Customer Reviews

Til We See the Shore

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I showed someone else this album, the first band that came to their mind was Coldplay. This band is quintessentially American though. Both bands enjoy the topic of ghosts (Coldplay in "Cemeteries of London" and "42" compared to Seabird's "Apparitions") and they both involve a piano player who is also the main vocalist, two guitarists, and a drummer. What else do you need? Now this album is definitely not as complex as a Coldplay album, but it has simple, catchy songs like "Maggie Mahoney" that you will catch yourself singing or hymning after listing to the album. The vocals are clear and fit the lyrics well. Just like Chris Martin, Aaron Morgan has an uncanny ability to transition into the upper register smoothly. Just like Coldplay, the backup vocals blend well. Just like Relient K (different comparison this time), Seabird does not go out of there way to make their songs Christian, so most of their songs are equally applicable to non-Christians. In fact, God is never mentioned explicitly in the album if I recall correctly; His presence is implied in "Not Alone" and He is implied as the Savior in "Rescue". This album is all about surviving hardship, and just like in Coldplay's "Lost", songs like "Cottonmouth (Jargon)" and "Black & Blue" encourage those who are hurting. This is a great album with a unique sound. If you like Coldplay, you should enjoy Seabird as well. Also, it goes without saying that Seabird is even better live than on 'Til We See the Shore.

I picked up this CD not too long ago and absolutely love it. Although the group is a Christian band, their style is not preachy by any means. As the common product description states, the album "is full of honest and vulnerable songs about real life struggles, relationships, losses, bittersweet goodbyes and having the courage to tell your childhood sweetheart you love her." Unlike some of the mainstream bands that cast poor light on relationships, etc., these guys write through the eyes of their faith, which shows by the way everything is seen from a positive light. Whether you're looking for a song about falling in true love with someone ("Falling for You"), a cry out to the Lord to save us when we're at the end of our ropes ("Rescue"), or overcoming fears ("Apparitions"), you'll find that the variety of life situations covered on this CD are about themes that anyone can relate to and find comfort in. Even the album name itself sends a message of looking beyond our present circumstances to something greater...to hope.

I'm already anticipating their next release, these guys have the potential of having a phenomenal career!!

*Also: Check them out at the upcoming 2009 Spirit West Coast Festival in Del Mar from 22-24 May or from 31 July - 02 August in Monterey.

This is an great record. The songs immediately draw you in. The mix of vocals, piano/keyboards, and guitar is top notch. The transitions from verse to bridge to chorus etc. are very very interesting, powerful, musical. I hear what I believe is an AC-30 Class A amp sound (With delay at times) on the guitar. I love that sound! Get this MP3 now! No regrets.

I went to see Jars of Clay, and Seabird was opening for them. I liked every song they sang. The lead singer has a great voice....and he's really nice too. When Jars of Clay came on, the members of Seabird were just hanging around amongst the audience. I met the lead singer Aaron, just hanging out in the foyer area. He introduced himself and we chatted for awhile. I thought that was pretty cool. I'm inspired to go to more concerts now, in small venues. It's great to get a chance to meet the artist in person and I discovered a new band that I really enjoy listening to.

This cd is a good example of the art of song writing. The songs are catchy and fun, but the lyrics are not shallow. I saw this band live as an opening act for Blindside (who they do not sound like). I had never heard of them before that show and I left the show wondering who was that band? They are as good live as they are recording in a studio, and that is saying something in this day and age.

These guys have a very catchy sound. It's like a mix of groups like Coldplay & Keane. The great thing about this record is that it has the indie sound that's becoming exceedingly popular with lyrics that listeners can easily relate to. Their songs express real-life heartaches & struggles. It's easy to connect with these songs--I can see my own life experiences & it's always refreshing to know you're not the only one who has ever felt a certain way. Good instrumentation & deep lyrics equals a great album. And the fact this is their debut is amazing to me. Seabird will definitely be huge.

If you are a fan of The Fray, you will like this cd instantly. The lyrics are mostly good and thought provoking and the piano/guitar indie sound is very "current". I do believe they unfortunately sound too much like the Fray and the cd wears out its welcome just a bit after repeated listenings. The lead vocalist (name escapes me at this point) has a very good voice, but he often gets caught in the trap of emphasizing style over substance in his delivery. I seem to end up enjoying some of the songs rather than connecting with them. That may be why the cd is not holding up to repitition as well as some others I enjoy. I can tell this band has talent however and Im sure they will continue to grow and develop.

This band is destined to be huge. Seabird is as good as any band out there right now. They are as good live as their CD, and most bands you see on TV or on the radio can't say that. Buy this CD and spread the word.

I purchased Seabird based on an article on the Top 100 Christian albums of all time, by HM magazine. I had previously never heard of the group, but the article had been right-on with so many other bands, I figured the risk was low. To be honest, the album didn't knock my socks off at first. But something kept pulling me back to the album, and before long, it was one of my favorites.

I am more of a heavy/grunge person, and Seabird is, as others have noted, closer to Coldplay than Foo Fighters. Perhaps this explains my initial lukewarm reaction (I sold my first Coldplay CD the week I bought it - I didn't care for it at all). But not only did the style and musicianship grow on me, but the lyrics and stories behind the songs really started to sink in. I love it when I can take a song and make it my own - apply it to some circumstance in my life, or view a personal situation through the songwriter's lens. Over time, this happened with nearly every single song on the album. It made it very personal, and very rich.

Though Seabird I guess is a Christian band, I would be careful about how you hang that tag on them. And I mean that in a very positive sense - this is just good songwriting, with great stories, and a thread of hope running underneath it all. Highly recommended.

I like 9 out of the 12 songs on this album, which is a record for me. Yeah, the lyrics aren't terribly clever and the sounds are fairly generic 'indie' music, but Seabird has a lot of unusual harmonies and chords that set them apart. They also have some of the best piano rock I've heard outside a Ben Folds album.

My favorite tracks:
Maggie Mahoney
Stronger
Let Me Go On

All of them are great examples of the unusual chords and slightly different melodies that set them apart from the other bands I've been listening to lately. That's why I bought the Seabird album first.

On the other hand, if you want to know what I think generic 'indie' sounds like, "Rescue" is pretty bad.

Those three tracks I didn't really like were:
Rescue
Falling for You (a sentimental one, almost entirely piano & voice)
Black and Blue