Vota [Enhanced]

VOTA | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B001OBBQQQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,688 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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CD Vota

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turning My World into a Rock World? Probably Not, But This Disc is Fun, June 11, 2009

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vota (Audio CD)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars VOTA [VOTA], May 18, 2009

By 

Kevin Davis "NewReleaseTuesday" (Perkasie, PA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Vota (Audio CD)

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.

4.0 out of 5 stars VOTA = good pop/rock, November 20, 2009

By 

Robert Hammond "RobbieLee" (Oshkosh, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VOTA (MP3 Download)

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.