Michael Olson is another in a long line of prodigies that have recently entered the CCM world. After releasing an independent album, and touring with Sara Groves, Olson signed to Rocketown, and has released his first label release, Long Arm of Love.
Olson avoids the trends of most performers his age, staying away from the nu metal/hip hop/pop punk genres that are ubiquitous as of late. Rather, his music sounds as if he's been listening to CCM and '80's stations before writing these tunes.
"I Believe in Jesus" will be the radio song, unless I miss my guess. Olson has a higher vocal that falls somewhere between NewSong and Mark Schultz. In fact, "Give My Life Away" bears a strong resemblance to the former's "Gonna Live What I Believe." At various other intervals, Olson resembles '70's standouts Dan Fogelberg and Michael McDonald.
"Long Arm of Love" owes its meter and rhythm to the Police's "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." "Lift My Eyes" is Olson's musical interpretation of Psalm 121. "So Glad" is somewhat out of place (in a good way), showing Olson's guitar talent--this song has a little more soul to it than its predecessors.
Michael Olson shows us occasional glimpses of talent here, particularly on the title track, and on "So Glad." The rest of Long Arm of Love, though, comes off as standard CCM radio fare, with not much to distinguish it from ninety other performers with a similar sound. Time lends perspective--it will be fun to see if his music breaks into new terrain, or if he plays it safe for the next few years.
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Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Joe MontagueIf Michael Olson's debut, Long Arm of Love is any indication we should be hearing from this Minneapolis-based singer / songwriter for years to come. Sonically he resembles another Rocketown Records artist, Shaun Groves. If you had to compare both artists, their music would more closely resemble performers like James Taylor, Sara Groves, and Carolyn Arends. On "Long Arm of Love" however Olson…Similar sounding releases
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