The Old, The New, The Outstanding
Posted May 11, 2015
By CaitlinLassiter_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What could possibly make Unspoken any more remarkable than they already are? With Chad Mattson's flawlessly smooth vocals leading the way for an impressive band of musicians, the Centricity Music signees have been astounding the CCM world since their debut in 2012. Unspoken, who is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about groups around, is known for their catchy pop/rock sound that makes listeners instant fans.
However, there's a whole other side to what these talented guys can do. While high energy moments like those you'll find on their self-titled album are definitely exceptional in their own right, the moments you're most likely to remember from a live Unspoken show are those where the band goes acoustic. Lucky for us, they've captured just a small taste of that live goodness on their latest project Unplugged, a combination of both old and new songs all stripped down to their most organic forms.
The Old
"Who You Are," the top 10 hit that started it all for Unspoken, is found here in a new style that powerfully conveys the message of redemption and hope through Chad's moving vocals. "Lift My Life Up," a personal favorite from their last album, is reworked quite a bit on Unplugged, bringing a more intimate feel to an already worshipful song and inviting the listener to join in on the band's prayer.
Both recently successful singles, "Start A Fire" and "Good Fight," were obvious choices to be included on this project, incorporating different sounds into the acoustic versions to change things up a bit. Easily the most worshipful and lyrically strong moment you'll find on an Unspoken record, "Call It Grace" never fails to stun me with its simple yet profound explanation of salvation.
The New
Possibly the best part of Unplugged is the fact that, in addition to five favorites, it also includes five brand new songs. "Broken Man" opens the album with a touch of southern style, leading the way for the upbeat "Tell Somebody."
"Green Light" serves as an up-tempo encouragement to wait on God's timing before the guys slow down into another stand-out worship moment, "Solid Rock," which boasts the beautiful lyrics "through these dark and raging seas / Your grace has not abandoned m e/ for these storms I thank my God / for they drove me to the Solid Rock."
Bringing the album to a close, "Born With A Broken Heart" sounds like a potential contender for the group's next single, combining the powerhouse vocals of Mattson with the incredible instrumentation of the band to make for an all-around great track.
Closing Thoughts:
Slowly but surely, Unspoken keeps unveiling more of all they're capable of as artists, continuously crafting new sounds and producing phenomenal records for their fans. Unplugged gives a small glimpse into the live shows, putting their acoustic skills on display for listeners to connect with. This album proves that Unspoken is a group headed for big things, and I'll speak for everyone when I say that we'll be glad to keep listening, especially when it's filled with raw talent like Unplugged.
Song To Download Now:
"Born With A Broken Heart" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By CaitlinLassiter_NRT | View CaitlinLassiter_NRT's Profile
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