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


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)

Try Pop Culture Coffee!

 

. 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

 

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 17, 2025
ALBUMS
Thee Alumni (Kaboose, m1L) God's Plan - EP [Polished Arrow]

This Friday, June 20, 2025
ALBUMS
Dan Bremnes The Hero - EP [Curb]
Dan Dean More [StowTown]
Will Kellum In My Secret Place - EP [Syntax]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts (Full Deck Deluxe) [Provident]
Procyse, JusJames Brand New Mercies - EP [Polished Arrow]
The Swirling Eddies Let's Spin! (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
The Swirling Eddies Outdoor Elvis (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
The Swirling Eddies Zoom Daddy (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]
Dr. Edward Daniel Taylor The Miracle Faith Telethon: 35th Anniversary Ed (Collector's Edition CD) [Girder]

SINGLES
Anike Watch Her Glow - Single [Reach]
Anathoth Elohim - Single [Charon Collective]
Sho Baraka Might Not Go - Single [Syntax]
bodie GOOD OLD DAYS - Single [Provident]
Boundless Before - Single [Integrity]
Peter Burton Jesus Over Everything - Single [Integrity]
Chris Caro So Long - Single [Syntax]
Aimee St. Croix Glory in the Waiting Room - Single [Xing]
CXMMXNS Praise Belongs: With All Of Heaven Edition - Single [Provident]
HIS Hypeman Stract Security - Single (independent)
Illustrate, Elan Brio Next To Him - Single (independent)
Influence Music Easy Surrender - Single (independent)
JusRzd Pull Up & Go ft. GB - Single [Syntax]
KDNS Room 42 - Single [Syntax]
Kelo Turf - Single [Syntax]
KingsPorch You Can Have it All - Single [BEC]
MotionPlus OMCL - Single [Polished Arrow]
Blessing Offor Real - Single [Capitol CMG]
Paul and Hannah McClure After Your Heart (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Rhymes in Harmony In His Presence - Single [Syntax]
Silent Reflection Everflame *[Tds Cam's band] - Single [Syntax]
Sanctus Real You Are I Am - Single [The Fuel]
Sound Street I Want to Know More About My Lord - Single [Sonlite]
Jordan St. Cyr Circles (feat. Riley Clemmons) - Single [BEC]

VINYL
IRONWRATH Master Storyteller (Double Vinyl Gatefold) Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune The Seventh Seal [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Rusty Shipp Cosmic Innuendo, Vol. II: Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]

SINGLES
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images