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

JFH Music Review




The Myriad
You Can't Trust A Ladder



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 37 minutes, 49 seconds
Street Date: June 14, 2005


The revival of 80s alternative music has hit the mainstream market like a flood, with bands such as The Muse, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and Modest Mouse becoming huge successes. So it was only a matter of time before the popularity of this new indie sound spilled over into the Christian market. The Myriad is one of the bands that are leading the charge of this new popular sound onto the Christian music scene, creating a sound that fuses indie with progressive rock.

The Myriad's ethereal sound starts with vocalist/guitarist Jeremy Edwardson, whose sounds like Matthew Bellamy (Muse) meets Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), and ends up being haunting yet melodic. In fact, at times the band sounds like Queens of the Stone Age with toned down guitars and more amplified keyboards. Strangely, however, when the band moves into their acoustic and piano driven ballads, they end up sounding somewhat like Switchfoot and Coldplay. The group doesn't break any new ground musically, sharing many similarities with Muse and Radiohead, and they seem to struggle to find their own sound at the beginning of the album. However, as the album progresses, the band is able to more readily define themselves and find their musical footing.

The heavier songs on the album are solid, but nothing spectacular. The guitars and bass on songs such as "Stretched," "Tethered" and "Nothing Is Safe" have the same dirty tone, leaving it up to the synthesizer to give some individuality to each song. It's the mellower, acoustic ballads where this band seems to find their niche. The Myriad doesn't put their sound in a box as much on tracks such as "The Last Time" and "A New Language," allowing themselves to hang loose and give the songs a more complete sound. In fact, the best song on the album is the last track, "We Will Be Disappointed Together," a ballad that has more emotion and build than any other song on the record.

Lyrically, the band showcases its ability to write well thought out songs, but sometimes they come off a little vague. For example, in "10,000 x 10,000" Edwardson sings "And I've given all I have/ I've given my whole soul/ I'm ready to go." It's tough to tell here whether he is discussing giving up or having poured his whole life into something great. Yet on "The Last Time," the band makes a very clear statement: "How can we risk not knowing the end of night/ in the hour of longing, we will spark a myriad of lights."

The Myriad have created an album that should make some noise in the Christian industry. However, one has to wonder if this band, as well as other artists from the same genre, will be able to morph their sound when the indie fad inevitably dies out. Nonetheless, this is a strong freshman effort from a young band on the rise.

- Review date: 6/19/05, written by Jason Ingersoll



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Floodgate Records
. Album length: 11 tracks, 37 minutes and 49 seconds
. Street Date: June 14, 2005
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Stretched Over
  2. When Fire Falls
  3. 10,000 x 10,000
  4. The Last Time
  5. Perfect Obligation
  6. Tethered
  7. Godray
  8. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
  9. A New Language
  10. Nothing Is Safe
  11. We Will Be Disappointed Together
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

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

Search JFH




This Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]

Next Friday, November 15, 2024
ALBUMS
Dolly Parton & Family Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables [Owepar Entertainment]
The Lore Family Faith Over Fear [Horizon]
Fernando Ortega For All the Saints - EP (independent)
Earnest Pugh Worth is the Lamb
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) - EP [Curb]
Paul Wright III Reverie [United Alliance]

SINGLES
Big Dismal Here In My Heart - Single (independent)
Hannah Kerr It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Single [Curb]
Olivia Lane Silent Night - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Wake Up It's Christmas - Single [BEC]
Jamie MacDonald A Million Chances - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ronnie Martin On Christmas Morning - Single [Velvet Blue]
Hunter Plake Daylight - Single [BEC]
Jordan St. Cyr Christ is Here - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Divine Discontent Vinyl [Word]



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