Riley Armstrong
La Loop
7Spin Music
10 tracks at 34:49

In the age of cookie cutter music, here is the CD that I have been waiting for these last three years. It was well worth the wait. While many recording artists seem to put out a new CD every year with each one sounding like the one before it, Riley Armstrong takes years between projects. New records are definitely not cookie cutters of his prior ones.

In fact, Riley takes a big gamble on his third CD, “La Loop,” which is comprised of all ballads. “La Loop” comes up a winner.

While his music doesn’t rely on recycled sounds, Mr. Armstrong’s lyrics have traditionally demonstrated that God exists in the little things. “Anthem from 4th Place” soothes those of us who gave their all in something. Maybe we did it differently than others would do it and they won, but we followed our hearts and that is better than doing it like everyone else. Some things are more important than winning.

“All the Good Ideas Are Gone” brings up the fact that everything under the sun has been done and will be here long after we are gone. He uses the television as an example. How many of us have watched a “new” television show or a commercial and said—“Didn’t I see this before?”

Riley also has a tradition of putting some fun into his music. His first song on his self-titled debut CD opens with the sound of a lawn sprinkler. On his second disk, “Whatever the Weather” he has his mother reciting her banana bread recipe. “La Loop” is no different. “Cassette Decks” brings back memories to us in the “older set” about how many times we rewound a tape to hear a favorite song. “Cell Phone” tells about his personal experience of a cell phone and a washing machine. This song will make you laugh.

Many of us have been in long distance relationships and “Melting” brings those memories achingly up close and personal.

“Birdhouse” is a reassuring song that God is up there watching us and that He has a perfect place waiting for us. “Above Every Name” is a song that would fit into any contemporary service. It is a beautiful song praising Our Savior.

I fall more in love with this CD every time I listen to it. Riley wrote in a newsletter that he got the idea for the title of this CD from Ecclesiastes-what has been will be again-kind of like a loop. This made me read the book, Ecclesiastes, and see the wisdom in it.

This CD is a definite winner!

To learn more about Riley and his music, log on to www.rileyarmstrong.com.

Victoria S