Circleslide

“uncommon days”

Centricity Records

14 tracks 58:51

            “uncommon days” is an impressive debut from this expansive pop-rock outfit.  The band mentions The Choir, Adam Again, The 77’s, Keith Green, U2, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Flaming Lips and Bob Dylan among their musical influences.  The band was named the top “Contemporary Christian Band” at the 2003 Gospel Music Association Music in the Rockies competition.

            “My Reward” is inspired by Matthew 25:21.  Lead vocalist Gabe Martinez sings with passion while the guitar playing reminds me of U2/The Edge.  Sonically, “Gravity” and “Meteor” would be at home on a U2 record.

            “Weather Boy” has some appropriately cool rumbling drums and I liked the vocal overdubs on “Noah.”  The unlisted bonus track “In the Light of the Morningstar” seems to have walked right off of the “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack.

            Lyrically Circleslide is fairly bold and leaves little doubt where they are coming from.  For example, “Walking on the Water” refers to “Peter in the storm.”  Martinez says that “Love Unfailing” focuses on “the theme dealing with the ever-changing world around us as people of faith who are reaching for the light.”

            I agree with Martinez when he says, “I feel like listeners are going to get a dose of hooky melodies and a definite maturity surrounding the meaning and the music.”

- Rob S.

www.circleslide.net

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