Justin McRoberts has a clean sound, but that doesn't mean he steers away from gut-level vocals with bluesy piano hooks.
Guest musicians especially enhance his music. Only three songs utilize the same four musicians; the remaining enlist the help of nine guest musicians, according to the CD liner notes. This contributes significantly to the freshness of the album, avoiding the repetition that can occur when an artist accepts no outside influences in their albums.
One particularly bluesy tune, "5th Wheel," catches the ear with a Jerry Lee Lewis-type intro of two measures of sixteenth note piano before McRoberts comes in with those blues-patented tough-luck lyrics.
This is an album of rhythm, both vocal and instrumental -- no jazz free form or ambient vocals here.
McRoberts cops a vocal attitude in "Jump Back." He features more of a growl and a wink in this song--probably his best--freeing his voice to express more personality.
A more prayerful longing for evangelism, love, and pain for lost people in the world is expressed passionately through "Heaven Help Me," "With Your Eyes," and "Michael's Hands."
The album isn't confined to blues, but the songs with the most creativity have a blues sound. Two that don't play much with bluesy riffs were McRoberts' weakest: "Don't You Believe" and "Sun Song." Both are too slow and a bit of a let down before the album closes with the devotional and pretty sound of "Galatians 2:20."
If one likes a more ragged blues sound, this album may please to the tune of 3.5 tocks -- a good freshman effort.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2000Reviewed by ConradThis is adult Christian Contemporary music more than anything else. If the praise leader of your church put out an album and tried to put a little groove into the songs - it would sound like this. Production and all are fine, but this is definitely not for most young'ins. C-Decapolis 2000Reviewed by Tom BastianI don't know a whole lot about the CCM Music Scene, but if I turned on the local Christian Radio station, this is exactly what I would expect to hear. This CD is probably gonna be big, if it's not already, with the Youth Group Oriented Contemporary Christian Market. Musically the CD is really good, great musicians, great songwriting, and good vocals. This is kind of groovy, funky rock. Modern…ReAL Magazine 1999Reviewed by Kevin D. HendricksHave you ever heard about one more new artist with more than skepticism, just to be blown away when you actually heard the CD? Enter Justin McRoberts. Not only does he have to stand out from all the other rookies, his first major tour was opening for three highly successful bands in a genre far from his own. The amazing thing is that McRoberts has risen to the occasion. Reason For Living is…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Michial FarmerIn the 1980s, the term "college rock" was used to refer to groups such as R.E.M., who scored big with college radio stations and in the process became national stars. Christian college rock was almost nonexistent in the 80s, with the possible exception of The Choir, who never quite made it to the status of rock stars. The 90s, however, are a different story. Bands like Caedmon's Call and…Similar sounding releases
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