Where personal thought meets moment by moment happenings, this is exactly where Bebo Norman's latest project meets our souls. His rich, acoustically driven, contemporary folk sound stems from his measurement of life within moments.
Norman, a former biology major, chose to take a year off before beginning medical school. One year has changed to three and growing. During this time, he has toured with Caedmon's Call, released an independent project, signed with Watershed Records, and his latest project, Ten Thousand Days, is soon to be released. Obviously, these past couple of years have been about musical growth.
Having twelve tunes, Ten Thousand Days is packed with a long register of songs. The majority of them are slower, folksy tunes led by an acoustic guitar. However, two of these songs, "Stand" and "The Man Inside," stand out from this mold. Their melodies are quite a bit more bouncy and other instruments, such as the drums and the piano, take a more prominent role.
Norman consistently chooses themes of hope, healing, and holiness. This is found through moments in his life as well as moments in his family and friends' lives. One example listeners are bound to notice, "A Page is Turned," was written for his brother's wedding.
And the God of second chance
Picked him up and He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him, the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come
Images found within nature also run throughout Ten Thousand Days. Norman uses the familiar beauty of nature to relay his thoughts and spiritual feelings of God, and "Walk Down This Mountain," is an example:
So walk down this mountain with your heart held high
Follow in the footsteps of your Maker
And with this love that's gone before you and these
people at your side
If you offer up your broken cup
You will taste the meaning of this life
If contemporary folk music is what you are looking for, look no further. While the project sounds similar in many sections, Bebo Norman has skillfully put together a project worthy of your time and ear.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Israel KlossBebo Norman has a warm voice. It's as clear as your next door neighbor. Listening to him could also be likened to talking to your neighbor. His voice sounds a bit like Chris Rice, and his entire album is mostly just him and his guitar at the tempo of Phil Keaggy's "Beyond Nature". In concert, he even seems like your next-door neighbor. He is approachable--at one of his concerts he walked up to me…ReAL Magazine 1999Reviewed by Josh L!Watershed Records, started by Cliff Young of Caedmon's Call, has signed a talented new artist by the name of Bebo Norman. Although his latest release, Ten Thousand Days, may not be an album you'll want to run out and buy, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on this Bebo and his future musical projects. There is a sense of a developing maturity in this album that is very intriguing. Bebo's…Similar sounding releases
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