The Redemption Center are a little bit country. But they’re also a little bit rock and roll. If these phrases sound familiar, so will this band’s newest release, Land of Plenty. Twelve tracks of country rock deliver observations about life, struggle and happiness, complete with Biblical undertones. On a technical level, the six musicians behind Land of Plenty are sufficiently talented, even if their songwriting and lyrical inspiration isn’t wildly original. Land of Plenty is laden with upbeat, mid-tempo tracks that alternate between rock n’ roll and country music, making for pleasant-listening, even if the experience isn’t especially thought provoking. Without breaking any musical barriers, The Redemption Center are good at what they do, and will doubtless find a faithful niche within the country/rock world.
Land of Plenty’s 12 tracks blend together well, indicating that the songs are not especially distinct, but also that the band has developed a good sense of flow and stay true to their strengths. Still, even successful musical formulas can benefit from some experimentation. In some areas The Redemption Center achieve this, such as the introduction of moving piano melodies. Such an addition diverts many tracks away from classic country and introduces an element of alt. rock reminiscent of Minnesota group The Hold Steady.
Lyrics make an attempt to delve into the real substance of life, but sometimes fall short and rely heavily on clichés, such as in the track “The Boy Who Shed His Skin,” which focuses on popular themes of renewal and redemption without presenting such subjects through especially captivating prose. Such trite descriptions are a trend in many songs, however this is unlikely to deter listeners drawn in by the catchy, pleasant, and competent country rock crafted by Redemption Center.
Religious references in the lyrics nudges Land of Plenty towards worship music that deals also with life trials. Despite their lack of literary genius, lyrics are relatable and display a high degree of human intuition. Such a human element in songwriting pairs nicely with pleasant instrumentation and solid if familiar melodies, and is sure to win a strong following.
The opening track, “Timothy’s Rag,” is upbeat and optimistic. It does not prepare the listener for the country flavor of the rest of the album and lends variety to Land of Plenty. The following song, “The Boy Who Shed His Skin,” is similar; pretty, pleasant, a little slower and touching, with a hint of country.
The title track showcases Stephen Smith’s vocals, which blend well with instrumentals. Smith’s delivery makes for easy, pleasant listening, largely due to his good pitch and genre-appropriate timbre. Other tracks like “The Life That Should Have Been Mine” are simple while being highly relatable. “Parcel of My Heart” is playful and replete with country twang. Lyrics are cute, clever, and reflective of a modern love life in an Internet age.
“A Man Who Knows a Few Things” is sadder and slower, a nice change of pace featuring classic country lyrics about life and hardships. The introduction of piano and harmonica is pleasant and provides for dynamic instrumentation; however songwriting relies a little too much on repetition
Several tracks lack the charm of their predecessors. “Six Years and a Day” is stripped down and simple; a nice style for The Redemption Center to explore further, but here it is a little too syrupy pop to be really interesting or moving. “Showdown” features plenty of twang, but the swinging rhythm gets repetitive, making this track Land of Plenty’s weakest offering, with an unfinished feeling and lacking the comfortable balance of stronger tracks between instruments and vocals. “Forever Without You” initially captures the listeners’ attention, but weakens when it loses its country edge, as the combination of rock and country are one of The Redemption Center’s greatest strengths. Without this blending of genres, “Forever Without You” leans towards generic poppy rock, marked by a mediocre guitar solo in need of a little extra flavor to keep listeners reaching for the repeat button.
The Redemption Center regain their music footing with “I’m Afraid of You.” This track is more rock, less country, with strong instrumental sections and pleasant male and female vocal harmonies. However, lyrics rely heavily on clichés, such as “mind over matter, brain over brawn.” From an exclusively musical standpoint, however, “I’m Afraid of You” is a strong offering.
Similarly, “Raise Up the Ghost” is darker, pretty, and enjoyable. Lyrics suggest religious undertones and the conclusion features a hint of organ, an intriguing addition that listeners are likely to want more of. The closing track, “In My Mother’s House,” also features religious references. The song displays more skillful songwriting: pretty and melodic, slow and sweet, with a conclusive tone.
Of Land of Plenty’s 12 tracks, those that incorporate a country flavor, or display creativity in their blend of country and rock, are the most intriguing and enjoyable. It is The Redemption Center’s ability to use both genres to communicate about highly relatable life themes that makes them more interesting than just another generic rock or country band. Nevertheless, there is much terrain to be covered in both genres, and listeners will benefit from this group’s further exploration of their own talent and inspiration.
Review by Kendra Atleework
