Search - Leeland :: Sound of Melodies

Darcy S. from ELLENSBURG, WA
Reviewed on 10/27/2009...

love it, I think this CD is by far the best one of Leeland.

Nearly Naked

Gord Wilson | Bellingham, WA USA | 09/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What I dislike about most ccm isn't usually the singer or the band, but the production and arranging, which seems to me to emulate the worst of pop. As Steve Scott says, it sounds like real music fed through something. That something is a "sweetener" which, as its name implies, adds fills of fake strings, horns and other blather and follderol.



That said, I heard this playing in a store and bought it on the strength of that listen. And I'm not disappointed. One reason is that the producers, including Steve Hindalong of the Choir, have kept the production almost stark and nearly naked. These songs are so strong they could stand unplugged and live, if they could be played that way. I'm not sure they could anymore than could the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. Add in the singer's Gaelic lilt, reminiscent of Mike Scott of the Waterboys, and how can you not listen?



This is next generation praise and takes its cue from modern rock. Rather than verse/ chorus there are various chorus-like parts making all the songs seem like medleys. Instead of simple, repeating melodies, songs crescendo to resounding rock. Instead of repeating simple lines sung over and over, there's a deft building on simple themes. It's no objection to say much of the lyrics are Scripture; that's the nature of praise music. But Leeland lifts it to a new level, free of adornment, creating a sort of karaoke praise that dares listeners to sing along.



This is what Jeremy Camp began and The Rocket Summer addicted listeners to--something so far ahead of the same old clone on the alt rock stations as to render modern rock last Tuesday. Like Jars of Clay's "Love Song for a Savior" and Rita Springer's rendition of "Breathe", years from now "Yes You Have" and "Tears of the Saints" will still be distinctive above the musical miasma. They could save radio and jolt any number of moribund churches and even renew the stale folk mass, for they stand, as once St. Francis did, stripped of another era's suffocating finery, nearly naked."

A Solid Effort

S. Peek | Rocky Mountains, USA | 12/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a solid debut by a very promising band.



The songs have a great soft rock sound with solid Christian lyrics. As some Christian bands are criticized for writing ambiguous lyrics, this is not one of them. These are not songs that may be confused with love songs to a person. They use the name of Jesus and other words to make clear to whom they are singing about and praising.



They do this with a sound that is very appealing. If you are still leary about trying out a new band, I would recommend that you at least listen to 'Sound of Melodies', 'Reaching', and 'Tears of the Saints'. The others are just about as good also. I recommend this album."