Hello music fans! James Morovich your resident music genius and self proclaimed Christian rock history guru! I have some more new recommended tunage for you to tune in to below!
JJ Heller- “Loved.” This so far was the first one of my most
anticipated releases of 2013 to actually deliver on being as good as I thought it
would be. In fact, it was actually even better! This album is kind of an album
woven around the concept of God’s love for us being unwavering and never
changing, despite our circumstances. This theme is dispersed to our eardrums
and hearts through songs like “Who You Are,” “Stay,” “If You Fall” and “Create
In Me.” Heller has always shown she can craft fine sparse folk tunes, and on
this album her songs get a fuller accompaniment, while still allowing you to
focus on the most intriguing and important part of her talent, which is the
songwriting. Thus if you haven’t figured it out yet, I consider “Loved” her
strongest achievement to this point in her career, and I therefore highly
anticipate this album ranking in my top 10 albums of 2013, even though we are
only three months into the year!
The Gray Havens- “Where Eyes Don’t Go” This is another husband/wife
duo that seem to be appearing everywhere of late, and that is not a bad thing! Hailing
from Chicago, these two had their band name picked by friends, who chose Gray
Havens based on an obscure “Lord Of The Rings” reference, as the duo are huge
fans of J.R.R. Tolkien. Their sound leans more towards a jazzy piano based
sound, especially on “Silver” and the albums finest track, the allegorical
story song simply titled “Gray Flowers.” “Train Station” calls to mind a little
bit of The Avett Brothers, while “Let’s Get Married” sounds like a dead ringer
for Jenny & Tyler, both lyrically and musically! This album is only six
songs long, and more like a glorified EP than a full album, but it is an
impressive debut, and moreover FREE on Noisetrade!
Citizens- “Citizens” First there was King’s Kaleidoscope, and
then there was The Modern Post. Now fresh of the heals of signing a huge
distribution deal with Tooth & Nail Records, Mars Hill Music (the indie
label that is run by Mars Hill Church in Seattle, where Mark Driscoll is senior
pastor) has brought us the first all out rock and roll worship band. Rock is
what these guys do best, as the album kicks off with the roaring “Sweetness Of
Freedom” which is then followed by “In Tenderness” which slows things down only
slightly, and features lyrics that speak of our human desire to worship, and
how eternity will not be long enough for us to sing praises to God. Great
guitar work peppers this track as well. Two of the albums other standout tracks
are “I Am Living In A Land Of Death” which sums up Christ’s act on the cross as
making us clean before a holy God, and “Psalm 18” which as you would expect
sets that Psalm to music that rides a plain catchy electric guitar riff,
reminiscent of the Foo Fighters in the late nineties.
Elevation- “Elevation.” This Atlanta, Georgia rock band have
here produced some excellent late 80’s college rock musical time travel
journey. Imagine if U2 had joined The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen to play
songs written by The Swoon, and you kind of have a sound to imagine in your
eardrums, and they do this very, very well! “What Do You Say?” opens with a
driving drum, guitar and super quiet but still there synthesizer beat that
lasts for a good thirty seconds before lyrics even enter the picture. The
guitar work is so catchy you will be drawn in immediately! “Endless Flame” and
“Can You Feel It” feature more synthesizer but never forget the guitar in the
process while both “Kinetic” and “Gloria” feature a full out horn section
reminiscent of 70’s bands like Blood Sweet & Tears and Chicago, though
still more rock than jazz. Some critics have compared these guys to fellow 80’s
throwbacks The Killers, and while I hear some of that, I feel these guys
feature more unique instruments, and musical breaks than The Killers ever have.
Needless to say I think you will be drawn into these guys sound immediately,
and guess what? This album is also FREE on Noisetrade, so you have nothing to
lose if you want to check them out, which I highly recommend you do, especially
if you like 80’s music!
