Reviews
Reviewed by Brenten Gilbert
, CM Central
Caedmon's Call has spent much of their eleven-year career typifying the successful independent band. Even years after signing to Essential Records, Caedmon's Call has faithfully remained devoted to their origins and ever-growing grassroots fan base, leaving little to complain about. However, with the departure of founding member Derek Webb and the release of the critically sub par Back Home, skeptics began questioning whether or not Caedmon's Call, a band that has always marched to the beat of a different drum, had finally jumped the shark. In response to these questions and the calling in their hearts, Caedmon's Call took some time to regroup and rediscover their indigenous roots. In the process, they found yet another different drum to guide them.
The band took a missions trip to minister to the Dalit people, which is detailed on a video that doubled as the project's EPK (included with the CD). During their travels, Caedmon's Call worked on writing and learning cultural music techniques. The resulting effort, Share the Well, finds Caedmon's Call at the top of their game, musically and lyrically. Musically, the group deliberately stretched themselves to incorporate the new styles and practices they discovered during their travels and mesh them with the folk leanings audiences have come to expect. The first noticeable difference comes out in the rhythmic patterns and the use of varied percussion elements. Some examples of this experimental rhythmic implementation include the title track, "Volcanoland," and "Wings of the Morning." This textured approach to the music also grants a grandiose resonance to seem larger than life to the listener.
Lyrically, the group turned to long-time member Joshua Moore, recent addition Randall Goodgame, and the newest member of Caedmon's Call, Andrew Osenga (formerly of The Normals). Between the three of them, they journaled during the trip and each song reflects on and captures a particular event of their experiences. "Share the Well," for instance, describes one of the more powerful images that was impressed on the group. (They observed two Dalit girls sitting by a well, thirsty, but unable to fill their cups according to the customary laws in place). The song serves to bring our attention to the injustices that exist and stir within the audience a desire to act. ("Maybe you've got money, maybe you've got time, maybe you've got the Living Water that ain't ever running dry").
A beautiful example of creative music and lyrics, the album is peppered with challenging words, powerful imagery, and spectacular music. Share the Well stands as the magnum opus for Caedmon's Call - the most entirely sound album of the year.
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