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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Overdressed long Overdue, August 28, 2007
Overdressed Long Overdue
This album by Caedmon's Call is the best album that they have released since leaving their independent roots and moving to a major label! Their first self-titled album came close as it contained a large number of their indy songs but wasn't quite as raw.
I remember sitting in a young adults class at Second Baptist in 92 - one of the only times I ever went there - and they happened to be playing a set from their then new album My Calm//Your Storm. I immediately snatched a copy up that day and it has remained at the top of my CC list of albums. However, this album comes very very very close.
Many Caedmon's Call fans have been waiting for the sound found on this album to return to Caedmon's Call for several years. Some will say it's the return of Derek Webb paired with Cliff Young and Danielle's voice. I believe this new album shares something from the independent albums and that is consistency of good lyric writers. I do not want to knock the writers on their previous albums but those writers were not why CC listeners listen to CC. MC//YS and Coffee split the lyric writing duty between two very capable writers - challenging intellectual Aaron Tate and inspiring Derek Webb. I found it refreshing to have lyrics that challenged my thinking and encouraged extracurricular reading that many of the songs pointed too. This album, Overdressed, shares duty mainly between 2 very talented writers - Derek Webb (2 of the 14) and Andrew Osenga. Derek's wife also contributes some very nice pieces to this album as well but the continuity and flow of this album is clearly centered between Andrew and Derek.
The album begins with a tune by Derek called "Trouble" and it's a nice start to this album and happens to be the title track. "Need Your Love" is Cliff's first lead vocal song on the album and he does a great job. By the 3rd song the album really starts rolling and you get a very nice track "Sacred" sung by Dannielle (Cliffs wife and mother of 3 soon to be 4). You get the sense that there's a lot of reality baked into this song particularly if you happen to be a parent and you can catch a glimps of what they mean about cups running over and worrying about the stain. "Expectations" will quickly grow on you although the ending is quite abrupt. It's an exceptional Andrew Osenga song that really gives an honest look at what the world expects of us (to feed them and make them full) and what they often get from us (why bother...). Unfortunately it is a sad truth about some churches and he does not shy from singing about it.
The 5th track, "There Is A Reason", continues to build the excitement of this album and offers home to many of those with unfullfilled "Expectations". I believe it is one the first singles from the album and should garner some radio time. "Share In The Blame" is a great sounding song with awesome lyrics and really ushers in the second half of th album It also features that really awesome duet sound of Derek and Danielle singing together. "Hold The Light" - Wow. What can I say about this song. This is a new song by Andrew Osenga and it just rocks. Anyone who has been part of an accountability group or even a small group of friends will be touched by the lyrics. It is by far the most personal of all the songs on this album and I believe sits very nicely square in the middle clocking in at over 5 minutes. For me it is another one of those songs like Derek Webb's "10 Miles" from Coffee that you just listen to and somehow wish it could go on forever. As a sidebar, this song was fantastic in concert in Houston. The lyrics can come at you from both sides of the storyteller too I've discovered. The first side that is that of the storyteller obviously but the second is the challenge to be that person who will hold the light of friendship and the silent peace of God for someone else who needs that from you.
"Two Weeks In Africa" has the very hard beat folk sound that old Caedmon's Call fans so long to hear. Great tune, great lyrics, and one you'll be humming all day in the office. "Love Grows Love" is a love song. Go figure. It feels a bit awkward at first in this spot between Africa and the Western World. But much like Africa, you may find yourself humming it if it happens to be the last thing on when you shut down your car. "All Across The Western World" is a lyric collaboration between Derek Webb and his wife Sandra McCraken and another in which the combo of Derek and Danielle are displayed nicely. "Always Been There" begins to give you the sense of winding down but the last song (on the regular release) "Start Again" is another hard rocking folk sound that has most often uniquely characterized this band.
Those who are fortunate enough to have the special edition are treated to 2 extra tracks - "Love" by Andrew Osenga (and Randall Goodgame who pairs up with Andrew on many of the above tracks I attribute to Andrew) and an absolutely incredible "Ten Thousand Angels" written by Sandra McCracken. The last of these is one of those songs thta grows in intensity and is reminicent of a U2 Song. Derek sings the lead on this and it really stretchs his voice well into the upper range. After listening to it several more times I'm starting to believe that this may be his best singing job yet. Hearing this in concert is well worth the price of admission as well.
Buy this album and you won't be disappointed.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
SOME PROBLEMS, BUT STILL . . . , September 5, 2007
It seems to me that this CD doesn't have the passion, freshness, and memorable cuts that others have. No major gems here. Having said that, It's still worth buying and listening to. They're just that good. By the way, bringing Derek back was not necessarily what they needed. He's gone off in another direction (a good one, though) and does not seem to be in the groove with the rest of the group. I love Caedmons and was hoping for an in the park home run, but got at best a triple. Granted, though, a triple for Caedmons would be a grand slam for other Christian folk-rock groups!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too many members, September 20, 2007
That's really the best way to describe this album. Caedmon's Call has been on a very wide journey and it shows. The album lacks flow, though, due to these varying influences.
I am thrilled Derek Webb came back to Caedmon's Call as I felt he was such a huge presence in the band, but even with Derek back, Aaron Tate's lyrical presence is missing. I've been listening to this band for many years and while I find this a huge step up from their last record (I don't count the worship records, and I surprisingly liked Back Home) it just doesn't work for me. Something about it just feels . . . stale, I suppose. You can add in the tribal beats or extra voices or guitars, but if all of that is standing on a foundation of sand, well, you all should get that analogy.
This album is mediocre. Good, but nowhere near great. Easy on the ears and has tight musicianship, but it just doesn't fly for me. There is some great drumming, some great guitar work, some good vocals and lyrics, but it's just a smattering here and there.
Personally, I don't think Andrew Osenga ever had the chance to settle in with the band (see: Start Again, the harmony with Danielle doesn't work at all) and now with Derek back in the mix, it sounds like the album should have been labeled "Various Artists" instead of "Caedmon's Call." Still, like I said, this is a good enough album, but it leaves me yearning for more.
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~ Caedmon's Call
~ Caedmon's Call
~ Caedmon's Call
~ Derek Webb
~ Caedmon's Call
by Caedmon's Call 
