Barlow Girl

How Can We Be Silent

Fervent Records

Grade – B

The critics tend to pick them apart and fans tend to love them devotedly. Personally, I have not been a big fan, however I have admired the fact that they are the real thing.  They are the messages that they sing about, and they play their hearts out on the stage.  The ladies like to rock, and their heart for ministry is just as solid.  I think that is why they have succeeded so well as a band. 

Their third album, “How Can We Be Silent,” is probably their best to date, showing that they are growing stylistically as well as in maturity.  Never being ones to shy away from personal testimony, they leave no question where they are coming from on this release. 

The only reservation I have is that a few of the songs seem to be produced a bit too Evenescence-like vocally.  It’s not the norm for the band, and although the sound works, it is a tad-bit copycat.  Aside from that, the album shows significant growth as a band lending even more credibility to their message. 

Another thing that stuck out as I read through the media materials was the fact that most notable artists that speak of “purity,” are females.  Why is it that the ladies have to speak into the lives of the guys (see “The Guy Song”).  I may be missing something, but I tend to only hear about this topic from female performers.  A few single-male singer/songwriters are the exception, but usually their message is about waiting on God’s timing and not what to do while you are waiting. Thanks ladies for stepping in and making a point to speak into the lives of the young men as well. 

- Ken W.