Customer Reviews

VOTA

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

 

 

Okay, let's be clear right up front. This pop/rock guy is giving an alternative rock CD high marks. Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am. But I just can't deny the fun energy of this debut.

Debut is a bit misleading. VOTA starts life as Casting Pearls. They've changed record labels and added a keyboardist since then, so they decided to change names. Whatever that makes this disc, it's good.

VOTA has infused their rock sound with dance elements. In fact, I dare you to listen to disc opener "Hard to Believe" without moving. At a bare minimum, you will be tapping your toes before the first verse. That same energy infects "Not Finished" "I'll Go," and "Save Ourselves." And yes, they do have slower moments like "In My Heart" and most noticeably "Honestly."

The most important thing to me on a CD is the lyrics. And this is the only strike against the band. The music is so fun I have a hard time connecting with the lyrics. But I am being picky, and I know it. We get reminders that God is at work in our lives during trials, how much he loves us even when we fail, wonder that God loves us, and songs of commitment to God.

And then there's "Honestly." This song blows every other one on the disc out of the water. By far the slowest song on the disc (maybe I haven't changed my ways as much as it looks like), it is a firm reminder that we need to be honest with each other to truly see what God is doing in our lives. It's a powerfully sung ballad that caught my ear on the first listen and hasn't let go yet.

I bought this CD on a whim, and am I ever glad I did. It is so much fun. It is going to get regular spins for quite some time to come.

VOTA, formerly recognized as Casting Pearls, has reinvented themselves with a new name, new sound and new record label INO Records. The self-titled album released digitally in late fall 2008 and released retail February 10, 2009. This one time trio of front man/guitarist/songwriter Bryan Olesen, also formerly a guitarist with Newsboys before forming Casting Pearls, along with bassist Case Maranville and drummer Scott Rutz expanded to four members now including guitarist/keyboardist Riley Friesen.

While Casting Pearls had more of an edgy rock sound, VOTA has more of a dance-flavored alternative rock sound, similar to Newsboys with hook-filled melodies and catchy lyrics. My favorite songs on the album are the main songs you'll hear when you see the band in concert, which I've had the privilege to do twice. They were on the Sanctus Real tour last year and most recently the Newsboys tour. "Hard To Believe" is the super-catchy opening song and a great way to jump start this solid album. Here are Bryan Olesen's comments about the song: "The more I dwell on what I really have in Christ, the more bold and excited I become about life. He loves you and I in a way that's not shown anywhere else."

The next songs "Be Mine" and "Love's Taken Over" are also great examples of the uptempo dance rock style of the album with great messages about what it means to have God's love take over your life. "Honestly" is one of those great personal ballads that I keep coming back to on this album. Bryan's sincere vocals and personal testimony of the power of grace and mercy is very memorable and another great song to hear live. "Not Finished" and "I'll Go" are great rockers and have great energy. My other favorite song on the album is "Free To Fail" with the message of submitting our lives to God and having security in knowing He's given us life and the freedom to fail and get back up and live for Him.

After years as Casting Pearls, explaining that they were named so before infinitesimally more popular Casting Crowns, they added a new member, changed their sound and finally their name to Vota. Their should be no more confusion.

Bryan Olesen's vibrato is still strong in the lead single, "Hard To Believe", singing his thankfulness through this anthem. It was a good choice as a single in the Christian market, but there is an abundance of great pop-rock on this album to choose from.

"Be Mine" shows the band knows pop well, even though it is purposefully quieter than the lead track. "Honestly" is another soft number, and addresses the topic of humanity and reality in the Christian life. It seems when they have a deeper message, they convey it well.

But the majority of the album aims for arena-sized rock, with mixed results: "Love's Taken Over" is the strongest rock song on the album, "Not Finished" and "Give It To Me" aim just as high, and despite Bryan singing his heart out on "I'll Go", it sounds like just another "Hands and Feet".

They find depth towards the back of the album with "Free To Fail", singing the darker sides of salvation and humanity. Instead of awe and wonder, its the seemingly relentless struggles of life. From the repetitious lead line to the repetitious cries of "we are free to fail now", the song elevates this album above mere pop, but an honest look at Christian life in the 21st century.

Other songs skip around genres: "Save Ourselves" is them singing Coldplay, period. And despite the great violin work in "Bye, Bye", it's a blatant Maroon 5 imitation. Thankfully, they close the album with the beautiful and fitting "In My Heart". A few obvious rhymes, but the melody, the mournful strings and the landscapes accomplish what they set out to do: show their abilities and heart for creating great music and art.

The Christian band's job these days is to take a Christian theme or principle and make it rock. Often, this compromises good songs and songwriting philosophies. Vota is guilty of this on a couple of songs, but nearly every track shows the band has evolved perfectly from their Casting Pearls days and have made a great pop album.

I first heard Vota on the Gospel Music Channel and wanted to listen to a larger piece of their work. I am pleased with the CD. It's exactly what I expected. They have a sound that is a mix between TobyMac and Group One Crew...although a bit more mellow.

I have been waiting for this album to come out! I too saw VOTA in concert with the Newsboys and they rocked! When I saw their name on the venue I had no idea who they were. They were the band to play right before the Newsboys and I was ecstatically suprised because I knew the song they opened with ("Alright"). They had released that song on the Casting Pearls cd and I loved that album. The lead singer, Bryan Olesen had been the lead guitarist in the Newsboys on the "Devotion" album and I loved the sound of the guitar on there because it had a very U2ish sound and I'm a U2 fan as well. When Bryan left the Newsboys I found out that he had his own band called Casting Pearls and I thought I'd check it out since they had been referred as being similar to U2 by a Christian Music Magazine (the article had been "if you like this group in mainstream music, then you would like this group in the Christian genre" idea). Since I love U2 and the Newsboys and knew that Bryan was in the group, I gave it a shot and I ended up loving it! I liked the entire album, which doesn't happen very often, and I'd consider Casting Pearls one of my top 5 favorite bands.

After the concert with the Newsboys I was fortunate enough to briefly speak to Bryan and I told him that I loved the show and that I also had the Casting Pearls cd and had been waiting for them to come out with another one and he said "well, this is it". He told me that the band members in VOTA are all the same people as Casting Pearls plus one additional member. I had done a little researching online and found out too that they changed their name from Casting Pearls to VOTA because they didn't want to be confused with Casting Crowns.

Bottom Line: The album ROCKS; every song has it's own musical influence, and the songs are excellent because there's more complexity to the lyrics ie: reading a book by an excellent author as opposed to an okay author. It's got a little U2, a little Maroon 5, a little Audio Adrenaline to it. Favorite song on the album is definitely "Honestly" but they also performed this one in concert and it was done very well and very personally so that may bias my opinion somewhat. "Hard to Believe" and "Love's Taken Over" are my other favorites, but really the whole album is good. If you check out the Casting Pearls cd my favorite on that one is absolutely "You Alone".

Powerful vocals and complete musical sound with VOTA and they're just as good, or even better in concert!! Needless to say, going to that Newsboys concert was a double treat for me! By the way, can't wait for new Newsboys album due out in May too!

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Vota in concert (opening up for Newsboys). They took KJ-52's place and I am glad they did. They have a fun, bouncy, upbeat sound. I would describe their sound as a mix of The Fray and Phil Wickham (which not a bad comparison at all)! Vota was formerly known as Casting Pearls, but I am assuming they changed their name after the success of Casting Crowns...but in my opinion, I'll choose their style over Casting Crowns any day. My favorite song on this CD is actually the slower, more reflective song "Honestly." I think this is a pretty solid debut, so I am looking forward for more things to come for Vota.

Much music today follows a formula and is so predictable. This album is not so. I really enjoy the fresh sounds and variety. I am not particulary fond of screaming distortion but can't stand elevator music either. The balance between hard and soft on several of the tracks on this album provides enough surprises that it keeps my interest. Even though I have the MP3 files I will definitely purchase the hard copy for my CD library when it becomes available.