Paper Route

Paper Route doesn’t seem like a name that would evoke thoughts of a synth-pop/electronica band with a penchant for dramatic and beautiful songs. Nevertheless, Are We All Forgotten is the Nashville-based act’s third effort in four years, during which they have released three EPs. They have a sound that is quite uncommon in Christian music, with Joy Electric and The Echoing Green being the only acts that come to mind, yet they’ve put enough of their own spin on it to differentiate themselves from synth-pop outfits like the aforementioned or mainstream outift The Postal Service.

One of the band’s strengths is that while the electronic sounds and programmed beats are a major part of their sound, they still bring in real instruments to help create a more natural sound than a lot of electronic bands. It’s also a more epic sound than one would expect, both soaring into breathtaking pop melodies on, “American Clouds”, and delving deep into moodier territory with, “You Kill Me”. The lyrics take a personal tone, such as, “Are We All Forgotten”, which is very confessional in nature, exploring the tension between man and God from the point of view of a fallen man hoping for forgiveness.

A different kind of tension is explored on the aforementioned, “You Kill Me”, where the lyrics take the perspective of a wounded lover who still longs for his beloved. While the lyrics seem to be discussing human relationships, the song could easily be interpreted as God mourning the prodigal son and stating His undying love for that son. It’s all done while carefully avoiding cliché, which makes the song memorable and powerful.

The only real complaints that could be leveled at the EP are the production, which sometimes buries the vocals so that the lyrics are difficult to understand, and the meandering and repetitious nature of the closing track, “Waiting For The Final Leaf To Call”, though it‘s still a decent song with some interesting lyrics that seem like a natural follow-up to, “Are We All Forgotten“. These aren’t major complaints, though, especially since the melodies are strong enough to be enjoyable on their own, even without the lyrics.

Overall, the band has done a good job of showcasing their skill and lyrical abilities in a brief, five song EP. They’re a band that is going to be worth following to see what they do next, which will hopefully include a full album.

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