The best Christian band around!
Jim Curtis | Long beach, CA USA | 08/28/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Ultimate Distraction is the freshest Christian/gospel album to come along in years. The style and songwriting is so good, it makes it hard to pigeonhole this band into a perticular style. That, however, is what makes this album so good. The songwriting is not watered down Christianity but at the same time the music does not come off preachy and arrogant. An excellent album worth getting."
The Supreme Focus
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 03/01/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I can still hum a few bars of "If Anybody Sees My Girl" from Tom Kell's 1993 CD "Angeltown" on Vanguard. With that & his 1990 Warner Bros. debut "One Sad Night," he established himself as a golden boy of Southern California pop. The hooks & the melodies are still intact, but Tom has turned his focus on songs of faith. What a gold mine this is for the God conscious! Tom's acoustic guitar is so sweet & his voice melts like a lemon drop on the beautiful opener "Let the Rain Fall," "There's a better way to walk this Earth!" My favorite track has the ironic title of "Suffer, Suffer, Suffer." The irony is that suffering has never been more pleasurable because this is a great tune of joyful infectious pop folk, "I'm just a sinner, baby, saved by his grace." The acoustic guitar slows and the music is like a love song in its tenderness, "Life is but a test to fail, and everyone who ever lives leaves behind a sinner's trail." "When You Lay Your Head Down" has great hooks on the midtempo pop track, "It doesn't take that much to see some kind of miracle created everybody & me; there's a heavenly paint brush over my head." "Tis By Faith" is a pretty tune, "There's a ray of light & it shines so bright, on wings of faith I've learned to fly." "Sunday's Comin'" is a happy tune that makes you want to slap your thigh to the beat. The harmony vocals are gorgeous with a bluegrass touch on the midtempo "Open the Gates of Prayer." "The Choice" is choice folk pop. "Walk Inside His Grace" has rhythm guitar that reminds me of the Eagles' "Witchy Woman" while the lyrics puts this in the context of loving Christ. "I've Been With Jesus" has peppy acoustic guitar, "I know this man's a Master, my dearest friend." The most beautiful melody is the slow "Tenderness & Gold," "Dear Lord, I can't explain away these loving tears I cry; nor can I see the souls of men ascending when they die." The CD closes with Kenny Edwards' mandolin lifting the track "Take Me There" with an energetic old time bluegrass gospel feel. Kell's CD works as great music. Even those who are not predisposed toward a so-called "Christian" CD will still be quite comfortable here because the music is SO good! If I were to encourage the band on where to go from here, I'd like to hear more songs of faith talking about the nature of God, His Truth, Beauty & Goodness in addition to how we feel as men and women uplifted by the Spirit. Kell is supremely focused in his vision; and the music shines so sweet. Enjoy!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1