11th April, 2006

JUSTIN MICHAEL   

Artist: Plumb
Album: Chaotic Resolve

Label: Curb, 2006

Enhanced content: No

In A Word: Gutsy

"Fresh, honest and full of integrity, this is an album that will speak directly to the heart, the emotions and the spirit."

In 1997 the debut self-titled album, Plumb, announced the arrival of an artist who demanded to be heard. The respect from within the industry for Plumb was instant and it has only grown since then. She was, in some ways, an answer to the then front-runners of angsty pop/rock such as Alanis Morissette. Many today would compare her to the metal-pop of Evanescence. The difference is, Plumb was and still is singing about the tough stuff of life but with a sense of hope, a sense of God in all of her songs.

Plumb is Tiffany Arbuckle Lee. Chaotic Resolve is her fourth album (not a large output in nine years by today’s standards) and each album, while varying slightly, has managed to build on the respect she gained in 1997.

Her second album - 1999's Candycoatedwaterdrops - included the hit God-Shaped Hole - co-written with Michael W. Smith collaborator Wayne Kirkpatrick - certainly signalled an arrival into the ‘mainstream’ (and won her a Dove Award). There was also 2003’s Beautiful Lumps Of Coal which I cannot comment on as it seemed to avoid Australian shelves in what I can only guess was an oversight on the distributor’s behalf. Now, in 2006, the situation is rectified with Chaotic Resolve.

Plumb is back to her angsty, gut-wrenching, honest best with songs like (about learning from brokenness), I Can’t Do This (an honest prayer for help), and Cut (coping with self-abuse). She doesn’t shy away from socially taboo subjects, but she also offers some girlie respite with love songs such as the opening track Blush and the overtly sweet Real Life Fairytale. For something a little different there is the bonus track of Plumb’s take on the Michael W. Smith classic Pray For Me.

Musically you would be hard-pressed to find a sound more full than Plumb’s. Start with a basic rock band, add the very chunky drum ‘n bass programming of Matt Bronleewe (who has also worked with Rebecca St James and Michael W. Smith) and then for good measure add the Prague Philharmonic!

Plumb is one of those artists that this reviewer feels we should be thankful is choosing to add her take on music and life to the Christian industry. Fresh, honest and full of integrity, this is an album that will speak directly to the heart, the emotions and the spirit.

Justin Michael can be heard weekday mornings on Geelong-based radio station 96.3 - www.rhemafm.org.au.

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