Sonic Sampler
Posted January 12, 2014
By JJFrancesco_NRT, Staff Reviewer
With a commanding rock voice that would sound at home on many a rock album, Jake Hamilton has opted to start 2014 with a release that offers quite the eclectic smorgasbord of musical styles.
Some of the more overt rock styles are quite noticeable in the straightforward worshipful openers "Behold God Is Great" and "I Love Your Presence." There's a definite energy to these that helps lyrics that would otherwise come off as overly safe feel a lot more fitting.
The title track and "Just Beyond The Breaking" offer a softer sound that is quite the contrast to the openers, and the lyrical depth also digs a bit deeper to help create some more well-rounded and emotional moments. "All I can offer is skin and bone to the greatest love I've ever known" stands as one of the more poignant and resonating lyrical moments on the album.
"The Father's Song" continues this trend with a soothing guitar riff that carries quite the rural feel. The song is effective in conveying a desire to be close with God that fits in well with the praising lyrics of other cuts. It's in moments like these that the album feels like it's the most honest and meaty.
But Hamilton doesn't stay too long in the soft ballad territory, revving up the rock for the remainder of the album. "My Ballad to the Church of Laodocea" shines the brightest of the bunch with a memorable melodic chorus and some industrial hooks that call to mind some of the older Skillet material.
The themes of the album are constantly vertical and fairly straightforward in their approach. The album never falters in its focus on God and doesn't particularly demand much interpretation from listeners, instead opting to encourage and remind of Biblical truths.
Closing Thoughts:
While the album does feel a bit uneven at times, with the softer materials feeling very clustered together amidst the more edgy cuts, such things are secondary to the admirable craftsmanship that has gone into each of the tracks and to the honest cries of praise that echo with every note.
Jake Hamilton blends influences from a myriad of sources, from modern rock to contemporary worship to southern ballads, to create a fairly consistent sound that feels familiar and yet still fresh. The album is definitely solid and varied enough to keep things interesting throughout.
Song to Download Now:
"Just Beyond The Breaking" View All Music And Book Reviews By JJFrancesco_NRT | View JJFrancesco_NRT's Profile
|
