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My Flesh Heart, Where I'm Going (2009)
/ MySpace
My Flesh Heart (a great name, check Ezekiel 11:19 for more info) is the brainchild of singer/songwriter Ben Cardenas.
His four song Where I'm Going EP is a thoughtful, low-key meditation on love and sacrifice. The songwriting is
good, the vocals are adequate, but at times they suffer from the apparent lack of a recording/production budget. This
raw recording shows some promise, and I look forward to hearing more from Mr. Cardenas.
- Rob Tyson, 6/18/09
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Folk / Acoustic |
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Keith Elgin, 360:God (2009)
/ KeithElgin.com
Keith Elgin is a Modern Worship artist from Fairfax Station, VA. Following up his 2005 debut, Seize the Day,
Elgin offers a solid collection of songs that work both in the CD player and on Sunday morning. Production work by Jason
Hoard and Bob Dawson on the record is crisp, though not particularly different or inventive. My only disappointment here
is not with the artist so much as with the current trends in Worship as a whole. Elgin follows the "Worship Record Formula"
closely, including plenty of Worship Buzzwords and phrases and generic titles ("You Alone," "Worship the King," "With You,"
etc.) and even finishes the record off with a hymn (very trendy). The high point of the release? The simple yet profound
"Only You" is great on the record, and sounds like an ideal song for a live worship set. This is recommended for fans
of Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Charlie Hall.
- Rob Tyson, 6/18/09
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Modern Worship |
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Constant Recourse, Remain (2009)
/ ConstantRecourse.com
Philadelphia area band Constant Recourse has released their second full-length release, Remain.
The five-member band doesn't really bring anything musically different to the discussion, but do a good enough job to make the
whole pop/rock record worth a listen. I like Benjamin Mell's lyrics (specifically "Convince Myself" and "Nothing to Live For")....
on paper at least. There seem to be some points where the lyrics and music don't work like they should, but the band beats the
square peg into the round hole anyway. This is a good record, but a few changes would make it buzzworthy.
- Rob Tyson, 6/10/09
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Pop / Rock |
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Michael McClead, Michael McClead (2008)
/ MichaelMcClead.com
Michael McClead is a singer/songwriter from Yorkville, Illinois. There are many varied sounds on the record, from hip hop
loops to simple acoustic guitar to string accompaniments. The one constant is the vocally distinct, gravel toned voice of
Mr. McClead. Sometimes it works (like the opening track "Angel of Mine") and sometimes it does not ("No Reasons Why").
The production work is good, but not as good as McClead, wearing the producer's hat, might think. By leaning on some
production twists and trickery, it sounds at times like he lacks confidence in the songs that he has written. There is more
good than bad to be found here, however, and the debut record from Michael McClead is worth checking out.
- Rob Tyson, 6/4/09
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Alternative |
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Dan Macaulay, The Listening EP (2009)
/ DanMacaulay.com
Dan Macaulay's four-song The Listening EP sounds as good as anything we've heard here at the
JFH Indie Office, and it should. Macaulay is a two time Shai Award winner (The Canadian version of the Doves) including the
2007 Male Soloist of the Year award. The tracks were produced by Nathan Nockels (Passion, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman) and
sound like most of the better Modern Worship that is coming out of Nashville today. Though I am disappointed by the brevity
of the release, it is clear that Dan Macaulay is a name to look for in the near future.
- Rob Tyson, 5/19/09
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Pop / Worship |
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David Santistevan, Near (2008)
/ DavidSantistevan.com
David Santistevan is a singer/songwriter and modern worship artist from the Pittsburgh area.
The very first impression of the record was that it sounded like something coming out of Nashville. That's a good thing.
Sound and production quality can lessen to impact of an otherwise strong record, but that is not the case here. The opener,
"Glory of Your Name," gets things off to a great start, and the closing track, "Forever Near," brings the record to a great
close. I only wish that the middle was a little more consistent. There are some good tracks, but it is largely forgettable.
There weren't any bad songs here, just not a lot of stand out tracks. Overall, a good effort.
- Rob Tyson, 4/17/09
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Praise & Worship |
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Corrin Campbell, Exhibit A (2008)
/ CorrinCampbell.net
Who is Corrin Campbell? After listening to this record, I have no idea. I can tell you that she's Baltimore based,
and that she writes her own songs, but that's as far as I can go. The tracks on this record are all over the place, but I would
say that she falls somewhere between Fireflight and Stephanie Smith. Her vocals are drowned out by the music on much of the
release. The production itself is lacking, and the record as a whole lacks direction. The two acoustic tracks at the end keep
this from straying into "trainwreck" territory. It sounds like Corrin has some talent and tools to make a better record
than this. I'll be glad to give her another shot in the future.
- Rob Tyson, 4/17/09
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Rock / Pop |
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David James Stewart, Things That Make Us (2009)
/ DavidJamesStewart.com
David James Stewart is a singer/songwriter from Minneapolis, the music hotbed of the Upper Midwest.
After one listen, I was all over this record. The production, which Stewart handled himself, is almost perfect. The record
sounds great, so Stewart the producer/engineer gets a thumbs up. After listening a few more times, I found a couple of things
that kept me from giving the record a full endorsement. Vocally, Stewart is cut from the same cloth as Matt Kearney.
This would be fine except for one problem: Stewart's songwriting isn't a strong point. He leans hard on worn out cliches
and imagery, making otherwise strong tracks seem a bit weaker than they should be. Again, this is a wonderful record to
have playing as background music and makes a great first impression, but additional listening may disappoint.
- Rob Tyson, 4/11/09
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Contemporary / Pop |
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Jay Tholen, His Shadow Is Light (2008)
/ JayTholen.net
Jay Tholen offers up a very interesting musical journey with His Shadow Is Light. The heavily electronic,
experimental EP is a far cry from anything you are likely to hear on Christian radio. Boasting Psychedelic and World Music
influences, Tholen weaves together a patchwork that is likely to attract fans of Danielson, Soul Junk, and mewithoutYou.
The most compelling track is the epic, seven minute "A Lesson in Trust." This is a terrific record, though disappointing in
that it is just five tracks and 22 minutes long.
- Rob Tyson, 4/3/09
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Electronic |
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HarvestBloom, HarvestBloom EP (2009)
/ HarvestBloom.net
Artists are asked to send us a promo pack with band info along with the music that we review here at JFH Indies.
The HarvestBloom promo photo shows four very friendly people, sitting around a kitchen table in a nice middle class
kitchen, doing their Bible study and drinking warm beverages from sizable mugs. I am prepared for some nice happy
folk-pop a la Caedmon's Call or Sara Groves. Not even close. HarvestBloom is a rock band out of Silver Spring,
Maryland that brings to mind the likes of Brooke Barretsmith or even Fireflight. This six-track EP is loaded with
strong musicianship, as well as good vocals from Anji Cornette and decent songwriting. In all, a good first effort.
- Rob Tyson, 2/28/09
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Rock |
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The Emberlight, Don't You Love It EP (2007)
/ TheEmberlight.com
The Emberlight, a four-man-band lead by Andy Rosko, is something to be impressed with. These guys have the
production and sound more than taken care of, despite being independent, and are now in need of fans. Swinging in-between
the genres of electronica rock and power-pop, sounding like a Christian version of Cobra Starship. Stemming from their
energetic and fun sound, this four song EP has a lot to offer. Anyone jamming to Don't You Love It will more than
likely find themselves dancing, especially to "Headset Radio." Approaching the lyrics with a "rebel without a cause"
attitude, they seem a bit simplified at times. Other times, however, the words have a larger appeal. Case in point,
"Hypocritical" is a haunting, yet electrified, song which speaks about the fallacies of being two-faced - with the trite
phrase "Do as I say, not as I do" echoing long after the song ends. Depth aside, I still could not help wishing for
a full-length album instead. Overall, The Emberlight is a noteworthy indie and look forward to another release.
- Zachary Anderson, 2/18/09
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Pop Rock |
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One Minute Halo, Places EP (2008)
/ OneMinuteHaloMusic.com
One Minute Halo's recent EP, Places, is one of those hidden nuggets you come across while
searching the internet for new and exciting Christian music. With the four song EP being their first release since 2005,
OMH hopes to use a little to gain a lot; both in respect and fans. As you listen to OMH's lead Jeromy Moorehead blast your
speakers with his likeable vocals (especially during head-banging favorite, "Far Too Long") you'd have to wonder why such
talent hasn't been scooped up yet. Sure the sound is reminiscent of more popular bands in the genre and a lot of listeners
may attempt to put these guys in a box and toss them aside, but the heart behind the band is evident. OMH pens honest,
personal lyrics making it a one-two punch when the music and words collide beautifully. Unfortunately, at four songs,
the album is over before it really begins. But I digress; there is nothing but good things coming from Places.
With the EP showcasing both spectrums of the hard and soft of OMH, I can only anticipate a future full-length release with
baited breath.
- Zachary Anderson, 2/18/09
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Rock |
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Modern Dissent, Rise Me Up With You (2008)
/ ModernDissent.com
Modern Dissent is a rock band out of the great northwest. This five piece from has been together
since mid-2007, and released their first record in July of 2008. The record drips with a slightly dated, grunge/alternative
production that is more understandable coming from a Spokane, Washington band. It is certainly forgivable, though
I suspect that their live show would be more varied in sound than on this release. I hear The Blues trying to slip through on
occasion, but the production muddles it into something more generic, into a trip to mid-nineties sounds of Poor Old Lu or
Model Engine. The listener can still find a few bright spots, so hopefully their next release picks up on the promise that
is shown in songs like "The Highest, Holy Name."
- Rob Tyson, 2/9/09
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Alt Rock |
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Rivenside, I Thirst For You EP (2008)
/ MySpace
Rivenside is a worship band from the musical hotbed located in the greater Houston area. Anchored by co-writers
Jordan Dunn and Brandon Rich, the band has released this EP in 2008 to give people a taste of what Rivenside has to
offer before returning to the studio to put together a full record. These four songs are a start, but there will need to
be great strides made before I get excited about the next release. Worship records are a tricky business... based on
what we hear so far, this doesn't appear to be a band that is bound for a deal with SixSteps or Integrity.
Rivenside instead is more a band that could be leading meaningful worship services at their church, bringing people in their community
closer to God with original worship instead of leaning on the Tomlin/Baloche/Hillsong songlist that most other churches
are using. That is not bad thing to aspire to, though, is it?
- Rob Tyson, 1/2/09
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Praise & Worship |
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