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Plumb - Chaotic Resolve
(Curb)
Released - February, 2006
Here's the conflict. Commercial radio is loathe to play anything that
smacks of religion. Religious radio stations don't want to touch anything
secular. Yet - many of us live in both worlds. I believe a person
needs to function in both worlds if that person expects to be an effective
evangelist.
Much of what's called "Contemporary Christian Music" is second-rate to my
ears. Small fish, swimming in a smaller pond. And some of it
isn't. There is nothing second-rate about Tiffany Arbuckle Lee and
the band she fronts, Plumb. And it's clear these folks live in both
worlds.
I first heard the track, "Real," out of a three-am newscast on BBC's Radio
Two. It's from 2003's "Beautiful Lumps of Coal." Peaked in the mid-40s on
UK charts. I discovered I could satisfy my jones for the album (this
was before I discovered iTunes) the next morning at the local religious
bookstore, next door to the bagel shop.
The disc went into heavy rotation in the Jeep's CD unit.
Let's be clear - this is top-notch stuff that just happens to have an
occasional message. Think Sixpence None The Richer, also classified as
"Inspirational" by those wags at iTunes. One assumes that the first-rate
backing of the Curb organization explains why it is lush and wonderfully-produced.
Ms. Arbuckle Lee's clearly superior songwriting talents are only amplified
by the quality production.
This is first rate material. "Blush (Only You)" has been on the A-list
on the 'pod for several months now, and this past week, I sprung for the
whole album.
The whole disc is very, very good.
Personal favorites from the disc in addition to "Blush" include "Motion,"
along with "Good Behavior" (as raucous as anything from my youth), and
"Pray For Me."
Oh, go on. Check it out. Listen to a track or two.
Even if you never listen to the lyrics, the whole album has a good beat,
and it's easy to dance to.
That gets it a 98 in my book, Dick. Very Highly Recommended.
Chaotic Resolve:
  Three
and one-half microphones (out of four)
Beautiful Lumps Of Coal:
Three microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(08/05/06) |
