With his sophomore release, Wrestling Angels, Grover Levy has truly come into his own. Levy's singing and songwriting exhibit marked growth and his music displays audible definition. Having had little experience in professional music prior to recording his first, self-titled project, it is understandable that that album, albeit enjoyable, was not overly cohesive. Wrestling Angels emerges as a much tighter effort. Topically, it tangles with a wide variety of both culturally and personally relevant issues. Its music is taut-presenting a balanced mix of biting, southern pop-rock romps and keen, acoustic folk cogitations. All told, Wrestling Angels reveals a Grover Levy who has sharpened his focus and honed his skills.
At the outset, "If You Want To Lead Me To Jesus" sets Levy's vigilant pitch and aggressive pace. Written as an unbeliever's view of the church, it gives an apt and effective reminder to believers. Kicking guitars, bass, drums and tambourine echo and reiterate acute observations ("I've seen how you are with the people you're around... I don't see a trace of the love and the grace that you talk so much about"). Indeed, Levy admonishes the body that "the world will know we are Christians by our love."
Songs like "Wander Below" (which addresses racial prejudice in a highly personal fashion) and "Tell Us What We Want To Hear" (which describes how leaders in our society would rather tickle our ears, so as to gain popularity, than speak the truth) provide incisive commentaries on problems that permeate not only our culture at large, but also (and unfortunately) the church. To balance this probing bent, Levy also includes an ample amount of tracks which turn their gaze heavenward, like "World Gone Crazy" (a pledge to persevere and pursue God and His truth despite the calamity of our earthly condition) and "Grace My Life" (a reminder of how God's gripping grace reaches out to us in the chaos and "merry-go-round" of life).
Vocally, Levy's timbre, inflection, and enunciation are strong. Producers Jeff Borders and Steve Bisher are to be commended for keeping him within his range, as well as for bringing his notes to the fore, ahead of the often blazing band background. Possessing a quirky and infectious tenor, Levy is naturally captivating. This is especially evident on unadorned ballads such as "Marianne" (on which his voice floats over guitars, bass, a simple drum loop, and occasional viola and violin accents) and "Dear God" (where he fleshes out his sound with only electric guitar and cello).
Even the more full-throttle cuts, such as "Tell Us What We Want To Hear" and "Wrestling Angels," employ rather modest orchestration-for the most part, Levy's sound is built around nothing more than guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. Sometimes "less is more." Truly, this is the case on Wrestling Angels-pure vocals backed by simple accompaniment pack a powerful punch.
Grover Levy may scuffle with angels and grapple with issues, but his artistic efforts are stable, staid, and striking. Wrestling Angels offers a winning mix of gut-wrenching honesty, unquestionable hope, and solid, effectual instrumentation.
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