Short Reviews #1

By: James Southworth

Welcome to the first segment of Short Reviews! This is the time when I give brief analyses of movies, music, ect. that I feel do not really need a full review or just don't have a good amount of time to look at extensively. So here's a few movies and music that I have experienced and my thoughts on them.

Movies

The Conjuring 2
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

This is undoubtedly the best horror movie to have come out so far this year. I would, in fact, say that it rivals the first installment. In this movie, the Warrens are once again investigating demonic activity haunting a new family. James Wan is really at the top of his game here. The camera angles used by him are so incredibly creative and distinctive now, using odd angles and upside down shots in order to evoke a very unsettling feeling. Anytime I see them, I just think  "Yep that's James Wan's work", and I always smile in appreciation after thinking that. "The Conjuring 2" is also incredible visually. There are a lot of beautiful looking set-up shots of the house, as well as ones that sent chills up my spine. And, of course, the scares in this movie are great and just keep on coming. This movie doesn't rest on its scares for very long, but the scares are so creative it's hard to complain. It was refreshing to see that many of the scares were not jump scares, and those that were had actual purpose to them. Unlike other movies, when a jump scare occurs in a Wan movie that means that whatever is jumping out of you is something menacing to behold. The more creative scares were the truly delightful moments of this movie too; all of them were just frightening. I won't get into too much detail about the Crooked Man, but let me just say it's one of the best creatures I've ever seen in a horror movie, giving me a genuine feeling of terror. The way Wan used him was surprising and innovative. And not only are the scares awesome, but once again the acting is some of the best given out of any movie this year. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga both give compelling performances as the Warrens. They have great chemistry together; I was convinced they were an actual married couple. You could sympathize with them trying to navigate marriage and root for them in trying to defeat the demonic presences. Easily the best performance in this movie was Madison Wolfe as Janet. She is a child actor that gave a truly great performance. Her character is sweet, frightening, and saddening to watch at just the right times, making for a complex individual. I really can't recommend this movie enough. It's a visual beauty with some awesome scares and superb acting. Check it out if you're a horror buff. I honestly can't wait to see The Conjuring series continue to impress.


The Witch 
Rating: 3/5 Stars

I've learned over the years that trailers can be deceptive. This can easily be said for "The Witch", which is still my favorite trailer of the year. This trailer really knew how to sell a movie: it made the movie look dark, taut, fast-paced, highly suspenseful, and also interesting as a Puritan period piece. But when I watched this movie for the first time, I was a little surprised, which was both a good and bad thing. The movie was actually more of a mood piece than anything. There were a lot of long shots used to build tension. A lot of attention was made to giving this 1630 New England setting look as old and creepy as possible, and this worked for the most part. The lighting really helped give across a lot of the suspenseful vibes this movie was going for. And man, were the first and last moments of this movie awesome. The beginning did a great job of building the tension with the disappearance of baby Samuel. And the end was just balls-to-the-wall crazy. I won't reveal the end, but it was great in sending chills as well as making a great conclusion that had a climactic high note. The middle of this movie was a little hit-and-miss. Now I understand that director Robert Eggers was not necessarily going for a horror movie. It seemed he was more doing a study of how traumatic events could break a family apart. And a lot of times, this worked. There was a lot of great friction shown between different family members as all of them were trying to put the blame on the other as to who was "the witch". But there were also some other parts of the middle section that were problematic. Sometimes the movie meandered along on a certain plot point for way too long to the point where the characters were repeating the same thing over and over. But perhaps the biggest problem for me was this movie's overt criticism of religion to the point that it was propaganda-like and excessively overt. As a religious person myself, I understood some of the criticism Eggers gave, such as the hypocrisy of Christians, but he almost more seemed to think this family deserves every bit of misery they're going through, simply because he despises the religion they practice. The only characters we're supposed to like is Thomasin (SPOILERS), and that's because she gives in to Satan at the end. She is much happier not being a Christian; her misery ends. Eggers could've used a bit of subtlety in my opinion. I understand this is a folk tale, but it's a pretty uneven one with a questionable moral. Still, I think people should watch this movie as it is visually interesting and there is really great acting from new actors Anya Taylor-Joy and Harvey Scrimshaw (I hope to see more of  them in the future).  I think many will probably like "The Witch" for just how odd and off-the-wall it is compared to other horror flicks.


Finding Dory 
Rating 4/5 Stars

 Pixar has quite the impressive winning streak, with the exception of their sequels. "Monsters University" was fun, but it was not very intelligent compared to other Pixar outings and the plot was a bit cliched in terms to a movie about college. "Cars 2" is easily Pixar's worst movie to date and the only one I'd call a significant misstep. It is unfunny, disorganized, and suffers heavily from having the comedic side relief as the main character. It  made Mater, someone who was charming and funny in doses, quite unbearable to watch honestly. So, it's logical to say I was a little worried when I heard the sequel to the critically acclaimed and audience-loved "Finding Nemo" would be about Dory. She was yet another side character, and it seemed like she would only be more tolerable in the same way Mater was. But Pixar once again delivers, even if this movie isn't nearly as good as its predecessor. Ellen DeGeneres is the perfect voice actor for Dory; I honestly can't imagine anyone else playing this character. And Ellen once again gives so much charm and life to this character. Dory is made to be a very compelling character who gained a lot of sympathy from me (and many others I'm sure) as Pixar explored mental illness through her character in a very touching way. They did it in a way adults can appreciate and kids can understand. Another thing: just know, baby/kid Dory might be the cutest thing ever. Her look is just so cute and I couldn't resist grinning every time a flashback with her happened. In addition to this, a lot of fun side characters were added. Ed O'Neill was great as Hank, an absolutely hilarious cynical octopus. He had some really funny lines, but his character also warranted sympathy as you learned more about him, making him all the more likeable. Destiny and Bailey were also both fun characters. But the highlight were the seals. There were some gut-wrenchingly funny moments with them that had the whole audience (myself included) laughing hard in the theater I was in. I won't reveal them, but they are easily the most fun parts of this to watch. The main negatives of this movie were actually Marlin and Nemo. I found their roles in this movie unsubstantial. They weren't very interesting characters and never added too much to the story, which was a bit disappointing after showing them both as interesting characters in "Finding Nemo". But the kids are still gonna enjoy them, so I can't fault Pixar too hard on that point. "Finding Dory" still funny, fast-paced (sometimes a little too fast), and offers some intelligent commentary on mental illness. I'd recommend this movie to anyone, as it is simply a fun watch that is easily enjoyable!

Music 

"Dissonants" by Hands Like Houses
 Rating: 4/5 Stars

I would've given this one a full review, but at the time "Dissonants" was released, my review site wasn't established yet. This album came out near the beginning of the year, and I still can't get enough of it. It was pleasing to see HLH go in a much heavier direction on this album when so many other bands are doing the opposite. They continue to progress their sound in the right way. There are so many good things going on here. "I Am" was a superb choice for the lead single, as it defines everything about this album: powerful lyricism, heavy guitar work, excellent vocals from Woodley which verge on screaming at times, and some freaking catchy choruses. "Colourblind" is another great song on this album with a guitar riff that just sticks as well as compelling lyrics that discuss how people are never simply black and white in life: "So close your eyes, let the colours fly/And hide from the noise outside/We're colourblind from the black and white/But we've never burned so bright".  "New Romantics" is an undeniably catchy rock anthem with a powerful chorus. "Bloodlines" ends the album off on a high note with a fast paced rock powerhouse song with a chorus that will stick in your mind long after the album ends. Great ballads appear in both "Division Symbols" (with the interesting line "Let me count the ways you've killed me") and "Stillwater". The best song on this album for me though, is "Degrees of Separation", which talks about love and distance in a very compelling way: "A fire in my skin an ache in every burn/My soul is sinking the cold is creeping in/I feel the winter burying my bones /A core reminder that I'm so far from home". This song is so powerful lyrically. The guitar riff and drum patters used are excellent. The chorus is the best on the album and the repeated "whoa"s make it stick all the more. The only down points of this album for me were probably "Motion Sickness" and "Grey Havens", both of which simply didn't have a whole lot going on in them compared to the other songs on "Dissonants". I can't recommend this album enough; it's one of the best rock records to come out this year, rivaling both House of Heroes' and Thousand Foot Krutch's new records.

Favorite Songs: "Degrees of Separation", "Colourblind", "I Am", "Division Symbols", "Bloodlines"
Least Favorite Songs: "Gray Havens", "Motion Sickness"


"Ascend" by Nine Lashes
 Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

 I never expected I'd be giving Nine Lashes the same rating as the Meghan Trainor album I reviewed earlier this year. But unfortunately, that is the case. I really thought this band was making some very interesting and often quality stuff with their first two records, both of which adopt an experimental rock style to a certain degree. I think "World We View" is one of the best debuts from any rock band, as Nine Lashes really shows off the full spectrum of their talent, especially in awesome cuts like "Anthem of the Lonely" and "Our Darkest Day". And even though I didn't like "From Water to War" as much, I still respected Nine Lashes for extensively experimenting with styles from electronic to metal. It made for an uneven but dynamic and fun listen. The same sadly can't be said for their third release, "Ascend". I knew I was going to be disappointed when I saw the record label was BEC. This label has significantly watered down solid rock artists like Kutless and Jeremy Camp. Unfortunately Nine Lashes has joined those ranks with this boring, boring album. I will say that unlike some other BEC records (I'm talking to you, "Glory" by Kutless), this one isn't an entire loss, and maybe that's because the band's talent shines through at certain moments. "Stolen" is easily the best track on the album, probably because it's the only one where the band sounds like they're actually having fun. They sound natural and the electronic elements remind of another song by them, "Love Me Now" (which isn't a bad thing). I could see this one easily fitting on "From Water to War". "Brand New Life", "Eyes on You", and the title track (especially the title track) were good in what they were doing with some competent lyricism and interesting experimentation (to an extent). Even though I didn't like "Galaxy" at first, it has grown on me as a mindless fun electronic rock anthem. But this can't be said for the rest of the album. "Heartbeats" is a horrible opening track that has annoying electronic sounds that repeat over and over in the chorus. "The Chosen Ones" is easily the weakest track with some asinine, cheesy lyrics and is just a dull ballad overall. "Glorious" might be the most generic worship song I've heard this year. "Deeper", "Love Still Shines", and "Christ in Me" all add nothing to the album and seem to be there for just filler. When there's only a few tracks on here that are worth repeat listens, that doesn't make for a good album. This is the biggest disappointment of the year so far; a sadly mediocre release from a normally talented band.  I'm hoping this is just another experimental phase from them- or, even better, that they leave BEC entirely. Otherwise, Nine Lashes has lost my interest.

Favorite Songs: "Stolen", "Ascend", "Galaxy"
Least Favorite Songs: "The Chosen Ones", "Heartbeats", "Glorious", "Love Still Shines", "Christ in Me", "Deeper"


"Therapy Session" by NF
 Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

NF is easily my favorite rapper right now. Some may have called him an Eminem ripoff in "Mansion". I understood why to an extent, but I really think with "Therapy Session" he's come into his own. This album made me feel powerful emotions that I've gotten from maybe only one other rap album. "Intro 2" is pure hype fuel, with NF having some super impressive flows and making some killer lines. The title track is a powerful cut with NF letting off steam and expressing all his doubts. It's a vulnerable track where he explains how his music is therapy for him and helps him express what he can't in other ways. The deep emotions continue on"I Just Wanna Know", the perfect choice for a single with a great backing beat and highlight NF's ability to sing. But the undeniable highlight of this album is "How Could You Leave Us", which I still see as one of the best songs of this year. The first time I heard it, the song made me cry with NF powerfully expressing his feelings on his mother's death to drug overdose. The song is so affecting, with lines like "Welcome to the bottom of hell/They say pain is a prison, let me out of my cell/You say you proud of me, but you don't know me that well/Sit in my room, tears running down my face and I yell" showing NF's raw, unfiltered emotion.  The part of this song that really got me was in the end when he starts crying. It felt very real and almost uncomfortable, as if I was coming in on a personal moment that I shouldn't be a part of. But NF invites us to that uncomfortable place, and it's powerful. There are some more ]great songs on here, such as the hype tracks "I Can Feel It" and "Grindin'", and the beautiful, worshipful final track "Lost in the Moment" which has Jonathan Thulin's superb vocal talents.  There are few weak points in this album. One would be the song "Real" which, while still proving NF as a talented rapper,  shows him as a bit arrogant.The lyrics seem to verge on bragging and there's no honoring of God or the people that got him there. It feels a little contradictory to the rest of the album. Also, "Oh Lord", while not awful, just didn't interest me that much compared to other tracks.  But still, overall this album is superb musically with a lot of lyrical content to analyze. You should definitely listen no matter what type of music you like.

Favorite Songs: "How Could You Leave Us", "Lost in the Moment", "Intro 2", "I Just Wanna Know", "I Can Feel It"
Least Favorite Songs: "Real", "Oh Lord"


"Periphery III: Select Difficulty" by Periphery
 Rating: 4/5 Stars

This very talented band has returned with another amazing album. If there's any band that can say they are consistently good with every album they release while also improving on their sound, it's Periphery. Probably the best thing about this album is they really don't take themselves too seriously on this one and instead just decide to have a lot of fun in both the vocal and musical department. They have some of their most intense songs to date, such as "The Price is Wrong" and "Motormouth". Both of these songs have glorious guitar riffs, as well as Spencer making his vocals completely unbridled, which is a real treat to behold. "Marigold" has to be one of the best songs Periphery has made, having epic orchestration, a very catchy chorus, and an amazing instrumental outro. With lines like "Death is coming round like a hurricane", this song feels more like it could fit into a movie soundtrack than anything, and that isn't bad at all. Where Periphery really comes into their own on this album is the songs that go past the 5-minute mark. Songs like "Remain Indoors" and "Absolomb" show the guitarists and drummer for the musical masters they are. But out of all the longer tracks on here, the final track "Lune" really takes the cake, as it never loses momentum and instead increased my interest as I continued to listen to it. There were a few weak points on here,  such as "The Way the News Goes..." and "Catch Fire" which were not very interesting to listen to with repetitive guitar riffs and lyricism that was not quite as good for Periphery. Compared to the Juggernaut releases, this album is not as good, but it is still solid in showing Periphery for how talented they are. It's ultimately refreshing to see a band just having unabashed fun with their music and able to produce many gems in the process.

Favorite Songs: "Marigold", "The Price is Wrong", "Lune", "Motormouth", Absolomb", "Remain Indoors"
Least Favorite Songs: "The Way the News Goes...", "Catch Fire", "Prayer Position"


"Retrograde" by Crown the Empire
 Rating: 3/5 Stars

I would have to say that CTE is the second best band from Rise Records, with Hands Like Houses taking the number one spot for me. So, I was definitely pretty excited for their third release, especially after they hinted at going in a new, creative electronic-rock direction with two of their best songs to date, "Prisoners of War" and "Cross Our Bones". My excitement increased upon hearing "Zero", which even though being just a hype track, showcased David and Andy trading off their vocals in interesting ways. It also has great guitar riffs and a chorus that will quickly have you singing along- this is definitely still one of the best songs off the album. When the full release came out, though, I was a little surprised by how much softer and subdued it was, particularly in the ending half. This isn't an entirely bad thing though. SK-98 is a great establishing intro increasing the listener's anticipation, and "Are You Coming With Me?" starts out quiet brooding with tension and then goes into an explosive chorus. "Hologram" was a great choice for the lead single, as it has some powerful lyrics ("Do you know who I am? I'm so afraid you'll never understand/There's a part of me still lost out there, and I just want to know, yeah I just want to know/Am I a part of a hologram?/Now I think I'm worried that I'm in too deep, like a phantom that you'll never see") as well as great guitar and drum work. It is certainly the best track on the album. "Lucky Us" is easily the most intense track on the album as well as pure fun, as it brings to mind tracks like "MNSTR" and "Menace".  "Weight of the World" is a very catchy straight forward rock highlight, and the epic closer "Kaleidoscope" ends things on a positive note. But there are still several problematic tracks on this album. "Aftermath" is pretty cliched in both lyrical content and musical structure, putting a damper on the beginning of the album. "The Fear is Real" is a pointless three-minute interlude which adds nothing to the album. It doesn't generate a feeling of suspense like it's supposed to in leading up to "Lucky Us". "Signs of Life" and "Oxygen" both suffer from being way too slow and boring and take away all the intensity "Lucky Us" had established. "Signs of Life" in particular has some horrible vocals as Andy sounds like he's straining to hit those high notes a little too much. This album has a lot of solid tracks to warrant a purchase, but it still wasn't the rock album I was hoping for from this band. I know they can do rock, and I believe they can do it better than metal, but this was not the right album to give the proof. It's still a pretty fun summer release with a lot of solid tracks to keep you satisfied until their next album.

Favorite Songs: "Hologram", "Weight of the World", "Zero", "Kaleidoscope", "Are You Coming With Me?"
Least Favorite Songs: "The Fear is Real", "Signs of Life", "Oxygen", "Aftermath"

"Star Trek: Beyond" Movie Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

If you haven't heard of "Star Trek" before, chances are you're living under a rock. It is one of the most well known sci-fi TV/movie series of all time, rivaling the fame of "Star Wars". Names like Captain Kirk, Spock, and Scotty have been put into infamy for all time, and with good reason. All of them have their memorable traits and are considered by fans to be a lot fun to watch and follow. The show and movies are also more than just sci-fi action: they have an intellectual backbone to them, having a lot of thought-provoking things to say on acceptance and friendship among other things. The series has had a lot of different versions, but the one that is getting the most attention right now is J.J. Abrams' interpretation of the series. He did the impossible of putting together a cast of mostly unknown actors for a series that was very loved and made almost all fans happy. Many have called the new Star Treks great modern adaptations with the characters reflecting the likeness of the ones from the past. I have only seen "Into Darkness" and I have to say, I was impressed. The movie had deep thematic ideas and Benedict Cumberbatch excellently embodied the complex villain Khan. "Star Trek" has returned for its third installment, "Beyond". The basic premise is this: a surprise attack on Enterprise causes Captain Kirk and crew to crash land onto a new unknown planet. Here they discover the villain Kraal, who has a plan to take down the Federation as well as Kirk and his crew. In the midst of this, Kirk is having conflicts on whether to continue his journeys on the Enterprise, Spock is wanting to continue Ambassador Spock's mission, and a new character Jaylah is introduced.

Let's start with the positives of this movie. If there is one thing that Justin Lin knows how to do well in this movie, it's the intimate character moments. Spock and Bones are actually given time together in "Beyond", and the moments with them together are some of the best. Great chemistry is created between the two of them, with some of Spock's best character development shown. Scotty and Jaylah, two totally different types of characters, also have some pretty interesting scenes together, and many of them end up having funny payoffs. The last moment between Kirk and Kraal is intriguing to watch, as it reveals things about Kirk's character that we hadn't really seen before. In relation to Lin's ability to do well with character moments, all of the actors here overall shine in their respective roles with some exceptions. Zachary Quinto once again embodies Spock so well and takes on many of the mannerisms of Leonard Nimoy with grace. There were several touching moments where Quinto honors Nimoy in this movie, and he gives just the right amount of emotion and weight to Nimoy's death without it being to overbearing. He's undoubtedly the best part of this movie, as he was with the previous Star Treks. Simon Pegg is delightful to watch as Scotty, and has quite a few hilarious lines that bring some of the best comedic relief. I always found myself enjoying the movie a bit more when he's on the screen. Karl Urban as Bones has some his best moments in this movie, combining his comedic lines with serious moments very well. And, while Chris Pine has never been one of my favorite actors, he still plays Captain Kirk (a generic protagonist in the way Abrams has created him) well with what he has been given. The only performance I felt was weak was Sofia Boutella as Jaylah. She played her very cool-looking character in such a generic way, making her a typical female fighter type that brought to mind a cheapened version of Rey.

The other thing that Lin does very well in this movie is the usage of visual effects as well as some of the action scenes. Visually, this movie is just stunning. There were many times while watching it that I could feel the wonder of being in space, especially with some of the longer shots (which were unfortunately short in supply). The Enterprise looked as big and impressive as ever. The planet that Kirk and crew landed on was the real visual highlight though. The planet had a lot of creative things,combining the use of CGI and practical sets pretty well. I felt like the planet was very tangible and it was great to look at in general. There were also a lot of good action scenes in this movie. The ending ship fight was nothing short of impressive, with Lin able to balance the chaos of the battle with some wide shots as well as quick camera movement to indicate the intensity. It never felt overbearing here (it did in other scenes but more on that later). The first fight which revealed Jaylah's special skill was cool to watch, even if it was sadly short. This movie definitely knew how to keep one's attention in several of the action scenes.

Unfortunately, that's really all I can say about the good stuff going on in this movie. I was surprised to find myself very uninterested in what was happening throughout the whole of "Beyond". I thought at several moments "surely know I'm going to feel the weight of what is going on", but I honestly never did. The plot was very bare bones. It can easily be summarized in one sentence. The subplot of Kirk trying to decide whether he should stay on Enterprise or leave felt very weird and unnecessary, as most anyone in the audience already knew what he would choose. It even seemed out of character for Kirk to question this aspect of himself. I get what Lin was trying to do, but it honestly made no sense. What made me feel there were minimal stakes in this movie more than anything else was because of the very generic villain Kraal. Idris Elba does his best  as always to give life to his character, but even his great acting couldn't really help with this badly written character. After Khan, I was expecting "Beyond" to take things a step further and give an even more compelling villain, but instead they give one with the most generic villain-type lines. His motivation throughout the movie was also very unclear. But event the "twist" reveal at the end did nothing to change my perspective on him. He was just boring through and through, and I already knew that Kirk and crew would win. I didn't feel at any time they were in danger, and that created a pretty significant investment problem for me that stayed throughout the whole run time of this movie.

Perhaps an even bigger problem with the movie, though, was the pacing. The intimate character moments which Lin did so well were unfortunately few in quantity. Instead, this movie was just barraging you with action scenes. It was very excessive and sometimes stressful. In the beginning when Enterprise is being attacked, there was so much going on at once that I couldn't even focus on what the characters were saying. This was a serious problem for me throughout the movie. Too much was going on almost all the time. The best example of the bad pacing was immediately after Spock and Bones had a great moment together, there was an immediate cut to an action scene. It felt like this cheapened the aforementioned moment. In fact, all the character moments really felt like they didn't have much weight to the plot either, most of them were just little sentiments expressed, and then quickly forgotten about by the next scene. Lin was more concerned with making the audience laugh or feel mindlessly excited by the action scenes. What made these scenes even more problematic was the way they were shot. The camera angles changed at annoying rates. It actually became nauseating and made so many action sequences confusing. I was never sure on what to focus on. It brought down what could've been a solid action movie. I really missed Abrams' more focused and purposeful camera work here.

So, what is my ultimate opinion on this movie? Well, it wasn't a bad movie; it was just okay. All the main characters were as charming and likeable as ever, with Spock and Bones having the best moments in the movie that ranged from touching to hilarious. The movie certainly looked beautiful, with the planet it took place on being visually impressive. Some of the action scenes were undeniably fun, but many were shot in way too stressful ways, with the camera constantly moving in a sickening way. But the worst problem was the plot, which was way too thin and included a villain that was so generic and not compelling in any way. I'd recommend to watch this movie in big screen at the dollar theater just to still see how visually impressive and fun it is. Unfortunately, the movie isn't very intellectually deep, and just comes across as a decent popcorn action flick; nothing more, nothing less.

Relient K "Air for Free" Album Review

 

 

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

It's crazy to think about, but Relient K has been around for sixteen years now. I've been a huge fan of them for quite some time, really starting to like them when I fell in love with their song "Getting Into You". Ever since, I've avidly listened to them. They have quite the great album discography with many superb songs. They are one of the few bands where I actually enjoy their relationship-focused songs. So many of them have clever wordplay and are just straight-up fun. The songs are refreshingly more about just legitimately loving another rather than sexualizing the person's body. There also seems to be a pure joy in them that I cannot find in many other songs about relationships. On "Forget And Not Slow Down", Relient K's most mature album to date as well as the one talking the most about love, it showed lead singer Matt Thiessen finding himself through a tough divorce. I absolutely loved that album, even though it isn't my favorite by them. It surprised me when RK totally abandoned that style and instead adapted a more electronic pop sound with "Collapsible Lung". The album was overall a disappointment for many fans, including myself (it wasn't an entire loss, though- "PTL" is one of my favorite RK songs of all time, and "Don't Blink", "Collapsible Lung" and "That's My Jam" had a classic Relient K feel). Now, Relient K is back with only two band members (Thiessen and Hoopes) remaining in their new album "Air for Free". It would be an understatement to say Relient K made me so happy with this album, as it shows them back in full form while also putting new twists to their sound.

If you're a Relient K fan and don't smile when you here the first track and lead single "Bummin", then you have a problem. This song was what got my attention on this album, as it reminds of so many other famous RK songs like "Forget and Not Slow Down", "The Best Thing", and "The One I'm Waiting For". It's so upbeat with the pop punk flare that put this band into the mainstream. It certainly was right to start with this track and then slowly but cleverly get the fans into the slightly newer styling of the rest of the album, while also keeping their signature sound intact.  "Local Construction" brings some of Matt's most clever lyricism to date in comparing how construction is never done to how we are never done improving ourselves: "Fix the car, fix the house/Fix the flaws in my self/It's never done, no no/It's never done, no no/Like local construction/It's never done". Matt shows how this crisis of constantly having to fix oneself isn't a bad thing, but it's something that everyone needs to be aware of. I found myself having a lot of fun with this song as there are some interesting comparisons drawn as well as some funny puns. The joyful, fun vibe on the album continues with a "Mrs. Hippopotamuses'", which is a dedication to Thiessen's hometown. Musically, it screams nostalgia, and lyrically it's super catchy with chants of "OH-IO". I found myself singing along pretty quickly, and still can't get the song out of my head.

"Cat" is probably the most outright silly track on the album while also keeping classic RK cleverness intact as Matt asks "Who's that crazy cat?", and then answers his own question by saying "He looks a lot like me". This song more than any other might represent the main theme of this whole album, which is to simply find delight in life and pursue living to the fullest, as the chorus has Matt happily singing "Gonna live a long, long time" with a group of people singing in the background. The song is so happy and optimistic, and because of that, it shines as the first big highlight on the album. After the first four tracks which remind more of the old Relient K, the next few tracks pursue more mature themes reminiscent of "Forget and Not Slow Down". "Man" has Matt discussing growing up and becoming more of the person he is meant to be. The song is a bit bittersweet, but it's also very sincere as Matt says, "Wave goodbye as I outgrow the shadow of Peter Pan/I'll be every bit the person we both already know I can/It's time to be a man". The title track brings back more of the electronic vibes that "Collapsible Lung" had, except this song does it in a much better way, sounding very well put together instead of disjointed (like "Boomerang" or "Lost Boy"). The distorted sounds work well for the song, which has Matt asking God to be there for him in his darkest times. "God" is a simple but effective declaration of Matt declaring his faith. The lyrics really work, too: "I believe in God, I believe in God/And I believe that I, I believe enough/So help me God". While this can't match to some of Relient K's other piano ballads, it still is nice to listen to.


"Elephant Parade" is probably the most chaotic song on this album, with horns going off in the background, and the drums and even Matt's vocals sound off-kilter. But, with the song bringing up again the theme of living to the fullest, the sound works. Relient K took a risk here, and it really ends up paying off as the song is just delightful, making it another big highlight. "Mountaintop" is a great piano-rock anthem which has a lot of beautiful visual imagery. It creates a great relationship-focused track with Matt also showing love for God in the process: "Some might say 'euphoric'/No, there's really no words for it/When a smile grows across your face/Like pieces of a broken vase/Everything falls into place". Those lines right there are the real lyrical highlight of the album, making this song stand out even more among the rest of the songs on this album. "Empty House" is easily going to be the most polarizing song on this album, as sound-wise it uses auto-tune throughout its whole run time. Many are not going to like it. But I think for the deep emotional theme of this song, which is about crippling loneliness, the auto-tune actually works. It makes the song sound almost otherworldly and disconnected,  which makes the idea of disconnection via loneliness in the song work all the more. It isn't one of the best songs on the album, but it still delivers its message in the right way, and I totally commend Relient K for taking a huge risk with this song. It could've sounded like a lot of other piano ballads that the band does, but instead it is something pretty unique.


The last part of this album shows a lot of the best songs on the whole record. "Flower" reminds of a lot of other Relient K ballads, but it also stands very well on its own. Lyrically, the song is so touching as Matt expresses how he needs to find love for himself again before he can love another: "I think about everything else/And I know that I must love myself/'Til anyone other than me/Can look and then see what I see/And sense where the harmony dwells". Matt is still showing how recovering from a broken relationship is a long process, but it's one that has apparently taught him a lot. This is one of RK's most mature songs to date I know it will touch others and probably be a fan favorite. For me, "Marigold", which purposefully relates to "Flower", is my favorite song on the album. Thiessen is telling a story here of how he picked marigolds for his mom and she took them even though they were weeds rather than true flowers. Matt uses that as a metaphor for himself, how he didn't always deserve his mom's compassionate love but she still gave it. The lyrics "So anyway/I should buy my mom a bouquet/Just to say hey, I'm thinking about you today/That's right/Thinking about everything you did for me/Like always saying, 'grace sets you free'" teared me up a bit as they reminded me of my own mom and how she reflected God's love for me. Musically the song is just wonderfully put together, sounding upbeat and joyous in Matt's expression of love for his mom, while also using the piano for the more solemn parts of the song. Matt's voice soars and becomes soft and intimate in just the right way. This is easily one of the best songs of the year.


"Runnin'" might be the most interesting part of "Air for Free". It tells three different stories, but I won't reveal them to you so you can appreciate them for yourself. Musically, this song is excellent as it shifts from pop-punk to piano to straight up rock in a way that feels logical. The song is dynamically interesting and shows Relient K for the musical talents they are. "Prodigal", while only two minutes long, still shines in its usage of subtle electronic elements while Matt discusses being the prodigal that ran away from God but eventually returned. Both of these songs felt like they logically fit together in a strange way and make for the most experimental part of the album. There are only a few weak points on "Air for Free". "Sleepin'" honestly didn't do a whole lot for me. It reminded of Owl City in its discussion of insomnia, but honestly it wasn't that interesting lyrically. Musically, it just sounds like so many other Relient K songs. "Heartache" was a bit of a downer as the closing song. It didn't seem to logically transition between its vastly different dynamics, which made it disappointing in relation to some of RK's better closing songs like "Collapsible Lung" or "Deathbed".

If there's one thing that "Air for Free" does, it proves that Relient K isn't going down in quality any time soon, and that they are also unafraid to take musical risks. This album is refreshingly optimistic in a time where negativity is prevailing, which makes this album all the more needed. The theme of pursuing life to the fullest is one I think almost anyone could get behind. There's no doubt this is going to be on my top albums of the year list. It's good to have you back, Relient K!

Favorite Songs: "Marigold", "Mountaintop", "Flower",  "Cat",  "Bummin'", "Mrs. Hippopotamuses'"

Least Favorite Songs: "Sleepin'", "Heartache"

NEEDTOBREATHE "Hard Love" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

NEEDTOBREATHE is a perfect example of  a successful Christian to secular crossover. Right from their first album they've been producing quality pop/rock music with a bit of a country flare that could appeal to a very wide audience with its relatable themes. Their most recent album "Rivers in the Wasteland" showed the boys in better form than ever, sounding at their most raw, vulnerable, and honest. That album was actually what got me into them, as I thought lead singer Bear Rinehart really used his unique voice here in the way it was meant to be used. "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" is to this day my favorite song by them, and the great emotional cuts like "Brother", "Wasteland", and "Difference Maker" are just truly wonderful. It is all around one of the best put together modern rock albums. What's more, the album was made out of a time of trial and tribulation between the three band members, so the record feels all the more sincere and broken, making it an emotional listen with a lot of hope thrown in. Now the band has returned for their newest outing: "Hard Love". And, while it may not be their best work, it still shows the band experimenting and making a pretty good product in the process.

Right from the start you can tell this album is going to be different. The intro "The Mountain, Part 1" really took me by surprise with Bear's distorted vocals and the atmospheric sounds it evoked. It certainly sets the tone for the album: one that is distinctly more poppy than any of their previous works, with less guitar and more synth lines. Now, some will probably not like this change. But, I think that NEEDTOBREATHE  keeps enough of their rock sensibilities to make this album sound considerably better than the typical pop album. This can be seen immediately with the extremely catchy and lyrically deep title track. The song sounds like it could belong in the 80's, and that isn't a bad thing at all. You'll find yourself singing along to the chorus pretty quickly. The song also interestingly talks about how a relationship, whether with God or with another person, is never straight forward as complications will always arise, and sometimes we have to accept that a hard love is better than no love at all: "Hold on tight a little longer/What don't kill you makes you stronger/Get back up cause it’s a hard love/You can’t change without a fallout/It’s gonna hurt but don't you slow down/Get back up cause it’s a hard love". "Money and Fame" continues the 80s trend with an interesting addition of horns in the background which makes for a fun listen. There is a strong theme of money and fame not necessarily bringing happiness, which is shown through a parable-like structure: "What do you kids wanna know about now/I found the bottom from the top somehow/Money & fame will bring a man shame/Ain’t no doubt about it". The fun Bear has with his voice makes this song one of the undeniable highlights of the album.

"No Excuses", while sadly short, is the song that feels most comfortably like it could belong on "Rivers in the Wasteland". Bear's vocals really shine through with their raw textures, and the acoustic guitar is great. While the relationship-song about a girl apparently hurting Bear emotionally could be cheesy, the lyrics here feel like they have a weight to them that makes the song a real emotional cut with the simplistic repetition of "There's no excuses for what you're doing". The best song comes in "Happiness", which lives up to its name in its very upbeat sound. From the second the gospel-like vocals came in, I knew I was in for a treat. The sound is a little deceptive, however, as the lyrics are much more dark as Bear talks about needing forgiveness and how he is trying to pursue happiness: "I’ve got dreams that keep me up in the dead of night/Telling me I wasn’t made for the simple life/There’s a light I see but it's far in the distance/I’m asking you to show me some forgiveness/It’s all for you in my pursuit of happiness". The dichotomy between sound and lyricism is clever, and still by the end of the song, it's implied that Bear has found happiness, making the song a touching redemption story as well. How could one honestly not get behind this gem? To me, this is easily one of the best songs this group has made to date.

"Be Here Long" has some good pop rock sensibilities while Bear ponders his own mortality through talking to his wife. It makes for a bittersweet listen, as he discusses how he hopes his wife knows that he loved her with everything he had for the relatively short time they were together. But still, the tonality of the song gives the listener a feeling that Bear and the band have a mature solace in their mortality because of their relationship with God, which feels very present particularly in this song. "Don't Bring that Trouble", while not particularly deep in lyrics, still is a fun, upbeat rock song which I know will work well in a live setting. "Let's Stay Home Tonight", on the other hand, might raise problems in regard to lyrical content. It is probably one of the more sexually provocative songs to come out of a Christian band, but in the way it is done, it feels more romantic and touching than it does inappropriate: "I know you wanna get dressed up/But I know who you are girl/There ain’t no need for makeup/Cause you’re my angel/I don’t wanna share you/So why don’t we just slow down/See where it can take us" It's refreshing to see a song about sex where the individual is honoring their partner as more than just an object, rather a woman (or man) who they truly care about and want to have a deep-set relationship with. Bear perfectly navigates those subtleties, making this song another highlight for me.

All the songs I've mentioned are definitely great songs, but "Hard Love" is an album that isn't without weaknesses. "When I Sing" has these little repeated "oohs" that are just annoying. Lyrically the song is a cliched mess in which Bear is talking about his wife being the reason he sings. "Great Night", while being an upbeat song that could work well in a live setting, ultimately feels pretty dry with no real lyrical content to chew on. It's just a partying song, and if that's your thing, then you're gonna enjoy this song. But I know NEEDTOBREATHE is capable of creating better fun songs than this one, which simply gets lost in the mass of other songs like it. "Testify" is definitely the weakest track for me. It checks every single box of your typical CCM radio-friendly song, from the boring poppy sound with hardly any variation, to the boring lyrics that I've heard variations of form other bands: "Give me your heart/Give me your song/Sing it with all your might/Come to the fountain/You can be satisfied/There is a peace, there is a love/You can get lost inside/Come to the fountain/Let me hear you testify" Even Bear's vocals can't save this song; in fact he ultimately sounds pretty passionless for the most part. "Clear", while sounding good, ultimately overstays its welcome, being almost seven minutes long. The subject of the song, which is basically a big love song for Bear's wife, does not justify the length for me(I have no doubt his wife appreciates it!). The lyrics to this one were the ones that made me a little uncomfortable, as I thought for a while that Bear was talking about God, but then the chorus says "baby", so I knew that wasn't the case. But the lyrics verge on Bear almost praising/idolizing his wife, which was a bit problematic.

"Hard Love" is probably NEEDTOBREATHE's weakest effort to date, but when the effort still sounds better than most popular albums out this year, one cannot really complain. I honestly commend the boys for experimenting with pop on this album, as more times than not it truly works. The guitars might sound more processed than I would've wanted, and maybe the album didn't have the raw sound of "Rivers in the Wasteland", but that doesn't make the work bad. I would totally recommend giving this a listen, as there are a lot of tunes on here that will make for a fun summer album!

Favorite Songs: "Happiness", "Let's Stay Home Tonight", "Money and Fame", "No Excuses", "Don't Bring that Trouble"

Least Favorite Songs: "Testify", "Great Night", "When I Sing", "Clear"

Kings Kaleidoscope "Beyond Control" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Let's get one thing out of the way: I am not usually a big fan of worship artists or albums. I actually hate  that "worship" has become a genre of Christian music in some ways, because ultimately I think worship isn't one thing. A song doesn't have to repeat God's name repeatedly to be worship, or give cliched praises about him that feel void of meaning. I oftentimes think the record labels behind this genre are a little shady, more interested in earning money than anything. So, when I find a worship band I feel are doing the genre not for money but because they have a real passion for God (Rend Collective, Crowder, MercyMe, All Sons and Daughters), it's a refreshing change. With that being said, Kings Kaleidoscope might be the best new worship band out right now. Their album "Becoming Who We Are", while feeling disorganized at times, still took some incredible risks in defining what could be worship. It had a lot of interesting musical choices and lyrics that are some of the most theologically deep I've heard. Now they've returned with their sophomore work "Beyond Control". How does it fare compared to the debut?  Well, I just have to say I think this could be album of the year.

The album opens with "A Resting Place", an instrumental track which boasts some excellent string work and a very big feel to it. There is an instant feeling that you're entering into something that is both large and intimate at the same time, which is how I believe worship should always feel. Then "Enchanted" starts, and right from this song I knew I was in for a gem of an album. Not only was the song SO energetic with a rock feel I've not heard from a worship song in years, it also had some amazing visual imagery: "Enchanted, Beyond control/I'm connected in a daze/Roam unconscious disengaged/In a simulated world/I sustain/Swimming senseless through a void/Ease my appetite with noise/In a stimulated world/Go insane/Shadow in a matrix". The song gives one a great feeling of immersion into this amazing world that KK establishes. They make our world look like something amazing since it is God's creation. The album goes on continuously to "Most of It", which just brims with optimism about trusting in God: "I’m learning how to live/In spite all of my fear/I’m learning how to hold on/To knowing You are near/And make the most of it/Just make the most of it". The song not only has an upbeat sound with some fun brass accompaniment, but KK perfectly states how we should live our lives: make the most of it through an understanding in God's love. It's a vindictive, challenging statement that isn't said enough in contemporary worship.

The best track of all of the highlights on this album comes in "Dust". It's a short song, but has an amazing soundscape, and probably the best lyrics of the year: "Dust to earth and ash to ocean/ Evanescent, fading fast/You are all I really have/I’m not home till heaven opens". Those four solitary lines still give me cold chills in illustrating how death is inevitable and beyond our control, so God is the only one we can truly turn to. And still, even in this dark theme KK takes solace in the fact that death is beyond their control; God is the one who has the control of that. "Dust" shows that Earth, while a dark place, is our temporary home, and God is there to guide us through. The way the lyrics express it feels new, and once again, the lyrics made me think and feel challenged. What a song. And still the greatness continues with the "Ride On Reprise", which is the first time in a while I've felt Auto Tune was used right. It's not overbearing, and still creates the somber feeling of the simple lyrics "Turn my heart and rest my weary soul".  "In this Ocean" parts 1 and 2 takes the listener through a pretty incredible musical and lyrical journey starting off as upbeat, and then taking a lot of unpredictable shifts in sounds, ending off on a decidedly epic note. Lyrically, it reminds of "Oceans" by Hillsong, which isn't a bad thing at all. The song urges the listener to take the challenges God gives us knowing that they're not too great for us: "Stepping out, into faith/Terrified of our fate/Tense and uncertain/As our feet leave the shore/And the sails fill and roar/We need assurance/It’s enough that He calls us His own/And he knows our names/We are bound to the end". The water motif really works throughout this song, staying away from cliches and instead making the song feel interesting and large in the right way. "Friendship (Interlude)" ends off the first (and more upbeat) part of the album with a great improv jazz segment which is just a lot of fun and works with the happy textures of the previous songs.

The second part of this album slows things down a bit and becomes more somber, ending off this worship album in just the right way. "Lost?" is right up there with "Dust" for me, just in different ways. Where this song excels in is its simplicity. Only Chad Garner's vocals and strings take over the song, and the result is beautiful. The lyrics are profoundly poignant:  "No need for control/All my running your redemption retraced/At your cross held my exhausted embrace/Now I wander in your glorious maze/Lost in grace, lost in grace". In both lyrics and sound Garner expresses a legitimate awe in God's presence in a way that feels profound and simple at the same time. The childlike wonder shown here is executed perfectly; I can really see people coming together and lifting their hands up for this one. "Sabotage/Home" expresses the hardships of living accompanied by a huge expansive sound, and a wonderful solution offered by God's presence: "With my home now far from view/This is home right here with you/You have sabotaged this sea/Now you're walking here with me". It was interesting to see the term "sabotage" given a more positive diction in the sense that Garner wants God to sabotage, or interfere, in his life the right way and offer him rest.

The next song to discuss gets a little section all to itself, because it is definitely the most controversial worship song to come out in years. I was surprised to even hear a worship song was causing controversy, as they usually stay pretty safe. Not so with the song "A Prayer". The reason for this controversy? The f word was used a few times in the song. Now, I can definitely understand the uproar over this. The Bible has given several implications that no unclean words should leave our mouth. But, based on the interview with Chad Garner, I can understand WHY it was used. I'm not saying the usage is justified but I get it. Basically, in this song, a really broken down individual was crying out to God, and this word was used in a raw moment. Just look at the Psalms in the Bible. A lot of them express strong anger towards God. I think many of them in modern context could have curse words attached to them. Paul himself did not have a clean tongue, and yet God used him to spread his word. I think the reasoning for using this word came from a good place. I still ended up getting the clean version of the song, which uses "vicious" instead. Ultimately, the usage of this word still doesn't tamper with the passion and vigor behind this song, which feels like an honest prayer that Garner could have made at a low point in his life. And the payoff, which is a response from God, makes it all worth it.

The album ends off with "Trackless Sea", which feels like it defines the whole album: the song is big, has surprising turns, and has once again great lyrics about trusting God in controlling things beyond us ("The faith I want, is bound in apathy/I’m tired of doubt, and feeling incomplete/Still, this hope I hold is my reality"). Honestly, this is the best worship album to have come out in years. It has a sound to it that feels totally its own. There are so many different types of songs too, ones perfect for group worship and others entirely for intimate moments. The lyrics to every song are thought-provoking and can spark great discussions while inspiring worship. Musically, the album keeps interest throughout, logically shifting from upbeat and expansive to subtle and small. There really is an album of the year contender here. You'd be missing out if you didn't at least give this masterpiece of a work one listen.

Favorite Songs: "Dust", "Lost?", "Sabotage/Home", "Enchanted", "In this Ocean (Parts I and II)"

Least Favorite Songs: If I had to choose, "Gone", but even this one is good.

Switchfoot "Where the Light Shines Through" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

There's no denying that Switchfoot has had quite the impressive history. Their first album gave them a pretty quick small cult following, and it stayed that way until their huge release "The Beautiful Letdown", with songs like "Dare You to Move", "Meant to Live", and "This is Your Life" putting them into huge popularity in Christian, and eventually secular circles. Ever since then, they've continued to release some very impactful albums and songs. My personal favorite to this day is still "Nothing is Sound", their darkest record to date which has some incredible cuts like "Stars", "Lonely Nation", "Politicians", and "The Blues". Now Switchfoot is back with their tenth album (a huge landmark you don't see too often these days) "Where The Light Shines Through". This album is coming off of "Fading West", which probably got the most mixed reception I've seen out of any Switchfoot release. Many did not like the pop styling of the album, and even felt the ballads were devoid of true passion. I personally thought the record was fun for what it was, a movie soundtrack that shouldn't be looked at as anything more. But I will agree it was one of their weaker releases. Now this new album on the other hand... let me just say upon first listen and multiple others I was absolutely blown away.

The most significant thing to say about this album is that it couldn't have come out at a better time. The thematic arc of "Where The Light Shines Through" revolves around finding hope in the midst of darkness, as well as in God. And while it might be hard to see, beauty can be found in tragic events, as God is working through them. With the Orlando shooting, the death of more innocent black lives, and the Dallas riots, I really think an album like this is needed, one that beautifully suggests love and hope are the ultimate answers. The excellent album opener "Holy Water" wastes no time in showing Switchfoot's newest releases as one of their most energetic. It's a great slow-burning rocker with John Foreman's unmistakable vocals giving their all. The lyrics are great, expressing desire for God's holy water to be flowing through our veins: "But now I’m praying for rain/I want to make that change/I got your blood in my veins/Like holy water". But while this song is great, the one that truly stands out as my favorite is without a doubt the title track. Right from when I heard the song, it hit me hard as someone who firmly believes good can arise from tragedy. And the lyrics in this song are some of the best Foreman has ever written: "Because your scars/Shine like dark stars/Yeah, your wounds are where the light shines through/So let’s go there/To that place where/We sing these broken prayers/Where the light shines through" . I think most anyone could get behind those lyrics showing light can be present in our wounds. The song's pop rock sensibilities perfectly highlight the hopefulness the song expresses.

"I Won't Let You Go" is the first ballad on the album, and I personally think it's one of Switchfoot's best ballads they've made. Foreman uses his falsetto here, which I've not heard him do to such a large extent. The song seems to be from the perspective of God, asking his subjects to look to him and trust in him in hard times because "I swear, that I won't let you go". What really makes this song great is the usage of screams along with Foreman using his vocals in a very unique way. "If the House Burns Down" stands out as the best rock song on the album, rejecting materialism in exchange for a relationship with another person ("You possess your possessions or they possess you/And if the house burns down tonight/I got everything I need when I got you by my side"). Foreman's vocals also are completely unbridled here, with his voice sometimes nearing on screaming the lyrics out. The song is the perfect combination of fun and thoughtful, becoming yet another major highlight on this album full of highlights. "The Day That I Found God" feels a little simplistic compared to the previous songs, but it still works for the subject matter, which is finding God in unexpected places. I actually appreciated the simplicity, as it reminded me of something you would hear on one of Switchfoot's earlier releases.

The next song,  "Shake This Feeling" has a straight up fun feel to it, with the lyrics asking for a chance start over: "And it’s hard to fly when your wings are tied/And I’m wishing that we could start all over again/Yeah, start it over again". The chorus of this song is super catchy, and I could definitely get behind the message it was giving. "Bull in a China Shop" is a great rock number, simply giving a message about shaking the status quo up a little bit. This one doesn't have a very complicated message to it, but I can definitely imagine this one working very well in a live setting. The guitar work in this song should be commended as well, as the guitar really shines here. "Looking For America" is probably the most controversial song on the album both musically and lyrically. For me, I actually really liked that Switchfoot took a risk sound wise by trying out rap/rock, and I think it worked. Lecrae's rapping in this was amazing as usual, using his clever wordplay to ask America what kind of nation they want to be. And the lyrics "I’m singing/Farewell my utopia/Farewell my euphoria/Fare thee well my suburban day-dream" are actually pretty inspiring in telling America to leave behind this idealized idea of America and instead tackle the real dark issues going on. Many probably won't like the more political message going here. And usually, I'm not the type that likes politics being addressed in music. But Switchfoot and Lecrae do it in such a way on this song that I think it works, and even becomes a highlight. "Healer of Souls" gives a recovery from the darker lyricism of the previous song by offering a straight up gospel-rock song that I imagine could be sung in a youth group, and "Hope is the Anthem", while not Switchfoot's best closer, still ends the album on an uplifting note, reminding us that hope will be the ultimate ideal that pervades.

The only weak points on this album were surprisingly the singles, which are usually the stronger Switchfoot songs. But honestly, "Float" felt very  odd to me and didn't at all have any distinction as a Switchfoot release. The chorus felt pretty weak, using similes and metaphors that felt a little bit silly. I know this song was supposed to have an odd atmospheric quality to it, but this more felt like something Coldplay would do rather than Switchfoot. While I didn't hate "Live It Well", I couldn't shake the feeling that it was so obviously pandered towards Christian radio. Usually, Switchfoot doesn't make it so obvious which of their singles are radio-friendly, but "Live It Well" really does scream it, with its somewhat cliched lyrical content and easy sounding ballad quality.

"Where the Light Shines Through" shows that even after ten releases, Switchfoot still has a lot of great music in them. It's definitely their strongest release since "Nothing is Sound". I can't recommend the title track enough, as I feel it offers a great amount of hope to people of all beliefs in this year which has been filled with tragedy.  It also just happens to be one of the best songs of the year. This album will definitely be in my top 10 albums of the year, and is one of the best summer releases so far!

Favorite Songs: "Where the Light Shines Through", "If the House Burns Down Tonight", "I Won't Let You Go", "Holy Water", "Looking for America"

Least Favorite Songs: "Float", "Live It Well"

House of Heroes "Colors" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4/5 Stars

House of Heroes, is, in my opinion, one of the most underappreciated rock bands in the modern scene. They get critical acclaim with every album, but they have still managed to stay relatively underground and unknown. But, it does make me feel all the more appreciative that I managed to find them. They are easily in my top 5 bands, and if you take a look at their impressive discography, you can understand why. Although I'm not huge on their, their consecutive releases have really impressed me. "The End is Not the End" is one of the best sophomore releases I've ever heard, boasting a lot of musical range, gorgeous vocal harmonies, and some deep powerful lyrics accompanied by catchy choruses. "Suburba" is a straight up fun record playfully satirizing the adolescent life and celebrating God's love for us. "Cold Hard Want" is still their best record for me, offering up some amazing cuts like the absolutely intense songs "Comfort Trap" and "Out My Way", catchy rock anthems "Dance (Blow It All Away)" and "Remember the Empire", and easily their best song to date in the incredibly well-written and amazing sounding "Touch This Light". So, to say their new album has excited me the most for the summer is an understatement.

"Colors" is HOH's first attempt at a concept album. Now, there's no denying all of their other albums have connecting themes, but none of them really told a story. This one does, and, while a little hard to figure out at times since it's in poetic form, it is still a very interesting story with some really great characters- and, what's more, it plays out almost like a Shakespearean tragedy with more hope attached to it. There are three main characters we follow: Eric, introduced in "Colors Run", is a very Christ-like character, with a pure heart hoping to follow his dreams and marry his lover Joni in the process. But he also comes from a place of failure, not sure where his path should lie, and whether he should follow Joni's philosophy of choosing one's own path, or listen to his cousin Axel, who believes one should just go with what their one unwavering path is, and leave dreams behind. Speaking of Axel, he is the character that gets the most songs about him, which ultimately makes him more of the main character despite Eric more conventionally fitting the role of protagonist. Axel should be called an anti-hero, someone who has followed an immoral path to gain power because he believes that's what he should do. But, he also has a sympathetic edge to him in his attempts to love Joni and his struggle to connect with God. What ultimately unfolds is Eric seeing Axel shoot someone, and Axel tells him to keep it quiet or he could end up dead. Eric does, but only for a while. He knows he has to ultimately face Axel in order to keep Joni safe, and so, after declaring his love for her, he faces Axel. But what happens is tragic: Axel kills Eric. Axel quickly realizes the weight of his act, and tries to redeem himself by asking Joni to run away with him. She rejects him, and he ends up in jail. We are never certain whether he rejects his actions or not.

This album has a very strong opening with the super catchy "Colors Run", which ultimately serves as a motif for the whole album. "Colors" seems to be a metaphor for the destiny, or even more darkly, death. Axel points out at one point how one day the colors will fade, which seems to mean that our blood will stop and we will die. This is how he justifies trying to endlessly gain power- he might as well try to have it all and maybe, in the end, he could be invincible. The chorus of this song is both catchy and relatable, stating, "Why can't I be more?/I don't wanna fight my father's wars,/But nothing comes easy where I come from,/So we sweat it out in the concrete sun,/Till the colors run." Even if a listener cannot connect with any other song, I think they could certainly connect with the idea of attempting to be an individual who does not simply conform to what generations past have done. The musicality in this song is just amazing, with a great guitar riff that gets embedded in your head. This guitar riff is repeated several times throughout the album, making this song feel like it has even more weight to it.

Perhaps the most pleasing part of "Colors" is that it shows off HOH's intense side quite frequently, and both "Pioneer" and "Rat" are great examples of that. Tim Skipper is practically belting his vocals on "Pioneer", and in "Rat" his voice is nearing screams in the intense and memorable chorus. The songs are both short, aggressive, and perfect in what they attempt to do. "Pioneer" brings up the interesting idea of how far someone should go to make an impact, while "Rat" brings up the theme of when an action is actually betrayal. "We Make Our Stars" is a real lyrical highlight of the album, bringing one of the more pervading arcs of the story: paving a path for yourself. (We can't change the color of our sky/But we can rage against the night/We can't hold what falls apart/But we make our stars") Perhaps the most interesting thing about the chorus is it can be looked at as either positive or negative: on one hand, one can make great things happen when they pave their own path, but on the other, following certain paths can be destructive. The album claims that Eric's path is ultimately more pure because he's motivated by God. Axel, on the other hand, has individualistic intentions and this ultimately leads him to destroying others and himself. The song sounds deceptively simple; in reality there's quite a bit of weight in its meaning. Never has the theme of "following dreams" felt so complex.

"Feel" and "God" go more in depth into Axel, who I believe is the best developed character and the one that more people will be able to connect to (which I think was HOH's intention). While "Feel" has Axel boasting that he feels great with all the power he has over his town, "God" shows his more vulnerable side as someone who does not actually understand God. It even highlights his own insecurities and how he uses power to cover those up. The chorus is interesting in its willingness to show doubts about God:  "If I forsake my family/If I forsake my blood/Tell me what's in it for me?/If I forsake my demons/If I forsake my love/Tell me what's in it for me?" The chorus is done cleverly to where it could very well be the us asking this question of God. Musically this song is just awesome, going from very soft acoustic guitar to a very bombastic guitar riff and some loud drumming, along with Skipper's amazing vocals doing the same extreme shifting. Because of its lyrical and musical complexity, I see "God" as the strongest track on "Colors", creating both an interesting character as well as something believers and non-believers can relate to: doubting God, or even the presence of one.

 "Colors" continues to impress with "In the End", which is simply beautiful in the way that Eric expresses his compassionate love for Joni with some excellent imagery:  "Here's the wonder keeping stars apart/I carry your heart I carry it in my heart/Like a lion running to the slaughter/I'll come for you daughter/I'll come for you in the end". The lion metaphor makes Eric stand out even more as a Christ-like figure, and his love for Joni certainly reflects the love God has for us. The harmonies done in the chorus bring to mind something that could be in "The Lion King", and it works really well and makes the song stand out even more. The song "Matador" is easily the most chaotic on the album and serves as the climax for the story, with a great building guitar riff and more and more intense vocals as Axel and Eric face off. "Shots Fired" comes directly after "Matador" and contrasts its chaotic style with a simple acoustic guitar and soft vocals emphasizing the tragedy of Eric's sacrificial death. "Colors Die Out" is a bittersweet anthem making one question whether Axel will truly change or not. But the song also seems to ask us whether we consider our own sins. Will we willingly stay in the prison of our sins, or will we try to learn from them and break out?

There's only two real weak points to this album in the songs "Crash" and "Getaway", both of which weren't necessarily bad, they just didn't have any memorable moments or lyrics to point out. Other than that, "Colors" is one of the best concept albums out there. HOH have told a compelling story with some great characters, particularly in the flawed Axel, who is meant to reflect the human imperfections present in all of us. There are so many great songs on here. Please do yourself a favor, and check this masterful work out. After that, check out this House of Heroes' other awesome works!

Favorite Songs: "God", "Colors Run", "In the End", "Rat", "Feel"

Least Favorite Songs: "Crash", "Getaway", "Shots Fired"