Music Reviews

/ I WAS TRYING to put my finger on the difference in Tenth Avenue North’s latest offering, No Shame, and came up with descriptions like, “more fun and free, looser, and more willing to experiment without fear of making a misstep.”

It took longer than I would’ve liked in retrospect, but I suddenly realized that’s the exact description of someone living without shame. Well done boys. From the outset, the band lays out their thesis on the title track and make it their singular focus for the entire album, “I’m so free I ain’t scared of the ceiling… I can look like a fool and enjoy it/I can cry like a man and I own it.”

Tracks like ‘Someone To Talk To’ are bracingly honest and emotional, and compliment the spokenword interludes that literally speak directly to the listener about the healthy and unhealthy sides of shame, and how to offer grace to those suffering from sin and brokenness.

Almost every track is packed with eccentric beats, playful soundbites and well, fun. The guys really threw all caution to the wind and took hold of this truth, living it out musically from beginning to end. Even if not every track lands as a greatest hit, their authenticity and soulfulness are absolutely contagious.

This is one you need in your life.

/ MAINSTAYS OF THE Christian alternative rock scene since 1993, Starflyer 59 has released their 15th studio album and it's a heavy, emotional exploration of growing old.

It's easy to see where some of the nostalgia comes from on Young In My Head, lead Jason Martin would've been 21 at the band's founding. Watching the big '5-0' loom closer has clearly leached into his lyrics. He lays it out on 'Remind Me': "It's been 25 since I wrote/Blue Collar Love man, I need to go/I had my turn, stayed longer than most/ Longer than I should have/Cause I've never known how to let go."

It encapsulates the melancholy of growing older, but also acts as a testament to endurance and resilience.

"And maybe my star's not bright, but it's still on," Martin sings on 'Smoke'.

The album is also a brooding revelation of what happens when you take a long-view of relationships. "Two long years I thought you ruined my life/And I told you our mistakes/And you made me realize/That everyone can crash."

While gloomy, it's also a more realistic take, and more empathetic take, on loving imperfect people.

It's stark at times, and sad, but the it also leaves you wiser and weathered. It helps the ten tracks are rock-solid, hook-filled hits, powered by Martin's deep baritone growl.

Again, not easy listening, but the emotional core syncs up perfectly with the distorted grungy guitars; the perfect meditation on rock stars growing old.

/ UNSPOKEN RETURNS WITH their third studio album, the clean and cultured, Reason.

The band comes out swinging with their highenergy title track which immediately sets up the theme of trusting God to have a bigger plan.

As lead singer, Chad Mattson sings, "If we could pull back the curtain of Heaven/We would see His hand on everything."

Seeing a young band, wide-eyed and on the cusp of success, wholly trusting in God is just refreshing.

A sense of gratitude that fills the album, especially on 'Never Would've Made It' which expresses thanks to the foundational people in Mattson's life.

There’s something honest about the soulful, crooning in these dozen tracks; no outlandish anthems or “bringing sexy back” nonsense, just talented singers supported by cleanly produced beats and some real-talk lyrics.

Tracks like 'Already Won', 'Just Give Me Jesus' and Can't Even Love Myself' have such a confident and appealing straightforwardness to them. The guys aren't trying to be overly clever or sappy, just real problems that point listeners back to the Gospel's real solutions.

I hope if my girls gravitate towards a “boy band” it’s these guys. I’ll be there at the concert with them gladly paying for the overpriced popcorn.

/ STEVEN SUKKAU works in radio on the prairies of Southern Manitoba.