CP Powerfully Captures His Sound & Poetry
A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com | Glen Ellyn, IL USA | 09/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tired of Britney-flavored Christian pop? Charlie Peacock is the way to go, and "Everything That's on My Mind" is a good place to start.
Smartishly poetic, tightly played and produced, this will be one of CP's album's referred to as a great one. He brings in a candid, vulnerable heart, akin to what you hear from the late, great Rich Mullins, but with more complex, thoughtful lyrics. There's a Phil Keaggy/Beatlesque influence to some of the melodies. Fans of Daniel Amos, the 77s, and even the Lost Dogs will hear a sound they like. There is enough good old guitar rock to please John Mellencamp fans, and enough piano to make Michael W Smith fans happy.
I've had the pleasure of seeing Charlie Peacock play off this album when it first came out in 1995. It was in a gym of a small Christian college in Illinois, but he played like he was at the Kennedy Center. He brings that energy to this CD.
"William and Maggie" has always been a favorite for me, talking about their love for each other as they grow older and they recall some of the tough times they've had, "...He turned to his wife and he whispered/ 'Remember when I was young and you were Maggie?'" They encourage each other, noting they've had some pretty good times along they way.
The chorus still hits me, "Cause I been thinkin' about you and me and everybody in between/ It seems we've suffered one too many dreams/ Of things that weren't so bad, it's just/ They were never things that we could trust/ Are we still pretending they're enough?"
As he sings in "Monkeys at the Zoo," regarding how he wants his work as a musician to be for the Lord, and admitting he hasn't always been working with pure motives, "I have been a whoring after things cause I wanna get everything right/ That's a big fat lie/ No amount of green, gold or silver, the perfect body, another hot toddy/ Work for the Lord, fame & power, power and sex." It holds a power that sometimes gets lost in today's market-driven CCM music business.
Charlie Peacock has varied along the alternative art rock scale. "Everything That's on My Mind" is on that continuum, but closer to pop than his earlier work, but as poignant as his "West Coast Diaries."
I fully recommend "Everything That's on My Mind" by Charlie Peacock.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com"
Outstanding words and music to make you think
M Viljoen | CAPE Town. Mother city of the Rep. of South Afric | 08/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Charlie Peacock is not everyone's idea of good listening. In fact, in the past, I have considered him a better producer then singer. However, this CD has changed my mind completely. Sure, his words are sometimes strange and are not easy to understand. However, after more then one listen, he starts to grow on you and you are led back time and again to reflect upon the depth of his inspirational lyrics.
His song 'My Father's Crown' is so beautifully written and sung. The album is dedicated to his father, who passed away in 1992 and this particular song is about his father and he considers himself 'His Father's Crown'. What a testimony to any parent!!
My personal favourite is "Dear Exception" which is centred on Christ and our relationship to Him. All of these songs are incredibly deep and thought provoking and I love to listen to his most unusual style of singing.
At the end of the album there is a live interview with him and it was interesting to hear why he wrote each song.
Charlie Peacock is renowned for producing albums of some of the younger Christian singers and has helped many of them to stardom."