Customer Reviews

Share the Well

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Caedmon's Call promised us something different with their song "A New Day" on this year's retrospective Chronicles, and with Share the Well, they don't disappoint. This CD is unlike anything they have ever done: part travelogue, part call to action, part multimedia experience, and part trial-by-fire for its resident songwriters.

The Concept: Long interested in charity abroad, the band decided to visit the lands they have tried to help. The band traveled to Ecuador, Brazil, and India to meet with Christians and musicians in these countries to raise awareness of how life there is different from here in the U.S.--and to encourage listeners to lend a hand.

Travelogue: Local musicians played with the band, and their work permeates the album extensively either as prefaces or integral parts of Caedmon's Call songs. Local stories gave birth to several songs: "All I Need (I Did Not Catch Her Name)," "Volcanoland," and "The Roses." The net result is not a world music-influenced album like Long Line of Leavers but a folk music anthology. Caedmon's Call is a true world folk band here, and the musicianship of drummer Todd Bragg, percussionist Garett Buell, musical polymath Joshua Moore, and eclectic Andrew Osenga legitimize the band's collaboration with the very capable local talent. The album is very much Caedmon's Call and very much something organically new.

The Songs: Although doctrine and belief motivates much in this album, the songs are primarily portraits: of individuals and families that the band met and the bandmembers' responses to what they experienced. In some cases, especially the beautiful "Wings of the Morning" and somewhat martial "Dalit Hymn," the band's reactions were so strong that the resulting songs became something quite new for a Caedmon's album: political.

Beside's the band's resident composers Joshua Moore and Andrew Osenga, they took with them Randall Goodgame and Aaron Sensemen. More often than not a collaborative effort, the songs were principally written or co-written by Goodgame (7), Osenga (6), and Moore (5). Goodgame's catchy "Share the Well" kicks off the CD and provides the theme for the album; inspired by an incident in India, it encourages sharing both material and spiritual blessings. Goodgame and Osenga's "Mother India" is a moving and majestic hymn beautifully sung by Danielle Young. Moore's "Volcanoland" is a hoot--accompanied by the very family band it's about!--with a fine vocal by Cliff Young. Osenga and Miller's(!) "The Roses" is a simple and simply beautiful meditation on simple living. Moore and Goodgame's "Dalit Hymn" concludes the CD with a gutsy plea for abolition of the caste system that brings torment to the Dalit people in India: "caste is a lie". When the songs aren't snapshots of local life, they are portraits of the inner lives of bandmembers and how they reacted to what they saw: Osenga's "Bombay Rain" and the first hidden track, especially, do this best. Enjoying an album like this almost makes one forget the culture shock the band must have repeatedly experienced.

Multimedia: The album is enhanced with video from the band's travels and messages from Dalit Freedom Network and Compassion International. The Dalit Freedom Network video was very interesting. The band's videos show some of the local musicians who participated in this project, but images of them interacting with the band are fleeting. The second hidden track makes up for this with an extended, exciting performance by some local group.

Overall: As a folk album, Share the Well is very entertaining. As evidence of a band alive and kicking, the CD succeeds. In many ways, the band had something to prove, for it had lost its lead guitarist and talented songwriter, Derek Webb, to a solo career and replaced him with Andrew Osenga. This is the first album where Osenga has been a major player in songwriting, and he doesn't disappoint. He seems to have found his niche in the band. Although his vocals will take some getting used to, he has an interesting voice that can take some surprising turns, as seen in "Bombay Rain". As a call to action, I think the CD speaks very eloquently of how the artists have matured and moved increasingly outward from the cozy world of Christian circles to the world's unforgiving stage. They want to make a difference, and they invite us to join them. Whether we accept or not, they seem determined to move forward.

Now wait just a minute Holmes. The first reviewer on here is a victim of not giving this album a chance to resonate. I bought this much anticipated album on its release day (Oct 12) and my first reaction was, "Is this some kind of joke"? I got home and listened to a few more cuts and slept on it. On my way to work and all throughout the day I kept playing this album and I finally got it! This album is nothing but a huge labor of love between this band and the Indian Dalit nation. What you have here is a beautifully woven taperstry of American Folk Music with a middle eastern influence. Caedmon's travelled to India, Equador, and Brazil to record and write this album and I think the album is absolutly beautiful.
First off-the cover art and inside artwork on this CD are stunning. I was lucky enough to obtain several posters of the album cover and it is just awesome. The artwork should win the Dove Award for album artwork.
By FAR-the highlight of this album is "Mother India". This song will go down as one of the most touching songs Caedmon's has ever recorded. If this song doesn't give you chills you need an IV. Highlights include the title cuts touching lyrics, "All I Need", "Volcanoland"-which is just a fun cool song, "The Roses"-beautiful story, and "Wings of the Morning".
It is so great to hear Andrew Osenga's influence on this album. The former lead singer of "The Normals" really adds a great mix to the CD-and his song "Bombay Rain" fits in perfectly. I don't miss Derek Webb at all-especially since his new album "I See Things Upside Down" comes out next month. Also-Danielle Young's vocals are as tight as ever-especially on "Mother India". "There's Only One"-the album's first single is so-so but with very powerful lyrics and a cool drum beat. "International Love Song" is a wierd song and "Dalit Hymn" is nothing to get excited about. "The Innocent's Corner" is a great Josh Moore moment.
Folks-I don't write too many glowing reviews but I encourage you to give this album a chance. Go into this record with an OPEN MIND and don't be too quick to judge. If you do-I think you will be making a mistake. The album also includes an enhanced CD portion and 2 hidden tracks-one of which is a hidden Andrew Osenga track titled, "I Miss You"-the other is a middle eastern sounding song.

Caedmons' Call has once again demonstrated their ability as phenomenal musicians and lyricists, as well as strong keepers of the faith with Share the Well. The album is an emotional account of the group's travels to various parts of the world and their interaction with oppressed people groups, namely the Dalit people of India. The band also combined native instrumentation and style into their already unique sound to create this new and sensational album.

I, like some others, was a little meek about Caedmon's adventure into world music, but being a die-hard fan I picked up the CD. Like many other Caedmon's Call albums, you will find after a few listens of Share the Well that the whole cd is great and that listening to your favorite songs on the album usually entails listening to the entire cd. Many lament the loss of Derek Webb's song writing ability (he has a new album out!), but I found that Caedmon's Call lyricists Joshua Moore, Randall Goodgame, and Andrew Osenga have really proven their ability (in the true spirit of Caedmons) to write music that is deeply personal and truly inspired (See songs: Mother India, The Roses, Innocent's Corner). Humble (yet exceptional) musicianship and self-less love for oppressed peoples has yielded this fine album. If you would like to hear music that is a real treat for the ears and may soften your heart for the world, check this album out. You will not be disappointed.

As a longtime fan of Caedmon's Call, like many of the other reviewers I was at first not impressed by the new sounds here. I've never been much of a world music fan. But the more I listened to the album, the more I appreciated the message, the lyrics, and eventually, the new musical sound. Now it is one of the most-played albums on my iPod. All I Need (I Did Not Catch Your Name) is now one of my all-time favorite songs. Its description of trusting God amid a simple lifestyle still brings tears to my eyes when I listen to it. Share the Well and Mother India are also favorites, and I love the beat and message of Dalit Hymn. I commend the band for putting out an album that was such a change, and I thank them for challenging and stretching me musically and theologically.

I know very little about Cadmons call. The only cd, besides this one, that I own, is 40 acres, which I hear is one of the best. This cd is about the same. Actually, in terms of worship, I think this one is better with the song, "Jesus is All I Need" reminding belivers who listen to this cd that they need not money or riches as long as they have Chrsit.

The cd also does a good job in presenting some of the view points of the untouchable caste of India (the Dahlites I think they are reffered to in the cd). The Dahlit hymn is amazing! It has passion telling the prime minister of India to look past the stupid Hindu religion and force the others castes to give these people fair treatment! Also, if you buy this cd, read the lyrics! The little phrase repeated over and over again means "With God all things are possible". Just a good reminder that through hardship with God there's hope.

The rest of the cd will keep you entertained with a mixture of Indian music (music from India) and adult contemporary. The quality and mixture meet a good compromise leaving the ears not stail with dull tones that are the same, keeping the mind moving as it focuses on each note and word. Yet, it also remains static to a certain extent, keeping pretty much to the same style, the mixture of the two, allowing the ears to not get overwhelmed with what is being heard.

Basically, buy the cd if you want something worth your money.

I'm glad to see so much positive talk about the album. I too was greatly surprised in my first listen, but my first time through the title track I heard "You know I've heard good people say, there's nothing I can do, it's half a world away." That's certainly an attitude we've all had with problems like the ones CC brings to light in this album...and they answer this conundrum with "maybe you've got money, maybe you've got time, maybe you've got a living well that aint ever running dry."

The point here is that CC is bringing to light that we have all we need to do something about the problems of social (in)justice that plague our world. Whether it's a donation of money, time, or simply prayer.

The negative reviews I'm seeing here are complaining that this album is too much of a "departure" from what CC has done in the past. True it is not the exact same style of music, but isn't spreading the message of Jesus what they were doing in the past? In that they have been remarkably consistent. Not all of our Lord's teachings are as palatable as others. Some, like this, call us to greater action that is sometimes difficult.

"Surely as you did these things for the least among you, you did them for me."

And make no mistake, while the musical genre is more towards the "world music" side of the spectrum, that does not mean that the quality is lacking in any way. In addition to feeling an immense call to do something, I also can't help singing along and drumming on the steering wheel as I drive down the road with this CD blasting away.

A response to Mr. Lyman:

If the purpose of "Share the Well" is to exalt Christ and abase mankind, as you have stated is the preferred causality of all Caedmon's Call music; if the purpose of this CD is to fling creation before the throne of God denying the very fact of our humanity; then yes, it has failed.

But much to the luck of all listeners, the lyrics and musical style say something much different. "Dalit Hymn" fits the definition marked '1 a: A song of praise to God" in your citation of Merriam-Webster. The Bible is full of themes of social justice, from Christ's admonition that the least shall be greatest (if only in heaven) to meals with tax collectors and sinners to compassion for children. You separate theological bondage from physical castes. In one sense you are completely correct, for all the world shall pass and the only thing that matters will be our belief in Christ as Lord and Savior. But while on earth (as we are now) Jesus himself cared for the weak and lowly. He did not differentiate between the theologically weak and strong; and if so, he went rather to the weak. It is the sick who need doctors, Christ said, not the well. Christ could have fulfilled his purpose by living a quiet life in Galilee and dying with much less fanfare - but instead He chose to use His time on earth to help those who are physically weak. In doing so, they may belive in Him.

We also then should do the same. In our striving to become Christ-like, we should follow the words of the Dalit Hymn and work within worldly systems (such as the Indian government) to overturn caste structures, which only degrade children of God to the profit of a ruling class.

Yes - we were slaves to sin. Yes - we are completely dependant on the grace of Jesus Christ, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. But because we know and believe that Jesus Christ has taken our sin upon Himself, we must no longer fear sin. It is present, it must be avoided and fought against, but it no longer has any power over us. You're right, Mr. Lyman, this wasn't our choice; it was God and His love. But once we've accepted it, it's ours in abundance. Changing a human law may indeed change the hearts of men. When the United States abolished its caste system of slavery in the mid-1860's, it began the slow but extremely worthwhile process of changing the collective thought of America: that slavery is completely wrong and cannot be tolerated. If India were to follow suit, its children would grow up in a nation that practices tolerance (another of Christ's strong suits) and would hold tolerance as a core value, as the children of America are working towards today.

But I think the strongest argument for such social justice are Christ's words in Matthew 25:

"35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

Ok, first, I'd be amiss not to mention that the use of the word Hymn in Dalit Hymn comes from the fact that the Punjabi language in the song comes from (cough cough) a Dalit Hymn. For all of your research, you sure did get it wrong, man.

Caedmon's just kicked off their Share the Well Tour, and man, oh man-- is it awesome!? They have friends from Brazil and India in tow, and it is possible that Los Hermanos from Ecuador could join later (they're having visa problems). The music completely fills the venue! You'd really be missing out if you pass up a chance to see this live!

Christian music fans are used to having themes and "meanings" of
songs spoon fed to them. I can say this because I have listened to "CCM" my whole life. "Share The Well" stands out because it doesn't pander to the audience. It challenges in the way that the "arts" were meant to. Jesus had a lot so say about the "least of these" and this whole album celebrates the faith of those who live in povety and opression all around the globe.
Can politics and faith mix, can I be concerned about a person's civil rights or their physical condition as well as their immortal soul? Martin Luthor King Jr. thought so. Bono thinks so. Jars of Clay thiks so. I think so.
The "world music" emphasis is utterly appropriate and stunning. The Indian singing on "Mother India" and "Dallite Hymn" are mesmerizing while the South American pan flute on "Volcano Land" is a refreshing and fun sound.
The song structures are still western and folky, think Paul Simon on albums like "Gracelan" and "The Rythm of the Saints" and you'll have a picture of what you're in for.
I hope that this is Caedman's most successful album so that it makes the record companies and other artists consider "stretching" it a bit. God bless these guys.

My first thought when I heard this album was, "What the heck?!" Had I written a review on a first listening, it may have been one or maybe two stars. The sound is nothing like Caedmon's normal sound. The content is definitely a step away from the normal. But on my second and third and fourth and now on probably my fifteenth, I think I see what this album is all about.

Many of the fans of Caedmon's Call are much like me. We prize theology and view a literal interpretation of the Bible as the best way for us to know who God is and how we should live in response to that knowledge. We love to hear of God's sovereignty, power, holiness, justice, love, and grace. We can explain how that knowledge should lead a Christian a Christian to love others, to share the gospel, to be gracious, to pursue godliness and the things of God over worldly pleasures and aspirations...the problem is that I think that we get so comfortable in our theology and in our conceptualizations that we forget the billions of people that we do not reach. The songwriters for Caedmon's Call have always been concerned with this struggle that they have identified within themselves; we see it in their former cds; we see it in Derek Webb's solo works (all of which I HIGHLY recommend). But I think that even when we are challenged in those things, we can grow comfortable in the abstractness of it.

That's where this disc comes in. With its narrative inserts, its world style, and very different sort of lyrics and sounds, Caedmon's Call confronts us with a world that we are often guilty of not thinking much about, not doing much about, and certainly not praying much about. My prayer is that this disc will not disappoint you because it is different, but its difference will snap us-the hearers out of our comfort zones-and knock us to our knees in prayer for these countries and maybe some of us out of our suburbs and onto planes or boats or whatever to share our Savior with the billions who do not know Him.

By His Grace
-Jacob Hantla