It isn't often that I come across a truly remarkable Christian band. After reading several rave reviews of Point #1, I decided I should find out for myself how good this band is. I bought the disc, and after a few listens to Chevelle's Point #1, I was thoroughly convinced that Chevelle is a truly remarkable band, and has put out a very solid album.
After a slightly repetitive instrumental opening cut, Pete Loeffler's passionate vocals enter quietly, and it quickly became apparent that Chevelle is no ordinary band. Their brand of loud rock utilizes heavy guitar and bass, backed by powerful drumming. Pete Loeffler's emotional vocals, which contrast sharply from gentle croons to fervent yells are complimented by the Loefflers' (the three members of Chevelle are brothers) tightness as a band. Their tightness is especially evident as they quickly rise to a frenzied web of power chords, power riffs and smashing drums with incredible timing and precision behind Pete's passionate scream. Pete Loeffler's vocals go beyond singing; perhaps emoting would be more accurate a term to describe them. The lyrics Loeffler emotes are deep and thought provoking in themselves, standing on their own apart from their talented delivery. Speaking on the subject of evolution, the track "Skeptic" features these lines:
Set out a boom and a line, What have scholars caught Look to yourself to find a god, No, a lie, We can have a life to take And mend these ways We don't need tradition, This will wreck our mission This isn't even clear It doesn't tell the why This isn't even complete It doesn't tell the why
Loeffler sarcastically penned these lines in reference to the experience of playing to an all-but-empty room:
You two, you're what's left, I don't take requests But for you two, come this far, I might have something To say Now these two, treat them well Upon themselves, showed up again Now you, sir, give up the gig
Point #1 features great production thanks to the more-than-experienced hand of Steve Albini (Bush, Nirvana, etc.). The disc retains an indie feel (especially in the drum sound), while the guitar and bass parts have a thick, full sound ... the chords are in-your-face and very heavy. All the parts come out clearly, but the vocals seem a little low in the mix in some parts. Overall, an excellently produced disc.
Chevelle's Point #1 is an excellently produced, incredibly performed heavy rock album. Chevelle has brought an original sound to the genre of Christian loud music -- Expect them to go far in the Christian market AND the mainstream market. Point #1 is one of my favorite albums of all time. FOUR and a half cows!
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #78Reviewed by Chad OlsonToo often certain people or bands receive attention because of who they know, who "discovered" them, what record label they're on, or who produced their album(s). Whenever you read about actress Rose McGowan, fiancé Marilyn Manson is certain to be mentioned. Pick up an article on David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar, and Van Halen is probably thrown in somewhere. Courtney Love often equals an inevitable…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Joe RockstrohChevelle has been hailed as Christian music's Tool, but are they really? The surface comparisons are there: the high whispered vocals, the taut atmospheric guitars, the sudden rhythm changes. But the Tool comparisons end there. Producer Steve Albini has infused a definite grunge sound into the band's songs, as evidenced by the dirty-sounding drums and the thick fuzz surrounding the guitars when…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by James StewartThe back-to-front CD case signals immediately that here is another release from the record label that brought us Sixpence None the Richer and Burlap to Cashmere's latest releases. But there is none of the acoustic intricacy of either of those bands here. Instead, Chevelle take their cue from the harder end of alternative rock, calling on influences from bands like Bush and Tool and making them…Similar sounding releases
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