In a day when "alternative" artists advertise for VH-1 and the music clubs sell REM as "soft rock," it's great to hear a new band which stretches the boundaries of modern rock differently than the rest of the crowd. When this sort of band happens to contain Christians and a Biblical message on top of that, I find new hope for both mainstream and Christian music. So if I seem a little overwhelmed with Fleming and John, please forgive me.
First let's talk basic components, like vocals. Sopranos are precious hard to fit in a pop/rock style (though Tori Amos comes to mind), but Fleming (McWilliams) handles these songs like a pro. From operatic heights (as she gave us on Steve Taylor's "Harder To Believe Than Not To"), to raw wails, to a Sam Phillips-esque waif sound on the slower songs, Fleming tackles a shocking variety of vocal techniques with seeming effortlessness. Despite the two-person name, F&J are a foursome, with John (Mark Painter, on guitars), Stan Rawls (bass), and Shawn McWilliams (drums) backing Fleming up with the ferocity of a double-time Sixpence None the Richer.
The songs themselves are truly modern, not new versions of Beatles', Byrds', or any other animal's songs. In fact, I'm baffled for a good band to compare F&J with, which is both unusual (for Christian music) and a pleasant change. Where I live, even mainstream radio has been unable to resist the allure of these tunes, which appears to be a definite goal of this album. Lyrically, the most explicit Christian witness is saved for "A Place Called Love," the final cut; the other songs contain the sort of witty Biblically-oriented-socio-moral lyrics you might expect from Chagall Guevara or older U2. "Rain All Day" and parts of "6,570" sway with the sleek, islandy feel of Sade, and "A Place Called Love" takes a mid-Eastern path; the others vie in my mind and CD player (and hopefully radio) for the "cool song" award.
Finally, a word of warning. Apparently in a bid to be taken "seriously" by the greater music world, REX Records has decided not to make Delusions of Grandeur available at Christian Bookstores. You'll have to go to your favorite mainstream music store, and unless your stores are cooler than the ones near me, they won't have it in stock, so you'll have to special order it. So don't wait for it to hit the shelves, like I did-place that order.
Other coverage for this album
Heaven's Metal #53Reviewed by Doug Van PeltI don't know about you, but it always bugs me a little when critics and label people act ga-ga over someone. I almost want to not like it, simply because I don't trust hype very much. This album, though, has that special quality called "greatness" all over it. While it's not the next Stryper or the next Vengeance, or the next Crucified, or the next Circle of Dust, it is a unique and high-quality…Similar sounding releases
1998PlaidUnderstanding God
1999The Seventy SevensSeventy Sevens EP
1995The WaitingBlue Belly Sky
BigtoneSaad Ave
1999Adam AgainWorldwide Favourites
2001Eve's DropOne of Many Goodbyes
