"You're about to hear sounds that are a little different to what you're accustomed to" proclaims a voice at the start of the tenth track of Smalltown Poets' sophomore album. But to be honest, I don't know why, since there's nothing in this track or the album that hasn't been heard before. The Poets sound like any acoustic band gone electric, and the production, like most of ForeFront's output, is too heavy handed and doesn't let the band bring anything particularly organic or earthy to this recording.
The lyrics are fairly well crafted and pick up interesting images, such as the aforementioned tenth track, "Quasar," and the vocal delivery is fairly easy to grow to like--vocalist Michael Johnston has a voice which is reminiscent of, though slightly higher and stronger than, Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine. The arrangements are well balanced, but lack any spark to take them away from the scores of contemporaries who also have nice laid-back verses and energetic choruses.
Smalltown Poets are obviously decent songwriters, and the melodies and chord progressions suit their lyrics well, but good songs need to be allowed to stand on their own feet and not smothered in well-meaning but overbearing layers of studio trickery.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse Unsorted 1999Reviewed by Bert GanglThe intelligent and spirited alternative pop/rock of Smalltown Poets' self-titled debut made it an unqualified success. The album generated two #1 singles, received both Billboard and Grammy award nominations, and was the fastest selling debut in Forefront Records' history. For the most part, the group's follow-up, Listen Closely, is built upon the same modern rock and pop framework as the debut.…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Keith GilesFor fans of a lighter Jars of Clay or a less funky DC Talk, this second release from Smalltown Poets is for you. Michael Johnston, former vocalist and guitarist from Villanelle, returns with a second set of radio-friendly tunes. His lyrics are still some of the very best that Christian music has to offer when it comes to the confessional, 'cut to the quick' brand of writing. For example, on the…Similar sounding releases
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