Bruce Springsteen and Feist

Magic – Bruce Springsteen (C-)

I’ve never been a big Springsteen fan and this is not the album to buy to become one, which is sad considering all the critical acclaim this project has received. If the pictures in the jacket are accurate, the E-Street Band has about 50 members (9 actually) which is exactly what the album sounds like. There is way too much noise. Every song has a sax solo. Most songs don’t go anywhere. It sounds like every musician is constantly playing and not letting the songs breathe. Come on, Bruce. I appreciate the fact you are trying to get back to mainstream, but those name chants in your concerts that sound like booing might actually become that if this is the direction you are going. I’ve got to give the man a little credit. He has been doing this a LONG time and definitely deserves respect, especially considering the size of his fan base that wouldn’t care if he put out an album of himself reading children’s novels. Unless you’re already a Springsteen fan, just iTunes the tracks you want and leave the CD on the shelf. That’s where mine is right now – shelved.

The Reminder – Feist (A)

You might be familiar with Feist’s (sounds like heist) tune “1234″ popularized by the new iPod Nano commercial. Thankfully, that is one of my least favorite songs on the album. If you like smooth jazz with the sweet finesse of an elegant female voice, go get this album today. It is fabulous. It is the kind of album you play in the background while your doing house work and slowly a smile you thought was hiding takes over your face and subconsciously persuades you to dance with a broomstick. The cleverness of production is quite refreshing. Every track takes you to a new place and pours a sense of ease and relaxation over you. This is one of my new favorite albums – on my iPod, in my running playlist, and in my CD changer.

Across the Universe and Steve Fee

Across the Universe – Various Artists   (A)

Being a pretty big Beatles fan, I’m always looking for a new angle on some classic McCartney and Lennon. Now, I haven’t seen the movie, so I can’t speak for its quality. But if the soundtrack is any taste of what the film will be like, my wife will not have much say in the movie choice next time we have a free night to go watch a flick.  I bought this album based on the preview alone. The opening clip of the male lead singing “Girl” stopped my popcorn-filled hand mid flight to my mouth and I don’t think I moved until the preview was over. Honestly, I didn’t think anyone was going to be able to top the Beatles-based soundtrack from I Am Sam (which, by the way, if you don’t own that album, you should), but this comes real close. There are way more tracks on this album, 30 total on the 2-disc set, and everyone of them is powerful. Everyone one of them. My favorite right now is the gospel-choir version of “Let It Be” but it changes every time I listen to it.

We Shine – Steve Fee (B+)

This is not to be confused with his independent release Burn For You, which came out just a few months ago and has pretty much all the same tunes. Differences: thirteen songs on the old independent version and the new version has different packaging, an INO Records icon on the back, and drops two of the original tracks and adds “Happy Day” by Tim Hughes. Now, normally I would scoff at this practice as a ploy to boost record sells through a small time record company with mediocre distribution, but I’m actually proud for Steve Fee (or Fee, which ever it is). I’ve been told people have seen a change in his behavior and his concerts now come across much more genuine and authentic than they used to. If that’s true, I am excited for The Fee.  And I like his songs. Unlike Crowder that I took a listen to last week, Fee has created an album that has a fair amount of diversity and almost every song on this album is singable and playable in a worship setting. Seeing as how that is what he is, a worship leader/artist, I think he made all the right moves with this album and I for one am going to be singing quite a few of his songs. Don’t worry Steve, I’ll be sure to send my report to CCLI.

Foo Fighters, Rascal Flatts, and David Crowder

Seeing as how I am approaching this whole blogging thing from a new direction and being inspired by my pastor to really get out there and blog about something people may actually be interested in reading, I am beginning a new series where I review the music I’m listening to. So check back every Tuesday (or Wednesday as it might be really late before I get it posted) and see what I think about the latest tunes. Though I won’t always be reviewing music that came out that week, I bought three CDs that came out today that I thought would make a good start to my reviews. Let’s get started!

Echoes, Silence, Patience, Grace, – Foo Fighters (B)

My favorite Foo Fighters album so far. That’s probably easy to say considering I never really had a favorite Foo Fighters prior to this one. There is a ton of emotion generated by the dynamic rollercoaster from track to track. I’ve always enjoyed the magnetic musicality the Foo’s create on their albums. Most of the album I found typical with a few gems like “Strangers Things Have Happened” (minus the expletives) and “The Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners” that kept me interested. My biggest impressions came from the bookend tracks. The opening tune, “The Pretender,” caught me at the right moment amidst my frustration against all the rumors being spread about my church. I would still like to shout the lyrics from the chorus in all their faces. The last tune, “Home,” is powerful. I always try to find some kind of spiritual take-away when I listen to a secular project. The album gets its title from the second verse and I can’t help but paint the imagery of the believer’s life away from their “home.” Very moving, and this song alone was worth the purchase price.

Still Feels Good, Rascal Flatts (A-)

The funniest thing to me about country music is that I haven’t been into it since my freshmen year of high school and if I ever happen upon a country radio station, I still know almost all the songs. I really enjoyed Flatts’ rendition of the former Red Rider Tom Cochrane’s “Life is a Highway” on the Cars soundtrack and heard a lot about their last album so I thought I give this new release a shot. And what do you know, I really like it. Albums usually only get one chance to impress me and then it is either becomes a playlist or an afterthought. I found myself smiling and singing along to songs I had never heard before. Getting past the many songs out there that are just plain ridiculous, I still believe country music has some of the best lyrical content and singable melodies of any genre. Still Feels Good is no exception. I was hung a little on the fact whoever put the text in the jacket actually wrote out the “aw yeahs” and “ooohhhs” ad libbed in the songs. My spiritual take-away is the entire song “Everyday.” I enjoyed paralleling the lyrics to the Sustainer of Life; the one who really does rescue me everyday.

Remedy, David Crowder Band (C+)

Outside of all the advanced digital programming to fill in for lack of instrumentation, there is nothing new here. Though I respect the obvious difficulty involved in creating the programing for this project, it sounds more like DCB is doing a little to much throwback to the original NES Legend of Zelda soundtrack than something that will draw people into worship. In fact, I much preferred the experimental direction DCB was taking with A Collision when they seemed to be moving away from “worship artist” and more towards “Christian artist.” Remedy definitely puts them back in the general direction of a worship band, but it makes me wonder if this album was not the result of a balance between a little envy over the royalties their buddy Tomlin is pulling in and their musical integrity to not put out a bunch of cheese. Their lyrical content is solid and I enjoyed the dynamic contrast of the album as a whole concept. What, only ten tracks? Come on Crowder, I feel cheated. Oh, not to worry. I’m sure there will be a supplemental album out in about 9 months to push another sales rush. Overall, I’m only excited about a couple of the tracks, “Rain Down” and “Surely We Can Change” being my two favorite so far, and I’m already bored with them.