Customer Reviews

Free Flying Soul

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

 

 

The Choir has been putting out consistently really good music ever since their album "Chase the Kangaroo" came out in the late eighties, and "Free Flying Soul" is among their best. The melodies are strong, the arrangements interesting, and the lyrics are thoughtful and poetic. The sounds range from dreamy and shoegazerish, to driving and edgy. The songs, though diverse, fit together well, giving the whole thing a good sense of continuity and cohesion. The album is nicely bookended, opening with the whimsical "Salamander" which invites us to "climb on up. . .from the slippery dark", and ending with "The Warbler" with it's reminder that it's "already eleven o'clock." In between this opening invitation and concluding warning there is a heavy emphasis on relationships and family life, interspersed with spiritual reflection. Steve Hindalong is one who can write about ordinary life and family without coming across sounding corny or overly sentimental. Highlights are the beautiful "The Ocean" which celebrates the Body of Christ and the renewing love of God, the rocking "The Chicken", which takes a brutally honest look at the problem of evil and suffering, the humorous look at relationships in "Sled Dog", the confessional "If You're Listening", and the rolicking love song "Leprechaun". Every song on here is good though. Not an ounce of filler.

One final interesting note: out of the twelve songs on this album, seven of them are named after some kind of animal life.

Of all the Choir's cd's (and I have all of the ones still in print and a couple of the ones that aren't), this one has the most "perfect" songs on it. "The Warbler" is a haunting song that you'll find yourself listening to time and again because the music and Derri's vocals make it perfect. "The Ocean" has a great chorus, and "The Chicken" has the best guitar riff I've heard in a long time. This cd is another great one from my favorite band, and it's excellent music to someone you might be talking to about God. The lyrics are deep and poetic, yet spiritual to the point that you can easily see the struggles of life in what's written. Buy this one and I can almost promise you that you'll be looking for their other cd's.

The Choir consistently got better and better with each new release until they hit "Free Flying Soul," their best yet. ("Flap Your Wings," after this one, is also full of excellent material, not quite as top-level as "Free Flying Soul," but musically and lyrically mature and powerful. If you want a good "greatest hits" package, their "Live at Cornerstone" is a wonderful recording, better in my judgment than "Let It Fly," their other live recording.) "Free Flying Soul" is one of the greatest Christian recordings--really, one of the greatest recordings, period--I've ever heard. It's difficult to describe, but here's a try: If you could combine Steve Taylor's lyrical wit and intelligence, a big dose of beautiful, off-the-wall poetry, U2's echo-chamber guitar, some cool feedback and massive guitar riffs, several dashes of fluid, tasteful bass guitar, some spacy, intriguing woodwind sounds, and several ingredients unique to this band--you'd get The Choir.

Joining the Choir on this 1996 outing are Wayne Everett of the Prayer Chain, Hoi Polloi's Jenny Gullen, Common Children's Marc Byrd, Daniel Amos' frequent helper Sharon McCall, and session keyboard whiz Phil Madeira. This was to have been the last release from the band and it nicely held up the group's legacy at the time (though they would reunite 4 years later for FLAP YOUR WINGS).

HIGHLIGHTS:
"Sled Dog" sounds exotic thanks to use of a quavery, almost Indian sounding electric guitar, Kenyan whistle, and processed vocal from Derri Daugherty. "Away with the Swine" is an attack on fundamentalism's lists of "do not do's" that get in the way of truly seeking God oftentimes. ("I was freed when I was a child in parochial school dress/Although I rarely ran wild, one sister swore I was possessed") It's central message: "Moderation is a truly wise ideal". "The Ocean" is a wonderful metaphor for the Body of Christ. ("We are the ocean/glorious and sanctified by pain/we are blessed by the rain...") Jenny Gullen joins Daugherty for a duet, with Madeira contributing a tasteful string-like arrangement on Chamberlin organ. (It's the same instrument Fiona Apple would use years later on TIDAL.) "The Chicken" is a stark admission that calling the name of Jesus doesn't spare you from tragedy in a fallen world. ("I could tell you there is no molester in the alley/To take a lead pipe to your knee/But you won't believe it cuz it ain't true...Rivers flowing your precious body blue trickle crimson when the chicken claws you..") The arrangement boasts muscular guitars, clanging toy piano, and trails out with Tim Chandler's guitars echoing the hymn "Love Lifted Me".

LOWS:
"Slow Spin" is pretty much filler. I wouldn't miss it at all if it were gone. "Leprechaun" is the latest in a string of Choir love songs, but this one just isn't up to snuff. Sorry, Steve.

BOTTOM LINE:
It's not the album I'd START with of theirs (make that WIDE EYED WONDER since it's the most easily accessible) but it's nearly as good as their best work. I was lucky enough to see them in Kettering, Ohio touring this release and it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. The secret of this band should be less well-kept.

3 1/2 stars

Free Flying Soul is easily the Choir's best project since Circle Slide. There are just so many tender moments and wonderful feelings to be found on this record, one can't help but be reminded of how pivotal this band has been, not only to Christian music, but in the lives of so many believers. "Ocean" and "If You're listening" are instant classics. "Sled Dog" and "Salamander" are quite memorable too. This, their last studio project, is a wonderful way to bid these friends adieu, with a big THANK YOU!

I think I like this guitar oriented music. It may grow on me. It does have some very nice guitar texture and arrangement on salamander, "Away with the swine" has a nice beatlesqe feel to it ala the white album, Slow spin sounds a little like early Pink floyd say about UMMA GUMMA or Piper at the gates of dawn.

Over all it is somewhat of a spiritual nature, though you realy have to dig deep for it.

Not an ordinary band, a little unusual.Salamander is the best cut I think.