Scott Faircloff's self-titled debut covers a variety of musical sounds. It mixes his love for acoustic-based modern rock artists such as Toad the Wet Sprocket, Michael Penn, and Jars of Clay with classic British pop artists like The Beatles and Elton John. Most of the songs, however, fall into one of two categories: dramatic ballads or Beatlesque pop. The ballads "Hearts of Passion," "Long Journey," "When God Whispers," and "Under Your Wing" all speak of Faircloff's deep love for God. "Hearts of Passion" begins with typical romantic human thoughts, then turns into a song of wanting to love God more than the things of this life. According to Faircloff, "Long Journey" began as a "creative journey" experimenting with a fresh mix of poetry and music, and ended up being a song of salvation.
Faircloff's favorite revelation of truth on this record (the comfort of knowing a sovereign God) is found in "Under Your Wing." "Wrecking Ball" captures the feelings most of us have about life at one point or another, with lyrics of the type that pull you in and keep you singing along:
Lord, let the wind blow
Flow like a river, Lord
Deep and wide into my heart
Cause, Lord, only You know
Where I am, where I'm going
I wanna be where you are.
This track also shows Faircloff's interest in Toad the Wet Sprocket, sounding very similar to quite a few songs of theirs.
In keeping with the project's theme, "Sleepy Dreamer" compels the listener to forget about not being perfect yet and just make oneself available to God and to others. The most Beatlesque of them all--"Ultimate Sign"--combines all the lyrics, songwriting, and vocals that we would find in a mop-top tune. The major difference is that it takes these things and focuses them on God's sovereignty in Faircloff's relationships. "Frog's Lament" is by far my favorite song. Yes, Faircloff does compare himself to a frog, but the song's attraction is possibly because of this link with the fairytale we all learned of as children. Or perhaps it is the song's amazing beat.
Now residing in Nashville, Faircloff is continuing his work in the music ministry, simply hoping to create songs to share with others. This project receives help from many, including John Elefante. It is a solid work, but the best sounds definitely come in the faster numbers. It will be interesting to see what is in the future for this songwriter/musician.
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Other coverage for this album
7ball #19Reviewed by Chris WellIt's always great to find a smart songwriter who keeps his balance. As it says in Ecclesiastes 7:16-18, it's important to keep your balance--God is Lord over all of our lives, not just the "religious" parts. Some Christian songwriters waste their time on spiritually shallow bumper-sticker slogans spring-loaded with the name of Jesus; some overreact and spend all their creative energy on songs…The Lighthouse Unsorted 1998Reviewed by Paul Michael CarhartIf you are still mourning the passing of John Lennon and wonder what kind of music he might be putting out had he become a Christian and were still alive, a heavy dose of Scott Faircloff's self-titled debut release might be just what the doctor ordered to paint that musical picture. "Pulling Me Closer," "Wrecking Ball Chain," "When God Whispers," "Under Your Wing," and most especially "Ultimate…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Elisa MussoScott Faircloff's first project, produced by Dino and John Elefante, is fairly well-crafted. There is a good variety of musical styles represented here: folk, pop, and rock. Some of the vocal arrangements are reminiscent of the Beatles--John Lennon, in particular. Faircloff's interesting voice saves it from being a run-of-the-mill endeavor. He can sing a ballad, a praise chorus, and a rock 'n…
