While Powell himself has already tested the solo waters with a pair of albums in 2012 and 2014, 3D guitarist Mark Lee is only just now dipping his feet in that same pond with his current five-song project, Unshakable Heart. Timing in at just over eighteen minutes, the all-too-brief extended player will undoubtedly bring a glimmer to the eye of Christian pop listeners old enough to remember the rock-solid melodies, irresistible hooks and soaring harmonies favored by artists such as Smalltown Poets, The Waiting, and Seven Day Jesus, who, like Third Day, began plying their trade in earnest during the middle portion of the nineties.
Its consummate use of tune and riffs notwithstanding, the EP's winningest asset may well be its surprisingly eclectic nature. Sounding, for the most part, very little like the Southern-tinged rock and radio-ready soft-pop put forth by Lee's former group, Unshakable Heart finds its author turning his attention to buoyant Beatlesque pop ("Hurt Road"); atmospheric The Choir-like indie rock ("Glorious One"), engaging country/pop (the title cut) and sparse, acoustic singer/songwriter balladry ("When the Rain Comes," originally from Third Day's Come Together album) that would surely have earned Jim Croce's stamp of approval had it been written during the early seventies.
On top of all of this, Lee's vocals - which, up to this point, have perhaps understandably been relegated to the background behind Powell's unique and formidable voice - are a real revelation. Neither tentative nor over the top, Lee's singing, like his guitar playing, is a veritable case study in knowing exactly what, and how much, to put forth in service of a given track. To be sure, the clarity and steadfastness with which he delivers his vocals are the silver thread that neatly stitches together each of the release's diverse entries into a coherent, well-arranged, whole.
The album's sheer number of stylistic detours may leave more than a few listeners scratching their heads when it comes to pinning down Lee's underlying musical identity. But given the fact that he's able to tackle so many genres so convincingly here on the first record, it would seem almost a given that no matter which route he chooses to take the next time around, the results are bound to be just as impressive as they are here on his absolutely auspicious debut.
- Review date: 5/24/18, written by Bert Gangl of Jesusfreakhideout.comRecord Label: None
Scotty Iman to Deliver "My God" Full Album March 22 Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:00:00 EST |
Michael Knott Passed Away on March 12, 2024 at Age 61 Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:40:00 EST |
Iveth Luna Drops New Single, "Right On Time" Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:00:00 EST |
Bethel Music Releases New Live Album, "Moments: Wait" Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:50:00 EST |
Newsboys Announce New 2-Part Album, Release First Single Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:30:00 EST |
Curb Records' Big Daddy Weave Releases Rally Cry, "Let It Begin" Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:10:00 EST |
Barbara Mandrell Celebrates 35th Anniversary of "Precious Memories" Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:00:00 EST |
Demi-Leigh Tebow to release debut book this August Mon, 18 Mar 2024 21:20:38 +0000 |
LIFELINE CHILDREN’S SERVICES, GRUPO NELSON PUBLISHERS CO-HOST BOOK LAUNCH AND SIGNING FOR “WHOSE AM I?” Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:49:00 +0000 |
EEM’s Bibles for Kids Initiative to Provide 570,000 Free Bibles to Children & Teens in 2024 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:33:43 +0000 |