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| ><> CMR Album Review <>< |
'When Angels & Serpents Dance'
[Release Date: April 8, 2008] (INO/Columbia Records)
Track Listing
1. Addicted
2. Shine With Me
3. Condescending
4. It Can't Rain Everyday
5. Kaliforn-eye-a
[Feat. Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendancies]
6. I'll Be Ready [Feat. The Melody Makers]
7. End Of The World
8. This Ain't No Ordinary Love Song
1. Addicted
2. Shine With Me
3. Condescending
4. It Can't Rain Everyday
5. Kaliforn-eye-a
[Feat. Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendancies]
6. I'll Be Ready [Feat. The Melody Makers]
7. End Of The World
8. This Ain't No Ordinary Love Song
| 2.3 |
| 2.4 |
| 2.0 |
| 1.0 |
| 7.7 |
| 77% C |
| ><> Review Written By: Liz Zelinski (liz.zelinski@christianmusicreview.org) <>< ><> Date Written: April 7, 2008 <>< |
| [ Main Review ] |
| [ Writer's Closing Thoughts ] |
| One real positive in this album is how unique their sound is. There are not too many bands out there that can boast reggae, punk rock, heavy metal mixed and live to tell about it. The songs are made up of what seems to be abstract poetry. It could mean lots of things to lots of people, which many fans appreciate. People like sticking their own meanings into artist’s songs. Over all this is a very interesting album, and POD fans will not be disappointed. |
Gone are the garage band “youth of the nation” kids who dazzled us with songs that haunt
and define our teen-aged years. These are the same guys all grown up, with new themes
and styles, and new thoughts to shout about. There is a definite market for this type of
music, although traditional POD fans may be surprised at the new style. Still mixing rock
and reggae, the diverse range of music has taken on a solidly softer sound. This album
may not grab the same huge fan base gained with the release of “Satellite,” but there is
still substance to the music that will attract fans ready for the more sophisticated POD.
Although there is some definite passion coming out in the first song, “Addicted,” what
exactly he is addicted to is rather illusive. At first it seems like a song about God, talking
about the changes that come in life, but that idea is squashed in the last line of the chorus,
“WHY DO I LOVE YOU WHEN I KNOW YOU’RE WRONG?”
“It Can’t Rain Everyday” is a definite highlight, telling three separate stories about people
in difficult situations that seem hopeless. When things seem to be going okay, something
always happens to knock you right back down. But even though these pits feel impossible
to climb out of, the song gently tells the listener that “EVEN THOUGH YOU FEEL ALL
ALONE/ IT CAN’T RAIN EVERYDAY/ IT DON’T RAIN FOREVER/ YOUR SUNSHINE MAY BE
GONE BUT I KNOW/ IT CAN’T RAIN EVERYDAY.”
This album also has a few guest appearances, with Bob Marley’s daughters performing
some background vocals in the track “I’ll Be Ready”
Track 7, “End of the World” is a song about judgment, how just watching the news makes
us feel like we live in a world of chaos. This might be true, but I would have liked to hear
something in the song bringing the chaos into perspective, that no matter what happens or
who is in authority over us, God is in control. The song kind of ends in a hopeless chant.
“IT NEVER GETS BETTER BUT WORSE… ARE WE GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE? SO
TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH/ CAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD TO
ME.”
“This Ain’t No Ordinary Love Song” is vague, filled with meaningless word plays and
nothing extra-ordinary at all. It could be about any kind of relationship.
The title track, “When Angels and Serpents dance” asks the listener moral questions about
good and evil. Who do you dance with, angels or serpents? “WHO’S LEADING YOU?
EVERYTHING YOU SAY? EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO? BELIEVING WHAT IS TRUE?
ONE MUST LEAD IN THE DANCE/ WHO’S LEADING YOU? LIFE’S REAL WHEN ANGELS
AND SERPENTS DANCE.” Life is a battle of temptations, and the outcome will always
depend on what you are letting lead you.
A lyrical highlight is “Tell Me Why.” It echoes the old sentiments of youth of a nation, that
we can make a difference. “TELL ME WHY? WHY MUST WE FIGHT? AND WHY MUST WE
KILL IN THE NAME OF WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT? NO MORE! NO WAR!”
Finishing out the album is “Rise Against,” a great song about standing up for what you
believe in. Kind of ironic coming right after “Tell Me Why” which speaks of how our
differences are killing each other. But the difference is important and hopefully listeners will
not misunderstand. Killing for what you believe in and dying for what you believe in is
nearly the same as the difference between a patriot and a terrorist. Be willing to stand up
for what you believe in without killing people because they disagree is the message.
and define our teen-aged years. These are the same guys all grown up, with new themes
and styles, and new thoughts to shout about. There is a definite market for this type of
music, although traditional POD fans may be surprised at the new style. Still mixing rock
and reggae, the diverse range of music has taken on a solidly softer sound. This album
may not grab the same huge fan base gained with the release of “Satellite,” but there is
still substance to the music that will attract fans ready for the more sophisticated POD.
Although there is some definite passion coming out in the first song, “Addicted,” what
exactly he is addicted to is rather illusive. At first it seems like a song about God, talking
about the changes that come in life, but that idea is squashed in the last line of the chorus,
“WHY DO I LOVE YOU WHEN I KNOW YOU’RE WRONG?”
“It Can’t Rain Everyday” is a definite highlight, telling three separate stories about people
in difficult situations that seem hopeless. When things seem to be going okay, something
always happens to knock you right back down. But even though these pits feel impossible
to climb out of, the song gently tells the listener that “EVEN THOUGH YOU FEEL ALL
ALONE/ IT CAN’T RAIN EVERYDAY/ IT DON’T RAIN FOREVER/ YOUR SUNSHINE MAY BE
GONE BUT I KNOW/ IT CAN’T RAIN EVERYDAY.”
This album also has a few guest appearances, with Bob Marley’s daughters performing
some background vocals in the track “I’ll Be Ready”
Track 7, “End of the World” is a song about judgment, how just watching the news makes
us feel like we live in a world of chaos. This might be true, but I would have liked to hear
something in the song bringing the chaos into perspective, that no matter what happens or
who is in authority over us, God is in control. The song kind of ends in a hopeless chant.
“IT NEVER GETS BETTER BUT WORSE… ARE WE GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE? SO
TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH/ CAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD TO
ME.”
“This Ain’t No Ordinary Love Song” is vague, filled with meaningless word plays and
nothing extra-ordinary at all. It could be about any kind of relationship.
The title track, “When Angels and Serpents dance” asks the listener moral questions about
good and evil. Who do you dance with, angels or serpents? “WHO’S LEADING YOU?
EVERYTHING YOU SAY? EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO? BELIEVING WHAT IS TRUE?
ONE MUST LEAD IN THE DANCE/ WHO’S LEADING YOU? LIFE’S REAL WHEN ANGELS
AND SERPENTS DANCE.” Life is a battle of temptations, and the outcome will always
depend on what you are letting lead you.
A lyrical highlight is “Tell Me Why.” It echoes the old sentiments of youth of a nation, that
we can make a difference. “TELL ME WHY? WHY MUST WE FIGHT? AND WHY MUST WE
KILL IN THE NAME OF WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT? NO MORE! NO WAR!”
Finishing out the album is “Rise Against,” a great song about standing up for what you
believe in. Kind of ironic coming right after “Tell Me Why” which speaks of how our
differences are killing each other. But the difference is important and hopefully listeners will
not misunderstand. Killing for what you believe in and dying for what you believe in is
nearly the same as the difference between a patriot and a terrorist. Be willing to stand up
for what you believe in without killing people because they disagree is the message.
9. God Forbid (Feat. Page Hamilton of Helmet)
10. Roman Empire
11. When Angels & Serpents Dance
12. Tell Me Why
13. Rise Against
