Long Line of Leavers

by

Caedmon's Call

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Showing a wider range of influences than ever before, Long Line of Leavers (Essential) fully displays the immense talent of Caedmon's Call. The album smoothly rides from soaring folk ballads to southern rock with pleasantly unexpected twists along the way.

As usual, the tenth Caedmon's project strength lies in strong songwriting and vocal diversity. "Non-touring" member Aaron Tate supplies several songs, as does guitarist Derek Webb. Producer Ed Cash contributed a vulnerable, haunting song entitled "Masquerade."

I never tire of listening to Caedmon's because three members, Webb and new parents Cliff and Danielle Young, share lead vocalist duties. I also enjoy the depth of the band. Few "folk-rock" bands include two percussionists and a keyboard/organist alongside the standard two guitars and bassist.

A few things are obvious from a first listen-they've expanded their collective CD collections past Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Indigo Girls and the typically lamenting Derek Webb has found love. Girls, it's true, Webb's engaged to singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken. Songs like "Love is Different" stand in stark contrast to his usual single musings, as he declares, "Maybe you're the dream I'm wakin' from / `Cause I see you everywhere I go / Darlin' you are such a mystery to me, you know."

One thing that's stayed the same is the lyrical appeal to college-aged fans. The first song documents the difficulty Christians can have with the metaphor of God as lover. "I expect and I believe that / You're gonna run out of love / You're gonna give me the shove / `cause that's the thing that lovers do / then there's You."

Another track destined to become a collegiate favorite is "Valleys Fill First." "My friends up above me / don't understand why I struggle like I do ... Down in the valley / It seems that I'm at my worst / My consolation is that you've baptized this earth / Well down in the valley / Valleys fill first."

Because of the strength of each song, my favorite track changes by the day, but today I relate to the wavering soul in "Prove Me Wrong" pleading "Keep me still until the day You / Cast down my doubts / Please prove me wrong / `Cause these demon's can be so strong."

A few of the songs may be familiar to fans. "Piece of Glass" was featured on the Intimate Portrait enhanced CD and the third track, "Prepare Ye the Way," is a cover of an old John Michael Talbot favorite.

I applaud the development of Caedmon's sound in Long Line of Leavers. It took guts, and I think it's really paid off. Though "Mistake of My Life" is about Derek moving to Nashville to be near Sandra, I think it could apply to the band stepping out on a limb with this album, "once [they've] gone [they] cannot look back / [they've] got to trust this is right." The risk was well worth it.

I don't own any Caedmon's Call albums, but I've heard them all a lot, simply by default. Long Line of Leavers is the one I've heard the least of. Since I haven't heard Long Line in much depth, commenting on the lyrics wouldn't be fair. However, since I've heard all of their previous albums and been to more than a few shows, let me say this: Long Line is another step away from their acoustic roots. We all have biases and preferences. I generally dislike "bands" in the traditional sense, and have a strong bias toward acoustic guitar music. Production quality is a non-issue, but Caedmon's Call is beginning to lose the distinctiveness they initally had. It seems that bands tend to gravitate away from the acoustic sound (a phenomenon that perplexes me) but very rarely gravitate toward it. Caedmon's Call fits that trend. If they were ever "folk", it was on their first album or two. They certainly aren't anymore and haven't been for a couple years. The use of serious drums (as opposed to simple percussion) & a lot of electric guitar is starting to disqualify them. "Acoustic Rock" as a label is a little shaky too. I agree with another reviewer, they're starting to sound like...everyone else. If I may soapbox for a moment - the simple use of an acoustic guitar does not qualify one as folk. Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" uses an acoustic guitar, especially at the beginning...so...is Metallica folk? Their songwriting is very good. The band possesses several intelligent, creative, and introspective lyricists. I'd say most bands possess 0-1, at best. I'm not a huge fan of the band, but they have talent and lyrical creativity. I guess the band is just moving further and further from my preference, which is fine, though personally disappointing, because there's little music to satisfy my taste. If you're looking for lyrically complex and creative (though simple sounding) music, grab their earlier albums. As an aside to a reviewer who criticized Derek's many love (or lack of) songs...I like it. Caedmon's Call is actually very refreshing for the fact that they write as real people with personal struggles, hurts, failures, concerns, and sins, and not as "Life is always great and easy for me - you must be a failing Christian if you don't feel that way!!!" I respect them for that.