Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


One Sonic Society, Live At The Tracking Room
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

One Sonic Society
Live At The Tracking Room



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 58 minutes, 44 seconds
Street Date: July 13, 2012 (Digital) / October 2, 2012 (CD)


Despite what would likely be their protestations to the contrary, the members of One Sonic Society have arguably created what has perennially been one of the shortest-lived phenomenons known to the music business - the supergroup. Made up of esteemed composer Jason Ingram, former Delirious? members Stuart Gerrard (guitar) and Jonathan Thatcher (bass), and Hillsong United drummer Paul Mabury, the copiously-credentialed international foursome has slowly, but surely, carved out a slot for itself in the modern praise & worship arena over the course of three EPs and its debut full-length outing, 2011's Forever Reign.

While the majority of bands seem to be driven by the musical inclinations of either their lead singers or most prominent guitarist, the OSS bunch most closely mirrors the sonic proclivity of Mabury's former outfit. Indeed, with their chorus-styled lead vocals, meandering melodies and unrelentingly mid-tempo rhythms, "Always," "Lay Me Down" and "Higher Than All" - the three of which are sequenced one after the other near the beginning of the album - could well have been outtakes from any of the last handful of Hillsong United releases.

Of course, this unmistakable similarity, in and of itself, is hardly a bad thing, particularly in light of the fact that Mabury, himself, may well have had much to do with the sonic textures on at least some of the HU records in question to begin with. The problem, however, lies in the fact that the abovementioned entries, along with similarly generic cuts like "Jesus, Son of God" and "Almighty God," have very little appreciable hook or melody to sink one's teeth into. Indeed, many a listener would be hard-pressed to sing any one of these individual tracks from memory even after multiple listens.

In its defense, the songs on Live At The Tracking Room are scripturally-based, lyrically unambiguous and ultimately uplifting. And one gets the sense that, in the live setting, where mood accounts for as much as (if not more than) melody, these cuts would certainly help set, and maintain, a welcome sense of reverence and meditation. Stripped of the surroundings in which they were delivered, though, their reverential tone is significantly muted as they blend together into a mostly like-sounding whole.

The live project does contain one or two glimmers of light. "God You Are My God" and "As for Me" get a slight nod over cuts such as "Higher" and "Always," thanks to the former pair's iridescent electric guitar work and slightly more pronounced melody lines. "The Greatness of our God," which also appeared on the OSS One EP and Forever Reign album, is certainly an engaging, well-delivered pop tune. And "Forever Reign" - hands down, the most transcendently intimate moment here - evokes the warm, intimate sound of a tight-knit group of seasoned jazz musicians huddled together playing the music they love in a tiny, out-of-the-way jazz club after closing time.

By and large, though, where the best live records tend to unearth new facets of, or offer an entirely different slant on, already-familiar favorites, Live At The Tracking Room, with only one or two exceptions, simply offers slightly less-glossily produced versions of the original studio-based compositions. The band does do a nice job of balancing new and previously-released material (roughly a 50/50 mix), and fans of the Society's back catalog - or the Hillsong United back catalog, for that matter - are likely to find the new project equally to their tastes. But, while there's nothing on the out and out off-putting on the live effort, its overly homogenous musical palette and similarity to the OSS cooperative's previous work unfortunately renders it largely superfluous.

- Review date: 8/31/12, written by Bert Gangl of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Essential Worship
. Album length: 11 tracks: 58 minutes, 44 seconds
. Street Date: July 13, 2012 (Digital) / October 2, 2012 (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. The Greatness Of Our God [Live] (5:00)
  2. Lay Me Down [Live] (5:13)
  3. Always [Live] (4:44)
  4. Higher Than All [Live] (5:10)
  5. Holy (Jesus You Are) [Live] (5:31)
  6. Jesus, Son of God [Live] (5:36)
  7. Light Shine In [Live] (4:06)
  8. Almighty God [Live] (6:10)
  9. Forever Reign [Live] (6:12)
  10. As For Me [Live] (6:22)
  11. God You Are My God [Live] (4:45)

 

Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, November 19, 2024
SINGLES
Mat Kearney Certainty - Single (independent)

This Wednesday, November 20, 2024
ALBUMS
1K Phew Let Go Let God: The EP [Reach]

SINGLES
Drew & Ellie Holcomb High Seas - Single [Magnolia]
Sleeping At Last Let It Snow - Single (independent)

This Thursday, November 21, 2024
ALBUMS
The Choir Translucent (independent)

SINGLES
Wilder Woods Curioso [Dualtone]

This Friday, November 22, 2024
ALBUMS
Coqui I'll Still Have Christmas Day - EP [DREAM]
for KING & COUNTRY A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) [Curb]
Hope Through Grace John 20 EP [Southwest Hardcore]
The Kingsmen Decades: Vol. 3 & 4 [Horizon]
Kresher The Adventures of Sylas Spin EP (independent)
Jonathan McReynolds Red & Green - EP [Capitol CMG/Motown]
mewithoutYou Live (Vol. One) (independent)
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (CD Reissue) [Omnivore]
nobigdyl. nobigdyl. Unplugged, Vol. 1 [indie tribe]
Josiah Queen The Prodigal (Deluxe Edition) (independent)
R.kitect Vicious Circles - EP (independent)
Run51 Let's Celebrate - EP [DREAM]
Since The Death His Heart Hates - EP [The Charon Collective]
Van Zant Always Look Up [Frontiers Music]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 1 [Thumper Punk Records]
Various Artists Sunshine Acres Benefit Compilation, Vol. 2 [Thumper Punk Records]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down I Speak Jesus - Single [BEC]
99 APEX Find A Way Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Cory Asbury You're Still The One - Single [BEC]
Ashes Remain Lost Light - Single [BEC]
Paul Baloche Angels We Have Heard On High/Glorious (feat. Sarah Kroger) - Single [Integrity]
Paul Demer Let All Things Now Living - Single (independent)
Elan Brio Sun Rays - Single (independent)
ELEVATION RHYTHM At the Altar (Acoustic) - Single [Elevation]
Happy Powers Garden Song - Single (independent)
Sam Hauge Fame You Can Buy - Single (independent)
Hollyn & Weathrman Trees - Single (independent)
Amy Jay And So It Goes - Single (independent)
Jericko Holy Ground - Single [Syntax]
Reece Lache' Energy - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Presha - Single [Syntax]
Memphis May Fire Shapeshifter - Single [Rise Records]
MŌRIAH Winter Wonderland - Single (independent)
The Myriad Time - Single (independent)
Cliff & Antoinette Murray O Emanuel - Single [DREAM]
Katy Nichole When I Fall - Single [Centricity]
Makenzie Phipps O Holy Night - Single (independent)
Procyse, Dave A. You’re Not Free - Single [Polished Arrow]
Ravenhill The Shakes - Single [Honey Gold Records]
River Valley Worship This is Our Jesus (feat. Moriah Christian) - Single [BEC]
Scapegoat Solace (feat. MajesticGhost) - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Stay (Gonna Be Okay) - Single [Provident]
Jordan Smith How Great Thou Art - Single [Gaither]
TKE3 Found (feat. Leya) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship Royal Son - Single [Integrity]

VINYL
NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1 (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]
NEEDTOBREATHE Live From The Woods (Vinyl Reissue) [Omnivore]

Next Thursday, November 28, 2024
VINYL
Van Zant Always Look Up Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, November 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) [Flatiron]
Thrive Worship Christmas, Vol. 2 - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
ICF Worship Light of the World - Single [Integrity]
Selah Glory Hallelujah (feat. Mike Weaver) - Single [Integrity]
Slow Salvation The Ghost of Christmas Past - Single [Velvet Blue]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship Medley of Hymns - Single [DREAM]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Dawn of Grace (Deluxe) Vinyl (Record Store Day Exclusive!) [Flatiron]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images