Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

JFH Music Review


Adam Watts, The Devil and the Light
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Adam Watts
The Devil and the Light



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Singer Songwriter
Album length: 13 tracks: 47 minutes
Street Date: January 1, 2022


READER RATING:   


A JFH Staff Review Is Coming Soon!




(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!

 

JFH Staff's Second Opinion



In his latest album, The Devil and the Light, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Watts delivers his usual brand of complex music and emotionally raw lyrics. Highlights include "A Long Time Here," "Mend" and "Been to the Valley."

"A Long Time Here" brings back the chamber music vibes of Watts's album Murder Yesterday, with plucked strings accompanying his power-house vocals. "Mend" shows off Watts's lightning-fast drum fills that harken back to Neil Peart of Rush, both because of his precision and the crisp sound of his toms. The pounding drums, as well as the persistent tick-tock during the verses, matches the urgency of the lyrics. "Been to the Valley" has a southern gospel stomp sound that will remind long-time fans of "Rescue Me" from 2004's The Noise Inside. Lyrically, this song also echoes "Rescue Me" as he sings about the "unconditional and far beyond rational grace of a Savior." He elaborates on his doubts in this song, with lines like, "I left belief, I left my knees / and I walked the edge away from holy."

The lyrics of Watts's indie releases read more like journal entries than those in his '04 BEC debut. He is honest about his disappointments, often in a psalm-like way. In "All My Friends," for example, he says, "All my friends live inside my head / There're dead… All they do is just lie to me / Nightmares whisper as I lie in bed." In the second verse, he echoes Psalm 13: "All my enemies left me for dead / I bet, none there expected my rise."

Watts's confessional style is mostly a good thing, although the opener, "Rest of Me," again rehashes the theme of his metaphorical funeral (e.g., "Murder Yesterday," "Reborn" "Get Myself Together"). He also tends to rehash musical ideas, since the album's self-titled closer sounds quite similar to "When a Heart Wakes Up." Both songs wrap up their respective albums nicely, so, who's to say this is a downside? Plus, anyone who has written songs for as long as Adam Watts, is bound to unintentionally repeat himself.

All-in-all, The Devil and the Light is another solid album from Watts. And, if you're a longtime fan and a drummer nerd like me, you won't be disappointed. - Review date: 1/24/22, Andie Hardee of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

. Record Label: Broken City Artists
. Album length: 13 tracks: 47 minutes
. Street Date: January 1, 2022
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. The Rest of Me (3:52)
  2. A Long Time Here (2:51)
  3. Mend (3:46)
  4. Been to the Valley (3:09)
  5. Fragile Chemistry (5:05)
  6. Fun (3:49)
  7. Let's Make a Fire (4:49)
  8. Disappear (5:00)
  9. Dark Heart (3:42)
  10. All the Signs (4:17)
  11. All My Friends (2:00)
  12. World Without Weight (3:07)
  13. The Devil & the Light (2:09)

 

 



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!

Search JFH




This Thursday, July 25, 2024
SINGLES
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Burn (feat. Ellie Holcomb) - Single [Tone Tree]

This Friday, July 26, 2024
ALBUMS
Pat Barrett Happily Hidden [Capitol CMG]
Before There Was Rosalyn Hypocrites EP [The Charon Collective]
Bloodlines Holiness Cries EP [Facedown]
The Collingsworth Family Classics & Hymns [Gaither]
Dex the Nerd Who Loves Jesus Pixelated Virtues Online - EP (independent)
Danny Gokey Sound of Heaven [Sparrow]
The Hillbilly Thomists Marigold (independent)
Kestrel Vessel EP (independent)
Ken Tamplin Stand Up And Shout (4 CD Box Set) [Girder]
Swingin Hammers Blood in the Sand EP (independent)
Thrive Worship Praises & Prayers [Integrity]
Tyraels Ascension Hell Walker [Rottweiler]
Phil Wickham The Jesus Way Collection - EP [Fair Trade]
Thousand Foot Krutch The End Is Where We Begin (Reignited) [The Fuel]
Young Noah A Positive Sign EP (independent)

SINGLES
2 Minute Minor & Dave LeBlanc Golden Calf - Single (independent)
Tina Boonstra Can People Ever Really Change? (at Old Chapel) - Single [7Core]
Chad Cory Love Forward - Single [DREAM]
Dreamers Make A Move - Single [DREAM]
Fit For A King TECHNIUM - Single [Solid State]
Keith & Kristyn Getty Scarlet Thread (feat. Zach Williams) - Single [Getty]
Good Weather Forecast Let's Build A House (feat. Real Life Guys) - Single [DREAM]
Heal the Hurt RUIN - Single (independent)
Hyper Fenton Show Me What You’re Working With feat. Peabod - Single (independent)
Lauren, Amber & Kenna Every Praise - Single [Horizon]
Claire Leslie Original - Single [Capitol CMG]
Mission House Faith More Precious Than Gold, Everything In Your Hands + Suscipe - Triple Single [Integrity]
MotionPlus Kings Grace - Single (independent)
OM53 Letting Go of Yesterday - Single (independent)
The Riverside Blade of the King’s Tongue - Single (independent)
Sean Rodriguez Jesus Will - Single [WieRok]
Sidewalk Prophets Come To Jesus - Single [Curb]
Souljornerz The Lamb - Single [Polished Arrow]
The Spirituals Be Thou My Vision - Single [Integrity]
Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship The Whole Earth Will See (A.K.A America Will See) - Single [DREAM]
Verses Philippians 2:5-11 (feat. The Sing Team) - Single (independent)
Village KNG Turn'E Up (ft. Monty G) - Single [Soldier Sound]
We Are Messengers God Be The Glory (Remix) [feat. KB] - Single [Curb]

VINYL
Disciple By God Vinyl [Girder]
Disciple What Was I Thinking? Vinyl [Girder]
Element 101 Stereo Girl Vinyl [Burnt Toast Vinyl]

Next Friday, August 2, 2024
ALBUMS
Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]
Brandon Heath The Ache [Centricity]
Chandler Moore Live in Los Angeles [Tribl]
Rock Springs Worship Hymns Vol. 2 [StowTown]

SINGLES
AWZY Shadow - Single [DREAM]
FYR FYTR, Make Sure I Took the World on My Shoulders - Single (independent)
Mainstream Worship, Melanie Rivera Praise You - Single [DREAM]
Ian Yates My World Is On Fire - Single [7Core]

VINYL
Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out Ninties Worship Night!



Listen to the new Album From Millennial Reign!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images