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

JFH Music Review


Colton Dixon, The Calm Before The Storm
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Colton Dixon
The Calm Before The Storm



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Acoustic / Remix / Pop
Album length: 10 tracks: 36 minutes, 36 seconds
Street Date: September 11, 2015


From his days as a contestant on American Idol to more recently finding his footing in CCM scene, Colton Dixon is a guy you can't help but root for. He displays a tremendous amount of talent and personality when he performs, but with his last two studio albums, his full potential was often muffled by a sleek production and somewhat conventional songwriting. Featuring four acoustically re-imagined cuts from some of the best Anchor and A Messenger had to offer, the Calm EP tears away the shiny pop/rock veneer, allowing for his vocal prowess and hopeful lyrics to become more prominent. Storm is an EP comprised of five remixes which creates a striking contrast to the stripped down tunes. Collectively, these two EP's make up The Calm Before The Storm.

The first three tracks are nice piano ballads, but they aren't as engaging or emotional as intended. The exception to this is "You Are," which feels the most sincere and features a lovely duet with Colton's sister Schyler Dixon. Already a piano-based song, "Through All Of It" is revisited with an acoustic guitar, cultivating a relaxing atmosphere. While each of these four songs are either up to par or superior to their original recording, they are still generally missing the qualities that make a song stand out. Infusing more personally specific or creative lyrics and doing more unique or ambitious musical arrangements (the drum beat of "Limitless" is a good start) would help Colton break free from the formula that is holding him back. The brand new song, "Where I End," rounds out the Calm EP, and while it is an admirable tune about dying to self and finding our identity in Christ, its all-too-familiar musical structure and lyrics stifle its potential.

Storm takes five other songs, all from Anchor, and gives them a fresh spin, courtesy of talented remix gurus such as Neon Father and Tomee Profitt. The Neon Father remix of "Echo" is a highlight, with a cheerful soundscape and flawless transitions over some of Colton's stronger songwriting. Another solid remix is BLZR's take on "Anchor" which has an electronic urban vibe that is more intriguing than the dry power chords of the original. The Pro_Fitt remix of "More of You" has a cool new drumbeat, but otherwise it is a fairly standard remix. "Back To Life" and "Dare To Believe" are upbeat but otherwise unexciting, even jarring at certain points.

The Calm Before The Storm is kind of odd the way it is presented. This project is really two separate EP's, so forcing them together results in a disjointed listen. Ultimately though, this project is a pleasant treat for Colton fans, and worth a spin for just about everyone else.

- Preview Review date: 8/20/15, Review date: 9/1/15, written by Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Listen to the debut EP from the band Hopeful.!

 

. Record Label: Sparrow Records / Capitol
. Album length: 10 tracks: 36 minutes, 36 seconds
. Street Date: September 11, 2015
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Limitless (Acoustic) (4:07)
  2. Never Gone (Acoustic) (4:03)
  3. You Are (Acoustic) (4:22)
  4. Through All Of It (Acoustic) (3:05)
  5. Where I End (Studio Version) (4:06)
  6. More Of You (PRO_FITT REMIX) (3:19)
  7. Back To Life (BLRZ Remix) (2:50)
  8. Echo (Neon Feather Remix) (3:49)
  9. Dare To Believe (JSapp Remix) (3:48)
  10. Anchor (BLRZ Remix) (3:13)

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

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 Friday, March 29, 2024
ALBUMS
Grungepunks The Fall Blues EP [Charon Collective]
The Rocky Valentines Erase [Velvet Blue/Tooth & Nail]

SINGLES
Joe L. Barnes Altar - Single [RCAI]
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 Trey Tate!




Listen to the new Album From Tim Juillet!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images