40 Acres

Caedmon's Call

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 1999)
• Original Release Date: April 13, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Essential
• ASIN: B00000IFUT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,989 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Confident after four No. 1 singles and a 1998 Dove Award for Modern/Alternative Album of the Year, Caedmon's Call are back with more coffeehouse rock and brilliant songwriting on 40 Acres. This seven-piece ensemble has made a name for itself, not only with chart success, but with its hook-laden acoustic pop and extensive college-circuit touring. The tightness shows with their smooth rhythms, layered guitars, and evocative vocals. The first single, "There You Go," is pleasant enough, but dig deeper with such thoughtful gems as "Faith My Eyes," "Somewhere North," and the moving "Table for Two." "Daring Daylight Escape" kicks up a country-rock storm from the Pure Prairie League/Poco vein. Songwriters Aaron Tate and Derek Webb are two of the brightest hopes in contemporary Christian music's future. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Christian CDs of this or any year, December 29, 1999

By	Snickerdoodle "teknon" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Knowing nothing about Caedmon's Call except for a cut from a CD I had heard, I bought 40 Acres as a stocking-stuffer for my son this Christmas.

He hasn't seen much of it since then.

Musically, Caedmon's Call has an upbeat country-tinged acoustic sound that is easy to listen to and that will appeal to a wide variety of listeners. Their musicianship is simply superb, and they range over a wide variety of styles from the soulful "Somewhere North" to the foot-stomping, rockabilly love song "Daring Daylight Escape". Their songs are enhanced by three very different but very talented lead singers as well as a blend of instruments not often found in popular music.

Best of all, their lyrics are honest, theologically sound, and very literate. How the group is able to incorporate many biblical ideas and references without coming off as preachy or stuffy is hard for me to fathom, but they do so with an ease and grace that seems to say that this band writes from the heart and lives their convictions.

This CD is easily the best contemporary Christian recording of 1999 and, in my opinion, ranks among the best ever made.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome....Caedmon's Call does it again!, April 27, 1999

By	G. Williams (Louisiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After hearing 40 Acres, it's no wonder this band has been such the big success it has been over the past couple of years. As outstanding as their first CD was, this one is even better. Caedmon's Call returns with their familiar acoustic folk-rock sound and improves on it by adding new instruments. Some of the songs even have sort of a Celtic flavor, especially "Petrified Heart." Derek Webb and Aaron Tate are two very talented songwriters; their lyrics are very poetic, introspective, honest, and easy to relate to. The members of this band are also very talented; three lead singers give the album a lot of variety. There is not one bad song on this album. While most contemporary Christian artists lack in depth and quality, these guys are far from mediocre. I can't wait to see them live in concert. Great work, guys!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best ..., November 30, 1999

By	E.K. (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

...Christian music albums of 1999. I bought it based purely on the quality of the last album and think I actually like it better! So often I skip through tracks when listening for the first time, but didn't with this one. For some reason, it's so easy to listen to; the lyrics are introspective and "real". A little more country/folk than the last, but still maintaining a young, fresh, alternative sound.