Julian Drive [My Coming Day]
Posted January 25, 2009
By christianmusicreview,
[MAIN REVIEW]
New Inpop Records band Julian Drive has Georgia roots and won the 2004 “Exalting Him” talent search contest. The band has toured extensively leading up to the national release of their major label debut album “My Coming Day”. They are a ministry-oriented Southern alt-rock band. They have songs that immediately reminded me of Country superstar band Rascal Flatts and Christian country band 33Miles. They also have ballads and vertical worship songs that reminded me of CCM artist Mark Schultz.
The album’s debut single “From Your Hands” is a great example of the vertical worship style of the album. The song came from an experience that the band had while touring. Their bus had broken down and nobody wanted to sleep. Their guitarist Jesse Triplett started playing on his guitar and came up with a country-rock melody and lead vocalist Shane Bowers came up with lyrics to match the melody. Message-wise, it is one of my favorite songs on the album with the sincere chorus “True Love was pouring, True Love was pouring from Your hands”. The song is about the purest and sweetest love that has ever been, with the crucifixion as the backdrop. It is a great love song in the style of the hit Tenth Avenue North song “Love Is Here”. “Always There” has a great biblical message about relying on God’s Word as a guide. There are parts of the song that come right from Psalms and the style is country-rock. The next song “Cry” has an amazing 2nd verse “Believe Your voice, believe Your word, stand so strong even when it hurts, Gotta let it go, let Your light show”. The style resembled “God Of Life” by Mark Schultz. Those first 3 songs really had me hooked on this album, and kept my interest over the next 5 songs which are all very positive, uplifting and biblical, but slightly less catchy to me.
Finally, the last 2 songs grabbed me again. I LOVE their remake of the Hoobastank hit song “The Reason”. They are faithful to the original piano-based style of the song and the beautiful melody and confession. I have loved that song since it came out and have also considered it a song that can be sung to God in confession, “I’ve found a reason for me, to change who I used to be, a reason to start over new, and the reason is You”. The closing title song “My Coming Day” is an earnest prayer that came from Shane’s daily devotion and quiet time with the Lord.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I really, really like half of the songs a lot. The stand-out songs I’ve mentioned are top notch musically and lyrically. The other songs are also very strong lyrically, but to me not as catchy or original sounding in comparison. Fans of Rascal Flatts, 33Miles and Mark Schultz will really like the style of this album. Rock music fans will really enjoy “The Reason”. This is a very nice major label debut album and Julian Drive shows a lot of potential. “My Coming Day” is very message-oriented, clear and positive biblical Truth throughout and is definitely a strength of the album.
Rating: 8.8 out of 10 (88%, B+)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
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