14th August, 2008

JUSTIN MICHAEL

Album: Opposite Way

Artist: Leeland

Year: 2007
Label: Essential/Sony/BMG
Web: www.leeland.com
 
In A Word: Astounding

"Somewhere between a modern praise and worship sound and the edgier indie rock of today, Leeland manage to knit elements of Hillsong United, Elliott Smith, Phil Wickham and, well, Phil Keaggy of course."

I think the way this sort of music comes about is that your mum and dad start a church and get you, your brother and your cousins to be the music team, the youth leaders, worship pastors and songwriters all in one hit and then from the age of 14 you’re in there doing it and somehow you realise you’ve got a talent for this stuff, then your brother marries Michael W. Smith’s daughter, then you write a breakthrough album called Sound Of Melodies then the music industry realises that you are new, amazingly talented and have no ego but actually want to be in Christian music for the sake of the kingdom...then everyone says something collectively praiseworthy such as, "Wow!’".

Personally I can’t get past Leelands’ uncanny ability to sound like Phil Keaggy (that’s a compliment), then I can’t get past the band's ability to speak to subjects like honesty in worship (Count Me In), self-esteem (Let It Out Now), a deep understanding of the process of worship (Enter This Temple) and the way God’s ways confound our understanding but still work (Opposite Way) and that’s just the first four tracks.

The band were recent guests to Australia as part of the Hillsong conference in July. Though I did not see the full band set, I did see the boys chat through their history, their song writing and their apparent amazement at it all. In any form of music there is something to be said for authenticity. We listened to Dylan because we believed he practiced what he preached, we listened to the Boss 'cause he was born in East LA and me thinks the Christian crowd will listen to Leeland because their youthful zeal for music is actually matched by a zeal for the things of God.

Ok, so now I’m just sounding like a preacher (maybe that’s 'cause I am), but that’s beside the point. I haven’t even arrived at what the music sounds like and I’m convinced that these tunes are good for you.

Somewhere between a modern praise and worship sound and the edgier indie rock of today, Leeland manage to knit elements of Hillsong United, Elliott Smith, Phil Wickham and, well, Phil Keaggy of course.

Just grab the opposite way and I’m going to bet you won’t turn back.