OK, I'm a sucker for well-done acoustic folk rock. On the other hand, I sometimes feel like I've heard it all and that originality is hard to come by when it's just a guy, his guitar, and whatever else backs him up from song to song. So when I get CDs in the mail with the message "check this out, tell me what you think," I sometimes sigh and think, "OK, here we go, time to put on my 'well, isn't THIS nice!' face."
However, Who I Am, by Seth Sutton, is a pleasant surprise. His voice is sometimes that of a crooning balladeer telling a story through song; other times, his voice is growling or belting out confessions; and other times, so full of raw emotion that you know the songs come straight from a tender, open heart. To not mention Nancy Hilliard's beautiful background vocals which wonderfully complement Seth's singing on much of the album would be to leave out another beautiful component. They add what is needed to make it sound just right, as does the subtle variety of instruments used. A harmonica moans on several songs, setting the mood; a piano graces one song; and the acoustic guitar, played by Sutton, combines with the bass and drums into a blend that can be smooth, rollicking, or worshipful.
Lyrically, Sutton definitely has a gift for expressing himself. His lyrics are intensely personal, drawing on his own experiences, emotions, and prayers. He depicts his own struggles and observations in a very beautiful way that impressed me just while I was looking through the lyric sheet, before I even heard the music that brings it to life. His bio packet probably says it best: "Instead of 'Christian music,' it could better be described as 'music from the life of a Christian.'" From "Meredith," a song brimming full of love for his wife, to "Goliath," a song about how we are often our own Goliaths, to the worshipful "My Prayer," there are no cliches, catch phrases, or trite little slogans on this record. It's all about a singer, his life, and his God.
Great album.
4/5
