Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

One Way Home

One Way Home
Front Porch

Street Date: April 22, 2016
Style: Americana / Folk
Artist Info: Discography
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3


Though it's rare, it's always interesting to see a band make a drastic switch in genre. Houston natives One Way Home released an EP in 2013 that matched the sounds of groups like Selah, but for 2016, they made the change to a bluegrass/folk sound. And that's what you get when you listen to their latest full-length album. Front Porch is drenched in bluegrass familiarity: mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar, light percussion, and soaring vocals. One of the things that stands out the most is the band's gift for creating catchy and wonderful melodies, both musically and vocally. I love the fun, upbeat guitar melody in "Crossroads" that demands repeat listens, as does the vocal melody in "Surrender" (Although the latter is very radio-friendly in its approach, it's still enjoyable). One Way Home also shines in their musicianship, as they display a great deal of talent on their respective instruments of choice; whether it's fast-picking a banjo or gently strumming the mandolin for a soft ballad, they just seem to get it right. All that being said, Front Porch is not a perfect album. Though the vocals all sound pretty good together, individually they can also be a little pitchy sometimes. Additionally, some of the music suffers from a lack of originality. As with almost any genre, it can be hard to make something stand out from the crowd, but there are a few songs here that are a little too similar to other artists' work. "Trouble" is very similar to Crowder's "Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)," while the fast-paced "Truth" sounds an awful lot like Mumford & Sons' "I Will Wait." They have their differences, indeed, but those songs instantly came to mind upon an initial listen. One Way Home has provided us with a solid album in Front Porch, and they really have such potential to become a household name. Some work on the vocals and originality could push them in that direction in an instant.

- Review date: 9/4/16, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!


 

. Record Label: None
. Album length: 10 tracks: 43 minutes, 24 seconds
. Street Date: April 22, 2016
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Front Porch (4:54)
  2. Trouble (3:20)
  3. Love Found Me (4:43)
  4. Savior (4:36)
  5. Crossroads (4:15)
  6. Reason (3:28)
  7. Surrender (3:35)
  8. Beautiful Heart (4:12)
  9. Truth (3:56)
  10. Hopeless (6:25)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics

 


 



  • Jesus Freak Hideout (Scott Fryberger): How long has One Way Home been together, and how did the band form?

    Justin Smith: One Way Home (with our new sound) formed about one year ago in September 2015. My wife, Leslie, and I - with our good friend, Phil - joined together to try something different musically. We wanted to stand out and be unique without losing the quality of live performances. So we started with something we were good at: harmony. From there, we just worked with our strengths. From guitar and dobro to mandolin and banjo; from adding stomp boxes we built to tambourines, glockenspiel, and other percussive elements. It took many, many hours of practicing and working together to solidify something we were happy with. We are always learning.

  • JFH (Scott): Does everyone have their own role in the band, or do you all collaborate on everything?

    Leslie Smith: Yes! We collaborate on creating music. We really have to with the uniqueness of our style. No one element is more important than the other. Justin writes the lyrics and pitches ideas to us, and then we spend hours working through instrumentation.
    Phil Alley: When we are working on music, we have to figure out piece by piece what we want, since we all play multiple instruments live, and there are only three of us.
    Justin: I enjoy our collaboration, though it can be tough at times. I think it really grows us musically and personally. For instance, I stomp on a box while playing guitar and singing simultaneously throughout a lot of our set. But when I'm not doing those three things, I need to find other elements to thicken the sound. This style we play has forced me to become a better musician all around.

  • JFH (Scott): What are some of your favorite musical artists?

    Phil: Mumford & Sons.
    Leslie: NEEDTOBREATHE, Kelly Clarkson, and musicals.
    Justin: Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, NEEDTOBREATHE, Nickel Creek, and classic rock.

  • JFH (Scott): What is one of your favorite portions of Scripture and why?

    Phil: Psalm 23.
    Leslie: Psalm 71. The progression of affirming the holiness and standing of God, my refuge, my righteousness, my rock, and pleading to not be far from me. Verse 8 is the plea of my heart that I would always, above all else, with tongue and heart, worship God alone. Verse 17 is a story of my life, with the promise and foreshadowing of verse 18. It closes with a proclamation in verses 23 and 24.
    Justin: 1 Peter 3:14-15. I find great strength and exhortation in this text. It pushes me to know that I must stand ready and willing to defend my faith at any point and on any matter, which doesn't come easily. It comes through study and learning. But the end, I think, is beautiful. We must do this as Christians, but out of gentleness and respect. I just love that.

  • JFH (Scott): Is One Way Home hoping to sign to a major label?

    Justin: I would say no. I enjoy what we do and on the scale we do it. It would really depend on the contracts and opportunity. If God opens a door, I won't slam it without first praying and looking at things logically.

  • JFH (Scott): How long do you typically spend while working on an album?

    Phil: Well, it all depends on the writing process. Since Justin writes the lyrics, he could have fifty or so songs. But it could take a few weeks of working every night to have the songs composed and then several more weeks to have them studio ready.
    Leslie: Front Porch took from September when we started working on it to April when it was released.
    Justin: As long as it takes.

  • JFH (Scott): Would you like to add anything else?

    Phil: Music is what I love and music is all I want to do.
    Leslie: I enjoy the freedom and jamability of the Americana style.
    Justin: I'm encouraged just to be able to play week in and week out with people I enjoy being around, especially my wife. We are very blessed and we love what we do.

     

     

    go to main Indie review page
    go to Indie Review Index

     

  •                  
    Try Pop Culture Coffee!

    Search JFH



    This Friday, June 13, 2025
    ALBUMS
    Coqui Death to Your Ego - EP [DREAM]
    iNTELLECT, Philip Anthony The Commission - EP [Polished Arrow]
    King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
    Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
    Gileah Taylor I Call This One - EP [Velvet Blue]
    Gileah Taylor I Call This One DEMOS - EP [Velvet Blue]
    War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

    SINGLES
    Alexxander Suma - Single [Reach]
    Gracie Binion Not Our First Dance - Single [BEC]
    CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
    Chosen Road You’ve Already Won - Single [Thoroughbred]
    Drenae Ride Or Die - Single [Syntax]
    EJ Swavv Deep End - Single [Syntax]
    Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
    Will Kellum Joy - Single [Syntax]
    Keyodis Georgia's Only Son - Single [Charon Collective]
    Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]
    Steven Malcolm One You (feat. Parris Chariz) - Single [Curb]
    New Christian Order, outr.cty & Prodi Da Prodigal Violence (ft. International Show & Q-Flo) - Single [Syntax]
    No Vain Glory A Psalmist's Prayer - Single [Syntax]
    Of The Land You've Met Me - Single [BEC]
    Hunter Plake Circles (feat. Ryan Ellis) - Single [BEC]
    PRXM & Kei Harris No Parts - Single [Syntax]
    Red Rocks Worship Faithful Father - Single [Provident]
    Jeremy Rosado Keep Holding On - Single [Capitol CMG]
    Jordy Sam Dramatics - Single [Syntax]

    Next Friday, June 20, 2025
    ALBUMS
    Dan Bremnes The Hero - EP [Curb]
    Dan Dean More [StowTown]
    The Swirling Eddies Let's Spin! (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
    The Swirling Eddies Outdoor Elvis (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
    The Swirling Eddies Zoom Daddy (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
    Dr. Edward Daniel Taylor The Miracle Faith Telethon: 35th Anniversary Ed (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]

    SINGLES
    bodie GOOD OLD DAYS - Single [Provident]
    KingsPorch You Can Have it All - Single [BEC]
    Rhymes in Harmony In His Presence - Single [Syntax]
    Jordan St. Cyr Circles (feat. Riley Clemmons) - Single [BEC]

    VINYL
    IRONWRATH Master Storyteller (Double Vinyl Gatefold) Vinyl [Girder]



    For all release dates, click here!
     

    Check out depositphotos for royalty free images