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Newworldson
Salvation Station
Inpop Records
11 tracks @ 42:06
Grade = A+
Here’s my choice for Record of the Year. This debut is that good. Even my wife says it has a “zip” to it, and that would be a good thing.
The group’s PR material describes their sound as “speakeasy gospel.” That means the band speaks easily of the Spirit that each member has welcomed to filter through their lives and music.
I hear hints of Sweet, The Clash, Stevie Wonder, reggae, scat, funk and retro-60s thanks to tasteful use of a Hammond B3 keyboard. This does not result in a jumble but rather an integrated sound.
“Citybus Lovesong,” features a reggae beat AND kazoo. It works. The extended jam on “Waitin’ Till the Rapture Comes” will have you celebrating. “Down From the Mountain” is another tour de force.
Vocalist Joel Parisien says, “This project is like a child of the new world. It really couldn’t have come from anywhere else, because the mix of styles, the whole history of gospel and blues becoming jazz, rock and hip-hop, that cultural experience happened in here in the new world.
“It’s difficult to classify our sound because we draw from different genres, but really our foundation is soul music. And soul music definitely has scared roots. So, we want to return this familiar music to its sacred roots, all the while leading people to a place of praise, release, revival and worship”
The lyrics are excellent and up front about where the band is coming from. “Working Man” is about a “special agent of the Lamb.” “Down From the Mountain” was inspired by the Sermon on the Mount. “Babylon is Gonna Fall” is about the fallen world that we are born in to.
I want to see this band live.
Thanks again to Mandy Parsons of Savy Media Solutions for the background material for this release.
- Rob S.