Release Date: 02 July, 2002
Audio CD
Tracks
- Lift Me Up
- This Is Not
- Calling
- Do What You Say
- Overkill
- Need
- Light
- Your Kisses Blind Me
- Tonight
- Gratitude
- Way You Are
- Violently
- Fall Away
- Do What You Say
- Need [Partial Song]
- Lift Me Up [Partial Song]
- Calling [Partial Song]
- All Over Me
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Rating 4.5
The techno's gone,lyrics better,sound more focusedOn this album, the production trims the focus away from dense production stacked with walls of guitar atmospherics and technoish keyboards drifting in and out of the mix and instead focuses on "cleaner" guitar lines. The lyrics (a bit of a downfall for the last one) are quite a bit better here, avoiding much of the repetitiveness that undercut many tracks on the last one. Perhaps it's all the influence of wunderkind producer Charlie Peacock, whose name turns up here as co-executive producer with David Bach and who's been responsible for producing much of the most memorable Christian pop and rock of the last 10 or so years.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The debut began with mediocre track "How Long?" On this one, the Gate comes out swinging with radio hit "Lift Me Up", a soaring sonic merry-go-round celebrating the promise of Jesus' eventual return to Earth. The 'whoa-oh-oh-oh' hook to "This is Not" is infectious. "Do What you say" issues a challenge to spend more time living a TRUE Christian life rather than merely "doing what we should". ("We're here to love and not be manipulated/And that should never be understated/Let's see what we've got here/Let's take it on...") A completely revamped cover of 80s Men at Work hit "Overkill" also sparkles. "Your Kisses Blind Me" uses a unique image to try and express the wonder of knowing God ("Beautiful you are to me/Moon above a raging sea..")
LOWS:
There's still a couple songs where the words aren't up to snuff but at least they're at the end. Chorus to "Violently" is "Fight/Got to fight/Got to fight to get thru/Got to reach/Got to reach/Till we find you". Same thing with "Fall Away" ("I fall away/away/away..")
BOTTOM LINE:
In every way a step up from the debut. One can only wonder where they might have gone had the band not broken up. This one has a pretty good consistency to it and I think will probably still be listenable as time goes on.
POSTSCRIPT:
Keep listening after "Fall Away" for a hidden version of "The Calling" that's a little more raw than track 3.
3 1/2 starsThe Benjamin Gate never fails to rock.I heard the song "The Calling" on the radio before this CD came out, and I recognised Adrienne's voice straight away, me being a huge fan of The Benjamin Gate. Their music has a quite unique sound, one that is not too poppy, but catchy enough to sing along to.
This CD in particular is not my favourite CD of theirs, but it is definitely deserving of five stars. They did an amazing cover of "Overkill" by Men At Work, along with giving some of their old demos facelifts and including those on here. It's great to hear how Adrienne's voice has matured on this album, and the musicianship is impeccable. The only reason I don't really like this CD as well as "Untitled" is it seems to be a bit too polished, with too much ForeFront and not enough Benjamin Gate going on. Their older sound seems more raw and more untamed, along with their songs seeming more varied on their older CDs.
This CD is very much worth buying, but don't buy it and not any of their older CDs. If you're gonna buy this one, you should also pick up "Untitled" if you can.Lifts You Up!The Benjamin Gate's second album is much better and happier than their first one "Untitled". It starts with a great pop rock track which is happy "Lift Me Up". It makes me wanna jump around when I listen to this song. "This Is Not" is a great rhythm rock track. Adrienne Lisching one of the best female vocalists in the world...this proves it. "The Calling" is a peaceful song that tells about hearing the voice of God. "Do What You Say", "Light", "Gratitude", "Violently", especially "Violenty" are fast rock tracks and I love 'em!!! "Overkill" is a great cover, the original band who made it was "Men at Work". I haven't heard the original one but maybe I will sometimes listen to it...at least this version is a great ballad. "Need" is also one of my favourite tracks...it's a great ballad...not so peaceful but almost a ballad. "Your Kisses Blind Me" is maybe the sweetest song in this album...and one of the sweetest songs in the music world. "Tonight" tells about the candles...you must light them...and praise God!!! "The Way You Are" is a peaceful song but very hopeful one. "Fall Away" is quite a heavy song...like a heavy ballad...with great lyrics. This is my favourite gospel rock-pop album...and there's no real other competitors.
Stars: Lift Me Up, Tonight, Gratitude, Need, Do What You Say
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