Flap Your Wings

by

The Choir

Edit

Where do I begin with a band like The Choir? The Choir (along with other Christian alternative bands like the 77s and Daniel Amos) have been around for the past twenty years or so and have put nine studio albums including "Flap Your Wings", one compilation, and two live albums. Unlike other CCM artists, The Choir have always explored what it means to be a believer even in the midst of doubt, suffering, pain, and sin. Then again, this is not without exploring themes of faith, hope, love, grace, and salvation among other things.

Which brings us to "Flap Your Wings". Lyrically, the album is not much different from all their other albums. Musically, however, the band are more mellow and introspective than they've ever been. The production is excellent in that the music comes across as being subtle, moody, and atmospheric. In other words, you get the feeling of being in a peaceful environment, yet you give your attention to what the singer has to say. For example, the title track suggests of focusing on heaven while "Mercy Lives Here" states that mercy is "at home with the saints and sinners". And "Beautiful Scandalous Night" states the importance of Christ's sacrifice on the night he was forsaken and betrayed.

Of the ten tracks on "Flap Your Wings", none are more moving than "Hey Gene" and "A Moment In Time". "Hey Gene" is a tribute to Gene Eugene (of Adam Again and Lost Dogs) who died in 2000. And "A Moment In Time" is a very moving love song.

If you're a longtime fan of The Choir, this is an album that you should definitely pick up. As a fan, I'm certainly glad that they have been nominated for a Grammy. I sure hope they win, for they certainly deserve it!

It had been 4 years out of the limelight when the Choir regrouped for this effort in 2000. So how did the time apart affect the music? Well, it seems to have diverted some of their melancholy to sunnier outlooks. Much of this is more optimistic lyrically from Hindalong's take on fatherhood in "Cherry Bomb", a fond reminisce about dead musician friend Gene Eugene ("Hey Gene"), and a look back at the first blush of love ("A Moment in Time"). Probably the only darker tunes here are "Shiny Floor" and, ironically, "Sunny".

HIGHLIGHTS:

Far and away the best track here is the poppy tribute to dead musician and frequent collaborator Gene Andrusco (AKA "Gene Eugene"). They simultaneously envy him and mourn him. ("Hey Gene, we remember you/Yeah, we laugh when we think of Eugene/ Hey Gene, we remember you/Yeah, we cry when we think of you Gene/Hey Gene, we remember you/We love you anyway...") They slide in a snarky aside to Eugene, who specialized in feedback drenched alt rock with band Adam Again, in the end, playing on "traditional" images of Heaven. ("I suppose you're playin' a harp now..."). "Shiny Floor" is Hindalong subtly decrying the superficial Christianity that tries not to acknowledge that believers still suffer...the "fluffy, happy God" many seem to serve ("Yes, I'll try to be agile/Like a lynx on the hunt/'Cause I don't want to knock any candles over/Or spill any punch/On your shiny floor..") It dissolves in a wash of white noise. "Cherry Bomb" is Hindalong's tribute to his 12 year old Emily ("Cherry bomb, cherry bomb/with a face just like a cherub/She's a bomb, yeah, she makes her presence known..she's as sweet as anything I know") It's Emily's trumpet heard playing "Alouette" at the coda. "Beautiful Scandalous Night" is a marvelous look at what Christ did on the cross for us. ("At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree/On that beautiful scandalous night you and me/Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white/On that beautiful scandalous night") It does a good job summing up how cruel barbarism turned to something wonderful for all of humanity in the end.

LOWS:

"Mercy Lives Here" has a nice melody but ultimately it's just not particularly memorable. "Flowing Over Me" also tends to drift by without making much of an impression.

BOTTOM LINE:

This can't stand alongside their BEST work, but it's still better than 95% of what comes out of "CCM" circles. Even in its scant 40 minutes, there's at least 1 tune that will be part of the Choir's best works. Choir fans will have to have it, but if you're new to the band, try WIDE EYED WONDER, CHASE THE KANGAROO or DIAMONDS AND RAIN first.

3 1/2 stars