Culture

… and the winner of last week’s Re-tweet Contest is… @elvinwong!!!  Please pick up your prize at 2nd Service!

Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto (2011)
* * * 1/2
Sounds like:  Coldplay (duh), U2

Since their first breakthrough hit “Yellow”, Coldplay has been one of the most consistently chart-topping bands of its day.  Sometimes criticized for being too similar to U2 (hey, what’s the PROBLEM with that at all???), this british-bred band has reached Billboard charts with hits such as “In My Place”, “Clocks”, “Fix You”, “Vida La Vida”, “What If”, etc…  I COULD keep going on for a while mind you.

Coldplay is simply a phenomenal band and I hear their live shows are among the BEST in the world.

Anyways, continuing onto this review:  what is this “Mylo Xyloto”???  Frontman, Chris Martin, describes this album as a concept album that tells an epic love story throughout the whole album.  They again collaborate with producer Brian Eno (of U2-fame) and that formula has definitely continued to be a success.  If you want to know more in-depth about the album, check out the wiki entry HERE.

First and foremost, to get the best picture of this album, I would recommend listening to it straight through.  Most of the tracks connect to one another and it works quite well in “telling a story”.  Also, the theme of Heaven is very transparent throughout, although sometimes the lyrics are quite cryptic and short, but I guess that’s Martin’s poetic license to do so.  Instrumentally, there’s a LOT of prominent euro, synth-y effects going on all over the place!  Starting with the opening track “Hurts Like Heaven”, we are treated to a flurry of synthesizers and auto-tuned voices.  For me it brings back a “depeche mode”-like 80s feel.  Then it flow right into the 2nd released single, “Paradise”.  The lyrics of the song describe the coming-of-age story of a girl who grows up to realize that life is a struggle, but dreams of a better place = Paradise.  (And so lying underneath those stormy skies/She’d say “oh I know the sun must set to rise”/This could be para-para-paradise/Para-para-paradise)  She realizes she must go through the “hard knocks” to find Paradise.  Quite a possible allegory to Future Heaven, Paradise, and how through our struggles in life, that’s how we realize our character is crafted.

Hands down, the best track on the album is the debut single “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall”.  Vintage Coldplay is how I would describe this song.  With Johnny Buckland at the helm of electric guitar, the irish-influenced guitar lick fits in well towards the overall feel of the song.  The overt optimism in this song is infectious and I’m sure it’ll be an anthem for many people for years to come.  (So you can hurt, hurt me bad/But I’ll still raise the flag/It was a waterfall/Every tear/Every tear/Every teardrop like a waterfall)  I simply love the instruments and arrangement of this song, and ESPECIALLY the great interlude with a killer bass line that starts at 3:04 on the track.  Another catchy song from the album must be “Princess of China” featuring Rihanna.  At first listen, I wasn’t even sure it was her, but after a quick google search, I realized my assumption was correct!

Coldplay, in general, have referenced many “biblical” or “Christian” themes in their songs.  You CAN’T miss it.  Even the track “U.F.O” is somewhat like a simple prayer, waiting for heaven.  Of course this is a lot to do with Chris Martin, who grew up as a catholic.  He has said he does not hold to any particular faith and believes that God exists but is still wrestling with who or what God is.  I hope and pray that one day, he will realize that this “God” he is singing to, praying to, and writing beautiful lyrics about, will found in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the One who truly satisfies, invites us to real Paradise where we will one day experience eternal joy and peace with God… a love stronger than a waterfall

Conclusion:  Would I recommend getting this album?  Wholeheartedly.  Some parts of the album do drag out if you’re not in the mood and I’m not sure the little interludes are necessary (I actually don’t know of ANY album that I appreciate the interludes).  Overall, buy the tracks that you really like, but if you are looking for good driving music that will tell you an epic, melodious story… check “Mylo Xyloto” out!

Standout Tracks:  ”Every Teardrop is a Waterfall”, “Princess of China”, “Paradise”, “Major Minus”, “U.F.O.”

B.Reith – How The Story Ends (2011)
* * * *
Sounds like:  Jason Mraz, Lupe Fiasco, tobyMac

So after getting SO many 5-star rated songs on my iPod for 2010, what does B.Reith do for an encore?  He creates a mini documentary about the creation of his new album “How The Story Ends” to whet our musical appetites! Check it out here:

As you can see, this time, B. Reith has brought on some friends onto this new album such as: Lisa Gungor, Lecrae, PJ Morton, and Dave Barnes (ed note: probably my all-time favourite artist). This eclectic mix of featured artist pretty much shows how far he wants to spread his wings and show just how diverse his music can be!

To be brutally honest, I was hoping this album would simply regurgitate the soulful grooves and great vocal hooks mixed with some new rap verses… instead, what we get is an album that’s kind of toned down that “funky groove” a little bit and tempered it with deeper content and mature lyricism. The formula of hip-hop/rap songs mixed with radio-like pop sounds remains and draws the listener immediately.  With this new album, B.Reith claims to know “How The Story Ends”.  It ends with the hope and faith that even through all the struggles of life, God is in control, and in the end, it will turn out for good.

The album kicks off with his signature rap track, “Next Move”, which is usually a tongue-in-cheek prose to the “haters”.  I usually skip this track.  But wait, the review doesn’t end here! “Simple Days” is where the album truly gets going.  This throwback track to his last album, B sings about the simple days of a relationship and getting back to the basics (either with God or with a significant other).  The next track, “Lonely Hearts Club”, is a cool, synth-pop, pitch-shifting track about lonely souls searching for true love and fulfillment in career, materialism, etc, but ultimately finding it in true love and embrace in God.

“2 Steps Forward” throws out a bouncy Pharrell vibe but the rap warns about not searching for success in a worldly sense.  ”Made for More” features Lecrae & Lisa Gungor and is the most epic song on the album.  Very relevant and sensitive issues such as eating disorders, abuse, and depravity in the world are brought to the core of the song, with a chorus that ponders an important question: (We were made to be more than this/Oh and we weren’t meant to fight wars like this/Something’s gone wrong, we’ve been broken/Who can fix us now, fix us now?/We were made out of love not hate/Oh and we weren’t meant to give up on faith/Something’s gone wrong, we’ve been broken/Who can fix us now, fix us now?)  And then the climax of the song hits, with the answer being (Who can save us now/Who can save us now/The one who conquered death can raise us from the ground/We were made for more than this).  Jesus is the answer.

“For Once In My Life” and “New Found Love” are my favourite songs on the album, especially with PJ Morton’s (Maroon 5′s unofficial 6th member) soulful voice and Michael Gungor’s funked up guitar grooves.  ”I’ll Get By” has a Lupe Fiasco/Nas feel to it, especially with some great social/biblical commentary as well as an amazing concluding verse: (To the billions of people who are mad at God/’Cause most churches haven’t done they job, and hurt you badly/Yes, it’s a tragedy, you looking at a casualty/I’ve judged instead of loved, you have every right to be mad at me/But please forgive us as we try to fix this/But this time, not because of selfish ambition/This time because of Jesus who lives within us/Y’see we are not religious, we just redeemed sinners…)  Don’t sleep on these songs.

Conclusion:  A great follow-up to “Now Is Not Forever”, no sophomore slump here!  I can wholeheartedly recommend this album to y’all especially if you liked his last album.  Diversifying his sound and trying new synthy, pop sounds has proved to be a worthy gamble for this rising artist.  The production seems slicker and the accompanying musicians and featured artists bring some nice intangibles to his evolving sound.  Although B’s last album still has me mesmerized, this album holds it’s own and deserves some recognition.

Standout Tracks: “Simple Days”, “Made For More”, “For Once In My Life”, “New Found Love”, “I’ll Get By”

Sorry about the “no-show” last week, but to make it up this week, we’re going to have a DOUBLE WHAMMY REVIEW!  But first off, we have another giveaway!  For a chance THIS WEEK to win “Crazy Love” By Francis Chan, please tweet or re-tweet these two B.Reith reviews! 

Two album reviews from one of the freshest Christian artists I’ve heard in a while!  So make sure to read this review and THIS REVIEW in tandem!

B.Reith – Now Is Not Forever (2009)
* * * * 1/2
Sounds like:  Jason Mraz (Groovier), Eminem (Gone Clean)

I remember it like it was yesterday…  I was getting VERY tired of my repetitive iPod playlist so I asked my buddy @jonnynip if he had any new music that I could check out.  So what did he do? He stuck a B.Reith CD in my hands! And since then, his funky, soulful music has become part of the regular rotation of my daily music fix.

To those who like the smooth sounds of Jason Mraz, B. Reith has a similar tendency to spit out rap lyrics here and there, and also possesses an amazing “goldie” voice too! But other than than the fact that they both make groovy music, that’s probably where the comparisons end, as Mraz caters to more reggae, beach-y tunes, and Mr. Reith brings about a blend of funk and even some Motown feel to his music. Pulling in great talent such as Michael Gungor (Gungor) and Calvin Turner (Marc Broussard, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz) doesnt hurt either!

Tracks like “Rain Down”, “Mess”, and “Wish That” have become 5-Star rated songs on my playlists. The groove and flair that these songs bring to the table will simply make your head bob non-stop! “Mess” is a simple recognition that no matter how hard we try, we keep stumbling and can’t get ourselves out of our messes, but we need someone (Jesus) to save us and to clean us up. “Wish That” is a simple song about lost love and regrets about moving too fast. “Rain Down” is a song crying out for Jesus to rain down living water on us. (Now I’m cravin’ a taste of that Living Water/Starvin’ for somethin’ that this world ain’t got to offer/I ought to know by now that face down at your altar/Is the place that I need to start ’cause this bleeding heart/Can only be healed by the One that made it/The One that gave His all to save it, your touch I crave it/So seep through the cracks of my pavements) Great rhymes and meaningful lyrics permeate many songs. And btw, the acoustic/electric guitar sensibilities on some of these tracks have caused me, more than once, to reach for my own guitar and emulate the cool chords (Thanks Michael Gungor!).

Of course, no album is perfect. Most of the tracks are definitely catchy and will stay in your head for a long time, but sometimes the lyrical content can’t match the instrumentation. Don’t get me wrong, “Old School” and “The Comeback Kid”, are personal stories set to music with stuff slick rhymes, but I just can’t keep re-listening to a song about B. Reith’s creative identity crisis between being a rapper vs. being a singer… He’s great at BOTH!

Conclusion: As you can probably tell by my musical bias, this album is a MUST HAVE. Please consider making it a part of your music archive because you will NOT regret it.  Period.   I believe this artist is definitely destined for great things and if you’re interested in his “evolution”, don’t skip out on PART TWO of this double whammy review… His new album, “How The Story Ends” just came out YESTERDAY!!!

Standout tracks: “I Know”, “Mess”, “Rain Down”, “Wish That”, “You Should Know”