Everybodyduck

Item: Out of the Overflow
Author: Olin Jenkins

Out of the Overflow

(2000)

Reviewed by Olin Jenkins

Discogs Bandcamp

Label Rugged RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

acoustic rock worship

Everybodyduck is zany. I'll get back to that idea later, but first, if you haven't kept up with these guys since their anthems, "Hair," "More of You," and "Still Know How to Groove," Everybodyduck has new band members (lead vocalist Darrin McWatters is the mainstay) and its second praise and worship offering.

Praise music fits Everybodyduck like hand-in-glove and vice-versa. Musically, this project, Out of the Overflow, has a Caedmon's Call feel to it. It has its bright moments.

For more than one reason besides the fact the music and lyrics are beautiful, supplied with the lyrics are the guitar tabs within the liner notes! Buy a copy of Out of the Overflow, and you're set to play these songs -- some new and some familiar -- they've fine-tuned at Hume Lake Christian Camps. The rendition of delirious?'s Martin Smith's "Lord You Have My Heart" is beautifully sung by Molly Jenson. I was immediately taken aback by "You've Got the Right Words," best known by Rich Young Ruler. These songs alone are worth the price of admission, as these versions put some musical meat and potatoes here, with an Everybodyduck stamp. The band's original "You Are There" is clearly the standout song from this collection.

Most of this project is acoustic-guitar oriented (again, the tabs help out P&W leaders), but I said I'd say Everybodyduck is zany (what else does one say about a band that named its last project "8 Seconds on a Holy Cow"?). Add some electric guitars to "Shout to the Lord," and here's some near-classic Everybodyduck. Good idea, but it's unpolished, much like the Insyderz' rough "Skalleluia 2" version. What really works for me is the zaniness of "Stand," a brand new signature song for the band that should be played on Christian Hit Radio stations. It's almost as much fun as "Still Know How to Groove."

Overall, Out of the Overflow is a fairly consistent and sturdy project from Everybodyduck, but I expected more -- perhaps musically and lyrically, a song along the lines of "More of You" ("Stand" comes close). There's room, since this project is only 35 minutes long! More songs like "You've Got the Right Words" and "You Are There" will solidify this band's place in contemporary praise and worship. They've been on their way already at Camp Hume and will continue to do so, as Everybodyduck is on the verge of having us want to see concerts and/or worship events and sing along with these songs.

3.5 tocks