Search - Smalltown Poets :: It's Later Than It's Ever Been

Solid Effort: A Great New Release

Peter E. Gross | Atlanta, GA | 10/22/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Smalltown Poets are back, with Michael Johnston's familiar voice soaring over the carefully crafted melodies that fans came to appreciate in the band's first few recordings. This new album is full of big guitars, Michael's syrupy-sweet crooning, and enough kitsch to make any fan of the slightly-off-center Christian pop movement tingle with excitement.



Several songs stand out ... "Lay it Down" is a hit, pure and simple, and should be a big track off this record through 2005. "Show Me Who You Are" and "The Truth is Out" are also tunes with fresh insight into the Old, Old, Story - a testament to Michael's wittiness as a lyricist and commitment to using new wineskins in a genre that can suffer at times from too much water in its wine. The Smalltown Poets don't exactly drink it 'neat' either, (think a full-bodied cabernet, rather than port), partly due to an obvious desire to reach outside the flock, but the album has plenty of nourishment for the established Christian. Overall, the lyricism of the record is solid - it's smart, but not catty...brave, but not arrogant. The lively faith of the band comes through dramatically, a faith that speaks more to a passionate search after Christ than to the complacency of dogma that can be more typical of evangelical art.



Musically, the album is extremely sing-along-able; a few tunes sound afterthought-ish, and there is some repetition in the structure of 'the hook,' but these are forgiveable. I really enjoy the record, and I'm certain that many more will as well. Disappointment is not a word that will come into contact with this new effort."

Real guitars, real melody what else is there?

Richard Froiland | Clear Lake, Iowa USA | 12/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It took at least four listens to this album before it really struck me. This is what "Christian" music is all about. It is at least as good (much better really) than anything on any sort of radio station. Certainly well beyond the stuff, that passes for music on "Christian" radio stations. Given the chance, it could be much more popular than this. I've hear a lot of talk about lyrics, especially as it concerns Bono and U2- if music is the modern day poetry Bono is still in nursery rhymes compared to this, and the rest are trying hard to put two words together.

Bottom line is this is great stuff. It has everything I love-insightful, thought provoking lyrics, real guitars and drums, and thank you Jesus-only ONE slow song. Since when did the slow song become more spiritual than any other type? Smalltown Poets-you guys rock! Please keep it up. Thank-you

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