Burning Like the Midnight Sun | Music

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The Choir
Burning Like the Midnight Sun (Galaxy21 Music)
Released June 2010
Andrew Greer

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Style: Indie folk-rock; compare to The 77s, Jeff Tweedy, Death Cab for Cutie

Top tracks: "Midnight Sun," "That Melancholy Ghost," "A Friend So Kind"

Having built legendary careers as songwriters, producers, and music business moguls, The Choir's veteran members understand how to create sellable records. Fortunately for their thoughtful constituency the band's bottom line has never been commercial, allowing space for keen verses like, "Yeah that was me / The self-appointed judge of your own orientation / I studied law at the blind man's school of cruel indoctrination." With stark confrontations satisfactory for Derek Webb diehards but enough conversational bent for Andrew Peterson fans, the Grammy-nominated indie rockers plunge headfirst into lyrical provocations of love, loss and the gospel, issuing smooth musical clarity to contrast the murky exploration of everyday faith in their first release since 2005.

Comments (5)

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Max Mishler

July 08, 2010 10:34am

Having been a Choir Fan since their Youth Choir days, I have to say 3 stars for this album is quite an injustice. This release is up there with their two greatest (Chase the Kangaroo and Circle Slide IMHO). When The Choir is at the top of their game Derri's voice emotes perfectly with Steve's songwriting, creating a musical journey that will transport you, should you let it. If you don't mind digging a little beneath the surface, you will be rewarded here. The playing here has never been more solid as well. This is a 5 star release!

Shawn McLaughlin

July 06, 2010 12:28am

The solo you hear was lifted from Chase the Kangaroo. Nice catch. It was a between song moment on that record. The song it was in, "I'm Sorry I Laughed" was inspired by a live show when Dan Michaels, who dances like a dervish when he is playing, fell down really hard and busted up his beloved "63 Selmer" Saxophone.

Kaye Jeltema

July 03, 2010 2:35pm

This is their best album in many years! At least four of these songs will be in my all-time favorites list (the first 4 probably; and the last track is no slouch!). As for the rest of the tracks, sure, not as good as those on Circle Slide or Wide-Eyed Wonder, but still decent. Recommended!

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