By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor
After 10 years of making folk/acoustic/pop/rock Christian music worthy of singing along and tapping a steering wheel to, Houston-based Caedmon’s Call has released an album that brings it all Back Home…literally.
Back Home, the band’s fifth studio-produced release that hit music store shelves Tuesday, is simply an amazing display of the band’s versatile talents. Throughout the album’s 13 tracks, Caedmon’s captures the signature harmonies and driving guitars that have amassed the band more than $1 million career record sales, six No. 1 radio singles and 10 Dove Award nominations in its 10-year existence.
The name of the album is quite fitting for its content, as the seven band members go back to their roots with a lot of acoustic sounds, percussion and the usual beautiful vocals. But the great thing about the release is that it has something for everybody; from orchestrated string accompaniment on songs like “You Created” and “The Kingdom,” to electric guitar riffs on “Never Gonna Let Go” to folky accordion sounds on “Awake My Soul.”
One of the coolest things about the journey the band takes through the album is the variety of characters it picks up along the way. Christian songwriter/performer Randall Goodgame, who opened for Caedmon’s in Abilene last year during the band’s spring tour, does the words and music on three songs: “Only Hope,” “Hands Of The Potter” and ” Mystery of Mercy.” Those familiar with Goodgame’s fast-paced folk style and pleading lyrics will especially appreciate these three tracks.
As usual, Caedmon’s provides an array of lyrics in each of its songs that literally stimulates the listener. The CD’s best song, “You Created,” provides a hint of this in the chorus: You created nothing/ That gives me more pleasure than you/ And You won’t give me something/ That gives me more pleasure than you.
The way the vocalists communicate the lyrics, however, is certainly better than the words themselves. Webb, along with co-vocalists Cliff Young and wife Danielle Young, take turns at the lead and back each other up accordingly with dead-on harmony.
So pop in the CD, put on the headphones and relax for 50 minutes. It’ll only take one listen-through to be hooked on a Caedmon’s Call release that couldn’t have been a better 10th anniversary gift for past and present listeners.
