I was listening to Sting's Mercury Falling album for the first time, and enjoying it, but when I heard the fourth and fifth songs, "I Was Brought to My Senses" and "You Still Touch Me", I almost smacked my own face in disgust. A couple of sappy songs almost ruined an otherwise excellent record!
Well, I had a similar experience when I got Paul Alan's debut solo recording, Falling Awake. Alan was formerly the lead vocalist of the late Christian band Nouveaux. Overall, Alan proves to be a thoughtful songwriter and a talented vocalist, and the contemplative pop production of his album is definitely good, but there are a couple of songs that are just plain dumb.
The album opener and first single, "She's the Reason", is what first made me interested in Falling Awake. The lyrics are encouraging without being cheesy, and the tune is dangerously catchy. "The Road Will Lead to You" is an honest confession of Alan's longing for a wife, and boasts both honest lyrics and a sounds reminiscent of Steven Curtis Chapman's album Speechless. Although I am usually not a big fan of the guitar driven adult contemporary/pop sound, such as that of Chapman and Alan, Falling Awake is, for the most part, surprisingly appealing.
Just like Sting, however, Paul Alan's album is not without a few potholes. "The One Thing" is a good song for the most part, but the chorus is painfully awkward. This song is excusable, but "Can't Live Without You" sounds like the lyrics all come from Christian bumper stickers. "Can't Live Without You" is the kind of song that makes many people so skeptical about the quality of Christian music.
Overall, Paul Alan's album is pretty good, and should definitely appeal to fans of Steven Curtis Chapman and his ilk. Just make sure the skip button on your CD player works before spending any money on the CD.
Josh's Score: 2.5/5
Mark's Score: 3/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Matthew D. WilliamsI have to admit; when I first listened to Paul Alan's CD I thought the Christian music community had gained another Plus One/ True Vibe-like wannabe N'Sync-er, guaranteed to sell a bundle of albums at the hands of adolescent girls. I must warn you that Paul Alan's music is the epitome of "pop/rock." I must also warn you that you will like it...a lot. The former frontman of Nouveaux, Alan is no…Similar sounding releases
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