Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

JFH Music Review



Shawn McDonald
Roots



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 49 minutes, 58 seconds
Street Date: March 11, 2008


The number of musicians wielding an acoustic guitar seems to be on the rise. You can find them all over MySpace, and all over the contemporary Christian music world as well. While not all of these artists maintain the same level of quality, Sparrow Records' own Shawn McDonald remains consistent, offering another set of goodies called Roots.

"Consistency" isn't the only word that can be used to describe Shawn's sound. "Diversity" is a good adjective as well. Though he has pretty much ditched the some-sung-some-rapped lyrics, he still mixes it up a lot throughout the recording. The album opener, "Clarity," sounds like it could be one of TobyMac's softer jams, and features very catchy guitar work. "Shadowlands" and "Greed" possess an almost Hyperstatic Union-like funk sound, and songs like "Roots" and "Slow Down" contain really soulful vocals. Even a bit of folk finds its way in the mix on "Captivated." It definitely reaches almost all the way across the CCM spectrum.

It's risky to incorporate too many different styles into one album. The artist has to be confident that the genre change will keep his or her listeners' attention. Shawn McDonald has successfully done so with Roots. The excellent musicianship easily makes any song on the album a gem. The lyrics range from reminiscing to inspiring, and, on a couple occasions, come straight from the Bible.

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I first listened to Roots. And on the first shot, it wasn't too impressive. But with each consecutive listen, and the more attention paid to the talent displayed, the more clear it became how good of an album this is. The only real problem found, however, was that the last song, "Hallelujah," didn't seem to have quite the same appeal that the rest of the album did. It's a delightful song, and just as good when it comes to musicianship, but clocking in at six minutes and forty-one seconds and basically staying at the same pace the entire time, it just feels like a rough ending. Roots is definitely worth the money though, and if you like beautiful guitars and heartwarming melodies, it's a good addition to your collection.

- Review date: 3/10/08, written by Scott Fryberger



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

 

CD

Buy This CD Online

. Record Label: Sparrow Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 49 minutes, 58 seconds
. Street Date: March 11, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Clarity
  2. Captivated
  3. Wash Me Clean
  4. Shadowlands
  5. Light
  6. Waltz In 3
  7. Roots
  8. Slow Down
  9. Greed
  10. Time
  11. Winter
  12. Hallelujah
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, March 26, 2024
ALBUMS
Brandon Lake Apple Music Nashville Sessions - EP [Provident]

This Thursday, March 28, 2024
ALBUMS
David And Nicole Binion The Revelation Of Jesus - EP [Integrity]
The Rocky Valentines Erase [Velvet Blue/Tooth & Nail]

This Friday, March 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Grungepunks The Fall Blues EP [Charon Collective]
Meadows Familiar with Pain [Facedown]

SINGLES
Joe L. Barnes Altar - Single [RCAI]
iNTELLECT It Ain’t My Fault - Single [Polished Arrow]
Spoken Worth Holy Week - Double Single (independent)
Gileah Taylor Summer Jubilee - Single [Velvet Blue]

VINYL
Battlecross Pursuit of Honor (Blood Moon Vinyl) [Back Breaker]
Battlecross Rise To Power (Silver Bullet Power Vinyl) [Back Breaker]
Battlecross War of Will (Amber Wave Vinyl) [Back Breaker]

Next Friday, April 5, 2024
ALBUMS
EmanuelDaProphet Fab5 [Capitol CMG]
Me'Kayla Prelude - EP [Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG]
We Are Messengers Where the Joy is [Curb]


For all release dates, click here!
 



Listen to the new album from Hope Beyond Suffering!




Listen to the new Album From Tim Juillet!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images