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


Matthew Parker, Adventure
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Matthew Parker
Adventure



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop / EDM
Album length: 15 tracks: 59 minutes, 23 seconds
Street Date: October 21, 2016


 
Adventure
READER RATING:  Adventure
/ 5.0 (0 votes)

Matthew Parker is a music-making machine. Between his national debut, Shadowlands, in 2014, putting out The Worlds We Discovered under his side project, Twilight Meadow this past March, and all the remixes he does for Capital Kings, Jonathan Thulin, etc, Parker has been creating new music at a superhuman rate (especially considering he produces his own material). Already known for experimenting with his sound, Adventure is Parker's most sonically diverse album with a mixture of pop, EDM and his self-defined dream electronic, as well as some dub step and hip-hop thrown in for good measure.

Tracks like "Heaven Calling" and "Remember Me" carry an Owl City vibe with bright synthesizers and buoyant melodies, "Tidal Wave" and "Unstoppable" sound similar to Capital Kings with big drops and heavy electronic beats, and "System Victim" and "I Ain't Got No Money" land in the modern pop genre with catchy beats and shiny production. Jumping from one genre to the next can be a bit jarring at times, but for the most part Parker pulls it off with skill. "Down In Flames," which speaks of the depravity of man and our need for a savior, mixes all three styles to create an album highlight. What really sets "Down In Flames" apart is the incorporation of a hammer hitting iron as part of the beat and pulling off a surprisingly good electric guitar solo.

Lyrically, this album takes a reflective, non-bitter look at a broken romantic relationship, yearns for a higher purpose in life (often with spiritual undertones), and shares excitement to go on unspecified adventures with a significant other. Though there is a lot of "flying" and "touching the sky," it's a relatively grounded album that, for the most part, avoids sounding trite or cliche. Like his previous releases, Parker brings on slew of guest features to further diversify his sound. Some provide raps in a bridge (Cash Hollistah, Tristan Peace), while others provide vocals throughout the song (Brad Dring of Rapture Ruckus, Spencer Kane).

Because of all the guest appearances and style variations, every song has its own vibe, but there is one that musically stands apart more than others, the quasi-hidden track after "Remember Me." As the song fades out, there is some random banter and then the song explodes with a danceable synthesized beat and catchy horn hook. It has a great melody that is undoubtedly the most fun musical moment on the album, but the lyrics here are a little too amateur, with Parker making comments like "fake trumpet take it away" and "this song is the one that I might later regret." There are a few other moments that seem too amateur, most notably the chorus of "Unstoppable," which repetitively declares the redundant lyrics "everything is possible / nothing is impossible." The only other significant criticism is the overall length of the album. For some records, a 59-minute running time can be very appropriate, but in this case, cutting tracks like "Dynasty," "Fly," and "My Love" (which would cut it to a more reasonable 46 minutes) would have tightened up the tracklist. This is especially true because this style of music usually appeals to a younger audience.

Overall, Adventure is a fun album that continues to prove that Matthew Parker is one of the most promising new talents in the industry.

- Review date: 10/19/16, written by Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

 

Record Label: Dream Records
Album length: 15 tracks: 59 minutes, 23 seconds
Street Date: October 21, 2016

  1. Adventure (3:06)
  2. Ghost (3:30)
  3. Unstoppable (feat. Micah Ariss) (3:11)
  4. I Ain't Got No Money (feat. Spencer Kane) (3:32)
  5. Down In Flame (3:17)
  6. Heaven Calling (3:44)
  7. Night Sky (3:56)
  8. Remember Me (feat. Tristan Peace) (6:21)
  9. System Victim (feat. HillaryJane) (3:09)
  10. Spark (feat. Rapture Ruckus) (3:38)
  11. Gone (3:45)
  12. Dynasty (feat. Cash Hollistah) (4:38)
  13. Tidal Wave (feat. Micah Ariss) (4:20)
  14. Fly (feat. Twilight Meadow) (3:50)
  15. My Love (5:17)

 

 Sample the Music

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

Search JFH



This Sunday, February 1, 2026
SINGLES
Like A Splinter x Righteous Talk Dark Sayings - Single (independent)
Tanya Low Red Fresh Rose - Single (independent)
MC Zappa Why? - Single (independent)

This Monday, February 2, 2026
SINGLES
F'rael Real Ones (Pretti Good) - Single [Syntax]

This Wednesday, February 4, 2026
ALBUMS
Reawaken Hymns Exegesis - EP (independent)

This Friday, February 6, 2026
ALBUMS
Ashes Awaken Rise [MTS]
Band Reeves My Country - EP [Centricity]
The Craguns Steadfast Love [StowTown]
Lecrae Reconstruction: Second Story (Deluxe) [Reach]
Life.Church Worship El Camino - EP [Ocean House]
Ricky Dillard, Ron Carter Sweet, Sweet Spirit [Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Meredith Andrews Prevail (Live From Liberty University) [with Liberty Worship Collective] - Single [Curb]
Anthem Edition He Is Who He Is - Single [Sonlite]
Bill B. & Jay Carter Another Chance - Single [Syntax]
Jonathan Cain Only A Prayer Away - Single [The Fuel]
CalledOut Music My Love - Single [Integrity]
Micah Christopher White Knuckles - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road People - Single [Thoroughbred]
Rachel DeLong Dopamine - Single (independent)
Drea LP, OnBeatMusic, 1K Phew Fake - Single [Syntax]
Elevation Worship Alleluia - Single [Provident]
Lexi Elisha Always On Time - Single (independent)
Freedom Church Good On Your Promise - Single [DREAM]
Ben Fuller x KB Black Sheep II - Single [Provident/Sony]
Josh Grove, KJ-52 Rain Or Shine - Single [Syntax]
Haste the Day Shallows - Single [Solid State]
Hulvey Rooftop (feat. nobigdyl) - Single [Reach]
J Payne, Patrick Jackson, JP got SAVED The Potter - Single (independent)
K3hlab Tears of a Clown - Single [Syntax]
Ian Austin, Heather Suzanne Apple Pie - Single [Ocean House]
Love & The Outcome For the Beauty of the Earth - Single [Integrated Music Rights]
Blessing Offor, Maxwell Stark Brighter Days (New Day Edition) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Hunter Plake Lousiana Rain - Single [BEC]
Prodi Da Prodigal, ATTAM Checkmate - Single [Syntax]
Seventh Day Slumber Praise - Single [Rockfest]
Rusty Shipp Sinners in the Hands - Single (independent)
We Are Messengers Faith Hope Love - Single [Curb]

Next Friday, February 13, 2026
ALBUMS
Adiós Cometa Un Destello De Luz [Velvet Blue]
BRAG Worship, Trip Lee For Your Glory - EP [Reach]
Colony House 77 (Pt. 2) [LastDaze]
Jake MacAdam for megan [Ocean House]

SINGLES
Ian Austin Make Me Like Your Son - Single [Ocean House]
Jake MacAdam for megan - Single [Ocean House]
Patrick Mayberry It Is Well - Single [Provident/Sony]
John Waller All You’ve Ever Done - Single [DREAM]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images