Skatman Meredith makes good acoustic folk music. The original songs are interesting, well produced, feature impeccable technique and a pleasant voice with just enough buzz to suggest intensity. He writes well without the preachy didactics so common to self-produced first projects. My problem with Skatman Meredith is all the contentment. His ability to live a prudent, balanced life is admirable, but not very interesting. Despite his well-being, I'm reluctant to relinquish my copy to long-term storage. Listenable Christian folk music is just too rare. --Linda Stonehocker
Skatman's rootsy sound and word play remind me of Vigilantes of Love, but his message doesn't look much past the sophistry of contemporary suburbia. If you have the good fortune to be in the same stage of life as Meredith, embrace him as one of your own. The less fortunate among us shouldn't lose track of this developing talent. While the sound is a little too mild for this rocker, there are enough rough edges to keep it out of the adult contemporary swamp, and perhaps time will find him using his talent to express a more interesting stage of life.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Jeremy ChoiIt is not commonplace in the Christian music industry that an artist can hold very moving music in one hand, sincere and poignant lyrics in the other, and to successfully integrate them. Sure, there are artists who produce emotionally-charged music, but the lyrics are weak and scripted, if not downright cheesy. Other artists write poetic and stirring lyrics, but their music leaves something to be…Similar sounding releases
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