Search - :: Learning and Unlearning

People Get Ready The Problem of Pain In Bethlehem Tonight Taunia Lea Road Song What's In a Name Missing Part Lead Me Stained Glass Window Learning and Unlearning Angel Love "Armed with a new producer, a refined sound and a new perspective on how his art should reflect a life lived under the gaze of Christ, Jim Cole releases his first new music in many a moon with Learning and Unlearning a lovely folk-inflected record that revels in simplicity yet communicates in a relevant and deeply affecting manner. Amidst a bed of acoustic instrumentation, Cole achieves his most personal statement ever. While not totally abandoning songs that are more church directed, Cole writes lyrics with an eye focused on life's joys, pitfalls and mundane moments seen from a faith-based perspective. Songs such as "Taunia Lea" (Cole's wife), "Road Song" "Missing Part" "Stained Glass Window" and "Learning and Unlearning" go deep into the recesses of human existence, relating a balanced view of a believer's journey from broken-ness to redemption. A nice version of the Curtis Mayfield classic "People Get Ready" displays a here-to-fore unheard soulful side to Cole's easy vocal style, likely to diminish (thankfully) the endless references to James Taylor that have plagued him throughout his career. Producer Ed Cash has assembled an accomplished cast of musicians who provide an empathetic backing that steer Cole's compositions toward a wonderfully realized amalgam of folk and Americana. Garret Buell (Caedmon's Call), Ben Shive (Andrew Peterson) and Byron House (Julie & Buddy Miller) contribute sublime moments that push Learning and Unlearning dimensions past conventional folk-pop records. Far removed from the rather market-driven pop sound and one dimensional focus of his past recordings, Learning and Unlearning finds Jim Cole an artist with much to say and a delightfully engaging way to say it.