In a landslide victory, Joy Electric's Ronnie Martin wins the Last Person Expected to Release an Unplugged Album trophy. "Monosynth" kicks things off, with acoustic piano replacing the Robot Rock track's namesake instrument. With prominent acoustic guitar, "True Harmony" belies more of Martin's New Order influence than the christiansongs original. Of two new compositions, "These Should be the Good Times" is particularly affecting, yearning to make the most of life's fleeting moments.
Unelectric isn't entirely unelectric; the programmed rhythms are still in place, joined on most tracks by synthy string swells and on others by the odd synthetic bass. The stripped-down arrangements spotlight Martin's sometimes pitchy, helium voice and melodic efforts, revealing occasional limitations. Here, the chorus of "Disco for a Ride" sounds like a dead ringer for "Monosynth", which precedes it by a mere two tracks.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Opus 2005Reviewed by Nolan ShigleyA few months ago, when I learned of Ronnie Martin's "unplugged" album, I was hesitant. I remained skeptical up until the day I actually heard an excerpt of "Monosynth" on the Internet. Suddenly, I was no longer skeptical, but impatient for its release. That small excerpt of "Monosynth" was enough to whet my appetite for the rest of the album, which, as it turns out, isn't "unelectric." Instead,…Similar sounding releases
2004JemFinally Woken
2000Stacie OrricoGenuine
2000Sinéad O'ConnorFaith and Courage
2000Trinity Hi-FiFuego
1999K2SBetter Dayz
2005Blind DivineDevouring the BeautifulMore from Joy Electric
1997Old Wives Tales
2001The White Songbook
1999Children of the Lord
2002The Art and Craft of Popular Music
1998The Land Of Misfits EP
1997Robot Rock
