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esTerlyn
Call Out (VSR Music Group)
FOR FANS OF: Matt Maher, Leeland,
Phil Wickham
QQQ
Having gained a platform via Calvary Chapel’s
worship circuit, Esterlyn uses their church
music experience to inject their latest with
rhythms and rhymes of modern worship.
Tagged as the indie pop-rocksters’ first
straight-up worship record, Call Out keeps
verses focused heavenward—filled with
adoration to God, but missing Esterlyn’s
typical lyrical poetry. Even so, at 5 bucks for
eight songs, the band’s tight performances
sparkle and their musical marks remain
top-notch, especially among worship music
generics.
–Andrew Greer
WE LIKE: “Esther”
Jordan elias
Desert Cry (City of Peace Media)
FOR FANS OF:Mike Farris, Larry Norman,
Keith Green
QQQQ
Between his
grandfather Jerry
Marcellino being a
legendary Motown
producer and his
father Yochanan
Marcellino founding several record labels,
Jordan Elias is a third generation music
industry all-star. His artistic seasoning is
instantly apparent throughout smoky soul
pipes, retro-inspired blues and good old
fashioned rock gospel, while a mixture of
lyrical yearning and praises demonstrates
unparalleled versatility. Even Keith Green’s
widow Melody Green is a fan, making this an
essential exploration for fans of intelligently
wound vertical material.
–Andy Argyrakis
WE LIKE: “Springtime”
d-MauB
inside Out (One Route Entertainment)
FOR FANS OF: Sandra McCracken, Andrew Bird,
Wilco
QQQ
For the majority of
the 2000s thus far,
Cincinnati’s Donny
“D-MAUB” Harper’s
been a force to be
reckoned with on
the mic, backed by
production that
straddles the lines between hip-hop, rap, soul
and straight up pop. His latest recording is
laden with purified lyrics, but the fast action
rhymes and rhythmic arrangements are
enthralling enough to reel seekers towards
this batch of beats, which are sure to sink in
after a single listen.
–Andy Argyrakis
WE LIKE: “Inside Out”
indie revieWs
indie
48 CCM