eleventyseven
“And the Land of Fake Believe”
Flicker Records
11 tracks at 35:46

This pop-punk/power pop trio from South Carolina has already received a couple of solid reviews in some “big” Christian publications.  I’m afraid I don’t hear it.

Sonically the band is a Reliant K knockoff.  I like pop (and most of its mutations) and the musicianship here is fine (and fast) but there’s nothing unique or special about it.

The lyrics are generally positive, but generic, hardly profound or exceptional.  Topics include the lack of honesty in cyberspace; “Myspace,” enjoying life; “Nostalgiatopia,” and evoking real change in the world; “More than a Revolution.”   There most certainly are much worse things being heard on the radio than this, however.

Thanks to so-called “Christian” radio, you’ve no doubt been over-saturated by the band’s first single “More Than A Revolution.”  According to the catchy chorus, “we need more than a revolution. . .to replace what’s going wrong.”  What’s elevenntyseven’s answer?  There isn’t one provided in this song.

Lyrically the best tune is “Reach That Far;”  “God show me how I’m supposed to trust in things beyond my sight. . .tell me there is more to this life than only what my heart can see.”  Lead singer Matt Langston says He wrote this song during a time of struggle and loneliness.  “I had no where to turn but God, and I didn’t even want to turn to Him.  I felt like He didn’t care.  I later understood that He allows struggles into our life to draw us closer to Him.”

According to a newspaper profile that came with the band’s PR material, eleventyseven started out as a praise band.  However, the band doesn’t seem too keen on being labeled a contemporary Christian band.

“We look at that as a marketing tool, and we’re not going to exploit our Christianity.  We know the record label will probably market us that way, but that’s them,” says Langston.

 Flicker Records has wanted to be represented in the punk genre “for some time now,” says label VP and GM Troy Vest.  Here’s how Flicker Records describes the band; “fun-frenzied. . .serious musicianship . . .crazy playfulness . . . .”   Those soul-stirring comments could just as easily been issued by the band’s mainstream label Sony Red.

The title of the band’s CD strikes me as exceptionally ironic.  Langston says, “We’ve never labeled ourselves a Christian band.  Before we’re a band. . .we’re a ministry.  We want to go love on some kids who need it—not shove our faith down their throats.”

Note the running time of this disk.  Some of my dusty vinyl has more music than this CD.