Okay
its like this, I had a friend who worked briefly at a local music
store. He started nagging me to get this CD called Lifehouse.
He said he was pretty sure these guys were Christians.
I had heard the band's hit song on the radio and thought why not.
It took me a few days to fall into, and when I did, I fell deep.
Despite the critics relating them to Pearl Jam, Matchbox Twenty,
Creed and Live, I think they are a solid band with very good lyrics.
The band jumps out of LA and is produced by Ron Aniello.
The
band members are singer/song writer, guitar - Jason Wade, Sergio
Andrade - bass, and Diff - drums. Oh by the way, if you are going
to include a band photo, it would be a good idea to name everyone
that appears in the photo. Not too often do I comment on the liner
notes, but when I read the thank you section I was excited to
see that they all thanked God. Jason Wade even thanked the Vineyard,
which is a church denomination.
Now
lets see what Lifehouse has to say. Song number one which is the
radio single, Hanging
By A Moment . A song about going on a quest to get to know
someone. Paying attention to everything they say. "There is nothing
else to lose, there is nothing else to find."
Sick
Cycle Carousel is about a reoccurring act in someone's life. By
the indications of the songs melodies it is a disrupting thing
in one's life. Ultimately this song could reflect a habitual sin
of some kind. "If shame had a face it would look like mine, If
it had a home it would be my eyes."
Unknown
is a song simply about faith and trying to understand it. "...Walking
on a cloud of dust to get to you."
If
there is a low point on this record it is Somebody Else's Song.
When a lyricist or poet gets writer's block it doesn't mean they
can't write. It means nothing they write sounds good to them.
There is nothing new under the sun.
Trying
is one of those be yourself and be real songs. Well written and
well orchestrated.
Only
One is about a one-sided relationship between two people. I once
heard that two people should not give 50% to the relationship.
But instead each one should give 100% to each other.
The
song Simon echo's the line, "You lost yourself in your search
to find something else to hide behind." How true!
Cling
And Clatter is when nothing makes sense.
The
emotional ballad Breathing
is a powerful longing for God's will. A beautifully written song
about seeking. "I am hanging on every word you say and even if
you don't want to speak tonight, that's alright" "cause I want
nothing more than to sit outside heaven's door and listen to you
breathing." One of my favorite songs on the CD.
Quasimodo
is a harder edge song with some deepened lyrics. The message is
that people can't change who you are or what you believe in. They
can only if you let them.
Somewhere
In-between is a somber song about facing a problem or issue in
one's life that is overwhelming. "Would you catch me if I fall
out of what I fell in."
We
now come to the last song. Now if this ain't a prayerful praise
to God then what is it? Everything is well written and well performed.
The words are deep, as is the overall tones of the instruments.
This is basically a prayer written out to God. Listen to this
song by candle light and receive a blessing.
All
in all the CD is well mixed. Though a lot of the songs are slower
in tempo, the words are thought provoking. It is a good choice,
I give it two thumbs up.
- Bob
