The odds were stacked against Scarecrow & Tinmen as I received it in the mail to review: I had read numerous bad reviews of their debut on Pamplin; I'd read the other Phantom Tollbooth review of Superhero; the song titles didn't seem to indicate much lyrical depth ("Jesus Is God," "God Is Good," "Groovy," etc.). The odds won.
In pretty much every way, this is an average album. Average lyrics, average songs. Sure, there are some highlights: the oh-so-sweet lead guitar riff on 'God Is Good' and the Newsboys-y tune 'The Reason' both give the album some merit.
I'd like Superhero a whole lot more if it wasn't so sugary. The project lacks edge. For some, that may mean they will love the record. For others, like me, it makes for a disappointing release. Next time around, I hope Scarecrow & Tinmen put their skillful musicianship to better use.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Bert GanglOn their 1999 debut, No Place Like Home, Scarecrow & Tinmen served up a fairly diverse musical bill of fare consisting of rock, pop, folk and funk. For their sophomore release, Superhero, the band has opted to work, for the most part, from a similarly eclectic palette. A substantial number of the songs, like "God Is Good," are built on the now-familiar energetic and distorted guitar treatments…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Kerry MaffeoEarly June brings the release of yet another Pamplin-signed artist. Scarecrow and Tinmen's sophomore effort entitled Superhero is a bit of a departure from the pop sound of their debut album No Place Like Home. The band has certainly matured musically since their debut. Lyrically and vocally, this album retains the fervor and passion of their previous release. However, due to changes within the…Similar sounding releases
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