Do you ever wonder what kind of music ccm artists listen to for their own enjoyment and inspiration? It's fairly well known that most ccm artists don't listen primarily to Christian music; how then can they avoid the worldly influences to which ccm is supposed to be an alternative? Here's an artist that shows exactly how it can be done. David Wilcox's third album for A&M records, released last year, is an acoustic treat filled with lyrics that allow introspection without Indigo Girls-like brooding, and spiritual insight without easy answers. Wilcox has garnered attention from ccm artists like Billy Sprague, who has been giving away copies of this album to friends and acquaintances. And like Sprague, Wilcox has been honing his craft of writing emotional, powerful, and underappreciated songs for many years.
Imagine if James Taylor could play like Phil Keaggy (no, I'm not kidding here) and write like Mark Heard or Randy Stonehill. Most of the 15 songs on this hour-long album use a story from his life to illustrate some bigger point about the nature of man or God. Wilcox recently wed, and many of the songs reflect the "Big Horizon" of his newfound married life. Other topics include the difficulty of the marriage decision ("Hold It Up to the Light" is a song that I should recommend for anyone getting engaged), the inability of possessions to satisfy us, the inadequacy of purely human love, and the thrill of outdoorsmanship. His topics and examples fit right in with his folksy delivery.
Musically, this album is much more organic than his Home Again album. A little more James Taylorish and a little less Paul Simon, the production puts his guitar skills far more up front on this album. For those of you who play guitar, this man is widely regarded as an alternate tunings genius. Keaggy and Michael Hedges fans should pay special attention. You've never heard an acoustic guitar tuned as low as he does on "Someday Soon", I guarantee it!
To be honest, I can't tell you that I'm sure that Wilcox has ever made a public profession of faith in Christ. I've heard that he sometimes attends a church in Nashville (inasmuch as even ccm artists get to attend church amidst touring) and that he's been rediscovering the faith of his youth. Since I don't know the man, all I can say is that his music is inspiring both lyrically and tonally. For those of you who don't feel comfortable embracing the music until you know more about the musician, Wilcox may be a risky venture. But music like this is a rare find, and a risk worth taking.
Similar sounding releases
2000Martyn JosephThunder and Rainbows
1996Pierce PettisMaking Light of It
1997Keith RosenhagenThe Other Side
1997Bob BennettSmall Graces
2002Glenn KaiserNo Greater Love
2002Randy StonehillEdge of The World
