Music, when it is true, reminds us of the interlocking realities of Heaven and Earth. Music, when it is true, expresses the tension that is resident in a world made up of incredible beauty and stomach-turning ugliness. Music, when it’s true, speaks to our greatest joys and our deepest suffering.
Seth Abram’s new album is true in that sense.
One one hand, it is a celebration of what is good. If you know what it is to be head over heels in love, you’ll find songs to crank up, while you roll the windows down and hit the road this summer. On the other hand, Seth is willing to be honest about the duplicity that we all wrestle with as we reach for our full humanity. My favorite song on the album is Enlighten – hands down.
Look in my eyes can you see my fate
Poke some holes and will I deflate
Beat me down oh will I just break
Am I just hot air just second rate
If you could see through my body's state
Would you say my heart's just a fake
An it's all that I can take
I won't let the world mistakeWe were made by the One who made the sea
Look inside, I feel it deep within me
I'm crying for wisdom beyond all my years
Here I am made for truth
Come enlighten me
Don't let me be less than what I need
To be a part of opening eyes that seek
And let it be known the strength is in the weak
Fill me up with what's true
Swallow me whole and make me new
Pour Your Spirit into me
Your what satisfies this life
Your what breaks me of this pride
There is nothing more I want to see
When I heard this song, it felt like he had crawled inside my head, then down into my heart, and came back out with this song. That’s art at it’s best. I’ve had the joy of friendship with Seth, so I can tell you that these songs are all the overflow of a life flat out surrendered to Jesus. That reality in Seth’s life actually makes his music less “religious” and more human, relatable to anyone. That’s art at it’s best.
As a has-been musician, I’ve got a fairly critical ear. The melodies on this album are rich and very memorable without being cliché. Regarding the music, I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh arrangements and the little twists Seth and the band dropped into the arrangements. There are enough “Easter eggs” to keep musicians searching, without leaving anyone else out. But, without a doubt, the best instrument on this album is Seth’s voice. Smooth, yet at times piercing… in the best sort of way. I could listen to this guy sing all day. He doesn’t just sing a lyric he embodies it with passion and meaning.
His album broke the top ten in the itunes singer/songwriter category last week, which shows you the kind of rabid grassroots support his music has already generated. I hope you download this one today! Check it out here and then purchase it at iTunes, bandcamp, or Amazon.
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