Customer Reviews

So Much for Substitutes

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

These guys just played at my church and I have to say, Wow. What a fun buch of gentlemen who really play well and have a good time. I am on our tech team so I interacted with them for several hours setting up and tearing down afterwards and they are special. They stayed almost 3 hours after the show to sign autographs for the fans (Avalon the night earlier only lasted 90min.)

Please help support these guys. They don't travel extravagantly (15 passanger van, what was that smell???) so buy their stuff and I will watch their website so I can go see another show.

How can you not love these guys! They Rock!

I was there at Briercrest when these guys first started off and they were incredible then, I think they keep getting better with time. Their sound is like no other band I have ever heard. Their harmonies are out of this world, Mark and Jason do an outstanding job!

They present a challenge to all of those who are willing to listen.

You have to check out this album. You are crazy if you don't!

Downhere delivers a album filled with deep lyrics that makes a person really think. On songs like "What its Like" and "Feels Like Winter" Downhere describes the pain and difficulties of just trying to live an everyday life. But ultimately the lyrics always point back to the goodness of God and relying on Him, because after all He did come down here and experience everything we have to go through. Overall the album touches on a nice variety of subjects, all with the same realistic lyrical depth. The album is worth buying for the track "Starspin" alone. One of the catchiest and best songs I've heard in a long time, it hits in all the right spots. Could be used as an awesome worship song if it was done right.

Musically the album is just as good as its lyrical content. Downhere's style could be described as solid melodic rock mixed with piano and strings. The guitars have nice melodic riffs that create nice shifts in the music, which keeps it interesting. The lead singer has a powerful voice with nice range that complements the music perfectly. So Much for Substitutes is one of those cds that the more you listen to it the more you love it, at least thats been the case for me.

I think the only reason these guys aren't more popular right now is because not enough people have heard of them yet. This cd comes highly recommended for fans of Jeremy Camp, DcTalk, Jars of Clay, Overflow, Plumb, Sanctus Real, Switchfoot, Third Day, Tree 63, and Wideawake. Basically if your a fan of good quality rock check these guys out, if enough people discover this diamond in the rough, they won't be flying under the radar for long.

Downhere's second CD fixes all of the problems with their first release. While Downhere's debut was flat and repetitive, So Much For Substitutes comes alive. The songs are catchy and rockin' and the tracks offer a nice variety as you flow through the collection. They've become more musically adventurous and aggressive. Overall production is better too, bringing a more contemporary sound (at times it suggests almost a more commercial version of Kevin Max.)

An absolute must for any CCM fan who wants genuine, non-cookie-cutter rock that not only makes you think, it makes you hum.

downhere's self-titled debut project was a fantastic record that got overlooked by most. The lyrics were astounding, and the music was excellent also. Every song on the disc was unique in its own way and made downhere a very special band.

That all changes with the release of "So Much For Substitutes". Here, downhere takes a more widely-used rock feel. The lyrics on this disc fall way short of that of their first project, and the music also leaves something to be desired. Some of the cuts on this CD sound flat, and the old musical style that we knew of downhere is virtually non-existant. The first disc was a poetic, creative piece of artwork, and "So Much For Substitutes" is what sounds like just a mediocre rock band.

If this was downhere's first release and this was all I knew of them, I would be very excited and impressed. However, their first project spoiled me. All in all, this is a good rock CD that rivals that of Third Day and dc Talk, but it is different from the downhere that we used to know.

I think this is probably one of the best Christian rock albums to have ever been made. It's straight up pop-rock, but what makes this album shine is its ability to avoid the cliches of the genre and sound totally unique. It's just as strong lyrically as it is musically, and has Christian themes without falling into the over-used phrases and topics you hear in Christian rock. From the first song, Downhere goes alot farther than most X-ian bands are willing to go, questioning if God really cares about the world. In the end, though, Downhere delivers a positive message.

I would highly recommend this album to all Christian rock fans, and even rock fans who are not Christians. My taste in music is not limited to the Christian realm, and I consider "So Much for Substitutes" to rank up there with the best of so-called "secular music." I think 2003 was a great year for Christian music, and this album tops the list as one of the best albums of that year, and in my opinion, one of the best Christian pop-rock albums ever. This album honestly deserves all five stars.

I have owned this CD for a while now and still listen to it daily! I know them personally and am not only impressed by there music but by their faith and by the ability to not let "fame" get to their heads..

Not fake but real guys! That also makes them a great band.

THEY ARE ROCKERS, IF YOU DON'T LIKE ROCK I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YA....

I don't see why anyone would dis this cd. To me DownHere has grown more lyric wise and sound wise. If you own the indie cd which I do and then compare it to the other cds, it like they have upped their level.

It also has the right balance of rocking out songs with slower ones. Its not watered down at all. I don't see why that dude went off like that. What makes DownHere awesome is they don't pretend to have that "Hey everything is all right and fine" sound. They tackle areas where many people struggle in. As well as their sound and messages won't scare secular people away but will have them back bagging for more.

Band wise, you won't find anymore true to life people. I've known Marc, Jer and Jay since Briercrest. They still hang out with their fans before and after the shows, sign autographs, keep in touch with their fans and much more. These guys are awesome dudes who will comfort those struggling and also be used by God to bring many to Christ

After hearing people rave about their debut, I went out and got downhere's debut CD. My first listen through it, I enjoyed it, and it still continued to grow on me. If I could write my review of it over again, I'd give it the full 5 stars.

Naturally, when this CD came out, I rushed out to buy it. Boy was I disappointed right off the bat. Not only had they changed their style to sound (For the worse, in my opinion. They've lost what made them special.), but the lyrics just didn't grab me as their last CD had done. Over the last few months, I've pulled this CD out to see if I feel differently about it.

Fortunately, I've stuck it out, because the CD has grown on me. While sounding more like many other light rock bands now instead of sounding unique, the words have grown on me. There's some good stuff in there, it's just a bit more buried. My favorites are still the ones I gravitated to first, "What it's Like" and "Starspin." I especially love the rocks cry out feel of that song since it fits with the words so well. Like their previous effort, this one includes a hidden track that is my ultimate favorite from the disc. They've got a great challenge for Christians in "How They Love Each Other," and I've also grown to like "Feels like Winter" and "Last Night's Daydream."

Obviously, I'm one of the few fans who felt this way about the disc initially. All I can say is, if you liked their first one, give this one time. I'm glad I did.

Downhere has pulled it off again. This CD has everything the first CD has and more. If you are looking for the same sound that was in the debut album, than this isn't going to be what you expect. The CD is more rock driven and sounds more like the band in concert. And if you have ever seen them in concert, then you will want this CD. The lyrics are powerful and poetic and challenge the listener on each and every song, whether it be loud and full of guitar, or quiet and full of praiseful melodies.

This CD shows that the band has a wide range of expertise and is willing to try something different. A definite must have for any collection.