Two Gems and a Headache

Hey hey, here are some reviews of music that I have bought and listened to lately. I will put links for all three of them to places where you can go and listen to some songs for free, so be sure to check them out! Ok, let's get into it...

First up today is Derek Webb, whose most recent album, Mockingbird, was released late last year. Webb's music is classified as "folk rock," and I think that's a pretty fair description. Musically, there is not much variety on this album, but this style works very well for Derek Webb. Think lots of acoustic guitars, soft drums, piano, and a smattering of various other instruments. Webb has a voice that is very easy to listen to. It's not perfect, and it won't blow you away, but it's very nice; somehow he manages to be both mellow and passionate. Perhaps the passion comes from the deeply honest and emotional lyrics, which are undoubtedly the best part of this album. Webb isn't afraid to bring tough subjects to light, and he forces his listeners to make decisions about topics such as social justice, materialism and war without pointing fingers at anyone but himself. In fact, Webb is so committed to the message of his music that he is offering the entire album absolutely free until December 1, 2006. You can get it at FreeDerekWebb.com. You do need to tell 5 friends about the album to get it, but feel free to use my two email addresses (jilllawton@sbcglobal.net, laji123@optonline.net) if you don't want to send it to other people. Or you can check Derek Webb out on purevolume, where you can listen to a few songs before deciding whether to download it or not. This is free music at its best, people... go take advantage of it! Highlight Tracks: "A New Law", "A King A Kingdom", "Rich Young Ruler", "My Enemies Are Men Like Me".

This next album is one that I was very excited about getting. In fact, I spent $12 on it on iTunes (I don't know why it's more expensive than everything else; it only has 13 songs), and it has probably been my biggest musical disappointment this year. It's Stellar Kart's album We Can't Stand Sitting Down. Now, I should be fair; in small doses, Stellar Kart sounds very good and is very fun. Stellar Kart's website describes the music as "fun, frantic, frenetic music," and that is a very accurate description. Ironically, lead singer Adam Agee described the album as "diverse," but nearly every song on this album sounds exactly the same. You get 12 pop punk rock songs that never give your ears a break (with the exception of the heartfelt "Angels in Chorus"); even the songs that try to be ballads never quite succeed. I'm sure that Agee has a good voice, but this album does nothing to showcase it, as he manages to shout his way through most of the album. As far as lyrics go, these are meaningful and well-phrased, but they present nothing that we haven't heard before. With all that said, this is an entertaining album to listen to, but you have to be in a very high-energy mood to get through the whole thing. You can listen to some of Stellar Kart's songs on purevolume, or you can find the whole album on iTunes. Highlight tracks: "Activate", "Always Waiting", "Finding Out", "Angels in Chorus".

Last up tonight is an album that is quickly becoming a personal favorite: Anberlin's Never Take Friendship Personal. This is alternative rock music at its best. This album is full of sweeping melodies, catchy choruses and magnificent guitar action. It's very nice. Lead singer Stephen Christian has a great, unique voice, and he actually sings his music (except in the dark "The Feel-Good Drag", in which he very effectively utilizes the screaming technique). This album's lyrics show a level of maturity that is rare in modern music, and they choose to write about real material without falling into sugarcoated nonsense. Their songs discuss love, with both its joys and its dysfunctions. I'll break it down a little for you: the first 8 songs on the album are excellent, really high-quality music. Then comes "Audrey, Start the Revolution", which isn't a bad song, but the lyrics feel a little disjointed to me. The intrumental "A Heavy Hearted Work of Staggering Genius" is the only song on the album that I dislike; it just seems kind of pointless and is not particularly enjoyable. Luckily, the album ends on a strong note with "Dance, Dance Christa Paffgen", which clocks in at 7:06, but which is yet another slab of musical genius. You can listen to or download (for free!) some of Anberlin's songs on purevolume, or you can find the whole album on iTunes. Highlight tracks: "Paperthin Hymn", "Stationary Stationery", "A Day Late", "The Feel-Good Drag".

Ok, this is long, so bye.

Jill