I let things slide for a while on checking out new sounds, but I got myself back on track as soon as I realized it.Heard, but not yet bought
From the Collection
- Lucerin Blue: Lots like P.O.D., but often on the lighter edge of hardcore. For me, there was too much scream/growl in the vocals. [3]
- Downhere: Lightish rock with lots of country influence. Tears for Fears-like vocals in many places. Softer Newsboys style also came to mind while listening. Downhere's just on the tolerable side of the stereotype. [3]
- Knowdaverbs: On the same day I got Lucerin Blue, Parachute Band and Downhere, I got Knowdaverbs. I was quite surprised. Even though it's rap, it was a pleasant change from the soft ordinary stuff I'd been hearing. Rap, but not angry rap. There was enough melody to keep it from sounding like one long song. Some sing/rap. It was a fun listen. [benefit-of-doubt 4]
- Silers Bald: Light acoustic rock with country influences. Relaxed, bordering on boring, but not quite. [benefit-of-doubt 4]
- Sackcloth Fashion: Wide stylistic range of music to mostly, but not all, rap. I heard male and female vocals, and Celtic, country, nightclub, hard rock and more in the instrumentals. Lyrically, they honestly touched on some hard topics without flinching. Sackcloth Fashion could almost use a content warning on the label. I was rather impressed. [4]
- !Hero the Rock Opera: Once again, the harp-music and beams of light hit at the Hastings used-CD rack! How many readers remember back in 1973, when Jesus Christ Superstar (JCSS) came out? Wow, that was over 30 years ago! I went to the movie with my high school youth group, and we discussed it heavily on our return. They took lots of artistic liberties, and ended the story with the Crucifixion. !Hero took its artistic liberties, too, but unlike JCSS, it took the story through the rest of the Gospel, and we get to re-experience the Resurrection. That Resurrection is one of the biggest points of the Gospel. Through Jesus, we have power over death. (Enough preaching, and back on track.)
!Hero is made of a diverse mix of rock styles including rap, ballads and some rather heavy stuff in pure rock. The story is told as though Jesus were born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and takes place in an inner-city setting. Christian rock operas are probably an article in themselves, so I'll let this end with !Hero is a must-add for your music collections. I'm anxiously awaiting the video. [strong 5]
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