Album Review: A Messenger by Colton Dixon

Colton Dixon is most known for placing 7th in Fox's 11th season  of American Idol. He's been doing music almost since he was three years old. Although he also plays guitar, he is most known for playing keyboard/piano. He is here with his debut album A Messenger. I'd call the album mostly Lifehouse-sounding with a couple of songs that sound like Muse or Evanescence. Worshipful ballads, such as "You Are" and rock anthems like "In and Out Of Time" make this album perfect for an indie rock fan.

The album starts off with a 48 second intro to the album's lead track "Noise." In the song, Dixon relates days to car alarms. The car alarms then represent all the temptation that the world has out there. It seems that sometimes they are so loud, that we can't hear God's voice. He asks God if he is there and to call his name. At the end, he knows that he will be okay because God is there with him through it all. "I'll Be The Light" is the album's third track. The song is saying that before God, everything was dark and we couldn't see. Once you finally come to and accept His love, God is like a flashlight that helps you see clearly, even in the darkest of nights. 

"You Are" is the album's current single. It is a beautiful worship song that's calling God everything. In the bridge of the song, Dixon is saying that if he didn't have a voice or tongue, he would worship God by dancing for him instead of singing. When his day is done, he will shout all the praises to the God who saved his life. The first original song Dixon ever shared with the world was "Never Gone" back in June. It's another Alternative Worship song that is God talking to us when we feel lost and have no sense of direction. He assures us that He "Never, ever left us" and will always be there when we need Him. 

The album's sixth track, "Love Has Come For Me," is one of my favorite songs on the album. It's an awesome Christian Rock radio-ready song. In the track, he feels like he is lost and can never get God's forgiveness because he keeps failing. He eventually realizes that Love (God) is there and has always been there and surrenders to It (Him). "Scars" is a Museish sounding song. Muse has those quiet piano ballads that always turns into an anthem rock song. In the song, he feels defeated by his addictions. In the chorus, he states that "Scars remind us of who we are," meaning Jesus' scars after he died on the cross for the world. He gave us His life, so we must eventually give our lives back to Him. 

In "Rise," the album's eighth track, is a song that talks about a young girl who abuses herself and has thoughts of suicide. In the song, God tells the girl to rise because He loves her and knows that she has a purpose in her life. "Where My Heart Goes" immediately follows "Rise." It's an awesome song where Dixon is praising God and proclaiming that God is where he wants his heart goes. It's another awesome worship song that he wrote just to praise God in all His awesomeness.

In an interview with Yahoo, Dixon said that "This Is Who I Am" is an anthem saying that everyone will see the world in their own unique and different ways. He said he won't change for anybody, cause everyone has their own little "quirks" or they are weird in their own way, which I find to be just amazing. My all time favorite song on the album is "In And Out Of Time." It is a legit, anthem-ready rock tune. Even though he said that the album is more of a Christian effort, I believe this song would have the most chance going to a Mainstream Rock station. It's a Muse rock sounding tune that explains that we have limited days left because we know Jesus will be coming soon. His past keeps haunting him in the song, so he feels like he's running in and out of time.

The final song on the album is actually a cover. "Let Them See You" was the only song on the record Dixon didn't write. Scotty Wilbanks, who plays keys for the band Third Day, sent him this song on the early stages of working on the album. The song is just his piano and his voice. He said in an interview with Yahoo that he loved putting it on the end of the record, because it describes how he ended Idol and he wanted to end his album in a similar way, with God at the center of it all.

Most of the songs cowritten by guys who penned some of Kelly Clarkson and Switchfoot's biggest hits, this album is sure to also be a hit! A perfect mix of rock and worship make this the perfect record for anyone who likes indie rock. Dixon had a lot to accomplish on this record with both mainstream and Christian fans, and he did it more perfect than ever! This is very likely gonna be among my top 5 records of 2013. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

Purchase Links: iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 Songs: "Scars," "Love Has Come For Me," "In And Out Of Time"

For Fans Of: Evanescence, Muse, Lifehouse

Album Review: Between Here and Lost by Love and Death

Brian "Head" Welch, who is formerly of the band Korn, is at it once again, but this time, with a band. After he departed from the band in 2005, he wrote a book titled Save Me From Myself that released in July of 2007. During the writing of the book, Welch was also writing and recording his debut solo album. The album was also titled Save Me From Myself. It was basically his book, in music, and without explicit language. In 2010, Welch released a new single from his upcoming second solo project, titled Paralyzed. The full album never released and a year later, he announced that his band will now be branded under the name Love and Death. About a year and a half after the announcement, the band released their debut single and EP Chemicals. The EP included 5 tracks (2 original songs, a cover, and 2 remixes). The band then promised a new album by 2013. They are here with their debut album, which is set to release January 22nd.

"The Abandoning," the album's first single, starts out with Welch yelling "Wake up sleepy, Wide awake!" In the opening track, Welch talks about when he was in Korn and all the drugs he did. He felt like not only is he abandoning himself, so is everyone, including God. By the end of the song, he is wide awake for God and His commands. The second track, a cover of Devo's "Whip It," I really can't go into much detail about, because it is a cover of a 1980's pop song. Basically, there are less lyrics than the original version and it is metal.

"Watching The Bottom Fall" is one of the hardest tracks to review on the album. It's hard to interpret, but I think in the song, Welch is talking from two different people's point of view. Although they both commit the same crimes, he can't go through with it anymore and leaves the other. It's also one of my favorites on the album. "By The Way," the album's 4th track, I think, talks about his ex-wife. He loved her, but she was influencing their daughter in such a negative way, so he had to leave her, so him and his daughter could live safely. He says he misses her everyday, and hopes to see her in Heaven in the future.

"Meltdown" is my number one favorite song the album. I love the guitars it has in it. But, like most of the songs Welch writes, its about his addiction to drugs and alcohol. In the song, he has overdosed and feels like he is about to die, and cries out to God to save him and to not to keep. In "My Disaster," Welch feels like God is ignoring him and letting him suffer. He's crying out and asking how God can watch him suffer, when he is the leader of the universe. It's also the song on the album that sounds most like Welch's former band, Korn's, old material.

"I W8 4 U" is the 7th track on the album, and features screams from For Today's lead vocalist, Mattie Montgomery. It's a song that is actually from God's perspective on humans. He will wait for them till the end of the earth and always will. He loves us all and has a different relationship with each and everyone of His children. Christianity is becoming less and less popular in today's world and that's exactly what "Fading Away" talks about. The human race is fading away, so we need to repent to God, or be done. We are His children and need to come to that realization sooner better than later.

"Paralyzed" is included on the album and went to #1 on the iTunes rock chart when it was released back in 2010 and branded under his solo project. It's a song about being so overdosed in drugs that you feel like you can't get back. He cries out to God to save him and get him out. "Chemicals," the third previously recorded song to be featured on the April 2012 EP of the same name. It's a song that talks about being so buried in drugs or depression that it feels like chemicals are clouding your mind. He knows deep inside that he isn't a criminal and hates the chemicals and wants to get out. The final track on the album is "Bruises." Welch said in an interview with Billboard that is it partly inspired by Christians not believing in rock music being combined with Christianity.

I, for one, think this is an amazing album! Both hard rock and metal fans alike will love this album and it is a must buy. Welch has been making music for about 20 years, and ever since his debut solo album released back in 2008, he hasn't ceased to please! If you are a fan of rock music, I highly suggest picking this album up, because you WILL NOT be disappointed.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Purchase Links (not available until January 22nd): iTunes, Amazon MP3

Top 3 songs: "Chemicals", "I W8 4 U", "Meltdown"

For fans of: R3D, Korn, Hollywood Undead