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Music Review: ": Caedmon's Call - "Back Home"
When I first heard that Caedmon's Call had a new CD coming out called "Back Home", I got excited. When I heard that it was going
to be a return to their roots of percussion heavy, acoustic guitar filled, harmony laden songs, I got very excited. When I finally heard
the record... well, I was less than excited.
For the record, I love Caedmon's Call. I have been on board as a fan ever since I saw Derek perform solo (under the name of Caedmon's)
at Cornerstone festival
right after their self titled release on Warner came out. I loved that record, especially since it came out at a time when there
was nothing else like it in Christian music. When "Forty Acres" came out, I was blown away by the artistry, creativity, and great music. To
this day I consider it one of the best Christian records of all time.
But then something started to happen. "Long Line of Leavers" had some amazing songs (Prepare Ye the Way, Can't Lose You) but also had
some filler material for the first time that just didn't connect. After that with "In the Company of Angels" and the emergence of Joshua
Moore as a principle songwriter in the band, it started to feel a bit like Caedmon's Call was turning to the dark side. While stopping short of labeling that record
a sell-out, it did seem like an opportunistic release that was far from the band's best work. Now comes "Back Home" and while I do think this record is a step in the right direction, Caedmon's Call has a long way to go before they return to
their former
glory.
The record opens with a Randall Goodgame penned tune called "Only Hope". Goodgame is a fine writer but this tune isn't a good representation
of his skill. It's not a bad song but it sounds too much like it's trying to be a Caedmon's Call song. It sounds like lots of
thins the band has done before.
"You Created" is a poppy Joshua Moore song that I would rank among the worst things Caedmon's Call has ever recorded. The song is
trying to be a catchy modern worship song but can't rise above the weak lyrics and an overdone pop arrangement.
Things turn around quickly though on the first gem of the album, a Sandra McCracken song sung by Danielle called "Walk with Me".
Derek throws in an amazing harmony on the beautiful chorus taken from Psalm 23.
The record starts to pick up some steam with "Hands of the Potter", another Goodgame song. This great tune is driven by tribal percussion
and it sounds like the band is having fun with this one all the way through. Word has it that in concert, the tune is even better than on
the record.
"The Emptiest Day" is a solid song, sung by Derek and written by Josh and Matthew Perryman Jones. The soaring chorus stretching Derek's vocal
range is especially nice.
After a wonderfully haunting middle eastern influenced song called "The Kingdom" comes "Beautiful Mystery". This song sounds like
Aaron, Cliff, and Derek sat down and tried to write a hit single. It's a catchy enough song but the lyrical topic of the mystery of Christ
has been tackled with greater depth and impact elsewhere.
Another McCracken penned tune called "The High Countries" is next. This is an amazing song with an amazing vocal performance
turned in by Danielle. This is the kind of song that fans came to Caedmon's Call expecting to find... beauty, depth, and creativity.
After two alright but unmemorable songs ("A Thousand Miles" and "Never Gonna Let Go") comes "Awake My Soul", a McCracken tune that sounds
like it could either be brand new or a few hundred years old. This one is no doubt influenced by Sandra's involement in the Christ Community
Church in Nashville and their Indelible Grace CD series.
Yet another McCracken song is the highpoint of the record. On "Manner and Means", Derek and Danielle turn in a simply amazing performance
on a beautiful, powerful, and complex song. Where the other writers sound like they are saving their best material for their own
records, McCracken generously gives Caedmon's Call her absolute best songs to work with.
The record closes with "Mystery of Mercy", a collaboration between Andrew Peterson and Randall Goodgame. A wonderful arrangement
and a good performance from Cliff help to save this song from a lyric that doesn't quite seem finished.
Overall, "Back Home" is just alright. It sounds as good as anything Caedmon's Call has ever recorded but the songwriting is simply
sub-par for a Caedmon's Call album. They are definitely feeling the loss of Aaron Tate, and now with Derek Webb (and the talents
of Sandra McCracken) gone from the group, the quality of their work is likely to suffer.
Review by Greg Adkins
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