There’s no question that Kentucky native Matthew Fogle has his heart in the right place, what with his motto of “Serve. Inspire. Rock.” On his debut Christian rock EP Plea:491, Fogle wades into waters that many have traversed before with full-bodied spirits and high expectations. This Louisville gentleman’s songs are decent but the delivery lacks luster. Fogle’s voice has a nasally pitch that comfortably rests in the upper treble regions. Without a hint of country twang, he instead bends the pitch to his will ala Tom Petty but strays dangerously close to the far edge of the tonal center – usually drifting sharp. This unfortunate characteristic is emphasized in “God of Power and Might” where the long “ee” sounds of Fogle’s lyrics are held out and his vibrato does little to help the situation. In Fogle’s defense, this track is mostly acoustic, leaving the minute details of his vocal delivery more exposed despite the full sound of the guitar, drums, and piano.
Fogle tries a different vocal approach in “Come Back Source”, where he heavily accents and enunciates the beginning syllable of each word, adding an exciting dynamic to this song that expertly juxtaposes the minor piano riff in the verses to the lilting sing-along chorus. The slightly overdriven guitar solo in the bridge is well executed. Fogle’s guitar playing only gets better in “Garden Flame” with his bluesy bridge solo and tasteful blend with the synthesizers.
The most interesting track on Plea:491 is “Splashdown.” From its straight-ahead rock opening to its well-structured chorus, Fogle attempts his most daring vocal range on this song and for the most part delivers a reputable performance. However, the song with the most potential and appeal to his target audience is “You’ll Be There.” This poignant ballad is well-written and could easily become another praise and worship standard, though some tweaking may be needed in the instrumental arrangement. “You’ll Be There” is the only track to boast a string quartet that does a beautiful job from the serene cello opening to the excellent melodic bridge. The danger however lies when the synthesizer sneaks in coupled with Fogle’s all ready high voice and the blend loses its charm.
Despite his uninspiring vocals, Fogle’s songs are good and his enthusiasm should not wane. Plea:491 is a gracious debut from a singer/songwriter who should not be deterred or deflated.
Review by Kelly O’Neil
