Customer Reviews

Freedom

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's been almost 20 years since I jumped off the Christian/religious band-wagon, but there are still Christian albums that I listen to. The lyrics and messages contained therein no longer have their Christian based appeal (praise Jeebuz) but it's impossible to deny this albums sheer musical chemistry and the artistry on display. The really interesting part about this album for me was that there was very little indication leading up to this that White Heart could deliver such a stunning LP. Their previous work with Sparrowe Records had been very hit n' miss with "Don't Wait for the Movie" often coming off as cliched with the odd hint of some real songwriting power. But it never occured to me that this same band (with a few changes to the lineup) would produce an album like "Freedom". I would consider this album and Michael W. Smith's "I 2 (Eye)" album the two pinnicles of Christian Rock in the 80's or even the present day era.

In 1989, White Heart released Freedom, the last of their three albums on their contract with Sparrow Records. Freedom is my overall favorite White Heart album, featuring vocalist Rick Florian, guitarists Billy Smiley and Gordon Kennedy, keyboardist Mark Gersmehl, bassist Tommy Simms and drummer Chris McHugh--probably the best lineup in the band's history. This album has everything from kickin' rock tracks to pop to beautiful ballads. My overall favorite songs here include Let the Kingdom Come, Over Me, Invitation, Set the Bridge on Fire and I'll Meet You There. Other enjoyable songs include Bye Bye Babylon, Power Tools, Sing Your Freedom and The River Will Flow. This is not only my overall favorite White Heart album, not only one of my favorite Christian rock albums, but one of my favorite rock albums PERIOD.

It's hard to find good music, and escpecially good rock these
days. This CD is one of the top rock CD'S of all time in my
opinion. If you like the like the progressive to hard rock of
the 70-80's give it a listen. Don't be at all diswayed by the
lyrics speaking of spiritual stuff. Put it in and crank the
volume and enjoy.

If you're a Christian and like melodic hard rock, you should own this Cd. If you aren't turned off by lyrics regarding faith and can appreciate great musicianship and songwriting, again, you should own this recording. I lump this in with some of my favorite 'secular' albums by groups like Van Halen, Journey, Queensryche and Dream Theater. Every instrument on every song, including the vocals, sound incredible. I think the bass and drums especially stand out. The songs are just flat-out great! Every group has that one album that rocks and sounds perfect, and for Whiteheart, "Freedom" is just that.

I followed Whiteheart for several years, and when this album came out in 1988, most of us were completely taken off guard by the sheer brilliance, rock-iness, and fantastic production of this album. Just about every song is completely listenable, even if a few are dated musically (due to synthesizers or too obvious computer drums). I think this album was Whiteheart at their absolute best, instrumentally, lyrically and vocally.

I still listen to this CD frequently, along with their last, Redemption (a beautiful last album for Whiteheart).

As it relates to music, I define the word "classic" as that which doesn't get relegated to that time in which it was created. I consider it to be a classic if it sounds current years after its initial release (usually 10 years or more). White Heart's "Freedom" cd was released in 1989 and yet nothing about it sounds dated. Brown Bannister's production is as sparkling today as it was when it was originally released approximately 17 years ago as of this review. There are moments of great density ("Bye Bye Babylon") as well as moments of spacious separation (the first 2 minutes of "Let The Kingdom Come"). The musicianship is of the same quality as Yes (90125 era), Kansas and Toto. Take the best and most accessible aspects of those bands, combine them together and you'll get an idea of how "Freedom" sounds. The song writing is incredible. All out rock workouts ("Power Tools", "Bye Bye Babylon") are combined with more grooved based songs ("Invitation"), ballads that aren't over wrought ("The River Will Flow") and a few unexpected styles ("Sing Your Freedom"'s Motown like chorus). The lyrics and singing are heart felt and never clique. Lead singer Ric Florian (if you're familiar with the band, you know he spelled his name differently on every album) has a voice quite unlike any I've heard and it fits perfectly with what the band does on this cd. Drummer Chris McHugh's style is aggressive and rock solid. Lead guitarist Gordon Kennedy is as versatile as they come. Bassist Tommy Simms' funk/r&b background gives the bottom-end its punch. Rhythm guitarist Billy Smiley and keyboard/2nd lead vocalist Mark Gerschmehl are the anchors. As compared to this lineup's previous cds ("Don't Wait For The Movie", "Emergency Broadcast") when Smiley and Gerschmehl were the chief song writers, everyone contributed almost equally which greatly increased the cohesive sound achieved on this release.

There is not much that i could add to the review of this album that has not been already said by the other reviewers! Absolutely my favorite White Heart CD! You buy this CD you will never want to get rid of it!

This is a great album plain and simple. Its great because musically it is simple, but it really does touch the soul. The album has a great sound to it, atmospheric acoustic rythems, crunching guitar melodies. Its not so much the rich feelgood riffs that do it for me, its Rikk Florian's masterful power vocals that really add depth to this album. Lyrically the album is great, exploring the reality of God's hand on our lives, making it quite an encouraging album. I tend to get goosepimples a lot when listening to certain bits on the album, its moments have to be the heavy riff on let the kingdom come and the rather fitting melodies that make up 'over me'. I've only ever owned 'Inside', their 1994 album that came after this one. I really loved the album, but this just puts it to shame it terms of production, sound, lyrics, everything really. If whiteheart have any other albums as good as this then I can't wait to get my hands on them, especially the earlier stuff with Dan Huff on the guitar!

When this album came out in my opinion White Heart was playing second fiddle in the Christian rock realms to bands such as Petra, Shout/Tamplin, and even the gaudy but commercially appealing Stryper. Then White Heart blew the doors off their convertibles and kicked all of our vital signs into high gear with energy, song writing and talent that us fans had never seen or expected to see from this band.

I saw White Heart live shortly after this album was released, and the energy they put into this album was even more amplified on stage. It was an incredible concert that I remember to this day with an incredibly long jam session during Freedom that ended with Rick Florian doing a flip with mic stand in hand and the lights going totally dark in synchronization with the ending crescendo.

The production and the effort that was put into this album along with arrangements are exceptional. There are up-tempo, rocking anthems in Freedom and Invitation, and the one song that I always have to listen to twice, Let The Kingdom Come that starts out almost as a slow lament and builds and builds to a climactic end. There are then breaks from the intensity in songs such as Over Me and The River Will Flow that bring about the well rounded ability of this band to do it all.

If you are trying to choose one White Heart album to pick up, this is the one. You will not be disappointed. This album is a timeless gem.

For that matter, I'd say it's one of the finest albums period from that time frame (late 80's) that holds up very well over time. It's still got a place in my rotation and though there are a few tracks that haven't aged quite as well as the rest, it's still an amazing album from a group that was very much hit and miss up to this point in their career. I, like others, followed White Heart from their early stuff (Runaway, Jerusalem) through "Don't wait for the movie" and when Brown Bannister came on to produce them and this album, I can still remember reading the little note on the back of the CD that basically said "if you thought you had heard White heart before, think again and listen to this album because it takes them to a whole new level".

Bottom line, he was right. This album has a couple of weaker tracks at the end of the ablum which to this day I generally just quit the album after track 9, but the first 9 are absolutely awesome. The music varies from straight forward power rock with some screaming vocals to some slow building, moody pieces that finally explode with "Let the Kingdom Come" to a few slower paced, beautiful anthems like Over Me. The guitar work and overall sound is as full and fat as Van Halen's guitar work from his newly reworked sound on their For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album which makes for a great back drop for the layered vocals they lay down.

Yes, it's an 80's album (barely) and a Christian one which is two strikes against it in most people's books (including mine most of the time as well), however, this is such a strong piece that I'd recommend this to anyone who just loves quality music.