Moving back into slightly the safer territory of a funky-jazz sound from the broader experiments of his last outing, Charlie Peacock's latest album also avoids most of strangelanguage's occasional production excesses. Peacock is producing adult-pop music without falling into the terrible mire of most adult-contemporary music. His voice is certainly on form. The soft, husky vocals are gently passionate and also suggest a hint of intimacy.
Lyrically, Peacock seeks to remind us that there is more to spiritual truths than handy slogans. In "Genius In the Details" Peacock warns of the danger to our comfort zones which comes of digging beneath the surface wording of God's call to us:
You can smell the poetry
You can eat the Word
Dine on the rhyme
But I wouldn't read between the lines
Bela Fleck's banjo on "Is the Brightness Still In Me" gives that track a surprising twist, and the album contains a number of instrumental slight touches which add to the strength of those tracks where they're introduced. Peacock's production appears to be coming into its own, and it would be interesting to see how future production projects would sound, but perhaps his move to seminary and independent music will make for more finely crafted solo albums.
There are no obvious singles here for any radio format, but the album contains a remarkably strong selection of songs. At times, a slightly more dynamic approach might draw the listener in more quickly, but for those who take the time to peel away the layers, the progressive revelation of the album's meanings will probably result in a more profound impact.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Sam HagedornTrying to understand the things of God is difficult for human minds, which are finite--especially when compared with the mind of the Creator. If inquiring minds want to know, then looking into God's way is often frustrating--yet it can also be fulfilling. That's the main pulse of Charlie Peacock's new album, Kingdom Come. Musically, Kingdom Come has the Charlie feel to it: that funky, jazzy thing…Similar sounding releases
2001Charlie HallPorch and Altar
2005Patrick AndrewThere and Then It's Gone
2002Ross King... And All the Decorations, Too
2002Rhett MillerThe Instigator
2002Counting CrowsHard Candy
1999Lost DogsGift HorseMore from Charlie Peacock
1994Everything That's on My Mind
1990The Secret of Time
2004Full Circle: A Celebration of Songs and Friends
In the Light: The Very Best of Charlie Peacock
1996strangelanguage
