Customer Reviews

Long Line of Leavers

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Showing a wider range of influences than ever before, Long Line of Leavers (Essential) fully displays the immense talent of Caedmon's Call. The album smoothly rides from soaring folk ballads to southern rock with pleasantly unexpected twists along the way.

As usual, the tenth Caedmon's project strength lies in strong songwriting and vocal diversity. "Non-touring" member Aaron Tate supplies several songs, as does guitarist Derek Webb. Producer Ed Cash contributed a vulnerable, haunting song entitled "Masquerade."

I never tire of listening to Caedmon's because three members, Webb and new parents Cliff and Danielle Young, share lead vocalist duties. I also enjoy the depth of the band. Few "folk-rock" bands include two percussionists and a keyboard/organist alongside the standard two guitars and bassist.

A few things are obvious from a first listen-they've expanded their collective CD collections past Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Indigo Girls and the typically lamenting Derek Webb has found love. Girls, it's true, Webb's engaged to singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken. Songs like "Love is Different" stand in stark contrast to his usual single musings, as he declares, "Maybe you're the dream I'm wakin' from / `Cause I see you everywhere I go / Darlin' you are such a mystery to me, you know."

One thing that's stayed the same is the lyrical appeal to college-aged fans. The first song documents the difficulty Christians can have with the metaphor of God as lover. "I expect and I believe that / You're gonna run out of love / You're gonna give me the shove / `cause that's the thing that lovers do / then there's You."

Another track destined to become a collegiate favorite is "Valleys Fill First." "My friends up above me / don't understand why I struggle like I do ... Down in the valley / It seems that I'm at my worst / My consolation is that you've baptized this earth / Well down in the valley / Valleys fill first."

Because of the strength of each song, my favorite track changes by the day, but today I relate to the wavering soul in "Prove Me Wrong" pleading "Keep me still until the day You / Cast down my doubts / Please prove me wrong / `Cause these demon's can be so strong."

A few of the songs may be familiar to fans. "Piece of Glass" was featured on the Intimate Portrait enhanced CD and the third track, "Prepare Ye the Way," is a cover of an old John Michael Talbot favorite.

I applaud the development of Caedmon's sound in Long Line of Leavers. It took guts, and I think it's really paid off. Though "Mistake of My Life" is about Derek moving to Nashville to be near Sandra, I think it could apply to the band stepping out on a limb with this album, "once [they've] gone [they] cannot look back / [they've] got to trust this is right." The risk was well worth it.

Caedmon's Call equals talent. Pure and unwavering talent. And there's a lot of it. With an ensemble of 7 band members Caedmon's Call is BIG on sound. While their last album produced a sequence of lulling, country ladden overtones, "Long Line of Leavers" shows the band exploring some new territory along the lines of guitar pop (think Sixpence None the Richer), anthemic praise and worship and even classical. Yet, their quality never loses it's charictaristic smoothness or originality. The album contains a lot of song contribution and co-writing from old pal and co-founder Aaron Taite, who has helped fuel the bands success from the beginning. With songs like "Prepare Ye The Way", "Mistake Of My Life" and "Can't Lose You", Long Line Of Leavers is a guaranteed success, that has something for everyone. Lyrically brilliant and sonically sensational this one's a keeper!

On previous albums, Caedmon's Call showed wore their influences like t-shirts: a little Indigo Girls here, a little REM here, and some Toad the Wet Sprocket to top off the ensemble. Leavers shows them not abandoning their roots as an acoustic band, but growing from them - moving beyond imitation into something more original.

While "Valleys Fill First," "Prove Me Wrong," "Love Is Different," and the John Michael Talbot cover "Prepare Ye The Way" all could easily have fit onto previous Caedmon's albums, the group finds itself exploring some new sounds on this album, with mixed results. "Mistake of My Life" injects some Beatles-via-BNL melodicism into the mix, while the rock energy of "What You Want" kicks things into high gear. Other highlights are the smooth, modern pop of such tracks as "Dance," and "Can't Lose You," one of many tracks given the distinct sonic touch of CCM producer du jour, Monroe Jones.

Throw in the devastating "Masquerade" (written by co-producer Ed Cash and sung beautifully by Danielle Young - MORE LEAD VOCALS, DANIELLE! PLEASE!), and Derek Webb's playful, album-closing ode to singlehood "The Ballad of San Francisco," and you have the occasionally beautiful, occasionally inspiring mix of Long Line of Leavers. It may jump from place to place musically and thematically, but I have yet to hear a more solid collection of songs this year.

Caedmon's Call proves with Leavers that they only get better with age. This definitely sounds different than their other albums, but it is a great album and I don't feel like I'm exaggerating when I say it's one of the greatest records I've heard in the last ten years. That's including ANY secular OR Christian album. It has enough on there to please any music fan. The lyrics are great and easy to identify with. Musically, it has songs that stray totally away from their previous sound, but they still have a few tracks that keep that folk/rock sound. The vocal harmonies are VERY tight and the guitar parts are very sweet - the leads are melodic and the progressions are soothingly wonderful. If you remember "Piece of Glass" from Intimate Portrait, this record has the studio version which features more vocal parts, more instrumentation, and slightly different lyrics. There is not one spot on this record that is weak - you can play it from start to finish without having to worry about skipping over "filler" tracks. All fans of Caedmon's Call should get this record, and if you're not already a fan of this excellent band, Long Line of Leavers could easily make a fan out of you.

I am extremely happy with the way this album came out. It certainly has many interesting ideas and qualities that have not yet been seen by Caedmon's Call. However, I am a fan, with other Christian college students, who like the old, simple, acoustic sound. The old sound was more acoustic, and this CD is more 'rock n roll' and electric. It isn't the self-titled CD in that respect; but it is worth the music. Cliff, Derek, and Danielle really have grown musically, and vocally, this album proves their growth. 'Piece of Glass' and 'The Only One' are quite creative, and Derek, once again, pulls the listener into his songs with emotion and the incredible musical talent he posses. The truth behind their music is especially evident, along with Derek's new love. It is not as acoustic as was the old, but it deserves to be bought.

I got into Caedmon's Call with their last release (40 Acres), since then I have downloaded lots and lots of their MP3s. Most of them came from the "Guild Collection" albums that are only available to fan club members. But, when "Leavers" hit the shelves, it didn't take long before its MP3s were being passed around. I had grown so used to the fast and rural sound of 40 Acres that these new songs were a bit of a shock for me, but they grew on me and now it is one of my favorites.

I decided to buy the CD after acquiring nearly all of the MP3s for free. It is evident that the band has a better feeling about being in a studio and is more comfortable taking advantage of it. For once, this is a good thing!

The sounds of this album are much more polished and refined than on previous recordings. Moreover, the band has settled down some and the fast, toe-tapping rhythms of their previous albums have slowed somewhat, but their lyrics are just as strong as ever.

Why 4 stars?:
Caedmon's Call has come a long way in the past few years. Their comfort with being in the studio is evident. Their sound has gotten more adult, and their lyrics are just as strong ever. If you're a Caedmon's Call fan, a Christian, or just someone who enjoys Adult-Contemporary music, then this CD is for you.

I don't own any Caedmon's Call albums, but I've heard them all a lot, simply by default. Long Line of Leavers is the one I've heard the least of. Since I haven't heard Long Line in much depth, commenting on the lyrics wouldn't be fair. However, since I've heard all of their previous albums and been to more than a few shows, let me say this: Long Line is another step away from their acoustic roots. We all have biases and preferences. I generally dislike "bands" in the traditional sense, and have a strong bias toward acoustic guitar music. Production quality is a non-issue, but Caedmon's Call is beginning to lose the distinctiveness they initally had. It seems that bands tend to gravitate away from the acoustic sound (a phenomenon that perplexes me) but very rarely gravitate toward it. Caedmon's Call fits that trend. If they were ever "folk", it was on their first album or two. They certainly aren't anymore and haven't been for a couple years. The use of serious drums (as opposed to simple percussion) & a lot of electric guitar is starting to disqualify them. "Acoustic Rock" as a label is a little shaky too. I agree with another reviewer, they're starting to sound like...everyone else. If I may soapbox for a moment - the simple use of an acoustic guitar does not qualify one as folk. Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" uses an acoustic guitar, especially at the beginning...so...is Metallica folk? Their songwriting is very good. The band possesses several intelligent, creative, and introspective lyricists. I'd say most bands possess 0-1, at best. I'm not a huge fan of the band, but they have talent and lyrical creativity. I guess the band is just moving further and further from my preference, which is fine, though personally disappointing, because there's little music to satisfy my taste. If you're looking for lyrically complex and creative (though simple sounding) music, grab their earlier albums. As an aside to a reviewer who criticized Derek's many love (or lack of) songs...I like it. Caedmon's Call is actually very refreshing for the fact that they write as real people with personal struggles, hurts, failures, concerns, and sins, and not as "Life is always great and easy for me - you must be a failing Christian if you don't feel that way!!!" I respect them for that.

This is not the Caedmon's Call that one would be familiar with. If you're a fan expecting more of the same music that you have grown to like, you will be disappointed. Some songs like "Valleys Still First" bear resemble to the band's vintage sound. I'll have to admit that I didn't like it when I first heard it. It took at least five careful listens for it to begin to grow.

The band's country influences are less apparent here. Musically, however, it is still carries a simple no-frills flavour with strong accoustic shades. There are more varied musical styles and one would find it difficult to put a label to describe it. Perhaps this is an indication of a band in transition (growth?). On some songs there is an almost 1960s 'Beatles' feel to it ("Mistake of My Life"). Others like "Masquerade" and "Love Alone" have a lazy mood of reflection to it, also with a tinge of playfulness on "Ballad of San Francisco".

There seems to be less of a theme in this album compared to previous albums - 40 Acres, Intimate Potrait. The best theme I can put on it is that it encompasses perspectives on life struggles - finding faithfulness and security beyond the failings of human love to embrace God's love ("The Only One", "Can't Lose You", "Love Alone"), expressions of doubts & fear at the crossroads in making life decisions ("Mistake of My Life"), facing up to the realities of loving another person i.e. love is not just an emotion ("Love Is Different"), doubts about one's faith/belief through hardships and trying to find meaning in it all ("Prove Me Wrong", "Valleys Fill First"), reflections on a better life in heaven beyond this one ("Dance"), warnings on living life based on appearances & solely on what is external ("Masquerade", "Piece of Glass"), etc.

All of the songs possess the same level of poetic and detailed storytelling brilliance that you would expect from the band -- one that carries the message from the direct perspective of a person telling the story (some of which is may have deeper 'mysteries' that one cannot relate to!)

Overall, this album won't be instantly accessible music wise. For current fans, it will take some time to adjust to the band's departure from their sound of old and allow the appreciation to grow. This offering is unconventional in many aspects but make no mistake, it is a musically varied and lyrically brilliant album that will in many ways challenge one's acceptance of different musical styles and gaze harder to understand the 'mysterious' depth in the lyrical poetry.

I have a hard time finding Christian music I actually like. When I picked up this CD off a recomendation from a friend, I was sceptical. But after listening to it for the first time, I fell in love. "Prove Me Wrong" "Mistake of My Life" "Love Alone" and "Ballad of San Francisco" are beautiful and fitting. I don't care much for "Masquerade" and I wish Danielle would stick to background vocals.

I own two of Caedmon's Call's CD's. I have their first major label release (their self-titled album) and Long Line of Leavers. In spite of it being an acquired taste, and in spite of a few mediocre songs, I have finally come to the opinion that I really like Long Line of Leavers.

The only song on the that really has the typical "Caedmon's sound" is Valleys Fill First. I like the message of Valleys Fill First. The music is even OK...even if it is not a good enough reason to buy the CD.

The real set of reasons for getting a copy of Long Line of Leavers are the following songs: The Only One, Love is Different, Prepare ye the Way (a cover), Prove Me Wrong, Love Alone, and the Ballad of San Francisco.

None of these songs are overly catchy, "single" type songs. Yet after listening to the disc a few times (and getting over the eclectic instrumentation) They started to have a real affect on me. They are all well written, reflective songs dealing with doubt and sin--not something you hear all that often...especially in a manner this well done.

Comparing this CD and the self-titled one is like comparing apples to apricots. Both are nice and ripe...but totally different fruit.

To sum it up...in spite of the mediocrity of some of the songs here, I still give Long Line of Leavers a high rating and a heartfelt recommendation.