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...
A Sacrifice of Love | Posted August-22-2011
Consistently demonstrating an innate ability to create music-based art that is timelessly relevant, identifiable with in its immediacy and overwhelmingly profound despite its apparent simplicity, Downhere offers up its latest creation On the Altar of Love. Much like previous projects, the band presents the listener with a collection of approachable and compelling acoustic-based pop/rock.
The album showcases the band’s strengths: the trademark seamless shared vocal transitions; mature, germane lyrics; as well as their signature musical underpinnings of guitar and piano. Every element comes together to produce enduring, hope-laced songs grafted to archetypal yet contemporary music. And while the tone of said music can be interpreted as playful & light-hearted, the delivery conveying the paradoxical reality of our flawed humanity coming into contact with perfect Holiness never lacks a sense of the utmost regard.
Whether is was Abel’s oblation prior to his death, the Levitical proscriptions for “unblemished sacrifices” or Christ’s own sinless atonement, in GOD’s eyes, placing something on HIS altar involves both a whole-hearted offering along with a gift that is the best one has to offer. Downhere is a group of guys that get this- their albums reflect a spirituality, ethos and character of the highest caliber expressed through talent, ability and dedication. On the Altar of Love is beyond a doubt, a sacrificial offering of love of the highest order.
Aaron Shust‘s songs exhibit his preternatural ability to take Scripture and seamlessly entwine it with distinctive, upbeat melodies. His latest project, This Is What We Believe offers no exception or diminshing of this gift. Each of the 10 songs is either a hope-fueled declaration or a heart-felt anthem sung with familiarity, possessing elemental truths drawn directly from the Bible. Shust’s song-writing ability, and by extension his songs, experientially embrace and proclaim the “now and not yet” dichotomy of Biblical faith. Or to paraphrase Victor Hugo, hope is writ large on his brow and embodied in his songs.
At their core, the songs of This Is What We Believe are sublime, vibrant, personal expressions of worship that communicate the reality of Immanuel- GOD with us. Being asked to choose stand-out tracks would be like asking a parent to single-out their “favorite” child- every song has a purpose and place on this album. Much like the Scriptures that serve as their foundation, the lyrics of This Is What We Believe are imbued with vitality and efficacy (cf. Hebrews 4:12). The music is equally expressive, moving between the exuberance of up-tempo pop/rock & contemporary praise to the relaxed mid-tempo rhythm of CHR & modern worship.
Søren Kierkegaard has said, “(W)hen you read GOD’s Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, ‘It is talking to me and about me’.” The songs of This Is What We Believe are testimonies given musical voice by Shust’s personal experiences of this lifelong dialogue. It’s not an album to miss, nor dismiss. If you’ve never sampled Shust’s artistry before, I believe This Is What We Believe would be a great place to start.
Laura Kaczor’s first nationally distributed release, Love Enough, is a high-patina nugget that showcases the multi-talented (author, speaker,) singer/song-writer/musician’s unmistakable talent. The tracks of Love Enough are highly faceted, melding modern pop & worship, inspirational and A/C sensibilities. Genre-benders such as “Don’t You Think It’s Time,” “All Around Me” & “Invisible” posses a bling-intense sparkle and an “arena-friendly” sound. Unfortunately, these same tracks leave Kaczor’s vocals competing with the almost profligate orchestration.
It’s when the tempo slows and the musical palette is less cluttered that Ms. Kaczor’s obvious gifts as a musician and worship leader dazzle: “Beautiful Mystery” & “When Grace Calls Your Name” being two out-standing examples. “Yours Forever” & “Renew My Life” are two up-tempo worship songs that belong in any modern worship band’s repertoire, being catchy musically, imminently sing-able & properly focused.
If Love Enough is any indication of Kaczor's abilities, her contributions deserve to stand alongside the endeavours of such veterans as Sheila Walsh & Natalie Grant. Those who appreciate the music of peers Meredith Andrews, Kerrie Roberts & Laura Story will appreciate Kaczor's also.
Joseph Henschel's second release of modern worship music, At The Edge Of Imperfection, is testimony of eloquently mature, authentically revelatory antiphonal declarations. Each track of this sophomore project offers an unvarnished glimpse into the heart ofHenschelas an artist, worship leader, person and a fellow GOD-follower. Much like his debut Capture Me, At The Edge Of Imperfection is a series of musical snapshots of Henschel’s encounters with GOD’s holiness.
Every track possess an unadulterated artistic substance that resonates as deeply authentic. Henschel’s delivery, vocally as well as musically, saturates each song with heart-felt relevancy creating an offering grounded in his personal experiences and knowledge. Francis de Sales once encouraged: "... but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them- every day begin the task anew;” and this worshipful set serves as Henschel's encouragement for us to strive for sweet abdication to GOD.
It is easy to draw musical comparisons to Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham and Brenton Brown but that does not begin to address the sense of immediacy and expressiveness that permeates this album. Join Joseph Henschel and meet GOD at the edge of (your) imperfection- your encounter may leave you permanently changed.
It's easy to become jaded as a reviewer when the third quarter of the year comes to an end and the inevitable Christmas projects start showing up in late September. These projects can be a mixed bag. Typically, they consist of artists putting their "unique" stamp on classic songs, rehashes of traditional carols and their personal contribution to the holiday cannon. Various artist compilations typically are either ho hum (vs. Ho! Ho! Ho!) or a hodge-podge admixture rivaling that recycled gift- the much maligned Yuletide fruitcake.
This reviewer can merrily report that Centricity’s second volume in its Bethlehem Skyline series is a brightly wrapped present packed with a collage of time-honored classics and original compositions that range from fun & lively to respectfully traditional. Original tracks that stand-out include: Lanae’ Hale’s satirical and light-hearted “Starving Artist Christmas” which is sung with tongue firmly planted in cheek, alá Relient K; Andrew Peterson’s interpretation of collaborator Ben Shive’s homage to “Auld Lang Syne” nee “Long Long Ago,” is sublime; and Matt Papa’s Chris Tomlin-esque superb “Hope Has Come” reminds why we are (supposed to be) celebrating.
On reinterpretation of the holiday classic: Downhere’s arrangement of “Silent Night” is as wonderful as new-fallen snow on pine trees; Me In Motion delivers a breezy, energetic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree;” and Jason Gray pays his yuletide respects with “Do You Hear What I Hear” in his inimitable style. Other Centricity artists contributing to Bethlehem Skyline vol. 2 include Sixteen Cities and High Valley.
Indie group About A Mile is an acoustic-influenced, rock trio taking cues from the likes of Bon Jovi, Creed, Daughtry and Lifehouse. Comprised of brothers Luke (bass), Levi (drums) and Adam Klute (guitars/vocals), the band’s self-produced and distributed album Find Yourself are characterized by adeptly executed, archetypal modern rock grounded by mature lyrics served up with professional polish by technically proficient production.
The strength of the 14 songs of Find Yourself are the brothers’ obvious passion and determination to create songs that are substantive on both a spiritual and emotional level, as well as demonstrative of their love for rock music. Adam’s vocals bring to mind Train’s Pat Monahan, while Luke & Levi reinforce his guitar work with a strong backbone of substantial, rhythmic beats. Mark my words, a label deal and nationally-distributed release from the brothers’ Klute are just around the corner. Visit the band’s website at myspace or itunes to download the album.
Andrew Peterson has been described as “one of the most thoughtful, poetic and lyrical songwriters of his generation.” And nowhere is that accolade more evident (and deserving) than on his latest release. Counting Stars is a collection of autobiographical, musical self-disclosure uncannily meshing majesty with melancholy and joy with dread into something that perfectly and transcendently reminds the listener of the value of day-to-day reality and the spiritual experienced within.
With his unparalleled ability to create rhythmic word pictures, Peterson’s voice also has the capacity to enthrall the emotions. Warm and affable vocals invite the listener to actively partake in the familiarity of each song. The classically inspired acoustic folk/pop that has become his trademark, perfectly mesh with the lyrics and vocals to complete this immersive synthesis.
If you are a devotee of the prophetic minstrels Caedmon’s Call, Jason Gray, Bebo Norman, Fernando Ortega and/or Matt Papa, and haven’t immersed yourself in the musical experience that is Andrew Peterson, then by all means correct this oversight.
VSR’s Esterlyn releases their first effort for the label with Call Out. The title track, “Call Out,” sets the tone for what is to follow- an album of sincere songs springing from the influence of the current modern worship musical landscape. Simple, layered, ear-catching melodies serve as reinforcement for lead singer Luke Caldwell‘s clarion call to focus and praise.
This collection of songs is astutely written, musically upbeat and avoids any hint at pretension. If Fee, Gungor, Jason Morant, Robbie Seay Band and The Glorious Unseen’s interpretation of God-focused adulation appeals to your mode of musical worship, Esterlyn’s accomplishments on Call Out will fit in nicely.
If you aren’t familiar with music outside of what your local Top 40 Christian station plays, you should really expand your horizons. You would be doing yourself a favor by sampling music outside of the typical homogenized pop that is repeatedly played. Take a chance and audition music from small labels and independent artists. There are bazillions of websites that offer free samples representing every conceivable genre to be found in Christian music. Aside from Myspace, Amazon, Shoutcast, there’s also Indie Heaven, Christian Blues, etc.
As a case in point, there’s the Central Ohio band Windrush: not your typical Christian fare nor your predictable modern rock band. These guys create original jazz and blues-influenced classic rock with the focus squarely on GOD. With music that owes definite hat tips to bands like BTO, Foghat, Grand Funk Railroad, Kansas and Toto, this five piece band’s guitar and percussion laden songs harken back to a time when music was more visceral and organic. Stand outs include “Spirit Walkin’ Blues,” which features some standout old school guitar licks, the radio-ready “Psalm Song” and the power ballad “Favor in Your Eyes.”
The songs of Favor are handled proficiently by the band members and delivered with a flourish of genuine relish: these guys are skilled musicians. Singer Randall Rush has a husky delivery with a fine touch of grittiness. If there’s one blemish, it’s the unevenness of the mixing / production, BUT this is something that can be easily taken care of in the future and does not detract from the flow nor listen-ability of this great album. One final caveat- if you’re not acquainted with blues-inspired classic rock, be prepared for some recurring chord progressions. That’s not to say the songs of Favor are unvarying, but you will hear repetitious riffs throughout the rockers on this collection.
Runaway City’s debut is a solid set of demonstrative rock influenced by the airwave-friendly sounds of Switchfoot, Needtobreathe, Daughtry and Collective Soul. Ranging from the melodic to the anthemic, the music and lyrics of Armored Heart exemplifies what can happen when spiritual sensibilities meshes with youthful keenness and genuine musical talent to produce an engaging synthesis of music and message.
Looking for an alternative to the nihilistic and angst riddled lyrics of 3 Doors Down, Breaking Benjamin and Nickelback? Definitely give Armored Heart a listen- you might just end up a little more hopeful. Fans of Remedy Drive, Mikeschair, Lifehouse, Daughtry, Chasen and Abandon will find Runaway City a great addition to their music collection.
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