Customer Reviews

An Other Life

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

 

 

This CD straddles the boundary between progressive and heavy metal.

Like progressive, the music is energetic and diverse and inventive and unpredictable. The overall attack is metal: driving and relentless and confident.

That's the music. Varied, inventive, interesting.

But the vocals are weak. The lyrics are the most tepid of Christian cliches, but that's not the problem. The problem is the singer's voice, which is eminently forgettable. Forgettable and screechy.

Fortunately, you can ignore the voice for the most part.

Akacia's first release is one that calls for more. Their debut, titled after the epic song, is one that is solid in its musical foundation. Instrumentally, this record shouts out to the world that Akacia is here to stay. The intoxicatingly perfect tone of Mike Tennenbaum's guitar provides a strong audiotory picture of the message they convey, which is openly one proclaiming the love of God. The album contains two 15+ minute tracks, both of which could easily stand with Yes' Gates of Delirium or Rush's Hemispheres. I would liken the style closest to The Yes Album. Along with the jazzy psychadelic guitar (very much like Howe or Hendrix), the keyboards and bass fit together with Eric Naylor's high quality voice. Make no mistake, this music is high quality, but unfortunately most of its dazzling quality is lost with the low quality production.

Akacia is a group with a lot of talent. Writing is progressive and very good. The problem is with the vocals. The vocals alone would rate 1 or 2 stars, and I'm being generous. With a good vocalist and better production they would get 5 stars. I just can't rate this CD that high with vocals that bad.

First off, you have to hand it to Akacia for putting out Christian Progressive music. Talk about a limited audience!

Musically, this band is pretty good. They are all excellent players with Mike Tennenbaum, on guitar, leading the way. He is really a fantastic player. Song structures are varied and never boring. Recording sounds a bit sterile, but I would imagine the CD was produced on a pretty lean budget.

But then, as most other reviews agree, they start to sing. I really hate to say it this bluntly but they are, simply put, bad. The investment in "auto tune" may have been worthwhile. The addition of a vocalist to their roster should be strongly considered. It is almost like: "OK somebody in this band has to sing these lyrics, who is the least bad?" I really hate bashing their vocals because I admire that this band is gutsy enough to put out Christian prog, and musically they are very good: but, I owe honesty in my reviews.

I will be glad to recommend this CD on its musical merits but be forewarned about the vocals.

This CD rocks the songs are great and the lyrics are great i bought it and it iz awesome if u cud buy any cd buy this one cuz it rulz