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

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)

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

 

. 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

 

 

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

Search JFH



This Friday, September 5, 2025
ALBUMS
A Life Aligned The Light That Failed To Cease (independent)
Philip Anthony A League of My Own (ALOMO) - EP (independent)
Josh Baldwin Full Grown Man, Vol. 1 - EP [Bethel]
bodie NO SKIPS [Provident]
Colony House 77 (Pt. 1) [Roon]
Coqui LIVING 2 DIE - EP [DREAM]
The Gray Havens This Is Not the End (independent)
Forrest Frank CHILD OF GOD II (BACK TO BACK) DELUXE [River House]

SINGLES
Bill B. GOD KNOW ft. TrigNO - Single [Syntax]
Mark Bishop I'm Gonna Do What I Said I'd Do - Single [Sonlite]
Brave Days Friendly Fire - Single (independent)
CalledOut Music Adore You - Single [Integrity]
Michael Carder Where Do I Go From Here - Single (independent)
Charis Music Pressing Through (feat. Hailey Trevino) - Single [NWN]
Darius Mullin & Dre Murray Cash & Burn - Single [Syntax]
Kristene DiMarco Song for My Children - Single [Bethel]
Amanda Janson Sinner to Saint - Single [Pure Mosaic]
JSP It's Not Your Fault - Single (independent)
Tae Lamar Vengeance II (feat. MotionPlus, Propaganda, and m1L) - Single [Polished Arrow]
Patrick Mayberry Everlasting Arms - Single [Provident]
No Vain Glory FLEX - Single [Syntax]
Jemimah Paine Reason - Single [Integrated Music Rights]
R.kitect Tha Deep End - Single [Syntax]
Razzie & theprodigaljoe Man Make Plans - Single [Syntax]
Saints in Exile My Mind is a Prison - Single [Syntax]
Carly Ann Taylor Why Should I Worry (Remind Me Version) - Single [Curb]
Jaci Velasquez, Evan Egerer ¡DALE! Praise - Single [Rixon]
NEEDTOBREATHE Momma Loves Me (feat. The Red Clay Strays) - Single [Omnivore]
Wisenheart Well-Worn Door - Single (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Shine n Me (feat. Edward Rivera) - Single [Bethel]

Next Friday, September 12, 2025
ALBUMS
Jervis Campbell Good Grief! (independent)
Demon Hunter There Was A Light Here [Weapons MFG]
Roxanne Grace Try Again [DREAM]
Ellie Holcomb The King Is Still The King [Capitol CMG]
Sower Contemporary Christian Machine - EP (independent)
twenty one pilots Breach [Fueled By Ramen]
Phil Wickham Song of the Saints [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
BASECAMP Under the Blood (feat. Knaladeus) - Single [Polished Arrow Music]
Dan Bremnes Find Yourself - Single [Curb]
Matt Hammitt Days God Gave - Single (independent)
Amy Jay Margins - Single (independent)
The Undertaking! Forever Remember - Single (independent)


For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images