After Edmund
“Hello”
Slanted Records
12 tracks @ 42:54
Grade = B-

This band is getting a lot of buzz. Members cite a diverse range of musical influences, including classical, jazz, experimental, Wilco, The Beatles and Pink Floyd. The Floyd influence is real clear on “To See You Leave.”

Lead vocalist Mitch Parks reminds me of Bear Rinehart from needtobreathe.

Bassist Matt McFadden says, We’re kind of a melting pot, a unique fingerprint for Christian music.. . . We hope and pray our varied backgrounds will open us up to a larger audience.”

A reoccurring theme on the record is pain, including “Darkest Room” and “It’s Alright.” The former slides nicely into “Come and Rain Down,” a very somber worship song.

Parks says, “A lot of Christian songs talk about things only ‘church people’ can understand. There’s not a person on the planet whom God doesn’t love and desire a relationship with, and I wanted to talk about that in a way that anyone can understand.”

Translation: lots of generic lyrics.

- Rob S.

www.afteredmund.com