I must admit…I'm slightly confused by the cowboys on this album cover.  I'm almost sure Lifehouse doesn't do country.  But what do I know?  We'll give Lifehouse's much anticipated latest album "Almeria" a listen and see if it makes sense or if it's completely out of left field!

Gotta Be Tonight - Makes sense.  This song combines the greatest of the best.  It's got western/rock music with an old spiritual beat and melody combined with Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade's gritty vocals totally fits in with the theme of the album and this song especially.  "Gotta keep your head up," on the second chorus brings in some jazz/swing vibes.  This song is giving me some great expectations for this album!

Between The Raindrops - You had me from "Featuring Natasha Bedingfield".  This song is very different from the first one from the word go.  Love the "oohs" and the chimey things.  (Technical term.)  These lyrics are very interesting.  The melody is captivating.  And Natasha's gritty vocals with Jason's make this song sweet, audible, perfection!  The chorus comes back into our western type motif in it's driving rhythm and drum line.

Nobody Listen - This song leads with some news clips that support my opinion of news media.  One clip says, "Like a scene from the old west".  (ALBUM COVER!)  This song is so true.  I love the simplicity but undeniable truth of the chorus.  This song is simple and spectacular.

Moveonday - Loving this intro.  "The sun doing cartwheels in my eye."  I love that line!  This slide electric guitar VERY country sound with the crunch and the slide as I've already mentioned make this song totally awesome!  Should definitely be a single.

Slow Motion - This intro lick is totes awesome!  And enter the tambourine.  Not gonna lie.  Outstanding!  A slower song (fitting to the title) it's beautiful.  But I'm not a slow song kind of girl.  :)

Only You're The One - Favorite melody on the album.  Called it.  This song belongs in a movie.  It reminds me of a lot of the music from "Spirit: Stallion of  the Cimarron".  This is my favorite song on the album.  I love it so much!  That's all I have to say about this particular track.  I love it.  (And apparently I'm not the only one because it's the most popular track on iTunes!)

Where I Come From - This guitar riff is very interesting and almost discordant.  But it's beautiful combined with the vocals.  It creates some melodic tension that is really cool and fitting to the song.  This song is very, very interesting and different.

Right Back Home - This guitar riff is also interesting and AWESOME.  Enter the organ.  Kick it up a notch.  Peter Frampton and Charles Jones guest star.  Oh yeah.  My other favorite song from this album!  The guest vocals totally fit in with the album vibe, song vibe, and the lead vocals from Wade.  This song is hard driving VERY western/rock/country oriented and just a great track all around!

Barricade - This is a neat little love song.  Simple and outstanding.

Aftermath - Another slow song.  Now don't get me wrong, the boys do slow well.  I just don't do slow well.  But this is a beautiful song.  Very peaceful and lovely.

Lady Day - This is a very interesting melody and a questionable title.  I wonder who it is about?  Great word play on the chorus!  "18 shades of grey" is brilliant.  This is another favorite on the album for me.

Pins & Needles - This track is different from anything else on the album.  Very unique.  But still awesome!  It's got a normal rock feel to it and denies all ties to the cowboys on the front of the album.  But that's fine.  I mean, I don't think the boys from the band are really cowboys so it's fine and stuff.  You know.

Rolling Off The Stone - Good classic rock happening here.  Which is to be expected from a name such as "Rolling off the Stone".  This song has a little bit of blues influence on it but is definitely classic rock 'n' roll right here!  Great way to finish the album fellas!

This album is definitely one to add to your collection!  I am downloading right…now.  (But literally.)  Go check it out and hit Lifehouse up at:

http://www.lifehousemusic.com/order/

https://twitter.com/lifehouse

https://www.facebook.com/lifehouse



(And be sure to check out my blog for more at undeniableradio.wordpress.com)

This proved to be a trying experience for the guys of Nine Lashes.  While at dinner one night at the house of their two guitar players (Adam and Jonathan Jefferson) they witnessed the heart attack that killed their father.  "Afterglow" came from the experience and so did the entire tenor of the album.   A commentary on the pain life can sometimes bring and the way it can impact the world we view...(See what I did there)...this album has great potential.  Let's see if it measures up!

Anthem of the Lonely

I have not heard a lot of this band, but having just had my morning cup 'o joe and plugged this in...I think I'm in love.  Jeremy Dunn's vocals are indescribable but outstanding and PERFECT for this style of music.  This song is as it says, an anthem NOT for...but from/of the lonely.  If we are being cast out because we follow Christ...we are winning more than we could being part of the group.

The Intervention

I love a hard metal song that starts off with a charming piano melody.  It's a sweet contradiction.  "Wait...this intervention is mine..."  This song is about an intervention for ourselves against letting preconceptions silence us.  Our true selves.

Get Back

This song is a cry from Christ we hear less the further we stray from His path.  "Get back to where you once believed".  Awesome rock beat with the perfect examples of lead singer Dunn's vibrato on those higher notes he hits with crystal clarity. This is probably going to end up being one of my favorite songs on the album.

Afterglow

This song is the one that is most specifically about the bands personal tragedy this season.  The lyrics seem to fully epitomize the broken-hearted feelings people have after losing a loved one.  However, they managed to perfectly capture the darkness and illuminate it with the hope of Christ in the end of the song.  "I'm everything BUT lost cause I'm not alone".

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit."

Adrenaline

This is the "party" song.  It's about knowing who you are and finding joy in that.  Celebrating being happy with who and what you are.  I love this song!  The megaphone effect on the verses and then rapid fire lyrics on the chorus.  And I love Dunn's voice on those high notes he hits on the chorus also!

Believe Your Eyes

This song contains the title in the lyrics so...title track?  Anyway, the opening guitar riff in this song is melodic and outstanding.  This song paints a beautiful and calming picture of the hope we have for the future world we will view.  More contradictions from this band...the hard rock sound with these beautifully hopeful lyrics!  It fits perfectly anyway!

"The rain.  The subtle shades of gray, have all but found their way from here.  The sounds...of color streaming down, is inches from the heart I hear.  If I could just let it in, it's just what I know that I've lost.  Can anybody see?  You won't believe your eyes!  A stranger to me...you won't believe your eyes."

Our Darkest Day

Based on their personal experience and the book of Job featuring Ryan Clark, this song addresses our need for Christ even in our darkest hours.  Sometimes we are so broken and seemingly hopeless that the only thing to help us...is to scream His name.  Sometimes it's the only thing that helps.  This is THE hardest song on the album so...carefully consider before playing this one for your grandma!

Memo

This is the one to play for your grandma.  :)  It's a much lighter rock feel but still with awesome guitar riffs, a haunting melody, and Dunn's amazing high range vocals.  To sum up the meaning of the message:

"For nothing will be impossible with God."  ~Luke 1:37

Write It Down

I'm currently in a religion course here at Appalachian and EVERYTHING we've been talking about recently are summed up in this song.  Answer the questions, approach the tough subjects, be open to everything and everyone just as Christ was.  This song is the musical accompaniment for the montage of all who seek a Christ-like church/religion.  "If only the deaf would hear."

The Void

Lighter on the verses building up through guitar riffs to an intense and epic refrain.  This song was inspired by the book of Ecclesiastes.  A song for a soul determined to find the right path.

My Friend

The guitar on this song is amazing!  I was literally just breathless for a minute.  Acoustic gold!  This is the song to play for the person who is your rock through your darkest night.  Anyone who has ever gone through unbearable pain has had someone like this in their lives.  And for those of you who know someone who has recently lost...listen, take notes, and understand what it is you're supposed to do for them!  :)  This is my favorite song I think...the acoustic guitars...and then the orchestra.  I LOVE a could string section...and this IS a good strings section!!!

Okay...so if you like Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Kutless, Pillar, and bands like that...you will LOVE Nine Lashes.  I recommend this album for anyone who is going through heart ache and trial.  What I think I love most about this album, is the little booklet in the cover.  The front of the booklet is pictured above.  A dark, stone cold wall with the Nine Lashes symbol on it.  However, when you take the booklet out and turn it over...after you have finished looking through it (reading the lyrics, checking the scripture references, hearing their stories)...you see that after all this, after Christ has come in and taken those nine lashes  you can finally see the "World We View".

If you are into the heavier music but looking for a lighter message...this is the band for you.

Looking forward to great things from this band!  Keep it up guys!





(For more thoughts, opinions, and information check out my blog at: http://undeniableradio.wordpress.com)

But last night at XR I received a copy of Capital Kings' EP "I Feel So Alive".  And as soon as I got in the car I put it in.

Speechless.

This EP has me even more excited for this band's first full length album I can't hardly wait!  I'm also reconsidering fighting Winter Jam crowds just for a chance to see this duo live and in action!  The first track, "I Feel So Alive" has an intense beat, outstanding melody, and the music these boys produce is unbelievable.  The quality is absolutely pristine.  I love these lyrics, "You've got me livin' how I wanted all along.  I feel so alive!"  "Be There" is very different from the first track but with this still outstanding production quality, vocals, melody, and instrumentation.  "Tell Me" is the 'lighter' song on the EP (as far as beat goes) but it is still awesome!  And the Telemitry remix of "I Feel So Alive" is indescribable.

 The group is doing dubstep…and then they dubstep the dubstep.



Mind=BLOWN!



Capital Kings is most definitely a band to keep your eye on!  Love the music, love the vocals, love the production, love the EP!  Can't wait for January!





(Check out my blog and the rest of my album reviews at http://undeniableradio.wordpress.com)