Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


Chasen, That Was Then, This Is Now
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Chasen
That Was Then, This Is Now



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 34 minutes, 14 seconds
Street Date: March 9, 2010


Since their debut, Shine Through The Stars, the band named after lead singer Chasen Callahan, Chasen, has signed with INO records, and is now ready to offer their sophomore project That Was Then, This Is Now. While the quartet released a few popular songs from their first album, the remainder of the band's first album was very forgettable. However, two years later, Chasen is ready to return, and, judging by success of their first single, "On And On," we are ready for them.

With generic praise and worship making up the bulk of Shine Through The Stars, it wasn't surprising to see that one of the up-tempo songs ("Crazy Beautiful") on the album was a hit single. It's similarly not surprising that That Was Then, This Is Now features more pop rock while the praise and worship takes a more influential role. Both soft pop songs "On And On" and "Leave You Alone" are reminiscent of a Tenth Avenue North sound. The singer/songwriter element which played a role in Shine Through The Stars isn't as prominent this time around, but well-placed piano pieces help this release feel a little more organic. The album also is stacked with radio potential with a strong line up where "Castaway" and "Eyes Of a Rescue" lead the way. However, there are several upbeat songs that display sounds which have been covered well over the years. Comparisons to Run Kid Run and Steven Curtis Chapman could be made positively. However, "Love In Your Name" and "Bullet" have a rock/worship style which fans will find too overused and too similar to more generic artists like Lincoln Brewster and Starfield.

Lyrically, Chasen doesn't experiment with novel concepts, but rather tries to spin messages in a different light. Chasen tries to make comparisons of God's love and redemption to airplanes and castaways with marginal success. Although the band doesn't go into a great amount of detail describing our fallen nature, Chasen does take a good introspective look at it in "Slow Down" and "Eyes Of A Rescue" to showcase both salvation and the group's songwriting abilities.

At best, Shine Through The Stars was a decent pop/worship album which highlighted Chasen's unimaginative, pop/worship sound and fragile lyrics. However, That Was Then, This Is Now. Although Chasen's sophomore album might not be the next Newsboys' Go or Remedy Drive's Daylight Is Coming, it's not too shabby. The band still has some areas to work on, but That Was Then, This Is Now is a strong pop album to close out the Winter.

- Review date: 3/3/10, written by Nathaniel Schexnayder of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: INO Records
. Album length: 10 tracks: 34 minutes, 14 seconds
. Street Date: March 9, 2010
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Castaway (3:17)
  2. Love In Your Name (3:00)
  3. On And On (3:37)
  4. Leave You Alone (3:30)
  5. Airplanes (3:42)
  6. One In A Million (2:46)
  7. Bullet (3:10)
  8. Eyes Of A Rescue (3:17)
  9. Slow Down (3:58)
  10. There Is Love (4:01)

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images