The Normals are a difficult band to classify. Their debut album, Better Than This, was somewhat in the PFR vein, employing singalong pop/alternative rock songs. Coming to Life, on the other hand, had more of a brooding tone that was quite a contrast from its predecessor.
A Place Where You Belong seems to be a mixture of these two styles. "Radio" is a fun song about love and driving down the road with the windows down and the radio blaring. "Innocence" shows frontman Andrew Osenga doing his best Simple Minds impression. "Grace," on the other hand, sounds like nothing more than an outtake from U2's Rattle and Hum, which should not be taken as a criticism in any way.
"Less Than Love" is a song about not settling for less than true love, a mistake often made by those willing to accept something less. This tune covers the same territory as VoL's "Facsimile," but resembles PFR musically. Another standout is "Happiness," dominated by an underlying bass groove.
"King" may be my favorite here -- it deals with all of the things we'd rather not go through in life -- fear, pain, doubt, loneliness, then celebrates the grace of God and the simple privilege of feeling good. We are reminded that none of the trials mean anything, because their effect is only temporary, as long as we feel love for and from God. "Epilogue" fittingly closes the album, and has an interesting keyboard background.
A Place Where You Belong is an intelligent, well-crafted album. While some have complained about its (lack of) speed, I feel the lyrics lend themselves well to the pace set here. The place this album belongs is in your CD player.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Bert GanglThe career of Illinois' the Normals, up to this point, has been something of a study in contrasts. The power trio's 1998 debut, Better Than This, was an effort populated, for the most part, by catchy, straight-ahead pop/rock songs bearing a slight alternative rock inflection. Following the departure of bassist Clayton Daily, guitarist Mark Lockett and songwriter/vocalist Andy Osenga recruited…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Jessica HeikoopTheir past two albums got them two Dove Award nominations and a #1 radio hit. Now The Normals are back with their third release, A Place Where You Belong, and, in my opinion, this deserves just as much--if not more--recognition. Taking it down a few notches, A Place Where You Belong takes on a slow, more peaceful sound. Using basic instruments for a majority of the songs (acoustic guitars, piano,…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Josh McConnellAfter releasing their first album in 1998, then their second in 2000, The Normals are back again with their latest release; A Place Where You Belong. But is it as good as their past albums? Consisting of eleven tracks, this soft/pop rock album was a definite surprise to me, I was expecting an album with a little more of a rock edge to it. I heard some clips of it on the Internet, and it sounded…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Matt WilliamsA concept album rarely produces a consistent theme (see Third Day's Come Together), and even rarer yet, does the effort result in great music. Quite often, the effort seems to bombard the listener with a "think about this" mentality and becomes overbearing in its approach. However, the Illinois-based Normals have put together one of the more impressive albums of the new year with their third…The Rebel Base 2001Reviewed by David MartinAre you one of those melancholy, hopeless romantic types who gets homesick easily? Well, come on in and pull up a chair. The Normals would like to welcome you into their humble abode. Okay, well, it's not really their home, but the blue house that graces the cover of the low-key Christian rock band's latest album, A Place Where You Belong, must have been a cozy place in which to record a batch of…Similar sounding releases
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