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...
Between Rock & A Hard Place | Posted October-13-2014
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. With the release of the band’s second full-length album, The InBetween fairly erupts with a hard-hitting musical fervor and full-throated rallying cry to move forward; away from angry self-interest, towards the grace-enabled, Christ-promised life of abundance even amidst the struggles and battles of this life.
Founder and guitarist Dan Hall creates a suitably choreographed sonic fusillade for each song. Jacob Hendricks provides the rhythmic bedrock for the band, whether it’s a triplet-laced blistering tempo or the subtle enumeration for the band’s ballads. Spencer Minor’s vocals move along a razor fine line: richly compelling, yet consistently on the edge of a stark huskiness (think Demon Hunter’s Ryan Clark), one which he invariably and ably dives across.
The Inbetween is matchless confirmation that Scarlet White’s debut was no fluke. It is a 14 song tour de force of extremely capable songwriting and a trapeze-like exhibition of vocal delivery, underpinned by hard-edged melodic rock. Fans of Red, Skillet, We As Human, Demon Hunter, Nine Lashes, etc. need to pull the trigger on this album, supporting this immensely talented band!
Getting Second Chances | Posted June-30-2014 Midwestern up-and-comers The Lasting Hope seeks to expand their fan base with the release of this summer’s 5 song EP Sunsets & Second Chances. Musically, the band delivers catchy, polished, upbeat pop/rock eerily reminiscent of Relient K. A closer look at the credits reveal that Producer Mark Lee Townsend may be responsible for the similarities- in a good way.
The overwhelmingly transformational nature of GOD’s grace serves as the core of the EP’s lyrical content: addressing our imperfection, regret and seeming powerlessness in the face of desperation. This gives the EP a worshipful slant and “keeps things real.” The music is ebullient and sanguine, preventing the overall demeanor of Sunsets & Second Chances from becoming dark & depressing. The acoustic guitar & piano-driven "On Your Way" reveals the heart & soul of the band, managing to both captivate and surprise the listener.
Sunsets & Second Chances should tide fans over until their full-length follow-up to 2011’s Closer Than Before drops. Fans of Relient K, Hawk Nelson, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Stellar Cart, Yellowcard, etc. will find something to raucously celebrate on The Lasting Hope’s latest.
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 rife with talented bands just waiting to break onto the scene. North Carolina group Sumerlin is one such band- a band whose time has come to be recognized and embraced.
Runaways follows the typical pattern of rock releases: a collection of tracks representative of the band’s dominant musical milieu supplemented by a couple of radio-friendly singles. Sumerlin puts their best foot forward and delivers 12 incredible tracks of well-heeled modern rock. Every track of Runaways resonates with lyrical and sonic aptitude. The epic worship song “You Always Were” stands out, harkening back to Canada’s Downhere & Starfield during their radio-dominating heights; while “Here With You” and “Louder Than Words” rival all things Skillet at their peak.
Sumerlin‘s music owes a great deal to the current modern rock sound, alá Skillet, Red, etc., yet carves out a sonic identity that remains distinctive. Runaways’ richly textured, guitar-driven sound is a tour-de-force and perfectly compliments Dan DiGiovanni’s expressive vocals. Fans of Colton Dixon, Nine Lashes, the late-lamented Sent By Ravens, Silverline and TFK should definitely give Runaways a listen... LOUDLY!
If more bands were free of corporate-driven agendas, bands like Green River Ordinance would be the norm of the popular music landscape instead of the exception. This five-piece band from Texas more than ably express themselves through keen lyrics and tuneful alternative music seasoned with a touch of southwestern grit & character. Though not quite as musically eclectic as fellow Texans and peers, David Crowder Band, nor as strongly regionally influenced as fellow Southerners Needtobreathe, comparisons can be drawn.
GRO puts to superb use their God-bequeathed gifts and talents, producing acutely melodic songs that are unassuming yet, at the same time, reflective insights on life’s breadth and depth. Their lyrics contain a clever blend of the sanguine compunction of Sanctus Real balanced with a touch of the good-natured yearning in much of Jason Mraz's writing. Thematically, Under Fire serves to remind listeners that there is a place of reassuring solace and for dogged hope & unflinching faith in the midst of this battle (cf. Eph. 6) we call life.
Reminiscent of Rush of Fools, Tenth Avenue North, Train, and Unhindered; fans of By the Tree, Leeland and Lifehouse should give this group of dedicated and principled young men a listen. Check out their website TheHopeGros.com and ally yourself with GRO and their commendable mission.
This World View Is Fantastic | Posted February-14-2012
Alabama based Nine Lashes unleashes their Tooth & Nail, nationally distributed debut World We View this week. And while the sonic palette of southern rockers Needtobreathe, Hyper Static Union and Third Day may immediately spring to mind, Nine Lashes defies, for the most part, geographical expectations, creating a hard-hitting unabashedly pure rock release the likes of Red, Decyfer Down, or Skillet.
Catchy melodies, brawny guitar riffs and an obvious mastery of their musical craft contributes to the band’s familiar, yet particular sound. The band's music & lyrics evince an astuteness that is without a doubt a benefit of the array of influences and experiences each member suggests to the overall amalgamation of the band’s exceptional sound.
Other artists that come to mind while listening to Nine Lashes include: Imagine This, Sent By Ravens, TFK, This Beautiful Republic, and even the milder side of Demon Hunter.
Our Heart's Hero offers a "spirited" collection of fresh and inspired holiday favorites on their Christmas album Love Is Breathing. The band's inventiveness and creativity on each track give each song a unique vibe, yet conserve elements of the originals' recognizability. Whether a slight lyrical or all-out musical-updating, an unanticipated stylistic swerve, or an unexpectedly juxtaposed medley, each reworked madrigal is a celebratory anthem to the most awesome of holy days.
The band's sound continues to be influenced by the post-punk sound, with stylings similar to Blink 182, Everyday Sunday, Green Day, Relient K, and Suburba, but avoids clonliness with their own unique leverage of influences and stylistic contributions- no mean feat for an album of refreshed traditional holiday carols. Raise a wassail toast to the guys from the band! If you think you'd enjoy the fruitcake-like mash-up of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, the aforementioned Relient K, and Hawk Nelson, then I'd suggest you gift yourself with this snazzy yultide present.
Love's A Day At The Circus | Posted November-14-2011
Circus of Love is Benjamin Dunn’s latest musical project. Though Dunn wears many hats besides musician, this musical endeavor shows no deficiency in the creativity department. He and his collaborators have created a welcome and refreshing entry in the modern praise & worship “marketplace.”
Musically, the songs of Circus of Love spring from a blend of mid 80’s informed synth-pop/rock, layered with acoustic (and very unique choices of) instrumentation, creating a well-balanced, techno-organic sound. Dunn & Co. keep the lyrics of Circus of Love masterfully simple yet amazingly fresh. Making great use of tempo transitions and switching up time signatures, they also allow each song to breathe with a genuine ebb and flow of emotion.
Circus of Love is a joyfully upbeat and stirring mold-breaker in the sometimes vanilla-flavored modern praise & worship genre. If your taste runs toward the more distinct sound of artists like David Crowder Band, Future of Forestry,Jason Gray, Waterdeep, Telecast and Gungor, you might want to give Mr. Dunn & Friends a listen.
Pursuing the live experience | Posted October-17-2011
Travis Cottrell’s seventh release, When The Stars Burn Down, finds the writer, worship pastor, singer, songwriter and traveling minstrel continuing to create blended worship music experiences, weaving original material together with traditional hymns updated with modern worship sensibilities. Cottrell’s an accomplished composer and his facility with structuring arrangements enlivens the more traditional songs, keeping them surprisingly recognizable yet fresh, seamlessly bridging the past and the present. He also crafts a pleasant ebb and flow within the songs themselves as well as between the more lively praise and the unhurried worship.
Cottrell covers Chris Tomlin and the Passion Band’s “All My Fountains” in his signature AC-style with the opening track of When The Stars Burn Down. Unfortunately, a poor choice of effect on the lead electric guitar grates on the ears. Followed by the similarly covered, but more successfully arranged “I’m Changed” (by the prolific Jeffrey Smith of City of Life).
Not to be confused with the hymn by the same name, Cottrell’s “Lord, We Come” changes gears with a simple and languid intro anchored by a single electric guitar and Cottrell’s voice. Piano, drums and a choral background are slowly introduced and the central cry for the Holy Spirit’s presence becomes a passionate resound before quietly trailing off. “Faithful God,” another original song, is a tempo-changing, guitar-driven declaration of GOD’s generosity & imminence in our lives that brings to mind Lincoln Brewster.
Again, not to be confused with Ayiesha Woods’ multiply-covered “Refine Me,” Cottrell’s earnest plea and desire to remain committed to the transforming process evokes comparison to many of Don Moen and Dennis Jernigan’s understated yet memorable ballads. Compared to the other revamps, the musically standard and tedious updates of “Just As I Am” and “Power In The Blood” follow.
“My Soul, March On” sounds more like the aforementioned Lincoln Brewster or Charlie Hall as Cottrell abandons his more familiar orchestrally-supported arrangements in favor of a modern 5 piece worship band vibe. “The Word of God Is Spoken” continues to dabble with the more modern worship style abetted with a healthy dose of acoustic lead guitar and percussion.
Three covers with a decidedly Adult Contemporary stylistic stamp follow: a leisurely take on Sons & Daughters’ “All The Poor and Powerless,” the Jennie Lee Riddle & Jonathan Lee penned title track anthem, and the gradually developing David Ruis standard “We Will Dance.”
“Thanks Be To God” serves as a fitting thanksgiving benediction for When The Stars Burn Down. Piano and Cottrell’s quiet vocals convey the initial impetus, with a gospel-flavored choir slowly asserting itself and building to an emotionally delivered crescendo, then fading to an a cappella closing.
Closing Thoughts:
I think it would be safe to observe that some music and musicians are better experienced live- certain production elements and/or a recording just won’t do the music and/or artist justice. This applies in particular to praise and worship music, especially when the recording attempts to simulate an encounter best experienced personally and/or corporately. An additional layer of subjectiveness comes into play when existing, familiar songs are being reinterpreted and tailored for a specific audience.
With that being said, When The Stars Burn Down is a positive attempt to summon the feel of a live worship experience but seems to lack an indefinable element- a certain “oomph” found on other non-live worship-oriented recordings. Maybe too much effort was made to create that live, corporate “feel” with the more up-tempo songs, because the more stripped-down, quiet worship songs succeed in ushering the listener into a worshipful mindset/experience.
Out of trial comes a triumphant effort | Posted October-03-2011
Helen Keller stated, “We can decide to let our trials crush us, or we can convert them to new forces of good.” After almost three years stuck in record company litigation-limbo, Rush of Fools returns with their long overdue follow-up to Wonder of the World. We Once Were offers strong evidence for the veracity of Ms. Keller’s observation echoing James 1:2-4; for it is apparent that the band learned and benefited from their trial, applying it wholeheartedly to their latest effort.
Each song of We Once Were is like a page taken from the band’s collective journal. The songs are sagaciously considered, liberally dosed with healthy spiritual introspection without being melancholy, and demonstrate a tempered resolve without being phlegmatic. It seems clear the “time off” produced a focus and clarity for Rush Of Fools, elevating their artistic muse.
Musically, the band draws inspiration across rock genres but the styles of bands such as The Goo Goo Dolls, Train and Jimmy Eat World are well represented. The energetic, punk-tempo “We Once Were” makes fantastic use of instrumental interplay to contrast the past and a need to grow and be in transformational process. “Come Find Me” follows a similar formula, making use of time changes and instrumentation to great effect.
The percussion-driven cadence and distinctive guitar-sound of “A Civil War” borrows a page from Scottish rockers Big Country and Ireland’s most famous musical export (U2) to create a paradoxical threnody regarding our struggle against self. The use of sampled sounds, acoustic and electric instrumentation, and processed vocals create a dogged avowal of tenacity in “Won’t Say Goodbye,” calling to mind The Strokes.
“Grace Found Me” offers an answer as to who offers resolution to the battle mentioned in “A Civil War.” It has a pianoless Downhere-esque quality that is sure to make a big splash as a radio-ready single. The power chord-driven anthem “You’re The Medicine” vigorously acknowledges the need for Jesus, the cure for our narcissistic condition. And “End of Me” follows suit, offering surrender as the only viable solution and serving to bookend the struggle with self begun with “A Civil War.”
The much-maligned and lowly kazoo makes an appearance in the simple, bouncy, playful, spiritual love song, “No Other Love.” “Beginning To End” pays homage to the modern, up-tempo worship of Charlie Hall and Lincoln Brewster, marveling at God’s transcendent sovereignty. The influence of OneRepublic shows up in the arrangement and execution of “Help Our Unbelief.”
Closing Thoughts:
Producers Dennis Herring and Rusty Varenkamp seem to have drawn forth the best effort of each band member as musicians and songwriters. The sonic palette employed is determined in its tempo and execution, reinforcing the emotional texture and spiritual themes being sung. The lyrics and music mesh perfectly, creating hook-filled, exceptional modern rock songs.
Ms. Keller also had this to say about trials: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.” To that end, every track of We Once Were is a resounding success.
A departure, but certainly not an | Posted September-27-2011
If ever a band had a more self-evident name you’d be hard-pressed to find it. Whether it’s their sustained touring schedule, energetic live shows or innovative music, Canadian trio Manic Drive not only attempts to embody their name, but embraces it with gusto. Since the release of their indie project Reason for Motion in 2006, the band has developed a significant fan base and earned critical acclaim on both sides of the border.
At its core, the band is brothers Michael and Shawn Cavallo, who together with “new” drummer Keith Comer, deliver creative, dynamic, hyper-caffeinated music. While earlier albums undoubtedly strayed across both sides of the nü-metal line--à la Linkin Park--Blue and more definitively Epic continue to blur the boundaries between pop, dance & rock.
The production and musical tapestry of Epic is more synthetic and, for the most part, more unvaryingly tempoed than previous projects, drawing comparisons to a certain “Lady” of pop music. And while this reviewer was caught off guard by the overall slickly polished, intensely rhythmic musical direction of this album, there is no dearth of creativity or intensity. Shawn Cavallo’s vocal range and staccato rhyming style only serve to add an additional imperative resonance to each song’s delivery.
From the syncopated beat and “rawk-fisted” pep rally feel of “Count of 1-2-3” to the distorted guitar power chords and fun-but-shallow anthem of “Positive Radio,” most of the songs of Epic are an in-your-face challenge to be uninhibited activists in our Christian faith.
“Halo” employs the goofy grin-inducing meme “rock my halo” to reinforce how a life of holiness should distinguish a Christian from the world at large. The title track, “Epic,” acts as call to be a part of God's action. The sampled vocals of “Money” remind Christians of the value of their lives when compared to things. “Microphone” and “Go Big or Go Home” are meant as encouragements to be genuine and obvious in our faith.
The tracks that really shine are the three that most suggest Manic Drive’s prior sound and direction. “Good Times” is a fun, deceptively simple summertime reminiscence that reminds listeners how a child receives the unconditional love of a Savior. The mid-tempo, piano driven balladry of “Save a Life” bares the band’s soul and calling as zealous proponents of Christianity. “Mountains” stands out because of its musical subtlety and yet is the most distinctly Manic Drive of the three, also evoking sounds of AC chart-toppers Tenth Avenue North and Rush of Fools.
Closing Thoughts:
On first listen, the songs of Epic might be perceived as backsliding into lyrical mediocrity, but in spite of being less elegiac and overt, they are no less relevant and perceptive. The band seems to have made a conscious choice to forgo poetic and creative license and instead couch the spiritual truths they address by the clever, yet catchy use of pop jargon. They do so in a straightforward manner without coming off as insincere or sounding cliché, but that choice of simplicity remains a bit of a head-scratcher in light of the band’s spiritual convictions and previously demonstrated creative depth in speaking to the intersection of life and faith.
After the attention and accolades Blue brought to Manic Drive, as well as the anticipation it immediately provoked in me to hear more from the band, this reviewer would chalk up Epic’s (minor) shortcomings to testing their stylistic boundaries and the predominant presence of producer Rob Wells. A quick check of Wells’ music production pedigree and it’s no wonder Epic has the distinct sound reminiscent of a mash-up of late 90’s boy-bands, contemporary Idol winners and modern tween wonders.
A more jaded reviewer might be tempted to make the obvious “epic fail” joke, but the question remains, “Does Epic fail?” No. While it doesn’t quite live up to its name, Epic is no sophomore slump. True, it suffers from an imbalance of style over substance but as a collection of passionate & rousing dance/rock mantras it succeeds as a rallying cry for Christians to live a visibly authentic, radical lifestyle.
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