A sense of joy and gratitude resonates through The Quiet Life. The album's billowing melodies and bright, fine-tooled arrangements reflect a British pop influence, with echoes of everyone from The Beatles to Simply Red and Orange Juice. Stephen Christian (best known as lead singer of the faith-based rock combo Amberlin) shows off his high tenor vocals throughout the tracks, effortlessly soaring to falsetto heights at peak emotional moments. Producers Kevin Dailey and Micah Tawlks combine art-rock elegance with solid rhythmic punch, bound by wraparound curtains of background vocals. The opening track,
Goes Without Saying, rides a sparkling piano line that takes Christian into blue-eyed soul territory, setting the listener up for the polished electronica of
Knew Then Know Now and the propulsive power pop of
Find Me. Hymn for Her and
Before I Start Dreaming are heartfelt and delicate, contrasting with the abrasive edge introduced in
Kodachrome and
In with the New. Lyrically, Christian projects a life-affirming outlook, letting the sweet longing of his music fill the spaces between his words. - iTunes
CD Details
- Release Date: July 31, 2012
- Record Label: Tooth & Nail Records
- UPC: 5099963878325
- Number of Discs: 1
Listen Before You Buy