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River (1998) by Jamie Soles

© Jason Ewert

River (1998)
Jamie Soles
Reviewed By Jason Ewert

Much of contemporary Christian music is like bubble-gum for the ears: it tastes good but doesn't have a whole lot of nourishment. Recent studies show that a person can lose up to 11 pounds in a year if they chew gum all their waking hours. So far no studies have been carried out concerning the weight-loss benefits of contemporary Christian music. We'll keep you posted.

Though some contemporary Christian music is skilful and enjoyable, the number of artists whose lyrics are more than spiritual baby-food is somewhat sparse. It is refreshing to find a performer whose music is both well-produced and has substantive lyrics. Although you won't be seeing life-size cardboard figures of him in your local Christian book store, Jamie Soles has combined both qualities in his album, River. This is music with both depth and beauty.

With the exception of the electric and ebow guitars (skilfully played by Eldon Winter), Jamie performs all of the instruments on River and arranges and produces all of the songs. This is made all the more remarkable by the fact that each song has a different sound to it, another thing somewhat rare in the Christian music world.

A striking quality of Jamie's music is its honesty. It is apparent when he sings, 'You Oh Lord, are the Lord my God / I will have no other gods,' that he means exactly what he says. From the lullaby 'Close Your Eyes (Timbrel's Lullaby)' to the anthemic 'No Other Gods,' this album provides passionate vocals which stir the heart deep within. The harmony vocals also stand out, showing Jamie's skill at arranging vocal tracks.

This emphasis on vocals is shown at the very beginning of the CD with 'Love of the Lord,' an a cappella song reminding us of the truth of Romans 8:35-39: Nothing can separate us from the love of the Lord when we are His. The title track also features powerful vocals and attractive harmonies employed at the high point of the song. Although he prefers to keep to a folk-like tune, Jamie is not afraid to introduce elements of rock, as in the more upbeat song, 'No Other Gods.' What makes this song so compelling, is the poetically rephrased words of the Ten Commandments, performed with skill and force. Whether he is playing rock'n'roll or soft lullabies, you don't want to skip to the next song while listening to this CD.

A prominent attribute of the album is the acoustic guitar. The more upbeat songs feature enjoyable, energetic

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