Melodic female-fronted pop-alternative, with vocals reminiscent of Sarah Masen in a more forthright mood, Clear have garnered a fair bit of attention so far. The first track sounds like a single destined for a lot of play on Christian radio, with a very straightforward set of lyrics about the need to live for God more boldly, and a breezy feel to the music.
The album continues in a similar vein to its opener, although a few different effects are brought in to give the sound a bit more depth. Digging a little beneath the surface reveals that the band have worked hard on their lyrics and, while the message is fairly simple on the surface, the wording is generally incisive and rich. Try this section from "Clarity," for example:
All around the light is changing
Shining through the fog I see
Giving me a new perspective
One of clarity
A glimmer once imagined
Now revealed in truth you hold
In imminence I wait each day
And watch your mystery unfold
The lyrics are generally accompanied with music that is fairly accessible, but I can't help feeling that the production hand is too evident in the melting pot. "What Your Grace Can Do," for example, starts out well, but is drawn out and shows far too generic a face before long. Much of the album is similar, there's a spark there, but it's as if we're seeing it through a misted lens.
The end result is an unfortunately average album which has fallen foul of many of the pitfalls awaiting unwary young musicians. We can but hope that as they accrue experience we'll hear their music spark more strongly.
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Other coverage for this album
7ball #21Reviewed by Ashley HassebroekThere's no confusion here. This five-member Minneapolis-based band has made the purpose and message of their self-titled debut album, Clear, pretty obvious--if not through their band title, then through their poetic message. The sincere, honest lyrics, coupled with their solid acoustic rock sound, make for a sonance that clearly exhibits Clear's objective to share the love of Christ through song.…
