I wasn't too impressed with Wake Up O Sleeper, Cool Hand Luke's debut, to be honest. However, new album The Fires of Life is a different proposition altogether. The lyrics continue to be mature and sophisticated, evidencing great thought into their conception but it is in the music, the melodies and the presentation that Cool Hand Luke shows the biggest transformation.
From the moment the gorgeous "Skydive" with its evocative picture of surrender and release, enters into your consciousness, there's no doubting that Cool Hand Luke possesses the potential to touch hearts and minds with its brand of progressive emotional pop.
The rest of The Fires of Life maintains this momentum effortlessly with the throbbing "Rats in the Cellar," the moving "Cinematic," and the evocative "I'm Not Ready" amongst a stream of vigorous, passionate and heartfelt songs. One of the finer examples of God-centric rock in 2004.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis June 2004Reviewed by Phil NicholsIn their six years as a band, Cool Hand Luke has been consistently raising the bar for themselves with each new album. Born out of the pop-punk craze of the late 1990's, this Tennessee trio began their musical career with the same things most bands of the era started with: three chords, squeaky voices, and a healthy dosage of teen angst. However, while Cool Hand Luke's live shows proved to be…The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Len NashThe poetic beauty that makes a person think. Piano accented melodic rock, beauty abounds. Honesty. Add that to a sort of hidden gothic backdrop, and the lyrics shine with a truly Christ-centered upbringing and an admittance of one's life. The Fires of Life takes a person on a journey down different halls of beauty, of inner-faith and outer-faith and is very thought provoking. This CD and the…Similar sounding releases
2003CopelandBeneath Medicine Tree
2004PilateCaught by the Window
2004As Tall As LionsLafcadio
1998CoboltSpirit on Parole
1998DumpsterSee Through Me
2000Delirious?Glo
