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

JFH Music Review


Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul, Illumination
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul
Illumination



Artist Info: Phil Keaggy's Discography
Genre(s): Pop / Rock
Album length: 11 tracks: 45 minutes, 59 seconds
Street Date: April 2, 2019


READER RATING:   


Those who know of Phil Keaggy exclusively by word of mouth are likely only aware of his near-legendary status in Christian music circles as one of the most accomplished musicians ever to pick up a guitar. Fans of the genre whose knowledge extends a bit beyond this well-deserved iconic stature know that, in addition to having crafted a veritable mountain of mind-boggling instrumental pieces and albums over the course of the last five-plus decades, the phenomenally-talented Ohio native is also responsible for generating some of the most infectious and accessible straight-ahead pop/rock releases in the modern-day inspirational catalog.

His latest outing, Illumination, a joint effort with fellow six-string virtuoso Rex Paul, fits squarely into the latter category. The opening cut, "Don't Hold Back," lands roughly at the halfway point between the mellow adult-contemporary undertones of Keaggy's 1995 True Believer album and the rawer, more stripped-back groove of his career-defining Crimson and Blue project from two years earlier. The verses and chorus of "Calling Us Home" call to mind Grand Illusion-era Styx, while its bluesy, more funk-filled outro channels latter-day Extreme. "I Believe" is woven from the same dreamily dissonant fabric as early-period King's X acoustic chestnuts like "Summerland" and "(Thinking and Wondering) What I'm Gonna Do." And "Day of the Lord" is simply breezy, jazz-tinged pop at its finest.

There are one or two missteps among the proceedings. The average '80s aficionado will either grin knowingly or cry foul at the overly close likeness of songs like "Glorify Your Name" and "Nothing Can Separate Us" to their mainstream counterparts (Yes' "Love Will Find a Way" and Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," for the curious) depending on how much of a purist they happen to be. Likewise, listeners who sat back and marveled at the near-unbelievable fretwork on Keaggy's instrumentally-based undertakings may find themselves wishing that he and Paul would really cut loose and let the fireworks fly, particularly on slower, less-engaging tracks like "Spend My Life with You" and "Let Everything Else Go."

All of that being said, given the fact that Keaggy began plying his trade well before the 1970s even dawned, it is arguably the artists that Keaggy may or may not sound like who drew inspiration, however indirectly, from him, rather than the other way around. And, to its credit, the album isn't entirely devoid of lightning-fingered pyrotechnics. But, even when Keaggy and Paul do toss off the occasional jaw-dropping solo or fill, they inevitably do so to enhance and embellish, rather than overshadow, the songs in which they appear. And it is that aspect of the record, more than any other, which renders it such a winning undertaking.

Existing devotees will have little trouble recognizing Illumination as one of Keaggy's (and Paul's) finer works. Conversely, those who still count themselves among the unconverted would do well to listen with unbiased ears to a pair of performers who continue to quietly and methodically turn out the sort of inspiring classic pop- and rock-based projects that few of their peers, past or present, have been able to replicate.

- Review date: 6/14/19, written by Bert Gangl 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: 11 tracks: 45 minutes, 59 seconds
. Street Date: April 2, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Don't Hold Back (3:31)
  2. Calling Us Home (3:16)
  3. Time (4:48)
  4. Nothing Can Separate Us (3:26)
  5. Glorify Your Name (4:09)
  6. Let Everything Else Go (5:58)
  7. I Believe (3:07)
  8. Spend My Life With You (4:41)
  9. You Never Know (4:09)
  10. Full Circle (4:52)
  11. Day of the Lord (3:56)

 

 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