If you are still mourning the passing of John Lennon and wonder what kind of music he might be putting out had he become a Christian and were still alive, a heavy dose of Scott Faircloff's self-titled debut release might be just what the doctor ordered to paint that musical picture.
"Pulling Me Closer," "Wrecking Ball Chain," "When God Whispers," "Under Your Wing," and most especially "Ultimate Sign" all share the aforementioned Lennon connection which Faircloff pulls off almost perfectly, not only in vocal mannerisms but in songwriting technique. At other times, he reminds one more of Big Tent Revival's Steve Wiggins.
However, there are moments when Faircloff manages not to sound like anyone else in particular as in the gentle ballads, "Long Journey" and "Hearts Of Passion," the humorous "Frog's Lament," and the upbeat "Sleepy Dreamer," which possesses songwriting structure reminiscent of Steven Curtis Chapman about five years ago. Arguably, these moments where Faircloff doesn't sound like other artists might be the truest pictures of this emerging writer/rocker.
Despite the diversity of this project, there is a common theme that runs underneath the entire album but is overtly shared by Lennon-esque "The Ultimate Sign" and the humorous highlight of the album, "Frog's Lament" - namely, the loneliness issues that singles deal with. "Frog's Lament" is sung from the point of view of the frog who wants to be kissed by the princess and thus become a prince. The lyrics are a hoot:
She was a princess, I was a frog; So we started out the scene. I tried to love, but everyone knows It ain't easy being green.
Fans of Caedmon's Call and Jars of Clay will appreciate the acoustic and clean electric guitars that are prevalent on this project. In fact, if you like high energy, Beatles-influenced pop/rock that is saturated with catchy hooks and reverent lyrical content, a la PFR and One Hundred Days, you will also most likely welcome Faircloff into your CD collection.
Other coverage for this album
7ball #19Reviewed by Chris WellIt's always great to find a smart songwriter who keeps his balance. As it says in Ecclesiastes 7:16-18, it's important to keep your balance--God is Lord over all of our lives, not just the "religious" parts. Some Christian songwriters waste their time on spiritually shallow bumper-sticker slogans spring-loaded with the name of Jesus; some overreact and spend all their creative energy on songs…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Cathy CourtwrightScott Faircloff's self-titled debut covers a variety of musical sounds. It mixes his love for acoustic-based modern rock artists such as Toad the Wet Sprocket, Michael Penn, and Jars of Clay with classic British pop artists like The Beatles and Elton John. Most of the songs, however, fall into one of two categories: dramatic ballads or Beatlesque pop. The ballads "Hearts of Passion," "Long…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Elisa MussoScott Faircloff's first project, produced by Dino and John Elefante, is fairly well-crafted. There is a good variety of musical styles represented here: folk, pop, and rock. Some of the vocal arrangements are reminiscent of the Beatles--John Lennon, in particular. Faircloff's interesting voice saves it from being a run-of-the-mill endeavor. He can sing a ballad, a praise chorus, and a rock 'n…
