Artist Info:Discography Album length: 10 tracks: 37 minutes, 46 seconds Street Date: April 8, 2003
In 2003, Seventh Day Slumber released their third album, Picking Up the Pieces. Compared to the 2005 hit
album, Once Upon a Shattered Life, Picking Up the Pieces is a letdown and a novice effort at best. Although the band is very
talented instrumentally, the majority of the songs don't blend well together and certain instrument combinations made them difficult and
almost frustrating to listen to. Along with instrumental confusion, the vocals sounded slightly off key on more than one occasion.
Lyrically speaking, the word choice was also rather poor. On a few of the songs, the lyrics did not quite fit the tune, and sometimes
the descriptions were weak. You can tell that the band tried to think of insightful things to say, but they seemed to have a bit of
difficulty putting those thoughts on paper.
Despite the negatives, the band really did have some good messages to get across. "I Know" talks about how difficult and hopeless
life can seem sometimes, but also that there is more than what our eyes can see. Life has deeper meaning, and that meaning is Jesus
Christ. "Something" talks about a person who is fighting to stay alive. After the world left him hurt and empty, he is broken and down
on his knees, crying out to God; now realizing his dependence and need for Him, the only fulfiller and satisfier in this life.
Songs like that presenta good message and many of them mirrored the incredible testimony of the band's lead singer Joseph Rojas, who
dedicated his life to Christ after a nearly life-long addiction to drugs almost killed him. Musically, however, there was a lack of
variety, and the album doesn't offer much to warrant repeated listens.
Picking Up the Pieces sounds more like a couple of guys messing around in their garage than the well-known Christian music
artists Seventh Day Slumber have become today. Even though this album was a nice try, their 2005 release, Once Upon a Shattered Life,
was considerably better in every aspect of the word "quality."
- JfH Reader REVIEW:
Review date: 1/29/03, written by Mary Leimgruber for Jesusfreakhideout.com
Artist Info:Discography Record Label: Crowne Music Group
Album length: 10 tracks: 37 minutes, 46 seconds
Street Date: April 8, 2003
Buy It:Amazon.com (2003 original)
Buy It:JfH Music Store (2005 re-issue)
Artist Info: 
