Main Review
Rocks Into Rivers is the follow up to Seabird’s 2008 critically acclaimed label debut, ‘Til We See The
Shore. The band split its time between Ocean Studios in Los Angeles and The Smoakstack in Nashville,
honing what brothers Aaron and Ryan Morgan are calling their most exciting project to date. “For this
album I think we wanted to mature both musically and lyrically,” says Aaron. “We have families now and
are experiencing different aspects of life, and we think that our audience has matured with us as well. We
want to continue making songs that inspire people to change and grow. There is a musical progression
in these songs, they may be a little less poppy but at the same they definitely showcase our rock
sensibility.”
Seabird recently joined headliner David Crowder*Band with Danyew on the Church Music tour. I got the
great opportunity to see the show and Seabird performed a great set including two new songs and hit
song “Rescue”, which was featured in promos for ABC’s Emmy-nominated series, “Pushing Daisies.”
The new project’s first single, “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” is one of my favorite new songs of the
year. The song really sets the tone for this excellent album with a great piano-based rock beat, similar to
The Fray. The song is about a girl trying to stand up as her family falls down around her, believing lies
about herself as though her parent’s divorce is her fault. The song is about wanting her to know the
truth. “Believe Me” continues the great piano-based rock, with Aaron singing about himself and his
promise to be the husband and father he knows he should be. What’s really impressive to me is that I
can hear Aaron’s vulnerability throughout the album, especially in “The Good King,” a lullaby to his
daughter about seeing life through her eyes and “Baby I’m In Love” which is about seeing Aaron’s
pregnant wife become an incredible mother before their daughter was born.
Another standout song for me is “Sing To Save My Life,” a very moving and passionate song with Aaron’s
personal prayer to ‘bring forth the ocean, sing for devotion and sing to save my life’. The driving guitar
part at the end of the song really highlights the emotional side of this great band. “Trust” reminds me the
song “Trust Me” by The Fray from How To Save A Life, one of my favorite albums of the decade. “This Ain’
t Home” is another great confessional song, with raw emotion dripping from the lyrics ‘why would we cry
for your soul, why would we lie when you know that this ain’t home’. At the end of the song, the piano and
string-based rock beat reminds me of “Strawberry Swing” by Coldplay from Viva La Vida, my favorite
album of the decade. “The Sound Of You And I” is a great love song and reflects Aaron’s personal
feelings again in less than 2 minutes. “Don’t Change A Thing” is an amazing song and I could
immediately identify with the sentiment that my personal transformation is also my heart’s desire. You
can apply the concept to relationships with loved ones and with God. “This Road” and “Finally Done
Right” keep the confessional flow going right to the emotional title song “Rocks Into Rivers” which sums
up several themes of the album, seamlessly blending faith and relationships with these inspiring lyrics
‘and if we lose our way, I’ll pray that God just shows us’.
Closing Thoughts
The songs all have a Brit-pop style similar to The Fray, Coldplay and Needtobreathe, all favorite bands of
mine. If you liked “Rescue”, then you need to hear Rocks Into Rivers by Seabird. For me, the standout
songs are “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful,” “Believe Me,” “Sing To Save My Life,” “The Good King,”
“Baby I’m In Love,” “Don’t Change A Thing” and “Rocks Into Rivers”. This is a great and catchy album and
an excellent way to cap off 2009!
Review Written By: Kevin Davis [kevin.davis@christianmusicreview.org] on 12/7/2009
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