Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Music Review



Above The Golden State
Above The Golden State



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 13 tracks: 46 minutes, 34 seconds
Street Date: July 22, 2008


Above the Golden State is a pop/rock outfit stationed out of Oregon. They play a melodic, driven style that sounds somewhat reminiscent of Seven Places or David Crowder Band, or at times even some recent Weezer. It's nothing entirely new, but their self-titled debut still varies enough from track to track to keep it feeling fresh, making for an overall enjoyable album.

The whole thing has a pop-lush feel to it, with some pianos and keyboards added in for good measure. It's poppy, but never too poppy for its own good. Any of these songs would sound pretty good on the radio, but enough of them have a nice edge to them to keep things interesting. Songs like "I Love You So" have a Weezer vibe to them while still maintaining a CCM sensibility. And when things slow down ("Love," "Scared," etc…), things vary enough so as never to sound clichéd.

Though it's nothing groundbreaking, Above The Golden State is still a joy to listen to. The lyrics are also relatable, to boot (The vulnerable "Scared" is a definite highlight). Some tracks fare better than others along the way, but for the most part, Above the Golden State manages to avoid the usual pitfalls and craft an album that will certainly appeal to the CCM crowd, and may even turn a few heads among the cynical.

- Review date: 7/20/08, written by Josh Taylor



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

. Record Label: Sparrow Records
. Album length: 13 tracks: 46 minutes, 34 seconds
. Street Date: July 22, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Loud And Clear
  2. Gaze Into Your Eyes
  3. Sound Of Your Name
  4. Streets
  5. I'll Love You So
  6. Comeback
  7. Love
  8. Chapter 13
  9. Scared
  10. One Thirty Nine
  11. The Haunting
  12. All My Heart
  13. Real To Reel
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
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

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images