John Davis, former leader of the underrated power pop band Superdrag, sings explicitly about his recent conversion to Christianity on this self-titled CD. Instead of squeezing his classic pop persona into a tight-fitting contemporary Christian stylistic straightjacket, Davis has entered the realm of Christ-centered sounds with all of his tasteful musical influences still intact. In doing so, Davis has made it easy for his longtime fans to stay with him on this newfound spiritual quest.
The disc opens with the winning, Beach Boy-errific, one-two punch of “I Hear Your Voice” and “Salvation.” The former doles out the Brian Wilson layered vocals thickly, like extra chocolate frosting on a birthday cake. “Salvation,” on the other hand, focuses on a Carl Wilson-sweet lead vocal, and includes a noteworthy, saloon-ready piano solo.
There is more here than just a collection of teenage symphonies to God, however. “Have Mercy” is jumped-up blues, while “Tear Me Apart” offers up a slightly slower take on the blues. “Too Far Out” is big ‘n bold power pop, whereas the closer, “Do You Know How Much You’ve Been Loved?” is a comforting, country-gospel number, saturated in plenty of pedal steel guitar.
With so many stellar tracks to choose from, it’s difficult to pick just one favorite moment. But if push comes to shove, “The Kind Of Heart” is probably the best of the bunch. With its semi-orchestral instrumental backing, this ballad may remind you of a few great old Larry Norman recordings. And while Davis has said that he tried to keep the lyrical wit to a minimum when writing these songs, this track nevertheless includes one particularly memorable couplet: “We arrive at the station / All dressed up for our transfiguration.” This song’s message meditates upon God’s love for mankind, which is one spiritual brainteaser that never gets old. Simply put, John Davis has created a CD that is perfectly suited for discerning pop music listeners.
Ratings – Doug Van Pelt 4/5, Dan MacIntosh 4/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Scott LakeCount up the number of people that you know named John Davis. The local telephone book alone has 4 listings with that name. It's certain that none of those know rock and roll like John Davis. His self-titled release sweeps across a path of 40 years of influences, picking out the most choice ingredients for a straight-up rock and roll tour de force. This John Davis is the front man for the band…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Zach DelphIt's been nearly ten years after Jars of Clay was at the birthing of the Christian crossover movement. Since then, it's been no surprise to see a Christian artist garner mainstream success, but rarely does an artist do a sort of "reverse crossover." John Davis, formerly of the Knoxville, TN based band, Superdrag, has done this. Having recently dropped his drug habit and accepting Christ, Davis…Similar sounding releases
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