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

JFH Music Review


Chris August, Seasons
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Chris August
Seasons



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop
Album length: 8 tracks: 25 minutes, 44 seconds
Street Date: June 1, 2018


READER RATING:   


In 2011, Chris August was a Dove Award winning prospect for good things to come as indicated by him winning both New Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. His hit song, "Starry Night," topped the Billboard Christian Songs chart during that time, but it seems that in the years since then, he has flown mostly under everyone's radar without much fanfare to his name. Unfortunately, for the most part, his newest album (which he released himself without the support of a record label), Seasons, continues that trend. While there are some good fun pop jams to be had here, they are held back by tracks that range from forgettable to regrettable with vapid lyricism that leaves much to be desired.

The opening track, "Nothing's Beyond Broken," has a relatively low BPM, but a very high energy level, starting the album off on potentially its highest note. Later on, songs such as "Worry," which riffs on Jesus encouraging His disciples in Matthew 6, and "Everything," where Chris acknowledges that he is to give God everything as it belongs to Him already, are head bopping, radio-friendly jams that you could find yourself humming even after the album has run its pretty short 25-minute course. Acoustic guitar riffs, which bring to mind a Jason Mraz or Ed Sheeran feel, with well-placed EDM backed choruses (as seen on most of the tracks), are pleasant to the ears, and it is hard to not nod along with the rhythm. As good as those tracks can be however, there are some serious missteps as well, such as when Chris attempts a rap breakdown on "Delivery" or a pseudo metal/rock sound on "Moonlight" that make both feel awkward and disjointed from the rest of the record. While there are things to be appreciated here from a pop music standpoint, the lyrics are a different story.

In many cases, pop music can be given a pass on lackluster messaging, but when lyrics are particularly cringe-worthy, it is impossible to ignore. It isn't that anything August sings about on the album is inherently wrong, there just is no depth beyond the surface, and some of those surfaces are pretty corny. "Lips" contains the lines "I know my heart was A.D.D/A rollercoaster of belief/But there is a path where You said the past is left with no power to last;" the title track, "Seasons," is both awkward and confusing with "To know what's hot, you gotta know what's cold/And when it froze, had to let it go/Now what I've got is not a season thing/'Cause time can pass and it won't change;" and even the title track has the incredibly strange comparison, "If You can take a cross and resurrect up something good/You can do the same for me."

Ultimately, Seasons isn't completely without some merit. There is some fun to be had with a few of the tracks on this release. While there is something to be said for an uplifting and inoffensive toe tapper that you can sing along with without engaging your mind, it is too bad that even with those criteria, August's newest offering can easily be skipped without much love lost.

- Review date: 6/9/18, written by Mike Knipp of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 8 tracks: 25 minutes, 44 seconds
. Street Date: June 1, 2018
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Nothing's Beyond Broken (4:16)
  2. Seasons (2:42)
  3. Lips (2:48)
  4. Worry (3:42)
  5. Delivery (3:24)
  6. Moonlight (3:27)
  7. You and Me (2:57)
  8. Everything (2:28)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next 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]



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