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Wednesday, November 19, 1997 |
Some kind of Album
By Christopher Emmick Staff Critic It's not every day that you find an album that is so unique it redefines its class of music. Pearl Jam's Ten was one of the first albums that successfully incorporated heavy instrumentation with powerful, disturbing lyrics and created the Seattle "grunge" sound. Def Leppard's Hysteria contained masterfully written material and became the last hurrah for corporate or "hair" rock. Garth Brooks' No Fences rewrote the definition of contemporary country music. Audio Adrenaline's newest release, Some Kind of Zombie, is also such a classic. The album pushes Christian rock music into a new direction of louder and more intense instrumentation than ever before. The album's title track combines ripping guitar licks and pounding drums with mood-building classical string arrangements which accelerate and decelerate the song and build an aura of mystery and strength. String arrangements are also used in "People Like Me" to make the song gentle without losing the upbeat rhythm laid down by Ben Cissell's drums and Bob Herdman's BGV. The drums and brass horns provided by guest group Supertones give the song, "Blitz"" hop. However, Tyler Burkum's guitar strums and Mark Stuart's vocals along with guest vocalist Matt Morginsky keep the song tough and meaningful. A good combination of lyrics and instruments has never been a problem with Audio Adrenaline. Solid incorporation of instruments is evident throughout their previous release, Bloom. However, the deciding factor that sets "Zombie" apart is the complexity of that incorporation.
"Flicker" contains guitar play, vocals, drums and bass that lead the listener to a powerful end. Distorted guitars duet sadly with Stuart's lyrics and enhance his voice in "Lighthouse." On the whole, the album's song selection is very balanced and each song retains individuality. Along with the rocking "Chevette," the album contains powerful mood lifters like "New Body" and the title track. "Original Species," "Lighthouse" and "God-Shaped Hole" are slower, more thought-provoking songs. The remix of "Some Kind of Zombie" is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. Producer Scott Humphrey consolidated dim and foreboding tape and drum loops into the original song. This remix pulls the listener deeper and deeper into a dark toe-tapping experience about the power of God. The only flaw with this record is the lack of a bona fide hit. Unlike the song "Big House" which broke Audio Adrenaline into the mainstream of Christian music, the song "Zombie" does not have the radio friendly appeal or the super-powerful message that will break them into the forefront of the Christian music world. Despite the lack of a guaranteed hit, the pure quality of the whole album puts Audio Adrenaline at the top in the current evolution of the Christian rock regime. Some Kind of Zombie is a must for the Christian music lover and the modern rock listener.
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