This Beautiful Republic

Even Heroes Need A Parachute

Forefront Records

Grade – B+

            Sometimes meeting a band makes all the difference, especially when there are so many new bands and multitudes of the “latest and greatest” bands to emerge on the scene.  So when I found out that This Beautiful Republic was going to be filling in for a show and opening for Pillar, I was excited to get the chance to see them live.  What I didn’t expect was to get so much out of the first-time impromptu encounter with lead vocalist Ben Olin. 

During the short time that I had that evening I was awakened from a trance of cynicism that overshadowed my faith and particularly my joy for Christian music.  Personally, I let the lack of an audience influence me in a negative way, leading to a pessimistic attitude that honestly is good for nothing.  However, the meager attendance did not inhibit Olin and company from seeing God’s blessings on the evening. 

So on to the show.  It was great.  A little heavier than I recalled hearing from the few spins of their new CD.  That night after the show I listened to the CD on the way back to the hotel and I was taken back by the quality on the debut.  The lyrical depth considering they were such a young rock band also surprised me.

Musically they compare themselves with Switchfoot, Foo Fighters, and Jimmy Eat World.  Most of the songs are intentionally built around catchy choruses and they included a lot of guitar and rhythmic beats.  Their musicianship is still in its early stages, and both the bands performance and their Forefront debut show signs of great things to come.

- Ken W.