautiful Republic's music is straight-forward modern rock: melodic; guitar driven; and polished, yet manages to give listeners something beyond the sound of the moment. Ben Olin's strong vocals and the solid musicianship of the band make Even Heroes Need A Parachute an experience akin to jumping out a plane- exhilarating and intense. Each song is like the aforementioned checklist; a list of things which we can take for granted but forget and a reminder of our dependence on, in this case, Someone greater than ourselves. To further the sky-diving metaphor, the recurring theme of Parachute offers the novice sky-diver assurance that this is a tandem jump with the Master- we are not in this (life) alone.
Much like fellow Toledo natives, Sanctus Real, This Beautiful Republic offers an unabashedly, unambiguous modern rock album that is both hopeful and mature. This album is not lightweight fluff, it's the sturdy stuff that transitions a jumper from the rush of freefall to the safety of the drop zone. Fans of Switchfoot, Storyside:b, Jonah33, Old Man Shattered and Seventh Day Slumber should take the plunge and snag this excellent debut.
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