Jumping on-board
Posted August 14, 2007
By IronJedi,
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. View All Music And Book Reviews By IronJedi | View IronJedi's Profile
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