What An Array Of "Colors"!
Posted August 29, 2011
By SarahFine_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What do you get when you mix one part Switchfoot-esque lyrics to two parts Owl City inspired melodies? Well, you’d most likely get something you’ve never heard before. In a nutshell, the up-and-coming pop/rock quartet We Are Leo is just that.
The Chicago-based group first got the attention of the Christian music world when it was announced that they were one of the first acts signed to the newly developed Skies Fall Records, a label started by none other than former Skillet guitarist, Ben Kasica.
“I became a fan of We Are Leo from the first time I heard them,” Kasica says of the group, made up of brothers David and Jonny Duffield, Doug Weier, and Andrew Enriquez Alojipan. “I’m personally moved and blessed by their songs, so it was an honor to work on their record.”
Needless to say, after coming from someone who has multiple accolades in his own right, big things were expected from We Are Leo’s debut project, Hello, posing the question: Would it deliver?
The album begins with the sunny and pop/rock infused “Supernova Sunrise” and leads directly into the whimsy and electronic “Heartbeats,” which is a sure to become favorite among fans. It’s clear that this band pulls heavily from Top 40 influences, and that influence makes itself know in this song in a big way. The lyrically stunning “Oxygen” is a promise of sorts, conveying the message of God being our ever-present source of life in a toxic and deadly world: “I’ll be your oxygen when you can’t breathe, and I’ll be a song for you when you can’t sleep…”
“Seventeen” is a raw and broken song of confession. Speaking of past mistakes and the painful memories bad choices have evoked in the lives of the hurting. As honest of a song as it is, it offers a standing message of redemption, and how a life can be made new by using the analogy of a canvas “being painted twice.” As much as it should be, this will most likely not be a song you’ll hear played on the radio, but it will no doubt become one many young adults will relate to and grab hold of immediately.
“Colors” paints the picture of God’s immense love for His children, while the bubbly “Live For Love” tells the listener do to just that. It’s a great song and a timeless reminder that if we have love, we have everything we need to live. The whispery “Remember You” comes in at just under two and a half minutes, and would be considered more of an interlude than a song, but it’s because of the mystery it expresses that you can’t help but come back and listen to it over and over again.
The album comes to a close with the heavily 80s-inspired “I’m With You,” the surefire standout track on the record. Infusing techno pop with grungy guitars and adding in an awesome message of the hope we have in God’s love, it’ll only leave you wanting more. Of all the styles of music this band tackles on this project, this is the one I’d love to see them pursue more of in the future. It ends this album on a high note.
Closing Thoughts:
The year 2011 has seen a list of fantastic debut albums from artists that are sure to become future leaders in our industry, and I can say with full assurance, We Are Leo not only makes that list, but they’re out to top it. Hello is a solid pop/rock record I recommend to all fans of the genre, but way beyond that, I recommend it to anyone looking for lyrics that move them to worship and overwhelm them with heartfelt truths. Great things lie ahead for this band, and I certainly speak for many when I say, we are all looking forward to it.
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