Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: I really love three of the songs.
Cons: Very dated
production and mostly weak lyrics
The Bottom Line:
Dated production
Some of his weakest lyrics
Only for diehards
When I discovered David Meece's music in the early 90's, I
fell in love with his then current release, and it is still one of my all time
favorite discs. So, naturally, I went
back and started getting his older releases.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Candle In The Rain, the one
that proceeded my favorite, was also one of David's weakest.
The disc was released in 1987, but if you've listened to it,
you don't need me to tell you that at all.
The music just screams it with the very heavy reliance on synthesizer
and drum machine. Granted, David's never
completely lost that 80's feel, but this seems worse than most. Only one song really features David's piano
playing, a signature most of the time.
Even the background vocals, more emphasized here than on other
recordings, scream 80's. Okay, not
literally, but you get the idea. I can't
quite place my finger on what about them says 80's so much, but they definitely
contribute to the feel of the disc.
Many of the songs here were produced by brothers Gino and
Joe Vannelli. Not only that, but they
wrote the first four songs. Of those,
the only one I like is "All is God's Creation," which starts out the
disc. This song contrasts the good and
the bad in the world. At times it can be
overly poetic, like the opening line "I see ten thousand wars fought on a
distant shore in a baby's toy."
Overall, the song works, and it's a fun reminder of God's power and
sovereignty.
But from there the next three songs go downhill. I completely disagree with the message that
if you truly love someone there is "Nothing to Forgive." Yes, even people we truly love can hurt us
enough that we need to forgive them.
"God Only Knows" is so poetic that I'm still not completely
sure I even know what it is trying to say.
And "The Water is Fine" is a psychedelic look at John the
Baptist that is just bizarre. Don't get
me wrong, these songs are all fun, and I do find myself singing along with
them, but they just aren't good if you stop and think about them.
Fortunately, David had a hand in writing the 5 remaining
songs, and they are better. "His
Love was Reaching" is the definite highlight of the disc. It's the only song to feature David's
incredible piano playing, and even has some strings. The ballad about how God's love was weaving
through his life is still powerful.
But things pick back up for "Amor Conquesta Todo (Love
Conquers All)" a fun number again about the power of God's love.
The remainder of the disc includes some fun songs. There's "Higher Ground," a prayer
for God's help is trials. That's
mirrored in the song of encouragement, "Hold On." Finally, there's the 80's power ballad
"Candle in the Rain," which calls for us to be an encouragement to
those who are struggling around us.
And my inner high schooler still likes these three
songs. They have a certain nostalgic
pull that makes me forget the lyrics are actually kind of shallow on them. David has done better in the lyric department
on his other releases, and when the adult me really listens to them, I cringe
at some of the cliches.
So I don't tend to pull Candle In The Rain out very often
when I need a David Meece fix. The few
really good songs are enough to bring it out once in a while, but I find his
other releases are much better.
CD Length: 38:38
Tracks:
1. All is God's Creation
2. Nothing to Forgive
3. God Only Knows
4. The Water is Fine
5. His Love Was Reaching
6. Amor Conquesta Todo (Love Conquers All)
7. Higher Ground
8. Candle in the Rain
9. Hold On
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