Okay, here's a real mixed bag. You've got the syrupy-est ballads you've ever heard from Petra's lead vocalist; and you've also got the gnarly 'n' dirty guitar tone in a rocker like "Wake The Dead" (courtesy Mr. Dann Huff).
The biggest difference you might notice between this album and Petra albums is the approach to choruses. The lead-off track, "Wake The Dead," doesn't follow the common anthemic chorus formula found in Christendom's favorite rock cheerleaders. Instead, there's a complimentary hook that is subtle but strong. I guess you could say the songwriting here is more complex in a melodic way. The BGV's are stacked, but not in a "wall of sound" way (the subtlety in songwriting again). Lyrically, we get an extra large dose of encouragement preaching: "Why can't we do what Jesus said/And let the dead bury the dead?" ("Don't Look Back")
One of the highlights in listening to this record is the richness of the production. If you are turned off by the simplified hooks of the songs upon first listen, crank up the volume and notice the quality sonics. You'll notice there's more beneath the surface here. This album definitely is boosted with volume. Having the guitar gymnastics of Dann Huff certainly helps, as does his brother David's drumming. Petra fans are gonna love this project, but the added sharpness here is going to attract a stronger following for this singer's talents.
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse April 1995Reviewed by Brendt W. WatersJohn Schlitt has not left Petra. In fact, in his debut solo project, the band's lead singer doesn't even wander too far away from Petra's musical territory. Musically and lyrically, most of Shake is similar to Petra's recent work, combining a solid rock sound with messages geared to encourage and instruct believers in their walk with God. This similarity is further strengthened by the…Similar sounding releases
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