Album length: 13 tracks: 48 minutes and 19 seconds Street Date: April 25, 2006
Take The Afters, U2, the Killers, and Downhere, put them in a blender, and out will come 7 Spin's new
Canadian band, Red Umbrella. The band's debut album, Wishing for Boardwalk, is
thirteen tracks of melodic rock that is spiritual without being cliché.
The album begins with the mid-tempo, "Storm Warning." It is here listeners are first exposed to the
band's use of imagery that runs throughout the album to express spiritual content. The album's second
song, "Straight Jacket," turns up the volume and shows the band knows how to rock while "Already Won,"
reminds believers that the spiritual battle they face has already been conquered. The song is catchy without
ever being too trite. Other subjects the album addresses are selfishness in "What About Me," having a
changed life in "Run," and grace in "Saving Grace." The band chooses to be more indirect and poetic
when expressing their faith in songwriting, a move that could help them catch the attention of secular
markets. However, with lyrics like, "I wish life wasn't pain and I could learn to pray, oh Lord please
teach me how," in the album's title track, "Wishing for Boardwalk," it is obvious where the band
places its hope.
I must confess when I first listened to Wishing for Boardwalk, I did not know what to make of it.
The vocals take some getting used to, and there is a retro feel to the album. However, it's an album that improves
with each repeated listen. Red Umbrella is different from many Christian rock bands out today. Although
some of the band's influences are obvious, they possess a distinct, consistent sound
throughout the album without the record being boring. Red Umbrella is not afraid to be unique, and that
is a trait many bands in Christian music could benefit from acquiring.
- Review date: 4/24/06, written by Laura Nunnery
Record Label: 7 Spin
Album length: 13 tracks: 48 minutes and 19 seconds
Street Date: April 25, 2006
Buy It:JfH Music Store
Record Label: 7 Spin
