Bruce Von Stiers
Contemporary Christian music has been going through some different transitions. There are head banger type bands, some reminiscent of the grunge movement. Then there is the type of music that sounds a little like pop but not quite. As I am really an old fogie now (hitting 43 in a month), some of this new music is hard for me to categorize. Some of it I like, some I would just as soon have never heard. One artist’s whose music that falls into the first category is Kevin Gales. He has released an album titled I Didn’t Count On This. The album was released by Salvage Records.
This album has 12 songs on it and lasts a little over 45 minutes. It was produced by Greg Munck and Ken Mary.
Helping Kevin out on the album was Jim Korakis on piano and strings. There was also Lanny Cordola on Electric Guitar, Chuck Wright on Bass and Ken Mary doing backup vocals and percussion work.
The first song is If I Handed You A Flower. It deals with people reading too much into things and not seeing them for the simple beauty that they have.
My Lousy Little Drum is a song about a believer who is confused about how much God expects of him. This House is about giving of yourself to God. The singer has nothing to give to God but himself. He is feeling unworthy as Kevin sings “it’s all I’ve got, even though it’s not enough.”
Someday deals with how people treat you by what they think you are. The song goes “with me and my type, my flavour, he figures I’m a slacker.”
Anything is about Jesus and the sacrifice that he made for us. 65 Cents makes plea for God to accept what little the singer has to offer in money and earthy belongings so that he can be reborn.
All of the songs on the album have good vocals and music. Kevin has a pleasant sounding voice and the songs have a nice beat without being too radical.
Other songs on the album are How Do I Thank U, Right There, So Wrong, Why I Wasn’t There, Stumble and I’ll Give You More.
I Didn’t Count On This shows how younger Christian artists can bring forth a strong message and still do the kind of music that suits them. But some of us old fogies kind of enjoy their music too. I enjoyed this album and look forward to see if Kevin Gales becomes a leader in the new Christian musical ministry.
Check out Kevin’s web site for samples of his songs. His web site it www.kevingales.com. You might also want to check out Salvage Records at www.salvagerecords.com.