 reveiw of latest Randy Stonehill project |
Jim Muglia
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| reveiw of latest Randy Stonehill project |
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Greetings,
My "Edge of the World" cd came in the mail today. I'm letting it run through its third play right now; and its giving me that peaceful easy feeling. As usual for Randy, its as positive and profound as it is real.
This one is in the same category as "Return to Paradise" in terms of its musical style and lyrics; and it may be premature but it also seems as good in quality too. Is there a killer track like "Starlings" on it? Still too early to tell, as the songs are still sinking in. All the tracks are solid though, to be sure.
There is no lyric sheet with it; but the lyrics sound great, and there are a few good standout lines.
There were two risks, from my perspective, taken on the project:
1) the ragtime piano part at the beginning and end of "We Were All so Young", which works well.
2) the "hip" sounding spoken bridge in "Dare to Believe", which, great as the song is, he may look back at it in a couple years and say "hmm, why'd we need that for". To be sure though, it is a great leadoff tune, and a great Stonehill song, no doubt about it.
Its hard to pick a favorite song, as I'm still getting used to the tracks, however I can say quite certainly that this one will certainly rank among his best works. The song "Far,Far" written with Terry Taylor, is very good.
I'll add more in the future, as it grows on me more and more, and my perspective on it is shaped more. I really am enjoying it though, I can say that.
Anyone else hear it and have an analysis of it?
Jim
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11-22-2002 22:09 |
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Mark 
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Location: Grand Encephalon - Words have their place but live what you say God can have His way when you hit them with Love
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So where did you purchase it?
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But never, never pin your whole faith on any human being: not if he is the best and wisest in the whole world. - C.S. Lewis
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11-23-2002 08:04 |
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Jim Muglia
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11-23-2002 11:50 |
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baxter
Ubique Epoque
Registration Date: 09-19-2002
Posts: 15,686
Location: "Come, let us to our holy task again."
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thanks for the review, James.
i'll get it when i can afford it.
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11-23-2002 19:47 |
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Jim Muglia
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OK, the cd has had time to sink in. There are at least four songs that will go down as Stonehill classics:
*That's the Way it Goes
- probably easily the project's best track,
my daughter Lydia makes me play it over and over, she loves it
*Prisoner of Hope
*Dare to Believe
*We Were All So Young
Anyhow, check it out sometime. Am I still the only one on the board who has heard it?
Jim
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12-12-2002 10:12 |
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jollyholiday
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Registration Date: 03-18-2002
Posts: 244
Location: The Village
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I've got the new Stonehill as well. I'd say my favorite on the disc at this point is the track, "All I Know." The song has some profound truths about God's majesty and His grace in contrast to our frailty and fallenness as humans...and the tune is melancholy yet God exalting at the same time. I agree that the duet with Phil Keaggy, "That's the Way it Goes," is one of the strongest tracks on the disc as is the duet with Sara Groves, "Take Me Back." I'm not very fond of the "We Were All So Young," after several listens. It was good the first couple of times through, but I'm actually programming that track out when I listen through now. Overall a very good Randy Stonehill disc, definatley worth checking out.
-Jolly
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12-12-2002 11:16 |
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Jim Muglia Jr.
Dark Steamy Cabbage
Registration Date: 12-11-2002
Posts: 10
Location: I am the Mugman, whoo coo ka choo
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I'm surprised you'd pick "Starlings" as a classic Stonehill tune. It's always been one of the most annoying songs from my point of view.
I'm looking forward to getting this one too, and wish the powers that be would re-issue Between the Glory and Flame. Now that was a great album.
RCC
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12-12-2002 11:45 |
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Jim Muglia
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| quote: |
Originally posted by Jim Muglia Jr.
I'm surprised you'd pick "Starlings" as a classic Stonehill tune. It's always been one of the most annoying songs from my point of view.
I'm looking forward to getting this one too, and wish the powers that be would re-issue Between the Glory and Flame. Now that was a great album.
RCC
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huha
I always thought "Starlings" was the best song he's ever done, from the guitar to Mark Heard's great production, to its poetic and haunting lyrics. Plus I think the song opened up his whole world into making "artist" type albums rather than commercial albums, being the first song on "Return to Paradise", his first total ditching of trying to appeal to teenyboppers.
I agree tht "Flame" would be great on CD, but I believe that they lost the master tapes, so I doubt we'll ever get to hear "5th Avenue Breakdown" in great CD qualtiy, something I've alwys wished for. Maybe Jason T. knows a more accurate scoop on Flame's hopes of making it to CD?
Jim
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12-12-2002 12:12 |
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We are in full agreement on Starlings, James.
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12-13-2002 02:28 |
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DaLe
Official Impasto
Registration Date: 03-19-2002
Posts: 2,717
Location: MiNNeSoTa - HeRe we put salt on the Roads... Lord, Help me be Salt of the Earth - NoT Salt in the Wound. so, take most everything I SaY HeRe with a grain of Salt !
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| quote: |
| Sara Groves Rocks... |
BTW she is also on,
"City On A Hill: It's Christmastime" VeRY GooD.
Randy Rocks Too !
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12-13-2002 08:57 |
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brdhsnyrsoul
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Registration Date: 08-20-2002
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Location: the funky western civilization
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I'm listening to "Edge of the World" right now. All I Know is my personal favorite from the CD. I do like the duet with Phil though. I really do like this CD. Randy is such a good songwriter. The "we were all so young" song is a little annoying to me. I really don't like Annie Herring on it. Weird. The other duets are great. I'm glad Randy is still strumming.
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12-13-2002 16:42 |
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Jim Muglia
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Well since the song "We Were All So Young" is certainly the most unique and interesting piece on the CD, I was wondering what everyone thinks of it and why. A whole range of things go through my mind when I hear it:
- I like the psychedelic feel to it
- Larry Norman' singing sounds terrific, too bad he didn't sing more lines
- What does Paul Stokey have to do with Jesus music?
- Annie Herring's voice is in a class by its own and sounds out of place here
- Good thing Russ Taff didn't sing the line about "not caring about record deals"; I remember him griping in Time magazine about Myrrh not giving him enough money, in his heyday. Probably why he got peaved and went country. It is good to hear his voice on this song though.
- Why do I want to hear a song with a bunch of people tooting their own horn?
- Oh well, I guess I was so you-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-ung once too, and have come a long way.
- the chorus does sound pretty cool, I must admit.
- He should have just made it a duet with him and Larry, and that would have been plenty sufficient, and maybe a little more enjoyable.
- overall, a neat little song, but not the best on the CD.
Anyone else's thoughts on the song?
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12-14-2002 20:58 |
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baxter
Ubique Epoque
Registration Date: 09-19-2002
Posts: 15,686
Location: "Come, let us to our holy task again."
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LN wrote recently on his website that he attempted to sing more lines, but his failing health did not permit it. He reports that he does not have the strength to sing.
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12-14-2002 22:44 |
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audiori
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Registration Date: 03-12-2002
Posts: 11,145
Location: Missouri
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We had asked Ray Ware about reissues of Randy's
old albums. We got the impression from him, it just
wasn't high on their list of to do items. Not that
they wouldn't want em in print, but that they are
just working on other things.
Also, "Between The Glory And The Flame" and "Equator"
I beleive are owned by Word. So, if Word chooses not to
reissue them, not sure what it would cost Randy to reissue
them.
As far as the masters lost thing, I have heard that too
but not sure if it's accurate. We'll ask Ray.
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"Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for he shall enjoy everything" -St. Francis of Assisi
"A strange fanaticism fills our time: the fanatical hatred of morality, especially of Christian morality." - GK Chesterton
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12-14-2002 23:37 |
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Jim Muglia
unregistered
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| quote: |
Originally posted by audiori
We had asked Ray Ware about reissues of Randy's
old albums. We got the impression from him, it just
wasn't high on their list of to do items. Not that
they wouldn't want em in print, but that they are
just working on other things.
Also, "Between The Glory And The Flame" and "Equator"
I beleive are owned by Word. So, if Word chooses not to
reissue them, not sure what it would cost Randy to reissue
them.
As far as the masters lost thing, I have heard that too
but not sure if it's accurate. We'll ask Ray.
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Thanks for the scoop; and yes, please let us know if you hear anything from Ray aobut BTGF, and let him know that a few of us are dying for it to be on CD, especially since DA was the backup band for the whole album, I believe.
Jim
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12-14-2002 23:52 |
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John Foxe
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Registration Date: 03-12-2002
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Jim asked about Noel Paul Stookey's relation to Jesus music. He put out several Christian recordings in the late 70's / early 80's.
He's a Christian, although he's radically socialist in his political leanings (and very blatant about it), which in my view is problematic. He never lost that 60's Marxist baggage from Peter, Paul and Mary.
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12-15-2002 07:37 |
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Jim Muglia
unregistered
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| quote: |
Originally posted by John Foxe
Jim asked about Noel Paul Stookey's relation to Jesus music. He put out several Christian recordings in the late 70's / early 80's.
He's a Christian, although he's radically socialist in his political leanings (and very blatant about it), which in my view is problematic. He never lost that 60's Marxist baggage from Peter, Paul and Mary.
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Thanks for the scoop, I didn't know any of that. nada that "60's Marxist baggage"; I could even see where some good folks on this board are carrying some of that around, unfortunately for the gospel. My advice to those who became Christians in the 60s or 70s is to please, and I mean please, prayerfully reexamine your political views, as innocent lives are literally at stake.
Jim
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12-15-2002 09:09 |
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