Smalltown Poets "Under The New Sun" Album Review

October 16, 2012
Review by: Iain Moss
Release Date: 10/16/12

Christian Rock group Smalltown Poets return with a brand new EP entitled “Under The New Sun,” the first non-holiday album in 8 years since the release of their 2004 album “It’s Later Than It’s Ever Been” through BEC Records/EMI.

The Atlanta, GA based quintet reformed in 2011 to release their first official Christmas album “Smalltown Poets Christmas” and, as much fun as they had reworking Christmas songs, are said to be relishing a return to their musical roots with “Under The New Sun.” The band is known for crafting lyric-intensive songs from the ground up, quite often turning a few phrases and sneaking in a few puns but, most importantly, inviting the listener to explore the musical landscape with their own imagination.

The title of the EP “Under The New Sun” is taken from an old Villanelle song “May Day” (Villanelle being a previous incarnation of Smalltown Poets). The lyric “under the new sun” sums up many of the themes on the new release including death, rebirth, renewal, restoration and resurrection.

The 7-track EP opens with the title track, an atmospheric instrumental which, with its spacious guitars, eager chord progression and piano melodies, sonically paints the hope of a new dawn. It sets a mood of tranquility and encourages the worries and stresses of the world to fade away. After the peace instilled in the opener, “Turn Around” is sure to get your heart racing as it uses mile-a-minute word pictures to take you on a roller-coaster ride to a bullfight and back again through space. “Charlie Brown’s Lament” follows the classically familiar relationship of a boy and his dog with Smalltown Poets fetching the irony to tell a timeless story in their own unique manner.

The reflective yet driving “Grace Is a Song”, with the resurrection story as its backdrop, is a celebration of hope and leads beautifully into the worship classic “Jesus I Come.” The song takes on new life as it’s given the Smalltown Poets treatment. The melodic undertone combined with Michael Johnston’s soothing voice creates the perfect atmosphere to worship our Lord and Savior freely. The lyrics of the song are inspired by Psalm 130:1, “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord” and Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

New territory is broached with “The Ballad of Time and Eternity”, an Aesop-esque story including lyrics written for the lead singer’s six year old daughter which are meant to take on new meaning when she turns sixteen. The EP is rounded out with Smalltown Poet’s twist on the standard gospel song “I’ll Fly Away”, which evoked some of the finer qualities of Jars of Clay.

Whether you listen to music as a backdrop or prefer to dive right into the heart of the song (or even like to sing along at the top of your lungs), every track on this EP meets the challenge of transcending the ordinary. Smalltown Poets have once again crafted a masterpiece guaranteed to have you pressing the replay button repeatedly. Repeat after me: "Play; Rewind; Repeat!"

Jars Of Clay Announce New Spring Tour

Multi-Platinum and GRAMMY Award-winning Gray Matters/Essential Records recording artist Jars of Clay has announced the initial nine dates on their highly anticipated 2012 Spring Tour, with additional dates to follow. The tour will feature special guests LEAGUES, an emerging band comprised of Tyler Burkum, Thad Cockrell and Jeremy Lutito; and acclaimed singer/songwriter Matthew Perryman Jones.

Launching April 12 in Minneapolis, the Jars of Clay Spring Tour will travel to Dallas; Milwaukee; St. Louis; Des Moines, Iowa; and Monroe, Louisiana, among other markets. Dates are slated to include such esteemed venues as The Door in Dallas; Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis; and The Old Rock House in St. Louis.

In conjunction with the tour, a special Jars of Clay Spring Tour 2012 Sampler is currently available via www.noisetrade.com/jarsofclayspringtour2012. The sampler features “Small Rebellions” and “Body and Wine” from Jars of Clay; “Mind Games” and “Haunted” from LEAGUES; and “O, Theo” and “Until The Dawn Appears” (featuring Thad Cockrell of LEAGUES) from Matthew Perryman Jones. All selections are available for free download, with tips being collected for Blood:Water Mission (www.bloodwatermission.com).

During each performance, concert attendees will have the opportunity to learn about Blood:Water Mission, a non-profit organization founded by Jars of Clay in 2005 to empower communities to work against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in sub-Saharan Africa through creative grassroots efforts. Those enlisting as Community:Builder monthly donors at the shows will receive $25 in Jars of Clay merchandise of their choice.

Jars of Clay, made up of members Dan Haseltine (vocals), Charlie Lowell (keyboards), Steve Mason (guitars) and Matt Odmark (guitars), launched its breakout career with the multi-format Hit “Flood” in 1995. Since then, it has amassed more than 6 million in career sales (five Gold, two Platinum and one Multi-Platinum certification), three GRAMMY Awards, an American Music Award nod, three GMA Dove Awards, and BMI honors for songwriting as well as performing. The group also claims 17 #1 radio singles, numerous film credits, and has headlined thousands of sold-out shows and festivals. The band’s GRAMMY-nominated 10th album, The Long Fall Back To Earth, was recently followed by its compelling, community-minded project, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter.

In advance of their highly anticipated full-length debut (summer 2012), emerging band LEAGUES (Tyler Burkum, Thad Cockrell, Jeremy Lutito) will also be performing selections from their debut self-titled EP, which was recorded in Nashville with engineer Vance Powell (Jack White, Raconteurs, The Dead Weather). In the band’s own words, “LEAGUES is a collective of three guys that believe music is a gift. We are all still amazed where it comes from and that we can take part of it. The decision to start the band was made under the simple idea of ‘let’s just show up.’ Show up we did and this is the music that happened. All the music was played, written and produced together with the idea that beauty is the driving force and these songs are not only for us but everyone.”

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Matthew Perryman Jones, whose catalog includes his stellar debut, Throwing Punches In The Dark (2006), followed by Swallow The Sea (2008), featuring “Save You,” returns with Land Of The Living, releasing May 29. Jones has shared stages with Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole and Patty Griffin, among others, and is a member of the collective “Ten Out of Tenn.” His music has been featured multiple times on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Bones” and “One Tree Hill.”