Starfield

Anytime a band’s label says that their newest release is bound to appear on a lot of critics’ “best of” lists at the end of the year—and this at the beginning of the year in question—it’s hard not to be skeptical. Labels are inherently biased and subjective in their assessments of their own artists and are incapable of viewing a work objectively. But here’s the rub: what if the label is actually on to something by making such an outrageous claim?

The fine folks at Sparrow Records have high hopes for Starfield’s latest release, The Saving One, and they aren’t exactly mistaken to feel so strongly about the record. A mix of soaring vocals, driving rock and roll rhythms, and anthems of praise directed squarely at God, The Saving One is a truly epic album that is destined to turn more than a few heads.

One of the album’s many admirable traits is knowing the difference between simplicity and being simplistic. The lyrics and point of the album’s title track are clear from the beginning, but they thankfully avoid trite clichés and mind-numbing Christianese. Ditto the well worth repeating refrain of “I will live for you” in the thumping, ethereal rocker “Declaration of Independence.” Calling Jesus who he is, telling him the desires of your heart, and letting him know what he means to you…that’s all these songs need to do in order to be effective, and they do it in a genuine, emphatic way that is neither forced nor flowery.

Passion and honesty are written all over this album. Several songs like “Overwhelm” are so powerfully sung that they are simultaneously cathartic and exhausting in their delivery, and tracks like “Top of Our Lungs” paint pictures that don’t need to be described. And whether it is shouting praises to the Lord or admitting to the difficulty he sometimes has in believing in God (”Something to Say”), lead vocalist Tim Neufeld wears his heart and mind on his sleeve for God and the world to see.

Sonically this album drives from the word go. From the solid, swelling guitars, and steady drums of the title track, to the piano interludes found in songs like “Rediscover You,” the music is rich, energizing, and electric. The aforementioned “Declaration of Independence” contains danceable and stratospheric guitar riffs that are destined to make this song a concert favorite. Even in one of the album’s quieter moments the largely piano-driven ballad “Something to Say,” there is a sequence where the underlying frustration in the song threatens to break through musically, with the piano and drums bubbling with ferocity and intensity. The album never stops generating energy, even if at times it’s a quiet energy that is more subtle than obvious.

Neufeld does a good job of alternating between the lower vocal registers (“Absolutely”) and the higher ones (“Something to Say”), demonstrating an almost effortless ability to go from one to the other depending on the moment. Both he and his brother Jon create loads of electricity on their guitars, drummer Dave Lalonde performs admirably, and bassist James Johnston makes his presence felt throughout, particularly in the minute-long intro on “Declaration of Independence.”

The only real knock against this album is there are more than a few instances where Neufeld channels Bart Millard and Mark Hall, vocally. Christian radio already plays too much MercyMe and Casting Crowns to being with, but there are worse things.

I was skeptical when I first read Starfield’s label’s claim that The Saving One will make a slew of “best of” lists for 2010. But now that I’ve listened to it, I get why they feel that way. Starfield has made a stark, moving record that rocks, rolls, and uplifts a thousand times over before it comes to its conclusion.

Tagged as: Brian Palmer, Sparrow Records, Starfield, The Saving One

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