A concept album rarely produces a consistent theme (see Third Day's Come Together), and even rarer yet, does the effort result in great music. Quite often, the effort seems to bombard the listener with a "think about this" mentality and becomes overbearing in its approach. However, the Illinois-based Normals have put together one of the more impressive albums of the new year with their third release, A Place Where You Belong.
The band's sophomore release, Coming to Life, marked a change in writing and musical direction for the band, but left me feeling tired and melancholy. A more mature artistry was aimed for, but the final product seemed to indicate that the band had been cooped up in a damp studio for far too long. A Place Where You Belong finds the Normals opening the studio windows, so to speak, and letting their creativity breathe.
"I'll Be Home Soon" introduces the album's tone with Osenga's longing for home while on the road. The gentle, acoustic guitar-based song sounds like Osenga's personal diary, longing for home, but knowing he'll never find his heart's desire on earth. Playing the part of the road-weary traveler to perfection, Osenga sings, "This place tries so hard to break a man. I'm trying to stand. I'm drowning in its sorrows, need to catch my breath. I'll be home soon."
"Radio" is a tribute to love needed in a world of sadness. The conversation-like, up-tempo song compares life to a drive, and appropriately enough, I've found it to be a good "windows down" song on the road. Osenga rips off some heavy lyrics that hit the listener with their truth: "It's hard to love that we're learning, but it's worth all that it costs. And we don't know where we're going, but we just love getting lost."
One of the more intimate moments on Place is found on track four, titled "Grace." Osenga's voice sounds sandpaper-ish and ragged on this song, but it sounds as if he's putting everything into the song. Exploring the depths of grace, the song connects the grace needed in a marriage with that bestowed by the Father through salvation. Osenga's vivid lyrics are backed by some searing vocals, timely percussion, and fantastic guitar work by Mark Lockett, weaving an intense tapestry of grace.
"Less Than Love" finds the band at a quirky, more experimental state. Reminiscing about his early love experiences, Osenga sings, "Almost every girl I've ever kissed is married and that's not a lot of weddings, but it's sure a crazy story and though they all seem now like someone else's story I wondered what we paid for what we got." The song is not all laments and doldrums however, as Osenga finishes with the note, "Love is wonderful you've heard...you can't miss it when it comes...don't settle for less than love." Note: Be sure not to miss Osenga's cynical side in the humorous phrase "everyone's grabbing what they can get."
"Happiness" is a haunting track that is the epitome of Osenga's stream-of-thought writing style. Osenga mentally wanders through thoughts of his strange surroundings on earth and his desire for a home and belonging that the Christian can only find in Heaven. And don't miss what sounds like Lockett's debut lead vocal performance on "On My Own" or the Barnum and Baileyesque "Epilogue," which provides excellent closure to the album and bookends the home theme nicely with the opener "I'll Be Home Soon."
What is impressive about A Place Where You Belong isn't just that the Normals aren't trying to fit themselves into a musical box, but that they accomplish this goal with flying colors. On Coming to Life, the band seemed to be trying so hard to be something different and artsy (note the references to Bob Briner's Roaring Lambs), but in doing so, their effort sounded stifled to me. A Place Where You Belong is a huge step of maturity, not only for the Normals, but also for the arena of Christian music. I doubt they'll win any Dove Awards or garner many #1 songs, but I really don't think that was their goal in the first place.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Bert GanglThe career of Illinois' the Normals, up to this point, has been something of a study in contrasts. The power trio's 1998 debut, Better Than This, was an effort populated, for the most part, by catchy, straight-ahead pop/rock songs bearing a slight alternative rock inflection. Following the departure of bassist Clayton Daily, guitarist Mark Lockett and songwriter/vocalist Andy Osenga recruited…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Jessica HeikoopTheir past two albums got them two Dove Award nominations and a #1 radio hit. Now The Normals are back with their third release, A Place Where You Belong, and, in my opinion, this deserves just as much--if not more--recognition. Taking it down a few notches, A Place Where You Belong takes on a slow, more peaceful sound. Using basic instruments for a majority of the songs (acoustic guitars, piano,…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Josh McConnellAfter releasing their first album in 1998, then their second in 2000, The Normals are back again with their latest release; A Place Where You Belong. But is it as good as their past albums? Consisting of eleven tracks, this soft/pop rock album was a definite surprise to me, I was expecting an album with a little more of a rock edge to it. I heard some clips of it on the Internet, and it sounded…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Brian A. SmithThe Normals are a difficult band to classify. Their debut album, Better Than This, was somewhat in the PFR vein, employing singalong pop/alternative rock songs. Coming to Life, on the other hand, had more of a brooding tone that was quite a contrast from its predecessor. A Place Where You Belong seems to be a mixture of these two styles. "Radio" is a fun song about love and driving down the road…The Rebel Base 2001Reviewed by David MartinAre you one of those melancholy, hopeless romantic types who gets homesick easily? Well, come on in and pull up a chair. The Normals would like to welcome you into their humble abode. Okay, well, it's not really their home, but the blue house that graces the cover of the low-key Christian rock band's latest album, A Place Where You Belong, must have been a cozy place in which to record a batch of…Similar sounding releases
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