Artist: Bread of Stone
Album: Letting Go
Label: N/A
Release Date: April 20, 2007
Reviewer: Scott L
Tracklist:
1. Everyday
2. Letting Go
3. Somewhere
4. I Want
5. Life Of Truth
6. Not My Way
7. Never Buy Your Love
8. My Obsession
9. One More Time
10. Frozen In Time
11. Take My Life
Bread of Stone is a 4-piece out of Iowa that has put together a beautiful 11-song CD that could easily be compared to the likes of Remedy Drive, Grey Holiday, or The Afters. It’s radio friendly light rock with a bit of groove, a splash of harmony, and a whole lot of heartfelt worship. This is the kind of music you need to hear after a down day at school or work to lift your spirit. Literally. Not quit sure what the name means… although it may have something to do with Jesus’ teaching on prayer that drew an analogy to a son asking his father for bread and the heart of the father to provide bread for his son rather than giving him a stone. But that’s purely speculative… and I could be reading way too much into it.
Probably the easiest way to describe Letting Go is as a modern worship album that all at once sounds very familiar and yet, surprisingly creative at times. While carrying a similar vibe, no two songs are exactly the same. For a self-produced CD, Letting Go is ultra polished. The mix is top notch and the instrumentation very rarely comes off cluttered. There are a lot of instruments that drift in and out through the course of a listen, some of which I had to wiki after reading the liner notes and credits. Because what the heck is a Bouzouki? Give up? It’s actually this crazy Greek stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and a super long neck… kinda like a mutant mandolin. Because… why wouldn’t it be? Vocally, Bread of Stone reminds me a bit of Jon Micah Sumrall from Kutless in his more mellow moments… but with a bit less grind and a bit more range. Although, the track ‘My Obsession’ rises to an almost modern rock level and the vocals are suitably and comfortably edgy.
Lyrically, Bread of Stone isn’t pulling any punches. While never coming across as heavy handed, each song is a beautifully crafted presentation of the gospel in no uncertain terms. Here’s an example from the track, ‘Not My Own’…
‘I close my eyes try to escape from the truth
But still I see the reality I must go through
The only thing that I have to offer is my weakness
So Lord give me strength’
The standout track for me was ‘I Want’. It has an amazing middle east meets 80’s radio-pop feel. I know that sounds crazy, but it really almost defies description. In the end all I know is this… I like it. I like it a lot. If you’ve ever wondered why CD players come with a ‘repeat one’ option, this track is it. And, hey, when you listen to it with a friend you can smile sagely and comment on the beautiful Bouzouki playing.
The only real downside to the CD is that some of the music tends to feel a little bit dated, even for a second quarter 2007 release. But there’s really nothing here that isn’t still being released to the CCM market every Tuesday like clockwork. So if you’re into a really diverse album with a nice modern worship vibe, definitely check these guys out. You can also catch them this summer on the ‘Join the Tribe Tour’ with the Newsboys.
www.breadofstone.com/
www.myspace.com/breadofstone