Customer Reviews

Truth Soul Rock & Roll

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is NOT the same group from 2001's "The Big Surprise." Yes, the members of the group are the same, but their look and sound have changed. And this is not a bad thing.

I liked "The Big Surprise" a great deal. In fact, it was the video to the song "Hey, Hey" that got me hooked on the group. That first album (second album if you count the groups original individual effort in 1999) had a 60s feel to it. Many of the songs were very infectious and had a way of staying with you long after you listened to them.

In "Truth, Soul, Rock & Roll" the group has matured vocally, musically, and lyrically. Don't worry, you can still find a hint of the Beatles in this album, but you can also find a more mature sound. And for those of you who think that The Elms have sold out and now sound just like every other Christian alternative band out there, you would be wrong. They have managed to find a new sound that is unique to them.

Take a listen to the sample songs that Amazon has made available and see for yourself how much better The Elms are this time around. Then go do yourself a favor and buy the album.

In The Big Surprise, there were many fast-beat songs that seemed to magically match the rhythm of your heart as you sang lyrics which you didn't quite understand, but went with the tune perfectly. In this, Truth Soul Rock & Roll, the songs are a bit more slow, but so much more intense. These songs celebrate the beauty of musical emotion flowing purely from the heart of the writer/lead singer, Owen Thomas, as his beautiful range and vocals mesmerize your ears. As I let my mother listen to this album she said it brought back old memories of The beatles, and indeed, much of their sound is akin to the classic rock&roll sound, but their inspiring christian lyrics make all the difference. Who says kids today have no taste in music? Obviously someone who hasn't heard this album. If you want to sample some of the best for this album, I suggest Happiness or All the While Having Fun. But the CD in it's entirety is magnificent. God Bless The Elms!

This album really rocks! It reminds me of all the great bands from yesteryear. The sound is original and distinct, the music is catchy, and the lyrics are actually about something(which becomes more rare with each dying oldschooler). So buy this record and you won't be dissappointed.

I literally impulsively bought this CD for the cover only three days after it was released. I had never heard these guys before, didn't know if I would like it.

The opening measures to "Speaking in Tongues" were enough to let me know that I was in for a very pleasant surprise.

Since I first got it into a player the night I bought it hardly a day has gone by when I haven't played the entire album all of the way through AT LEAST once. They have kept a good hold on their own sound while sounding alot like the Beatles at times and the AWESOME guitar riffs sound somewhat 70's.

Their first CD, "The Big Surprise" (2001) which I now own also, was incredible and I fail to find words to describe their second, "Truth, Soul, Rock & Roll". Owen Thomas (lead singer) has an AMAZING voice and Thomas Daugherty (lead guitarist) is ridiculously overly talented.

The lyrics are good and most carry a wonderful message of God's amazing love, they make sense and they are sung so you can understand each and every word.

If you buy this CD I swear that you will not be let down by this awesome group. I eagerly wait any future releases from these guys and meanwhile, I listen to the albums I do have, thouroughly enjoying each and every song.

It's an AWESOME album by and AWESOME band. If you liked "The Big Surprise" you will LOVE "Truth, Soul, Rock & Roll"

Alright, these people just plain rock.

They have the influence of the best rock and roll bands ever, as you can probably tell.

The guitar licks are catchy yet powerful (as is with the vocals). Probably the only nick on this album would be "You've Got No Room To Talk!"...this is an incredible song live, however on the album it seems subdued and lacks their rocking drums.

With vocal styles of the beatles, the guitar style of the who, and some generalities thrown in with the drummer and bassist, The Elms are today's ONLY solid group of musicians.....aaand Thomas Daugherty is an incredible guitarist


Knock the radio off its stand, please.

....and that said, give 'em 10 points for having the guts to stand up and sing about what they believe in!

Truth, Soul and Rock and Roll, you bet! Here goes:

(1) "Speaking in Tongues", hmmmm, "Who Rides the Magic Bus" with the Marshall's cranked to 11.

(2) "You Saved Me", anthemic and tasty from start to finish.

(3) "All the While Having Fun", put on your dancing shoes, good beat and great change-ups, cool guitar work, look out Noel Gallagher!

(4) "Burn and Shine", straight-ahead Pop, head-bobbing music at it's best!

(5) "The First Day", Oasis vs the Beatles, 'nuff said!

(6) "You Got No Room to Talk", open G and "Goin to a Go-Go", take it away Kieth! ....been down this street Baby! Driving Rock all the way.....

(7) "Come to Me", better check out Ryan Adams or the Stones for more of this.

(8) "Let Love In", Mr Tamborine Man, George Harrison and Tom Petty join Daniel Wylie and the Cosmic Rough Riders to collaborate on this most beautiful gem of all time! Ron Sexmith appears on backup vocals too!

(9) "Go Toward the Glow", rarely get to this one, #8 gets set to 'repeat' all too often. Very pleasant little tune with good melody and hooks. Like the acoustic strumming and lyrics alot too. These guys make it all seem so easy....

(10) "Through the Night", great rock tune, good lead guitar and love the chorus, yeah, bust out the power chords!!

(11) "Happiness", is a hot tube amp! Na Na Na Na Na, "the Angels wanna wear the Elm's shoes"! Really cool guitar work on this Puppy! Awesome melody and hooks!

(12) "Smile at Life Again" skip the music, this one's for the times when life seems to suck "the best" out of you. You're ready to listen at this point. Thanks Owen....

This CD is the "Full Happy-Meal Deal". A great band with superb vocals, great guitar, bass and drum work and excellent production from head to toe.

Click "Add to Cart" without delay. You won't find a better bargain this year!

I've loved the Elms since I heard their first EP and saw them rock out live during the 2000 Festival Con Dios tour. The Big Surprise was easily one of the top 5 albums released in 2001, with a revived retro-rock sound and haunting lyric and vocals. My expectations for their second full-length album were pretty high, but I can honestly say I was blown away by Truth, Soul, Rock & Roll. They've managed to top The Big Surprise and once again land in my top 5 picks for albums released this year (I'm not alone in that opinion either).

Before proceeding, I need to tell you that if you haven't seen the Elms live, you simply have to. The albums are amazing, but the live concert experience will absolutely transcened anything else. These guys tear it up onstage, and if they don't release a live album they will be doing the world a great disservice. I recently saw them open for Jars of Clay and they really could've been headlining (maybe should've been). Wow. Thom's guitar solos especially make it worth any amount of money you could pay.

But back to the CD. My favorite track is the first one, Speaking in Tongues. Very old school rock & roll, lots of energy, irresistible. You Got No Room To Talk!, All the While Having Fun!, Smile at Life Again, You Saved Me, Through the Night, and The First Day are also excellent. There's a fine mixture of rockers and slow-simmering pop songs (and I mean that in the fullest, most honorable Beatles-esque sense of the word pop) on this album, and no matter what your music preference everyone will take something away from it.

Track listing, since Amazon[.com] seems to be without one for now, is as follows:
1.) SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
2.) YOU SAVED ME.
3.) ALL THE WHILE HAVING FUN!
4.) BURN & SHINE.
5.) THE FIRST DAY.
6.) YOU GOT NO ROOM TO TALK!
7.) COME TO ME.
8.) LET LOVE IN.
9.) GO TOWARD THE GLOW.
10.) THROUGH THE NIGHT.
11.) HAPPINESS.
12.) SMILE AT LIFE AGAIN.

There is no reason why these guys should not be played on every rock, pop, and AC station in America, and they ought to be even bigger news in Britain. They're living proof that Americans can rock just as much as anyone from the UK, and they have the power in their hands to single-handedly put the truth and soul back into rock and roll.

This here is the second album from a good band. When compared to "Big Surprise" this album is a big change for the better in many ways. The 3 most noticeable are the music, the lyrics and the style in that they've all matured over the course of 1 album. Don't be decieved though. If you like the raw rocking sounds of "Speaking in tongues" this album may not be for you since the rest of the album gets mellower as you play through. But don't mistake mellow as being bad, because this album is far from it.

I'll come right out and say it: I love this record. I don't know if it's the harmony, the jangle of the guitars, the 60s vibe, the thoughtful lyrics, or perhaps a combination of them all - whatever the reason, I adore this record enough to say that it is one of the best records I have ever bought to date.

That's a pretty high compliment, indeed. And I mean every word.

Give the record a listen, especially the tracks Let Love In, Speaking in Tongues, You Saved Me, You Got No Room To Talk!, and All The While Having Fun!

You'll see what I mean!

I absolutely love this rock n' roll band!!! This sohpmore project is excellent!! Their sound has become more mature and these songs are truly honest and just plain catchy!! Having seen this group in concert, I can testify to the fact that they are true musicians and sing with their heart and soul! You won't be disappointed by this band and I'm looking forward to future projects!