HEAR WHAT I SAY!

Jimmy P. Brown II founded Deliverance as a speed metal band in 1985.  They released their self-titled album in 1989.  In 1990 they released WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE.  The video for the decidedly Christian title track received airplay on MTV.  Deliverance’s fourth album STAY OF EXECUTION leaned more towards progressive metal.  Later, the band would venture into electronic and industrial territory as well.  Jimmy P. Brown II is now 44.  He cites Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and David Bowie as vocal inspirations.  In December of 2013 Deliverance released what is said to be their final album.  HEAR WHAT I SAY! came out on 3 Frogz Records and Roxx Records  Brown performs all the vocals and rhythm guitar, Michael Phillips of Join the Dead plays lead guitar, Manny Morales plays the 5 string bass, and Jayson Sherlock of Mortification plays drums and percussion.  Brown cites these words of Jesus as being of great import to him: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind” and “Your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

This final and tenth studio album from Deliverance opens with a short, quiet instrumental called ‘Liber111’.  It is performed and arranged by Olaf Lieb.  Next up is ‘The Annals of Subterfuge’ which could be translated ‘The Historical Record of Deception’.  Brown and Phillips wrote the music, while Brown alone wrote the lyrics.  Musically the song is thrash metal.  Lyrically, it expresses discontent with the abuses of religion: “Lies-spewing out in fury, seeking out the weak/Bold-authoritative stance, disguised as the meek/Made-to feel less than human, abnormal tendencies/Forced to surrender life’s will, a lived expectancy/Kraft (strength)-gehorsam (obediently)/Will we live our lives plagued in guilt?/Or will we live on freedom promised?/Laws of stone or felt from the heart”.

The third track is ‘Angst’ which is fear or anxiety.  This is one of the heaviest songs musically that Deliverance has recorded in some time.  It is the song of one who is disheartened with how things are: “Frustrated, perplexed, at the current world view/Maligned, upset, as the straight becomes askew/Knowledge so vast, yet we dive deeper still/Into the murk, and we’ve become the mentally ill/OCD¸ADHD quickly has become the norm/Independent thought, so swiftly to conform/Escape the real, dive into fantasy/To live with eyes closed, unfurled heresy/Worlds apart, or are you just like me?/Contempt for all, to be or not be/Or is there hope?/Will we find a cure?/Paths aligned, trails beyond the blur”.

‘Hope Lies Beyond’ was penned by Rick Mester and originally performed by Sombrance.  This one is an experimental progressive metal song with Brown singing in his lower register.  It has more tranquil, peaceful lyrics: “My eyes roll back, and I see You!/You bring me back where I am stillborn/Just let me supernova, admire me for a moment/A thousand eyes they’re on me, they flicker in the night/And I become as they”.  Brown plays keyboards.  ‘Detox’ is a pop-metal track with an opening guitar solo by Brown.  A detox involves getting rid of poisonous substances in the body.  Here are some of the words to the song: “Only so much one can take of mundane living/How much can one make without a thought of giving?/The picture is getting clear, but the air is still so thick/I can no longer shed a tear, it’s all making me sick!/I need to detox!/Unlearn the old way!/I need to detox!/Hear what I say!”

Brown says that the next song ‘Nude’ embodies where he is at spiritually and mentally with the whole concept of religion and God and our personal relationships with God.  This terrific melodic metal song is about spiritual growth and dying to self: “There has to be some way to crawl away from the mundane/To start again, be born again/And dare to live without compromise or conform.../Fly into the center of the Universe/And find the meaning behind your ‘self’/Watch it die, then watch it reborn/Stumble on this darkened path/The answers are there, reach in and see/Death is not the end, but a start/A chance/To live as if you were nude/Nothing to hide/Only as nude”.

‘Passing’ begins by reflecting on our mortality: “I’m tired of hearing and seeing death counts/The passing of another friend/The clock is ticking, the pendulum swinging/Worried hearts wonder for their end/They’re running to Doctors or the Medicine Men/Looking for the wonder cure``.  The song also talks of how we can easily turn into the living dead nowadays: “We hide from families, the neighbors and pets/And make friends with the computer/We Twit and Facebook our lives on a screen/Past friends and memories relived/I would hate to come to the end of my life/And realize I had not lived”.  Michael Phillips wrote ‘A Perfect Sky’ himself and plays all acoustic guitars and solos on it.  It is a pensive ballad: “Drifting, a thousand thoughts begin to cross my mind/The door keeps getting farther back behind/Stories and memories, a strong urge to obey/A call to act, a call to pray.../Caught up inside a peaceful bliss, a taste of Heaven upon my lips/Beauty abounding, tranquil feelings I surmise/Hoping I will not open my eyes”.

‘Where Eagles Dare’ is an Iron Maiden cover.  It was the opening track on their 1983 PIECE OF MIND album.  Brown says he enlisted the help of Ken Tamplin’s vocal academy so he could hit the high notes.  This pounding heavy metal number is over six minutes long.  It is set in World War 2: “It’s snowing outside, the rumbling sound/Of engines roar in the night/The mission is clear, the confident men/Are waiting to drop from the sky/The blizzard goes on but still they must fly/No one should go where eagles dare/Bavarian alps that lay all around/They seem to stare from below/The enemy lines a long time passed/Are lying deep in the snow/Into the night they fall through the sky/No one should fly where eagles dare”.  Last up is a German language version of ‘Detox’ called ‘Entgiftung’.  Brown has ancestry in Germany and lower Bavaria and has a lot of German fans.

2013 really was a stellar year for Christian metal fans with new albums from Stryper, Bloodgood, and Deliverance.  HEAR WHAT I SAY! is a standout album!  Deliverance has finished off at the top of their game!  In the CD booklet Brown thanks Rabbi Ahyh and The Church of YHWH “for always challenging and helping me find the light switch!”  In a recent interview with ‘Beyond the Riff’ Brown revealed that there are a few songs that did not get finished on time for this last album and that they will see the light of day.  Also, he is working on new Jupiter VI material.  I’m rating HEAR WHAT I SAY! 95%.  For more info visit: www.deliverancerocks.com, www.3frogzstudio.com, and www.roxxproductions.com.

 

DANIELLE BRADBERY

Danielle Simone Bradbery was born on July 23, 1996.  She won Season 4 of NBC’s ‘The Voice’.  On November 12, 2013 she made her Grand Ole Opry debut at the Ryman.  She released her first album, self-titled, on November 25, 2013.  It debuted at No 5 on the U.S. Top Country Albums chart.  It sold 41,000 copies during the first week and by January 8, 2014 had sold 103,000 copies.  In the CD booklet Danielle writes: “First and foremost, I would like to thank God.  Without Him, my life and the blessings within would not be possible.  I would also like to thank my wonderful parents, family, and friends for their love, support and prayers...I love you all”.

The album begins with the upbeat country song ‘Young in America’.  It was written by Jaren Johnston, Kylie Sackley, and Whitney Duncan.  It is all about having fun: “We could do the Vegas thing, you could buy me a ring/Make a lot of love and a little bit of money/Go dancin’ in the rain with the guitars playin’/Down there in Memphis, how about it honey/Fine white sand, bare feet, kiss me on the beach/So much to see, come on, come on, come on”.  ‘Wild Boy’ contains a lyrical theme that is no stranger to country music: “He draws you in with his flame/Takes you on a ride like a paper airplane in a hurricane/Looks you in the eye when he says your name/Midnight ride on a motorcycle in the pourin’ rain/Oooh, he charms you senseless/Oooh, leaves you defenceless/Wild boy, wild boy.../He’ll disappear without tellin’ you goodbye/Oh, no matter what you think/You can’t tame a wild boy, no”.

‘The Heart of Dixie’ was penned by Caitlyn Smith, Brett James, and Troy Verges.  It’s the only track on the album not produced by Dann Huff.  Brett James produced this one.  It peaked at No 16 on the U.S. Country Charts and No 46 on the Canadian Country charts.  The song has a melodic, classic country sound and tells the story of a woman leaving her alcoholic husband to find herself: “Dixie packed up and said her goodbyes and she went/Drivin’ so far away nobody’s gonna find her/Flyin’ just fast enough to leave it all behind her/But she didn’t know ‘til she hit the road/Deep in her soul/She’s got the fire and the fight of a gypsy/Ain’t nothin’ stronger/Than the heart of Dixie”.  ‘I Will Never Forget You’ is a terrific country ballad about heartbreak, with Charlie Judge performing strings.  Here are some of the words: “Sooner or later they say, that it all gets easier/Take it one tear at a time/And I’ll wake up one day to find some closure/Shinin’ like the sunlight through the blinds/No matter how much time may pass between us/You’ll never be more than a memory away/Cause I’ll never forget you”.

‘Endless Summer’ was written by Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, and Busbee.  It has a warm feel to it musically and Hunter Hayes adds an electric guitar solo.  This song fondly reminisces about a former love interest: “Warm winds blowin’ reckless through my mind/Takes me right back to the time/When I was your baby and you were mine/And we were on fire just like the sun above/Couldn’t burn hot enough for each other/Endless summer (2X)”.  ‘Talk About Love’ speaks of teenage adventure: “I snuck in at ten o’clock and you were waitin’ a couple blocks/Away in your car between your house and mine/We held hands and drove too fast/Took 5 hours and a tank of gas/But now we’re here and all alone/I know we’ll be dead when we get home.../Can you believe we’re finally here?/Bare feet hangin’ off the pier/I thought I’d seen it all tonight/But then you put your lips on mine”.

Gordie Sampson, Caitlyn Smith, and Steve McEwan wrote ‘Never Like This’.  It finds Danielle totally smitten with a guy: “Happens so fast, so much to lose/Fallin’ fifty miles an hour without a parachute/Tryin’ to resist, but I can’t refuse/I’m feelin’ feelings that I never knew/Ooh, yeah, ooh/I’ve thrown my heart out in the open/I always thought love could be mine but never like this/I’ve been afraid of being broken/I’ve laid it all out on the line but never like this”.  ‘Daughter of a Workin’ Man’ is a tender song.  It is also another example of a song with decidedly country lyrics: “I’m the daughter of a workin’ man/He built our world with his two hands/He gave us everything he had/I’m the daughter of a workin’ man/I’m a restless girl from a red-dirt town/Like a tumbleweed I rolled right out/The wind will bring me back around/Cause I’m a restless girl from a red-dirt town”.

I was expecting a fast-paced song when it comes to the next song ‘Dance Hall’, but I was wrong.  Nevertheless, the song has a youthful, playful slant to it lyrically: “We could string the stars over these corn stalks and we could turn your truck into an old jukebox/Just take my hand and baby we could fall/Let’s turn this open field into an old dancehall/No neon signs, no bar room fights/Just you and me in these headlights/Two steppin’ in rolled up Levi jeans/There ain’t no band playing ‘Ramblin Man’/No cowboys kickin’ old beer cans/Just a couple cherry Cokes and a mixed CD”.  Finally, ‘Yellin’ from the Rooftop’ is a more energetic song musically.  It borrows religious language to describe the experience of falling in love: “I wasn’t even lookin’ for the look in your eyes/Glory hallelujah, I feel like I’ve been saved/Washin’ in the river of your real love waves, yeah.../You made me want to testify every day and every night”.

‘My Day’ was created by Mallory Hope, Tom Shapiro, and Ross Copperman.  Dan Huff contributes an electric guitar solo.  This great inspirational song is to be featured in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.  Here are some of the lyrics: “Like a lotus flower growing in the dirt/Ain’t nobody ever noticed what it’s worth/Til the sun shines and the rain falls and/In no time it all is beautiful.../This is the start of something/My heart believes it now/This is my day, this is my day/Oh, won’t let it slip away”.  The deluxe digital version of this album includes four additional tracks including a cover of ‘Jesus Take The Wheel’. 

Danielle Bradbery has a very good voice.  It is easy to listen to.  This album reminds me more of classic country artists such as Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, and Sara Evans, than it does more contemporary ones such as Taylor Swift and Cassadee Pope.  One of the drummers used on the album is Greg Morrow of DeGarmo and Key fame.  Cherie Oakley and Sam Ellis provide backing vocals.  This album was released by Universal Republic Records and will appeal to those who like mid-tempo country songs more than real toe-tappers.  Danielle is on Brad Paisley’s ‘Beat This Winter’ tour.  The CD booklet includes many beautiful pictures of Danielle.  I’m rating this debut project 85%.  For more info visit: www.daniellebradbery.com and www.republicnashville.com.

 

 

TIME FOR THE SHOW

Kerrie Roberts was born on January 1, 1985.  She began singing at age five in her mother's church choir.  Later she would play piano and lead worship at church.  While she was in high school she started writing her own songs.  She has a degree in studio music and jazz vocal.  After school she toured as a background singer for the one and only Englebert Humperdinck.  Kerrie put out her self-titled debut album in August 2010.  Songs from it such as 'No Matter What' and 'Outcast' got CCM airplay.  Her latest project is TIME FOR THE SHOW (2013, Reunion Records).

The first cut is the title track which is a dance number penned by Roberts, Stephanie Lewis, and David Garcia.  It reminds believers of their identity and purpose: "You are the light of the world/A city on a hill that can't be hidden/You are the salt of the earth/Glorify your Father in Heaven/A billion tiny flames breaking through the dark/Show His love/Show His mercy/Show His heart".  'Sing' is a cool dance number that finds Kerrie very excited about her faith: "No, I won't be quiet/I'll sing and shout/I cannot be silent/You put the music in my heart/It's screaming out/I feel like jumping/Feel like dancing for You now/And sing out loud/No, I won't be quiet/I won't be silent, no".

'What are you afraid Of' is a bouncy pop song, but lyrically lists various things ladies may fear: "Being compared to the girl who has everything/Not living up when the whole world's watching/Being the last to get there and the last to know/You scream at the top of your lungs/When no one's listening/Being a basket case over anything/Giving your whole world for love/And the boy says no".  The pretty ballad 'Finally Home' is the album's first single and was written by Roberts, Rob Graves, Chris Flury, and Alex Nicefor.  It expresses a longing for Heaven: "I'm reminded again and again/I live in this world as a stranger and/As good as it's been/Or as bad as it gets/It all will end/I want to stand where hope and faith and love/All meet in one face/Oh, I wanna be where I can see/What I believe now.../The ultimate healing/Where hurt can't reach me/I won't need to find every answer/All I need will be found within Your presence".

'Middle of it All' is another great ballad, this time penned by Roberts, Stephanie Lewis, and Rusty Varenkamp.  It could be a theme song for the Salvation Army: "I want to be the one who stands in the fray/I want to take a chance so I can say/I'm coming through, gonna get my hands dirty/On the journey here with You/I want to remember those forgotten by the world/I want to be the words for those unheard/And I'll follow You into the hardest places.../No, I won't hide behind the safety of the city walls".  'Masterpiece' is a real self-confidence booster: "You're a masterpiece (beautiful, colorful)/Even if you don't believe/You're forgiven so (wonderful, loveable)/Everything you need to be/Cause when I look at you I see/You're a masterpiece".

'Not Real Yet' is a great song that finds Kerrie in a fragile state emotionally and spiritually: "Say that You love me/Tell me You won't leave/I wanna believe it, hear it, I'm listening/Wish I could see You/Get close and touch You/Lord, I need You here, please remind me/Help me feel it, it's not real yet/It's not real yet".  'In Your Sight' uses guitars, violins, violas, cellos, bass, and French horn.  It is a ballad that I could hear Carrie Underwood doing.  Here are some of the quite conversational lyrics: "I'm through with my emotions always guiding me/They take me places I don't want to be/So far from You/And I've lived in fear of failing/But that's just my pride/And I know it's not about me/Cause I've given You my life.../Where could I go?/What could I do?/There's no place I know/Apart from You".

'Wake Up' is a catchy pop song written by Roberts, Matt Bronleewe, and Tony Wood.  It urges us to make the most of our time on earth: "Sun coming up far too soon/First cup of coffee at the crack of noon/I'm moving so slowly/Never know what's coming around/Hit the ground running or just fall down/I've got to get going/Don't wanna live so casually/And miss the life You have for me/It's time to wake up".  Dave Stovall plays piano on the closing number 'Like Jesus Loves'.  Also used are guitars, violins, violas, cellos, bass, and French horn.  The song extols Christ: "No road was too lonely/No cost too great/No distance too far for the reach of His grace/All He left behind, all He sacrificed/For every soul throughout all time/Nobody loves like Jesus loves, like Jesus loves.../Come to Him, all who are broken/Come to Him, all who are searching.../I want to love like Jesus loves".

In the CD booklet Kerrie quotes Psalm 30:12 which says: "That my heart may sing to You and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever".  Kerrie's faith message and contemporary pop sounds are contagious.  This is certainly an uplifting collection of songs!  Fans of Natalie Grant, Britt Nicole, and Mandisa should get this record.  Musically, at times it seems directed at teens, and at other times reaches for a young adult audience.  I'm rating TIME FOR THE SHOW 88%.  For more info visit: www.kerrieroberts.com and www.providentpress.com.

PET SOUNDS

PET SOUNDS is the eleventh studio album by The Beach Boys.  It was released on May 16, 1966.  It was made several months after Brian Wilson quit touring with the group and focused on writing and recording.  On this album you can hear various sounds including: bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, electro-theremin, dog whistles, trains, and barking dogs.  The music is considered psychedelic rock and baroque pop.  The album cover was shot at the San Diego Zoo.  I am reviewing here the 2012 re-release of the album on CD on Capitol Records.  I prefer the stereo mixes here over the mono as they sound clearer.

The album’s opening song ‘Wouldn’t it be Nice’ was written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, and Mike Love.  It has a cheerful pop sound to it and longs for blissful matrimony: “Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older/Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long/And wouldn’t it be nice to live together/In the kind of world where we belong/You know it’s gonna make it that much better/When we can say goodnight and stay together/Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wake up/In the morning when the day is new/And after having spent the day together/Hold each other close the whole night through”.  ‘You Still Believe in Me’ is one of seven songs Brian co-writes with Tony Asher.  This sleepy song is one of gratitude to one’s partner: “I know perfectly well I’m not where I should be/I’ve been very aware you’ve been patient with me/Every time we break up/You bring back your love to me/And after all I’ve done to you/How can it be/You still believe in me”.

‘That’s not Me’ is a very reflective song coming from a male perspective: “I had to prove that I could make it alone now/But that’s not me/I wanted to show how independent I’d grown now/But that’s not me/I could try to be big in the eyes of the world/What matters to me is what I could be to just one girl/I’m a little bit scared/Cause I haven’t been home in a long time/You needed my love/And I know that I left at the wrong time”.  ‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on my Shoulder)’ is a very mellow song that takes a romantic turn: “I can hear so much in your sighs/And I can see so much in your eyes/There are words we both could say/But don’t talk/Put your head on my shoulder/Come close/Close your eyes and be still/Don’t talk/Take my hand/And let me hear your heart beat/Being here with you feels so right/We could live forever tonight/Let’s not think about tomorrow/And don’t talk/Put your head on my shoulder”.

‘I’m Waiting for the Day’ is an experimental pop song about falling for someone who is on the rebound: “I came along when he broke your heart/That’s when you needed someone/To help forget about him.../I kissed your lips/And when your face looked sad/It made me think about him/And that you still love him so.../He hurt you then, but that’s all done/I guess I’m saying you’re the only one/I’m waiting for the day when you can love again”.  ‘Let’s Go Away for Awhile’ is one of two tracks penned solely by Brian Wilson.  This one is an easy listening instrumental.

Two of my favourite Beach Boys songs of all time are up next.  ‘Sloop John B’ is upbeat musically and is one of the best story songs ever.  It begins: “We come on the Sloop John B/My grandfather and me/Around Nassau town we did roam/Drinking all night/Got into a fight/Well, I feel so broke up/I wanna go home/So hoist up the John B’s sail/See how the main sail sets/Call for the captain ashore/Let me go home, let me go home/I wanna go home, yeah yeah/Well, I feel so broke up/I wanna go home”.  ‘God Only Knows’ has a happy sound musically and vocally but conversely is somber lyrically as it puts into words just how attached we get to our romantic partners: “If you should ever leave me/Though life would still go on believe me/The world could show nothing to me/So what good would living do me?/God only knows what I’d be without you”.

Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Terry Sachen wrote ’I Know There’s an Answer’.  It is eclectic instrumentally and searches for a remedy for the stresses of life: “They come on like they’re peaceful/But inside they’re so uptight/They trip through their day/And waste all their thoughts at night/Now how can I come on/And tell them the way that they live could be better/I know there’s an answer/I know now but I have to find it by myself”.  ‘Here Today’ reminds us that love and heartbreak oft go hand in hand: “You’ve got to keep in mind love is here today /And it’s gone tomorrow/It’s here and gone so fast/Right now you think that she’s perfection/This time is really an exception/Well, you know I hate to be a downer/But I’m the guy she left before you found her”.

‘I Just Wasn’t Made for these Times’ is a wonderful song of discontent and unrest: “Sometimes I feel very sad (3X)/I guess I just wasn’t made for these times/Every time I get the inspiration to go change things around/No one wants to help me look for places where new things might be found/Where can I turn when my fair-weather friends cop out, what’s it all about?” ‘Pet Sounds’ is actually a pleasant instrumental that makes me picture myself lounging carefree on a beach.  ‘Caroline No’, a soft song of lament, ends the album: “Where did your long hair go?/Where is the girl I used to know?/How could you lose that happy glow?/Oh, Caroline no/Who took that look away?/I remember how you used to say/You’d never change, but that’s not true/Oh Caroline you/Break my heart/I want to go and cry”.

PET SOUNDS was produced by Brian Wilson.  It is considered one of the most influential records in the history of pop music, with the likes of Elton John and Paul McCartney praising it.  Rolling Stone named it the No 2 greatest album of all time.  On this album you will hear the tight group harmony vocals you expect from the Beach Boys.  The songs here though are much more mature, creative, and artistic in comparison to their better known hits such as ‘Surfin’ U.S.A.’ and ‘I Get Around’.  This album is more of an acquired taste.  I’m rating PET SOUNDS 85%.  For more info visit: www.beachboys.com and www.capitolrecords.com.

 

FRAME BY FRAME-DELUXE EDITION

Cassadee Pope was born on August 28, 1989 in Palm Beach, Florida.  She was the lead vocalist for the pop/rock band Hey Monday.  They put out one studio album and three EP’s and toured with the likes of FallOut Boy.  Cassadee released her debut self-titled solo EP in May 2012.  That same year, she won Season 3 of NBC’s ‘The Voice’ under the direction of her coach Blake Shelton.  In January 2013 she signed with Republic Nashville, an imprint of Big Machine Records.  She released her debut album FRAME BY FRAME on October 8, 2013.  It peaked at No 1 on the U.S. country charts and No 16 in Canada.

The album opens with ‘Good Times’ penned by Nathan Chapman, Sarah Buxton, and Blair Daly.  Chapman has worked with the likes of Taylor Swift and Point of Grace.  This song is upbeat country and is all about having fun: “It’s time to sing about the good times/C’mon lets rock it ‘til the sun shines/Now that you got it, don’t you waste it/Ah, can’t you feel it?/Can’t you taste it?/Oh yeah, I really wanna put a smile on your lips/Like an 8^th grade kiss/Put a swing in your hips, come on move like this/And sing about the good times, good times, yeah”.  ‘Champagne’ is a pulsating song that finds Cassadee intoxicated with infatuation: “Yeah, you’re my champagne/Baby you go straight to my head/Just one taste/I’m about as high as I can get/Words trippin’, hearts skippin’/One look and my world’s spinning out/You’re my champagne (2X)”.

The album’s wonderful debut single, ‘Wasting All These Tears’, came out May 31, 2013.  It was penned by Caitlyn Smith and Rollie Gaalswyk and debuted at No 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.  It sold 125, 000 copies during the first week and was Cassadee’s first song to reach Gold status.  This powerful country ballad is a song of heartbreak: “You said you don’t want me anymore/And you left me/Standing on a corner cryin’/Feeling like a fool for trying/I don’t even remember why I’m/Wasting all these tears on you/I wish I could erase our memory/Cause you didn’t give a damn about me/Oh, finally I’m through/Wasting all these tears on you/These tears on you”.  ‘I Wish I Could Break Your Heart’ is a particularly strong song that begins with these words of revenge: “I wish I could break your heart/I wish I could bring you down/Just for a second teach you a lesson/About bein’ alone in the dark/I wish I could make you cry/So hard you can barely breathe/Maybe you just might know what it feels like/To be me”.

Cassadee, Blair Daly, and Troy Verges wrote ‘Everybody Sings’.  It finds Pope in party mode: “We’re dancing like fools/With the music blasting/Trying not to spill the drinks/In our glasses/No, we’re not goin’ home/’Til the taps run dry/We’re all shining in our own spotlight/Singing every line/It feels so right”.  ‘You Hear a Song’ is a serious ballad that speaks of how, often our love interest can see the positive in us and life, when we just can’t: “A one note symphony/Baby come on and sing it back to me/I see a mess in the mirror, you see the girl of your dreams/I see the dark clouds rollin’ in/You see the sky I can’t see/I hear this melody coming out all wrong/It sounds like the chaos I hear in my head all night long/You hear a song (3X)”.

‘This Car’ was written by Pope, David Hodges, and Gordie Sampson.  It is contemporary country in style and is not the first song in music history to link a mode of transportation with a love relationship: “5 years in the blink of an eye/Still smiling cause you’re next to me/We fought, made up, got lost, made love in the back seat/So many stories in this steel and glass/Yeah, there’s no wonder why we fell so fast/From the first time you opened the door/Well, it felt like the beginning of something more.  ‘One Song Away’ was composed by Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges, Aaron Pearce, and Mike Green.  Lindsey has worked with artists such as Faith Hill, Shakira, and Bon Jovi.  Here we have a well executed contemporary country ballad that finds Cassadee lonesome: “Late at night/Can’t go to sleep/It’s just me and the radio/Every single melody/Is wrecking me/And I know I’m getting close/To losing all control and picking up the phone/I’m one song away from/Breaking down and calling you up/And each one that plays is telling me that I’m still in love”.

Max Martin, Shellback, and Savan Kotecha wrote ‘Easier to Lie’.  It has Cassadee thinking out loud after being unfaithful: “You know that I’ve been cryin’/So you ask what’s goin’ on/Your arm’s around my shoulder/You’ve got no clue what I’ve done/Cause you don’t see the guilt in me/And that just makes it worse/Yeah, that just makes it worse”.  The next song is a pretty one.  Many females will be able to relate to ‘11’ and the tale it tells: “I was a little too young and a little too dumb/To ever think the day would come/When Dad would drive away and take his love with him/So I grew up fast in a whole new world/Waved goodbye to that little girl/I can see her now/Innocent and seven/I wish I had never turned 11”.  ‘Proved You Wrong’ has a bouncy pop sound and finds Cassadee emotionally strong and determined: “It’s easy letting go of us/Said I didn’t even have the guts/Yet here I am packing up/I’m taking my heart back ‘cause I’ve had enough.../Hey...I’m done with you and all the lies you made/You were such a mistake”.

The deluxe edition of FRAME BY FRAME includes four additional tracks.  Pope, Liz Rose, and Busbee penned the first one.  Many couples who have been together for ages will be envious of the passion expressed in ‘Edge of a Thunderstorm’.  Witness these lyrics: “I’ll tell you right now, I never felt like this/The touch of your hand, the thought of your kiss/Yeah, yeah, yeah/It’s a powerful thing washing over me/I’m reminding myself, don’t forget to breathe/Yeah, yeah, yeah/So right, the way you look at me/Feels like something’s calling/Maybe I’m gonna get swept away/I’ll worry ‘bout that some sunny day/Cause I can’t wait to taste that rain, whoah”.  ‘Cinematic’ is a cheerful country song.  It contains frisky lyrics I could hear Britney Spears singing: “You’re so cinematic, your touch I got to have it/Every scene you’re making me believe/It doesn’t have to be on the other movie screen/Red hot, non-stop, we got cinematic love, cinematic love/Rated R in our secret spot, hoping we don’t get busted by the cops/Heating up baby, ready or not/I’ve been waiting all this time for the fairy tale to come alive”.  The last two tracks are decent acoustic takes on ‘Good Times’ and ‘Wasting All These Tears’.

Instrumentalists used on the album include Jerry McPherson, Dann Huff, Tom Bukovac, and Jimmie Sloas.  Instruments used include: guitars, ganjo, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle, B3 organ, and accordion.  Fans of Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert will love the modern country songs on this record.  Pope’s vocals remind me a lot of earlier era Miley Cyrus on songs such as ‘Party in the U.S.A.’ and ‘The Driveway’.  This album gives us an up close look at the heart of Cassadee.  There is no doubt that she is quite talented and I look forward to hearing her follow-up release.  I’m rating FRAME BY FRAME-DELUXE EDITION 90%.  For more info visit: www.cassadeepope.com and www.republicnashville.com.

 

THE LOST GET FOUND

Brittany Nicole Waddell, better known as Britt Nicole, was born on August 2, 1984.  She began singing at age three in her home church, Truth Temple, in North Carolina.  She put out her debut album SAY IT in 2007.  Her debut single ‘You’ was the twelfth most played song on Christian Hit Radio in 2007.  Her second album THE LOST GET FOUND (Sparrow Records) came out on August 11, 2009.  It hit the top spot on Billboard’s Christian Albums Chart and Number 62 on the Billboard 200.  The album features four producers including Robert Marvin and Dan Muckala.

The title track penned by Britt and Ben Glover is an easy on the ears pop song.  It calls Christians to share the hope they have in Christ: “There’s a really big world at your fingertips/And you know you have the chance to change it/There’s a girl on the street, she’s crying/There’s a man whose faith is dying/Love is calling you.../Somewhere somebody needs a reason to believe/Why don’t you rise up now?/Don’t be afraid to stand out/That’s how the lost get found”.  ‘How We Roll’ is a youthful sounding pop song that urges us to take time to smell the roses in life: “Why don’t you come on and join us?/Take your nose off the grindstone/Take, take your hands off the keyboard/And put down the iPhone/And let me hear you say/Hey, hey, oh, oh/We ain’t getting caught in the undertow/We’ll keep taking it easy and taking it slow/We’re never gonna follow, no``.

‘Safe’ was penned by Britt, Jason Ingram, and Joy Williams.  It talks of making oneself vulnerable: “I’m strong enough/I’ve always told myself/I never wanna need somebody else/But I’ve already fallen from that hill/So I’m dropping my guard/Here’s your chance at my heart”.  ‘Hanging On’ has a slow R&B feel to it.  It finds Britt intimately conversing with God: “You see my anxious heart/You see what I am feeling/And when I fall apart/You are there to hold me/Ow How great Your love for me/Now I see what You’re thinking/You say I’m beautiful/Your voice is my healing/Without You I just can’t get by/So I’m hanging on to every word You speak/Cause that’s all that I need”. 

‘Headphones’ was written by Britt and her future husband Joshua Crosby.  (They now have one daughter).  This is a peppy song of encouragement: “She gave it her best/She tried to fit in/She tried to be cool/But she never could win/Her mom says she’s great/The kids think she’s weird/Honestly she wish she could just disappear/Why you try, try to be like the rest of them/When you know there’s so much more within?/There’s only one you/Here’s what you gotta do/Whoa, Whoa.../Anytime you feel alone, put on your headphones/Love, love’s coming through your headphones”.  ‘Welcome to the Show’ confirms that Britt wants to make a difference in her generation: “Oh, oh, we’re on a mission, nothing, nothing can stand in our way/Oh, oh, we don’t need permission/We’re gonna rise up and we’ll be the change/Oh, oh, hear us on your stereo/Oh, oh, we’re about to lose control/Oh, oh, everybody knows/Oh, oh, this is where you let go”.  ‘Walk on the Water’ was featured on NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’.  It is an inspiring ballad that calls us to step out of our comfort zones as believers: “So get out and let your fear fall to the ground/No time to waste, don’t wait/And don’t you turn around and miss out on/Everything you were made for/Gotta be, I know y ou’re not sure, more/So you play it safe, you try to run away/If you take that first step/Into the unknown/He won’t let you go”.

‘Glow’ was composed by Britt, Joshua Crosby, and Nick Baumhardt.  The latter is from the band Stellar Kart and is married to Tricia Brock.  This song has a similar message as ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and has a dance club feel musically: “Oh, oh/Turn the lights down so we can/Glow, glow/Watch us come alive/We’re gonna/Show you something real/Like a city on a hill/Oh, oh/We’re gonna glow/They see us coming from miles away/There’s no hiding, no denying/Cause we’re not ashamed”.  ‘Like a Star’ is a love song: “You got me falling for ya/And I won’t stop ‘til I hit the clouds/See I don’t wanna hide these feelings/Or even try to figure them out/Sparks flyin’ all around/Electricity/Dance with me (3X)/Ten feet off the ground/No gravity/Fly with me (2X)”.

‘Feel the Light’ encourages a person trapped inside himself or herself to break free: “How did you get here?/You’re locked inside of all this fear/Inside you’re crying out/Your mind’s at war/Get out, get out and live for more/There’s so much more/Live for more”.  The last song ‘Have Your Way’ was partially written by Josiah Bell.  It is a quiet song of deep spiritual maturity with Britt on piano.  Here are some of the words: “So I’ll stop searching for the answers/I’ll stop praying for an escape/And I’ll trust You God with where I am/And believe that You will have Your way/Just have Your way (2X)/.../Even if my dreams have died/And even if I don’t survive/I’ll still worship You with all my life/My life, yeah”.

In the cd booklet Britt writes: “Jesus I love You!  Thank You for loving me and letting me share Your message with the world!  Let those who need to hear this, really hear it, and let them experience Your love, a love that can change their life forever”.  Britt offers hope, joy, and peace, to young people on this her second release and she points to God as the Source of all three.  Musically her style can be compared to that of Miley Cyrus and Gwen Stefani.  I’m rating this one 87%.  For more info visit: www.brittnicole.com and www.capitolcmglabelgroup.com.

 

WIRE

Third Day take their name from the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion.  They put out their self-titled debut album in 1996.  Their seventh album WIRE (2004, Essential Records) won the Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album in 2005 and also won the Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year.  The album was produced by Paul Ebersold.  Band members at the time were: Tai Anderson (bass), Brad Avery (guitars), David Carr (drums), Mark Lee (guitars), and Mac Powell (vocals, acoustic guitar).  Unless otherwise noted, Powell wrote the words and the whole group is credited with writing the music.

The album opens with ‘Til the Day I Die’ which is a manly rocker musically.  It reflects on the permanence of marriage vows: “I said ‘Forever’/I said ‘Forever’ and I mean it/I made a promise/And  I intend to always keep it.../Forever is so far beyond the reach of my mind/So I’ll give all I have/My heart, my love, my life”.  ‘Come on Back to Me’ is another great rock song.  Scott Hardin performs background vocals.  This song finds God speaking to one of His lost children: “I have loved you/From the beginning/Long before you knew My Name/And even though you’ve broken My heart/I’ll love you just the same/I’ll love you anyway/Never mind your worries/Never mind your fears/They can only take you far from Me”. 

Mark Lee wrote the words to the title track, ‘Wire’, a terrific rock ballad with string arrangements by Paul Buckmaster.  The song features vulnerable lyrics about being a Christian rock star: “I am walking on a wire/I tiptoe in through the fire/Never looking down to see that/I am walking on a wire/The pressure’s getting higher/But I don’t look around.../Your time at the top only lasts fifteen minutes/Then they just leave you behind”.  ‘Rockstar’ speaks of how celebrity can deceivingly look so appealing to outsiders: “Living lifestyles of the rich and famous/Turning all heads in the music scene/Flying in my own jet plane to Vegas/Riding in a big black limousine/Well, it’s alright/Yeah, it’s alright.../No I ain’t got nothing/But to you I’m something/Something so much more”.

Richard Thomas plays cello on ‘I Believe’ which has a pretty chorus with inspiring lyrics: “I believe in a faith that’s strong/I believe in a hope that carries on/I believe in these things and more/Most of all, most of all/I believe in love”.  ‘It’s a Shame’ is a slow, melodic number that speaks of relational dysfunction: “She longs for better days/She’s always been afraid.../You left her without leaving/You hit her without swinging/You took away without giving a thing/Except for pain and sorrow/I’m praying that tomorrow/You will open up your eyes and see”.

Boyd Tinsley plays violin on ‘Blind’.  This is a well-crafted song of gratitude to God: “How could I have been so blind to not see You?/The more that I look the more I find/You’ve led me to the truth/That I am nothing if I’m without You/You opened my eyes and helped me to find/How could I have been so blind?.../You took my heart and You changed it/With Your words of life/You took my eyes and You opened them/And gave me sight”.  Chrystina Lloree Fincher sings backing vocals on ‘I Got a Feeling’.  This gritty rocker finds the band excited about sharing their faith: “I got a mission/I got a sign/Is anybody listening?/I gotta make sure this time/I’ll tell the people/What’s on my mind/Maybe I will tomorrow/Maybe I will tonight.../I got a message/I got a song/Everybody help me sing along”.

‘You are Mine’ is a song of praise to God for what He has done: “Whenever I hear/Of Your saving grace/And how You gave Your life/In exchange for mine/Sometimes I wonder why You even love me/And why You ever chose to call me ‘child’/Then I remember/It’s by Your sacrifice/I can say that/I am Yours and You are mine”.  Mark Lee penned the words to ‘Innocent’.  It builds in intensity musically and revels in spiritual liberty: “I am innocent and I have been set free/And I no longer have chains around my feet/And no matter where I go or what they say/I am innocent”.  Scotty Willbanks plays piano and B3 on ‘Billy Brown’.  This rock song seems addressed to a Hollywood star: “Super Star Billy Brown/Whatcha doing to this town?/Don’t cha know that everybody here/Want to be like you?/All of your adoring fans/Sitting in the seats and stands/Listening to every word you say/And watching every move/Once I saw a sign that said/’Billy Brown for President’”.

‘San Angelo’ is one of my favourites on the album.  It includes these very relatable lyrics in today’s day and age: “The day it feels like winter/The night it feels like stone/You turn around and you remember/When you’re surrounded/You can still feel so alone”.  The last cut is ‘I Will Hold My Head High’.  Here are some of the words penned by Mark Lee: “Sometimes the night starts closing in/And I’ve lost my way home again/I’m running out of places I can turn/Enemies on every side/Not a friend around for miles/That’s the time it really starts to hurt/Beat me up and drag me down/I’ll never be afraid/I will hold my head high/And lift my hands to the sky/Rise above all who try to bring me down/I will hold my head high”.

In the cd booklet, Third Day writes: “All glory to God for His mercy, provision, and grace”.  WIRE is a wonderful album.  Mac Powell’s vocals are great and I appreciate that this album leans more towards rock than adult contemporary.  I also like the album cover depicting a fellow balancing on a high wire above a city.  Third Day skillfully examines being adored by their fans on this album.  Fans of Nickelback and Kutless will like this one.  I’m rating it 90%.  For more info visit: www.thirdday.com and www.essentialrecords.com.

 

TROUBLE IS A LONESOME TOWN

Lee Hazlewood lived from July 9, 1929 until August 4, 2007.  He is known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy in the late 1950’s and with singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960’s.  He wrote and produced her #1 US/UK hit ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’.  Lee had a baritone voice and his sound was described as Cowboy Psychedelia or Saccharine Underground.  He released his concept album TROUBLE IS A LONESOME TOWN in 1963.  A few years back Charles Normal (younger brother of the late Larry Norman) discovered the album in a secondhand junk shop in Oslo, Norway.  He couldn’t stop playing it!  Fast forward to 2013 and under the moniker Thriftstore Masterpiece Normal and friends released their version of the album on SideOneDummy Records¸albeit more fully orchestrated.  Normal produced, arranged, and engineered the album, and played various instruments on it.

Each song begins with a narration by Normal’s mailman Jerry Albertini.  At the start of the album, he tells us most of the people living in the small town of Trouble are good and bad most of the time.  The narrator says when he was ten he found a friend.  The first song ‘Long Black Train’ is an upbeat musical mishmash of styles.  Frank Black of Pixies fame delivers the vocals, while Scott Gerweck plays trumpet.  Here are some of the words: “Back when I was ten Jim was my best friend/We’d go down to the station and watch the trains come in/Someday I told my friend/We’ll ride that train and then we’ll make a fortune for ourselves and we’ll ride it home again/The long black train (2X)”.  Unfortunately Jim gets in trouble for robbing a bank.  The narrator then starts to describe a guy in the town of Trouble that people can barely stand to look at as he looks so beat up.  ‘Ugly Brown’ has Larry Norman on lead vocals (it’s good to hear him again), Charles Normal on guitar, mandolin, and synth, and Silver Sorenson on upright bass.  It has a saloon music feel to it.  The lyrics are depressing, almost as if the song could fit on Larry’s SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SON project: “Nobody loves me in this town, this town (2X)/When they have parties, they never invite me/Even my own dog bites me/They call me, they call me/Ugly Brown/Nobody wants me in this town, this town/I won’t swim in the river and that’s a fact/ Cause every time I come out they keep throwing me back/They call me, they call me Ugly Brown”.

‘Son of a Gun’ has a slow, moody feel to it.  The vocals are handled by Frank Black and his eight year old son Julian Clark.  The song speaks of how we tend to stereotype people: “It hurts to be told when you’re not very old/That you’re an outlaw’s son/And the older you get/They won’t let you forget/That you’re the son of a gun/A bad, bad gun, you son of a gun/And then you’ll meet someone so sweet/And she says her heart you have won/But her old dad gets awfully mad/She’ll marry no son of a gun/A bad, bad gun/That son, son of a gun”.  The narrator then tells us about an undertaker named Sleepy and his assistant Charlie who has a unique drinking problem.  ‘We all make the Flowers Grow’ features Kristin Blix’s tender, compelling vocals, and Jason Carter on percussion.  Musically, it sounds like you’re in the Caribbean!  The lyrics reflect realistically on our mortality: “Cowards and heroes, listen my friends/If you have money or nothing to spend/It’ll make no difference in a hundred years or so/Sooner or later, we all make the little flowers grow”.

‘Run Boy Run’ finds Frank Black on vocals, Kristin Blix harmonizing, and William Slater on piano.  It is a fast, catchy, old country number, about a criminal: “You were born by a railroad track/Never knew your ma and your pa ain’t comin’ back/Had to make your way the best you can/But you didn’t have to steal from another man/Run boy, run boy, run boy run/They’re gonna get you boy, run boy run.../Shot a man for nothin’ and away you run/Wanted in most every state from here to Tennessee/If you’re caught you’ll do your running hanging from a tree”.  Next, the narrator tells us about George and Orville, two brothers who keep stealing from each other in Trouble.  Pete Yorn is on lead vocals.  He has toured with Coldplay and collaborated with Scarlett Johansson.  Kristin Blix provides harmony vocals.  The track ‘Six Feet of Chain’ is a sarcastic song about incarceration: “He can climb up a mountain so high/He can run, he can jump, he can fly/He can have plenty, fortune, and fame/If he can do it on six feet of chain”.

The narrator tells us people argue over whether the railroad was a good thing for Trouble or not.  Appropriately, the next song is called ‘The Railroad’.  It has a playful pop sound.  Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) is on vocals, while Charles Normal provides glockenspiel and samples.  Here are some of the lyrics: “Workin’ on the railroad all day long/Workin’ on the railroad I sing this song/Sing about an old love I once knew/Sing about an old love or maybe two.../I drove a lotta hot steel in my time//I drink a lot of stuff they call moonshine/I got me a lady in every town/Workin’ on the railroad, never settle down”.  The narrator informs us that Anna Mae Stilwell is the best looking woman in Trouble.  A slow rock song ‘Look at that Woman’ is up next.  It finds Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols on lead and Fathead on backup vocals.  These lyrics remind us that looks can be deceiving: “Face like a child/Body so nice/Eyes like an angel/Heart cold as ice/Look at that woman/She seems so fine/I wish that woman was anybody else but mine/She can’t cook and she can’t love/She ain’t worth a dime/I wish that woman was anybody else but mine”.

‘Peculiar Guy’ is the hardest rocker on the album.  Eddie Argos delivers vocals that put me in mind of Mick Jagger.  Charles Normal plays a mean electric guitar.  The song tells quite a tale: “I worked with my team and I soon grew as rich as the land/The woman called Red learned to love me as I loved the land/My valley turned green, my mountain smiled down from the sky/But a lion lured my mountain and a lion is a peculiar guy/One morning the lion came down from his kingdom I owned/He killed the woman called Red then left me alone/My valley turned brown, my mountain didn’t seem so high/Cause a lion lured my mountain and that lion was a peculiar guy/I climbed up my mountain and buried the woman called Red/I emptied my gun in the back of that lion’s head”.  The narrator says you won’t find Trouble on any map, but if you take three steps in any direction, you’ll be there.  Larry Norman performs the lead vocals with a country flare on the closing title track.  Charles provides strings.  Here are some of the words: “Lord, I’d like to leave this town (2X)/But I guess I’ll hang around/Yes, I guess I’ll hang around/Trouble is a lonesome town (2X)/Trouble is where I was born/Trouble is where I am from.../Trouble is where I belong (2X)/Oh Lord, trouble”.

What a delightful album of cohesive, imaginative stories this is!  It is great to meet all these interesting characters from Trouble.  Fans of Johnny Cash’s storytelling should give this one a listen.  Musically, it is a diverse, creative success!  It is never boring.  Charles Normal is very talented and I look forward to whatever his next project may be.  I’m rating TROUBLE IS A LONESOME TOWN 90%.  For more info visit: www.thriftstoremasterpiece.com and www.larrynorman.com.

ere are H

 

HI-FI DEMONSTRATION RECORD

Wondergroove released their debut album HI-FI DEMONSTRATION RECORD in 2000 on Solid Rock Records.  The group’s roster is: Aslak Nygren (Vocals and Tambourine), and Charles Norman (Guitars, Vox, Synth, Rhythm Machines, Bass, Hard Drive).  Aslak is from Sister Rain, while Charles is the younger brother of CCM music pioneer Larry Norman.  Also appearing on the album are: Kristin Stavang (synth), Rune Annaniassen (bass), Sid Riggs (drums), and Dizzy Reed (additional keyboards).  Reed is best known for his work with Guns ‘N’ Roses.  This album is thinly produced and engineered by Charles Norman and is said to be “sonically treated for your enjoyment (now with anti-static lubricant)”. 

‘Down to the Water’ is a great Southern rock song.  It starts the album off on a hopeful note lyrically: “Take me down to the water/Take me out of misery/Take me down to the water/Set me free/These memories, yeah, they’re living/In most everything that I see/Sweet memories, yeah, they’re living/They’ll set me free/Here I come/With a chance to rise”.  ‘Postcards from Heaven’ is a melodic rock song about the bliss awaiting us in heaven: “I met the angels when they came to me this morning/All dressed in white, they said there’s nothing to fear/They showed me through a gate that led into a garden/When I looked back I saw the world disappear/They walked me down a long hallway/They took me into my room/They said I’ll be here forever/And I said I never wanna go back home/Wish you were here where the sky is so clear, I’m in heaven”.

‘One Man’ addresses someone who is spiritually lost: “Somehow you took a turn along the way/That left you standing in the cold/You might not understand the words I try to say/Until you open up your soul/Anyway that the wind blows/You’ll return with the season/Anyway that the wind blows/And you say that you don’t know ‘cause you can’t find a reason/So you go where the wind blows”.  Next up is ‘The Arms of Morpheus’.  According to Wikipedia.org “Morpheus has the ability to take any human form and appear in dreams.  His true semblance is that of a winged daemon...”  This song is a rock gem, with Helen Barrington­-Ward credited with extraneous warbling.  It is a highly experimental track both lyrically and musically: “Like Aphrodite’s kiss/The arms of Morpheus/Keep me so warm/It’s like I’m burning within/And Cupid takes my wrist/His arrows never miss/I’m on my knees and crawling out of my skin”.

‘Morning Glory’ features incredible electric guitar work and runs the emotional gamut lyrically: “Morning glory lifts me above the earth/Makes me look around and wonder what it’s worth/To see where my life is going/Trying to learn, but never really knowing/The garden down there is choked with weeds/I wanna go where the morning glory leads.../Morning glory promised me so many things/Before it snuck up behind me and stole my dreams/Poisoned my heart with sorrow/Left me to beg and borrow/And ran off with truth that won’t be back tomorrow”.  ‘She Knows It’ muses about a member of the fairer sex: “She says she’ll try to make me believe this/She says we’ll live in aquamarine/She knows it’s hard to believe what she says/She says she thinks that she knows me/It’s hard to imagine the things in her head/But she’ll show me”.

‘I Want it All’ begins with a sample that says: “We strongly recommend that you stand back when playing this track”.  This straight up rocker portrays a man of great ambition: “I wanna stand in the sunlight/I wanna sleep in the rain/I wanna walk the line between pleasure and pain/I’m gonna circle the courtyard/I’m gonna cast the first stone/I’m gonna rattle the ground where they sit on their thrones/My head’s in the sun/I’m a thousand feet tall/When you wanna run/Why waste time learning to crawl?/I want it all (2X)/With my head on the ground/I hear destiny call”.  Ivar Eidem plays synths on ‘Then You’re Gone’.  This one is a ballad that deals with human mortality in a dreamy, inventive manner: “Take a shot at the pale moon/Hitch a ride on the powder balloon/Cotton candy along the way/Then you’re gone, you’re gone/And when I’m turning on the news they’ll let me know/When they’re walking in your footsteps, it’s your show/I know you know, you know that I know that you want to go/I didn’t think you meant it though (5X)”.

‘What am I Looking For’ is one of the best songs on the album.  At times it is an aggressive rocker, at other times it is more laid back.  It ponders the meaning of life, but will upset some Christians as it leaves room for various beliefs: “Excuse me sir/Can you tell me how to get from here to there?/Cuz it’s getting quite upsetting never getting anywhere/We’re on the road from the day we’re old enough to crawl across the floor/We laugh, we cry, we live, we die/there must be something more/No matter where I am/No matter where I roam/I can’t help feeling like I’m a long, long way from home/Like a kid who’s got no money, standing in a candy store/What am I looking for?”

‘First Kiss of Love’ reflects with fondness on love long past: “You send me messages that I’ll never get/You turn your back but you will never forget/I’ll be there waiting at the end of the day/To remind you.../As years fly away with the wings of the dove/Your dearest remembrance will still be the last/Your sweetest memorial/The first kiss of love”.  ‘The Long Road’ is a plodding rock song over six minutes in length.  It draws this realistic, though not upbeat, conclusion: “I’ve heard that all is fair in love and war/Whichever this is  I don’t quite know/Maybe sometimes they’re one and the same/When there’s nowhere left for love to go/I saw it coming and should have known/That in the midst of love I’d still be on my own/And that I’d have to face that long hard road alone”.  If you let the album continue to play a few short, silent tracks after this, you will be treated to Larry Norman putting his vocals and spin on ‘Down to the Water’ and ‘I Want it All’.

HI-FI DEMONSTRATION RECORD is good, fun rock and roll music masterfully performed.  The vocals are easy to listen to and the album is quite experimental and innovative.  If you are tired of the same old, same old on today’s daytime Christian radio, check this album out.  It will renew your interest in music again.  It is an album that is full of life and promise!  I’m rating it 95%.  For more info visit: www.larrynoman.com.

 

 

DANGEROUSLY CLOSE

Bloodgood released their debut ep METAL MISSIONARIES in 1985.  The next year they put out their self-titled full length debut produced by Darrell Mansfield.  Michael Bloodgood says: “The idea for putting Bloodgood together came long before there was anything like Christian/White Metal.  It was born through prayer and a burden the Lord put on my heart.  At the time, there was no outreach of any kind for all the people into metal and headbangers simply wouldn’t listen to anything else...As the months went on, it became clear that the Lord wanted to use me to be a part of this new work”.  It has been 22 years since they released their swan song ALL STAND TOGETHER.  In 2010 they were inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.  Now Bloodgood is back with DANGEROUSLY CLOSE (2013, B. Goode Records).  It is mastered by former group member David Zaffiro.  Today, Bloodgood is: Michael Bloodgood (bass/bgvs), Les Carlsen (lead vocals), Paul Jackson (guitar/bgvs), Oz Fox (guitar/backing vocals), and Kevin Whisler (drums).  Fox joined in 2007 and is also in Stryper.

The lead off single, written by Les Carlsen and Paul Jackson, is ‘Lamb of God’.  It is a memorable heavy metal number that declares who Jesus is and what He has accomplished: “On His knees He washed our feet/Poured His blood on the mercy seat/Told us to love one another/Lay down your life for your brother/Lamb of God/Born of a virgin/Water to wine/Taught in the temple/Healed the blind/Holy Spirit/Fruit of the vine/I am Yours/You are mine.../Lamb of God”.  ‘Run Away’ is a catchy rocker.  It is the familiar story of a man who finds himself being seduced by a dangerous woman: “I shouldn’t be here/Oh God, help me/Give me the strength to leave this place/What was I thinking?/I know this is wrong/Run away (from the spider’s web)/Run away (you soon will be dead)/Run away (the wise men said)/Run away and hide/Run away (from where she lays)/Run away (she’s an open grave)/Run away (the wise men say)/Run away, run away and hide/Run away!”

‘Child on Earth’ features a great electric guitar solo by Oz Fox and is prophetic in nature: “The fall of man/You’ll overcome/To earth Your Son You’ll send/And He will be/The Lamb of God/And wash away our sins/Virgin birth, Child on earth...Amen/Crucify, pierced His side...Amen”.  ‘I Will’ is an artistic rocker.  It is also a song of testimony: “Oh, You’ve rescued me/Gave me eyes to see/Oh, Your love for me is guiding my life/Oh, You shower me with pure ecstasy/All the plans for me are shining so bright/I will, I will, I will/Sing for Your glory and I wanna fly on the wings of Your love”.

‘Bread Alone’ is a tasty heavy metal treat.  It warns us that material things can’t complete us or meet our deepest needs: “You know the world will tell you, ‘Satisfy yourself/The most important thing is you and no one else’/And everything you own and all that you consume/Will not be able to keep you from the tomb/I want to testify and need to tell the truth/And as the years go by, I’m further from my youth/And that’s just fine with me/These lines are living proof/We don’t live by bread alone!”  ‘Pray’ speaks of the importance of conversing with our Maker: “When you awake your day begins/Speak to God, confess your sins/Call to mind the ones you love/Lift your enemies up above/Bring to Him the world today and pray/Pray, pray, pray, pray!/Call for those who need some peace/They hurt so bad and seek release/And so you bow and make request/For those so tired in need of rest”.

‘I Can Hold On’ finds Eric Robert on the Hammond organ.  It is a ballad about spiritual determination: “I can hold on and stay the road You put me on/My life, Your love, this is right where I belong/And I surrender the guilty memories/It doesn’t matter what I’ve done before/From the moment I saw Your face/My wasted past is not welcome anymore/I’ll never stop fightin’/Never stop trying, never denyin’/Never stop fightin’/Never stop trying, never denyin’/’Til the day I die”.  ‘Run the Race’ is a hard rocker with a punch, that encourages us to pursue intimacy with God: “Lose your life/Find yourself/Stay the course/Run the race that He has given you/Go!/To the Word of God where you find the source/It’s His written voice, yeah/In the quiet place/A still small voice/Just you and God, yeah”.

‘Father Father’ is a dare I say, pretty ballad, that starts with these words written from the perspective of Jesus: “I’m hanging on a tree ‘cause I love you/Walking on the sea, ‘cause I can/I’m coming to visit, I’m not going to stay/I’ll be out of here in just a few days/Now my arms are wide open to embrace/The pain that I have is raw and real/But the joy!/Outweighs the disgrace/Father, Father, you know how I feel”.  ‘Man in the Middle’ is a guitar driven rocker that is one of the strongest songs on the album.  Lyrically, it will please those who like clear songs about the atonement: “Via De La Rosa, the road to the cross/The Lamb of God redeeming the lost/Carry the load and the disgrace/Willing to be there in my place.../Torn in the flesh/Ripped open skin/Never cried out, never gave in/Determined to die and go to the grave/This act of love, so all might be saved”.

‘Crush Me’ is a cry for God to bring us under His full control: “My lips say I adore You/But my heart is so wild/Love me, find me/Break me, crush me/Fix me and give me life again/Love me, find me, break me/Crush me, fix me/And give me life again”.  The closing song ‘In The Trenches’ was penned by Les and Michael and uses vocal distortion.  It is a song of spiritual encouragement: “Don’t be a dead man walking/Faith untested is no faith at all/Nothing grows in the mountain tops, but in the trenches!/If you believe, don’t be afraid/If you believe, fall on your knees/If you believe, then you’ll be saved/If you believe!”

DANGEROUSLY CLOSE finds Bloodgood in fine form.  If you are an old school metal fan who appreciates meaty guitar work, distinct vocals, and straight forward evangelical lyrics, this one is for you!  I recommend it to fans of Stryper and Whitecross and am rating it 88%.  For more info visit: www.bloodgoodband.com.