Daylight is already here
Posted September 01, 2008
By Nathan,
It seems that when artists team up with dove award producer Ian Eskelin good things happen. It happened again for the four brothers of Remedy Drive. The indie rock band’s second album, Daylight Is Coming, doesn’t look like it will fall into a sophomore slump that some fall into. On the contrary, the Nebraska foursome’s album is looking to become one of the year’s favorites.
Lead Singer David Zach’s voice is similar to Jon Forman of Switchfoot, but the music is harder to find a comparison. The medium rock/pop is often piano based, especially on “what happens (at the end)” where the piano plays a big part in carrying the chorus and David’s vocals get the most aggressive to the slightly melancholy song. Half of “stand up” is intro, but that is not a bad thing because the tune of the song is solemn before it kicks into a upbeat rock tune (setting the stage for the album mood?). Even with their rough verse, the chorus of the upbeat piano “valuable” is very inspirational, and it doesn’t end there, as the songs shines in the bridge also. The solemn sound in “daylight” is well placed particularly when it sounds up beat as the same time, also the alternative spin on the pop rock is very welcome.
“Something made to last” has a big base and some good riffs in the album’s hardest song, however even though the rock song doesn’t take any falls the rock song isn’t as cutting edge as some rockers and the song flies by too quickly. Chock it up to experience, and expect when Remedy Drive gives fans harder rock they will slow it down to give the maximum enjoyment to their listeners. Even with their rough verse, the chorus of the upbeat piano “valuable” is very inspirational, and it doesn’t end there, as the songs shines in the bridge also. The solemn sound in “daylight” is well placed particularly when it sounds up beat as the same time; also the alternative spin on the pop rock is very welcome. Remedy Drive does a great job of finding a happy medium of keeping diversity in their songs while staying attached in their area of music, like “heartbeat”, “hope”, and “belong with you”.
The main focus of the album is the darkness then the dawn the light. Only with a lot of weight on the light as “daylight” stresses. But the album is not without lyrical faults though. Jesus’ name is never mentioned and the metaphor “valuable”, is a little over exaggerated. Enough with the negative now because there is too much good stuff in Daylight is Coming to get to throw out. While God’s name is not mentioned Remedy Drive certainly makes it clear who they are singing about in the phenomenal “something made to last” (‘Rock and roll - happiness - diamond rings/These are the best of the temporary things/There must be more for us/'Cause it's all turning into dust…A kingdoms coming /And it won't stop running/It won't fade away’) and “valuable” (‘The scar that's in my side says/As the sea is wide my love is more so… Don’t you know the blood I bleed is for you/don't you know’).
Eternal messages that show up are man’s weakness and God’s strength (‘My rock and mighty fortress/I'm walking in your promise/Your love will remain’), salvation (‘You heard me cry emergency/Screaming out for help/You saved me from myself’), and a man who has lost his fire but still gives thanks to God (“sunshine above the weather”, “what happens (at the end)”, and “heartbeat” respectively). Tired sand castles being washed away the singer realizes that only God can fill him in “all along” (‘And I'm left back where I began tonight/The only thing that can ever fill me up /Has been right in front of me all the time’). Even when spiritual matters are not on front of their songs they still have great things to say about a couple falling into tough times on “hope” and moving past our defeats in “stand up” (‘Why does our brokenness keep whispering/It's telling us that we're not anything/I say no fall is going to keep us out/This fear is something we'll forget about’).
It’s tough to fathom that in eleven tracks there are no throw away songs, no musically and not lyrically. It’s not often to find a band such as Remedy Drive who excels as both their melodies and their lyrics. Daylight Is Coming doesn’t stay in the darkness long, and when they do it’s to prove that the sunshine is right there for those who put their trust in God. A flat out terrific album.
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