Downhere
This is the review I’ve been waiting to write since I first started following Christian music and its ever-growing industry. It’s the definitive question of the last twenty years: if the majority of faith-based commerce falls into the “pop” category, is every product doomed to an audience of ignorant buyers or bargain bin limbo? To put it another way, can Christian pop be both “Christian” and “pop” without compromising the integrity of either dynamic?
The question is answered, folks. Search your brains no more. To detractors of Casting Crowns and FFH: here’s fodder for a future argument against those who’ve labeled us “meanies” or “cynics” or worse. To those who argue that Mark Hall and his gang are more concerned with ministry than music and are thereby absconded from any art criticism: I give you the Canadian-based Downhere, a band that poetically weaves stories of faith and spiritually relevant messages to the church through perfect melodies and creative song-craft.
Wouldn’t you know it? The very review I’ve been waiting to write for such a long time is probably the hardest I’ve ever written. An all-out rave of Ending is Beginning will render my criticism of other artists moot to those who feel I’m too subjective; at the same turn, to ignore any degree of how skillful this project is, is to miss out on what could be a turning point in the public’s perception of Christian music.
Opening with “Bleed for this Love,” it’s business as usual for Downhere. Anyone familiar with their previous material will have heard this sort of thing before: a melodic almost-rocker with smooth, high-range vocals and plodding percussion. It’s not a bad thing, though. Think of the opening track as a sort of homage to everything the band has done before.
The previous is their trademark style, and Ending is Beginning works as a sort of elaborate theme-and-variation suite: 4/4 tempos and pop style married to different creative influences (such as Keith Green on “My Last Amen” or early Radiohead on “Something Heavenly” or Barenaked Ladies on “Coming Back Home”). The best part about all the style change-ups is how none of it feels forced. This is not Downhere’s “artistic record,” some ridiculous attempt at securing critical acclaim; nah…it’s instant gratification, sure; but the gratification lasts beyond the first few plays. Moreover, critics have been on board with these guys from the onset. It’s the music buyers who seem less convinced. For some odd reason, Downhere has yet to become more than a random name in a crowded pop market. It’s a shame, really, because they’re just so…fun.
If fun and artistic expression can’t go hand in hand, then Ending is Beginning is nothing but a serious affront to the industry. “The Problem” is annoyingly toe tapping, even while dealing with a cynic’s view of modern society. “Cathedral Made of People” is a sweeping epic about true religion—the kind with a focus on humanity rather than cultural significance. “Hope is Rising” is a ballad that would make Chris Martin jealous if he wasn’t off pretending he’s a “serious artist” now.
“Beggar Who Gives Alms” is a fleeting serenade with Unforgettable Fire-era U2 ambience and rough, fragile vocals. Lyrically, it blows away almost any track I’ve heard this year. If there’s an award for Song of the Year, this one’s got the award in my book.
I’ve mentioned almost half the tracks on the album, and every one of them deserves acclaim. Wouldn’t you know it? I have a new contender for album of the year; that brings the total to 4 now, I believe. What a fantastic year for an industry some claim are dead!
John Wofford is a free-lance writer and professional tutor who lives in the foothills of Georgia.
Sunday Sep 14th, 2008 • View all posts by John Wofford • View all posts in Album Reviews
↓ 11 comments
Newworldson
Newworldson 
The Mountain Goats
Life of the World to Come 
Vampire Weekend
Contra 
Fireflight
For Those Who Wait 
Andrew Greer
Open Book 
Starfield
The Saving One 
Plumb
Beautiful History 
Ajalon
This Good Place 
Tom Hemby
In The Moment 
Vlada
All About You 
Thanks!!!
Hey John! Fantastic review – thanks for your kind words. This was a really well-written review – one of the best I’ve read in a while. Keep it up!
Based on what I’ve heard of the album so far, there’s nothing in this review with which I disagree. It’s going to be a great album!
My arguement for Christian music being as good or better than anthing in mainstream has been downhere since I picked up Wide Eyed and Mystified two years ago! And I add it’s as good as any of the 80’s music I use to seek out on the radio dial! Thanks for these guys the recognition they deserve!!!
If this is an album of the year candidate then why is it only 7.5
Finally someone has put into words what I have been feeling about this band!
I’ve never been able to figure out why Downhere is not more popular, being as good as they are. They are the best and only getting better. I’m excited for this new album and I truly hope it gets the attention it deserves. Great review!
To Matt:
I only gave it a 7.5 because it works not as a piece of completely different, revolutionary art (think Radiohead or later Beatles stuff– music that sounds different from any other band that’s come before), but rather as a pop album that does what it sets out to do well. The reason, then, it’s an album of the year candidate is because it’s content makes for an important talking point in the discussion of “art vs. ministry,” not because it’s the WHITE ALBUM of Christian music.
I can’t wait for this album. . i haven’t heard any of the tracks except “My Last Amen”(which i can’t play enough!!) since the listening party i attended a few months back. I hope this will be THE album for downhere!! They are truly talented, hard working and wonderful.
[...] incoherency, there’s a splendid review in Christianity Today and an even better one from John Wofford at Soul-Audio. (I’m also glad to see that someone other than me hears the Unforgettable Fire vibe on this [...]
This a great review and I appreciate it coming from a critical voice. Musicians and music lovers alike, pay attention! We need reviews like this to help set the bar and the level of expectation for what Christian music needs to be! I’m ready for something revolutionary, and I hope downhere’s offerings in “Ending is Beginning” is the ticket to get me there.
Hey everyone the 7.5 is a fair assessment when you stack it up against “revolutionary art” in music as a whole, not just within CCM itself (if I’m reading John’s comments to Matt correctly).
Maybe it’s just me, but for quite awhile now I’ve been getting vibes from music critics that they’ve had their hopes pinned on downhere to be the band that will usher in a new era of “revolutionary art”, and be the “turning point in the public’s perception of Christian music.”, as John suggests.
I for one have been following downhere since day one, and without a doubt I can say with certainty that downhere is truly the most under-rated band in music today.
“Ending Is Beginning” gets my nomination for album of the year. Give it a close listen and it won’t take you very long to see why!
My wife and I picked up So Much For Substitutes from a tiny outlet store in a lone random town while on a holiday trip to the US. I knew from the first few tracks there was something seriously generous about the talent oozing outta these guys – something of the greatness of Queen, the artistic collaboration of DC Talk and lyrically a raw, gutsy grasp of real Jesus spirituality often expressed by Bono (and with the same melodic intensity).
Their perfomance charisma, which would quite easily equate a Robbie Williams or Queen stage presence, and yet their normality and plain love for Christian ministry to serve the church is somehow calling for a position of great influence – God willing.
Since then we have every album, supported the guys on their trips to the UK – including their opening for Delirious at Greenbelt (and who should have been the headline by all counts).
BUT THIS PIECE OF WORK must be one of the most goosebump experiences I’ve ever had. This record is headed for the heights and the boys for glory – the right kind.
Does it Resonate with you?