Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review




John Reuben
Hindsight



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 15 tracks
Street Date: May 21, 2002


It's only natural for a listener to expect a lot from an artist's sophomore release after having a strong debut. John Reuben is no exception. Hindsight comes almost two years after his 2000 debut Are We There Yet? on Gotee Records. Reuben's debut fused rock, rap, hip hop with a touch of acoustic pop for a pretty infectious release. Hindsight follows up with a slightly different result.

Hindsight opens with "Dear Diary," a goofy, fun intro that John uses to reintroduce himself and already set the tone of the album as having a lighter feel. What follows is one of a couple fun and upbeat hip hop tunes that Reuben uses to shine the spotlight on himself a little brighter than the previous effort. "I John Reu" is a Hindsight highlight which serves as a candid guarantee that his music is "innovative." The song is driven by it's catchy rhythm and beat as well as its goofy lighthearted approach. "Run the Night" is a more melodic hip hop track about Reuben's need to just get away and unwind sometimes. Reuben exercises his feelings of confidence in his work by letting loose on "Soundman." The fun shout-out to the man behind the boards has potential to be more fun than it is, but the seemingly endless chorus runs itself into the ground before too long. "Breathe" is another album highlight. The almost-ballad is powered by a pounding bass beat and Reuben's melodic background vocals.

The title track is more reminiscent of Reuben's previous work as he rhymes about what God has taught him through patience and time. Reuben appears to be flexing his ego on "Doin'" as the crowd-sung chorus proclaims "Reuben, what is he dippidy doin'?" I had originally interpreted this song as an arrogant ego trip for Reuben until he quickly corrected me. "Doin'" is in fact a mockery of emcees fronting inflated egos. The beat is the song's draw, as well as its infectious rhythm and catchy lyrics. "A Defensive Offender" is another highlight, having a darker approach more along the lines of "X-Ray" from Reuben's last effort. The synth strings add a nice haunting touch to the song. "Pataskala" closes out the album, a tribute to his friend and former fellow-rapper, Scott Bellows who passed away last year. The fun potential sing-a-long is a nice touch in honor of his friend, as it ends with a short rap performed by Scott himself.

The overtly Christian message that the first album possessed, casting most of the focus on Christ, is not as evident here, making it seem like Reuben is elevated more this time around. Are We There Yet? was an excellent debut and his live show converted me into a fan, but Hindsight just didn't seem to have as much of the power the debut had. With that said, John Reuben's newest album may not be up to par with his previous work, but there's still just enough punchy beats and fun packed into its 50 minute length to satisfy the Reuben fans.

- Review date: 5/2/02 (repaired on 7/21/03 after talking to Reuben), written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 

Hindsight CD

Buy This CD Online


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Gotee Records
. Album length: 15 tracks
. Street Date: May 21, 2002
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. I'll Try Harder
  2. I John Reu
  3. Hindsight
  4. Big E Cypher Session
  5. Soundman
  6. Run The Night
  7. Breathe
  8. I Pictured It
  9. 01/08/02
  10. Doin'
  11. Thank You
  12. DJ Manuel
  13. Up and At 'Em
  14. A Defensive Offender
  15. Pataskala
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
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

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images