Remedy Drive "The North Star" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

If you had told me in 2008 that Remedy Drive would be one of the main fighters against sex trafficking, as well as making challenging music for its primarily Christian audience, I would've probably told you that you were crazy. There's no denying that I have been a fan of this pop/rock band for a while. Even in their early days they were a breath of fresh air on generic, mainstream Christian radio. But, there was always one thing that seemed to define them for a while: they were safe and reliable. Those aren't bad things to be by any means; it was just my perception of them. That perception entirely changed, though, with "Commodity", a deep album that addressed sex trafficking in a very powerful way. It also had the band sounding more musically intense than ever before. I really liked the album, even though its constant usage of booming electronics could get a little overwhelming. The still-independent band's new album, "The North Star", is nothing I would've ever expected to come from Remedy Drive. This album has a sharpened and urgent focus on oppressed people and how we as Americans, as Christians, need to care for them. This album is easily Remedy Drive's magnum opus.

After multiple listens to this album, I still can't get over how powerful of a gut punch the first four songs are. This whole album has superb material, but the first four songs are all just something special, and among RD's best work. "You Got Fire" blew me away the first time I heard it, and I still love it now. This song serves as an immediate call to action, with lead singer David Zach saying "You got fire/Burning through your veins/Don't let it die out". Clearly the fire inside of us is meant to be a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. Zach passionately pleads that we use our gifts to reach out and impact the world around us rather than stay in our comfort zone. This song is excellent musically as well, with a thundering electronic beat and a memorable guitar riff. David's voice sounds very natural against this soundscape, and the beauty his voice has is noticeable. Featured vocalist Rachel McCarthy is a great addition to this track, as her voice goes to all sorts of incredible places and gives this track a feeling of beautiful chaos. "Warlike" comes up next. Out of all the risk taking done on this album, this song is one of the most bold in multi-faceted ways.  This is easily the most intense cut the band has ever done both musically and lyrically. On the music side, this song has some very prominent guitar work which helps emphasize the intensity of the subject matter. I couldn't stop smiling at the ending of the song, where there is an explosion of colliding guitar riffs and drums. Lyrically, I could see this song being controversial, as it calls out the church on its complacency in addressing the oppressed: "You don't look a thing like Jesus Christ to me/You look like self righteous apathy/You look like entitlement and supremacy/You prey on the weak to defend the wealthy". Those lyrics in particular just left me speechless, as David is clearly very passionate in delivering a much needed truth. It's not often that a band will go so far as to call out people that make up the vast majority of their fanbase. RD simplistically asks why the church is so interested in militant evangelicalism, when that's so clearly not what Jesus was about. This song is very important and relevant to now, and I hope many other Christians hear this much needed message.

In an album full of incredible tracks, most would consider it hard to pick out a specific track as a favorite. But there's no doubt in my mind that "Brighter Than Apathy" is my favorite song on the album. Clocking in at over seven minutes, this song is the antithesis of Remedy Drive's radio friendly nature that they've had in the past. Everything about this song works. It serves as the main statement that the band wants to make on this album. This song shows the band desiring to rise above being a person who never really makes an impact: "I want to live for something bigger than me/Stronger than fear/Brighter than apathy". Even though this song has a clearly personal connection to the band, I think all those ideas are meant to apply to all of us. Zach makes these desires sound like a humble plea to God. The song turns beautifully worshipful in the bridge as he sings out in a beautiful falsetto voice: "Wake up/My soul/Let go". This song is a releasing of all the things that keep us from being who we are really meant to be. We have potential to be so much more if we let go of apathy. This track is the redemptive answer to all the dark questions and statements of "Warlike", which is what makes this song work so well in context of the album. Musically, this song is just purely epic, going through many different musical movements. There's a wonderful payoff with a beautiful instrumental climax. Then, the song fittingly ends with an African choir singing the chorus, which clearly implies that this statement applies to a diversity of people. It connects us all rather than dividing. We are meant to sing this song as a body of Christ, and even with those who are not Christians. That's what makes the track so emotionally gripping, and actually brought tears to my eyes the first time I listened to it. Not only is this easily Remedy Drive's best song, but it has great potential to be my favorite song of the year.

After a song like that one, it wouldn't be surprising if the rest of the album couldn't live up to it. But, I still think there's so much amazing material on this album, through and through. "Sunlight on Her Face" is an absolutely gorgeous track that perfectly utilizes orchestration. Once again, I think David's voice works immensely well with the cello and the swelling electronics going throughout the song. This track is powerful in that it connects oppressed women in Biblical times (Mary, the woman at the well, the prostitute who was going to be stoned) with modern day women going through similar things. In this track, the clear message is that Jesus has and always will have a place for women in his heart. This song is a graceful tribute to all those women who are going through issues of sexual assault and oppression. "Redemption Song" is a cover of Bob Marley's original song, and I think it's a subtle yet bold reinterpretation. I like how RD makes the song entirely their own. The lyrical content of this song works very well in context of the album, as it discusses how we need music of redemption to let go of the things that hold us captive. "I Don't Belong to You" is a hauntingly emotional track from the perspective of a woman who is in sex trafficking. I like how this song uses biblical language to have this woman gain propriety in her situation: "You don't own me/I'm not your property/Not my image/Or my likeness/Not my melody or my rightness". This song also is a bit more intense musically, with a lot of big electronics/synths, which works well for the song's subject matter.

This album's ending moments are amazing. "Sanctuary" may be the most poignant moment of the album, as David once again speaks through the perspective of a minority, who is begging the listener to give them a place to feel safe. It could be easily interpreted that this person is asking for a literal place to live, and I suppose that is part of the song's intent. But, I also think there's a lot of deeper stuff going on. This person also wants to feel like they have a place where they can belong and feel whole. Rapper Propaganda's verse offers the listener a challenge, telling them to not make Jesus commodified to those who don't yet know Him. The best way to do that would be to accept these people as they are: broken and in need of redemption. The beautiful interlude "Kingdom" offers the idea that the shelter the oppressed people need goes far beyond the earthly realm, as we can offer them an even greater place to reside. "Endless" is a rocking, joyous worship anthem which suggests that all of us will one day be together, and then our various flaws won't matter because we are united under God. I love how raw and passionate David sounds in this song, as it makes the track's energy sound all the more organic. The album ends on an appropriately somber note in "Disappear", which I feel is very understated in how beautiful it is. The subtle usage of electronics in combination with Zach's vulnerability make this track really stand out. It offers a moment of quiet and reconciliation. On an album that is very big in scope, a track like this is needed, and it's very appropriate that it comes right at the end.

If there were any song that I had a problem with, I guess it would be "Polaris". This song feels a little bit forgettable in the music and lyric department compared to the other songs on here. But even this cut isn't necessarily awful, and it can't possibly bog down "The North Star" as a whole. Last year, I found Christian music to be overall very underwhelming and disappointing with only a few exceptions. I'm glad that this year has already started off well. Remedy Drive have made one of the boldest Christian albums I've heard in recent memory. It's not often that a Christian album so honestly addresses the church's flaws as well as the many issues oppressed people are facing today. This release is a convicting call to action, and deserves attention (although I'm positive it will go severely underrated). I feel like this release can appeal to non-Christians as well, as it has a message that I think everybody can be united under. This album is not only one of the best explicitly Christian releases I've heard in years, it also will certainly be in my top 10 albums of the year. Please, check this one out!

Favorite Songs: "Brighter Than Apathy", "Warlike", "You Got Fire", "Sunlight on Her Face", "Sanctuary/Kingdom", "Disappear", "Endless"
Least Favorite Songs: "Polaris"