Customer Reviews

Ending is Beginning

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This has been an AMAZING year for new Christian music. My most anticipated album all-year has been this gem by my favorite band Downhere. Sometimes an album doesn't live up to the hype after an excellent album like Wide-Eyed And Mystified, but this album is amazing, every song. As a major fan of the Canadian band Downhere since their Dove Award winning debut in 2001 and Best New Artist 2001, this band has only managed to get better this decade putting them in the ranks of my other favorite bands Jars of Clay, MercyMe and Sanctus Real, with their Brit-Rock sound being a blend of all of those great CCM artists and also the driving alternative rock that has made Coldplay an international sensation.

Ending Is Beginning immediately grabs you with the opening track Bleed For This Love, written in the person of Jesus and is a moving portrayal of His sacrifice and Love. Next, the first single Here I Am, based on my favorite passage of the Bible, Isaiah 6:8 stirs me to answer my calling as a Christian to do God's will. The next 4 tracks Cathedral Made Of People, My Last Amen, Hope Is Rising, and Something Heavenly are among the best songs ever by this great band, both musically and lyrically and the harmonizing of Marc Martel and Jason Germain has never been better. The album doesn't have any filler songs and actually closes as strong as it starts with Live For You, The Beggar Who Gives Alms and the anthemic and moving How Many Kings as a bonus track, originally on last year's Christmas album "Bethlehem Skyline".

For me, this album is truly 5 stars (98% perfect) and is my top album of 2008!

Listening to this album envoked a feeling I haven't experienced for quite a while, at least not with recorded music...a tremendous appreciation that there even is a such thing as music. May sound crazy or simple, but most of the time we listen, we either like or dislike, we are entertained or not, and we appreciate something or other of what we just heard. Downhere's "Ending Is Beginning" has defied my typical music listening experience. I'm an avid music fan, and a musician myself, and something about the CD drew me to a place of abundant appreciation for the gift we call music.

It's not often these days that you find a band with the talent to bring top-tier musical quality, along with a message that makes you think about what you just listened to. Downhere certainly qualifies...tremendous talent in vocals, guitar, piano, bass, drums, songwriting--what else could you ask for?!?! The songs vary in style (I'm so sick of CDs where every song sounds the same) and truly have something relevant to say. Beyond just enjoying the music, you'll find yourself actually mulling over the lyrics even after each song is over. Not a common thread in music these days.

If there were room for 10 stars, it'd be no contest for me with this album. I have to say it's one of the best in quite a while, well worth the listen! I can't even pick a favorite song, too many great ones! I could go on and on about this CD, but I'll simply urge you to buy and listen (and buy their previous album, "Wide Eyed And Mystified" too). If you don't know Downhere, you don't know what you're missing. Here's to praying this band sticks around and blesses us with music for years to come...

Words cannot express how much I love Downhere and this latest album. I saw them perform live at my parents' church. They played songs from their Christmas album How Many Kings. The first Christmas album I could honestly say I wouldn't mind listening to all year long. One of the great things with this group is the two lead singers. Jason has a deep smooth voice and Marc's is like glass, clear and when he hits those high notes it takes you back Freddie Mercury...Somehow they have managed to work both these different sounds into their songs and picked the right voice for the right song. When Jason is singing, they throw Marc's voice in at the right times to accent I and vice versa, when Marc is lead singing, Jason's voice perfectly accents Marc's. Now for this album keeping with their rocking sound, with words that that inspire, words that meaning, words that touch the soul, you can't go wrong with songs, like Bleed for This Love, Here I am, My Last Amen, Coming back Home...Cathedral Made of People makes you think, what would happen if people didn't have a church to pray in? What if we didn't have access to the written Word? The people are the assembly, the people would gather and their voices would be raised, we don't need the physical confines to make up a church, the people are the church body... The songs grow on you. Since I've bought this CD and listened to it the first time, I keep going to back to and singing along out loud with these songs. Buy it! You won't be disappointed.

I'll admit when I first put downhere's fourth CD in the player, I wasn't that impressed. It just didn't seem to have the spark their last project had. And while I do still feel that their third CD was better, this one has really grown on me.

As with most CD's, it's hard to pin down on overall theme. But if I had to, I'd say that the idea of facing life's challenges head on no matter what seems to be predominant. It's evident from the very beginning with "Bleed for This Love." The song is written from Jesus' point of view as He reminds us He will always be there for us. "Cathedral Made of People" reminds us that, even under persecution, Christians are victorious. And "Don't Miss Now" challenges us to enjoy life while we long for Heaven. Speaking of longing for Heaven, "My Last Amen" speaks of just that thing.

The struggle to live as God calls us to live becomes the topic of several songs as well. "Something Heavenly" really lays out the issue as they admit "I really am my own worst enemy." And "Coming Back Home" could be sung by the prodigal as he attempts to make things right again. For a lighter take on the issue, look no further than "The Problem." Yep, all the problems of the world are finally solved in this song - Me.

As a bonus track, the disc closes with their Christmas hit "How Many Kings." I love this ballad.

Stylistically, they range from rock to ballad and back again. And having Marc and Jason as two lead vocalists allows for some fun moments vocally.

This disc had the impossible task of following downhere's best release to date. And it succeeds pretty well. 4.5 stars rounded up.

It is hard to find really good and unique music these days. Downhere is one of them. Their style is so different from everything else. The lyrics are deep and the musics are rich. The two vocals, Marc Martel and Jason Germain, coordinate perfectly together to bring out the mood of the music. If you like this album, you many also like Beautiful Things by Gungor.

Downhere is a remarkable group. I normally do not listen to Christian music, but Downhere has converted me.I first bought a Downhere CD becasue of the Christmas song "How Many Kings?". That CD led me to buy more of their CDs. The songs on the CD Ending Is Beginning are amazing and the singing and harmonizing are top rate. I would recommend giving Downhere a try- you won't be sorry.

Excellent. One of those great albums that you can play while driving on a sunny day AND while working at your desk. Great, singable lyrics that can make you think and worship and just enjoy.

This CD (or digital media, MP3 or compilation of songs - whatever is the technical description of purchased electronic media) is fantastic. The combination of musical styles, lyrics and theme is outstanding. I like the fact that most lyrics are truthful (The Problem) but yet encouraging. Unfortunately, most people live in the beginning of the song Hope is Rising. Listen and remember the truth - there is hope in this crazy world. That song, in particular, has helped get me from the cry-baby moping how bad this world is to thankfully realizing God is indeed in control and the ultimate source of our hope.

These guys are amazing and they get better with every album. Their sound and ideas are fresh. You will enjoy listening. Highly recommended.

There's not much to say about this album, except that it is just plain awesome. I live in Brussels Belgium and I found them by sampling Amazon last weekend, the lyrics are so original, totally amazing album, the top 3 tracks in my opinion:
- Cathedralsmade of people
- All At War
- How many Kings

If you buy one album this year, this is it!!!