Search - Caedmon's Call :: Share the Well

Snapshots and Invitations

Thomas H. Ayers | Bowie, MD United States | 10/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Caedmon's Call promised us something different with their song "A New Day" on this year's retrospective Chronicles, and with Share the Well, they don't disappoint. This CD is unlike anything they have ever done: part travelogue, part call to action, part multimedia experience, and part trial-by-fire for its resident songwriters.



The Concept: Long interested in charity abroad, the band decided to visit the lands they have tried to help. The band traveled to Ecuador, Brazil, and India to meet with Christians and musicians in these countries to raise awareness of how life there is different from here in the U.S.--and to encourage listeners to lend a hand.



Travelogue: Local musicians played with the band, and their work permeates the album extensively either as prefaces or integral parts of Caedmon's Call songs. Local stories gave birth to several songs: "All I Need (I Did Not Catch Her Name)," "Volcanoland," and "The Roses." The net result is not a world music-influenced album like Long Line of Leavers but a folk music anthology. Caedmon's Call is a true world folk band here, and the musicianship of drummer Todd Bragg, percussionist Garett Buell, musical polymath Joshua Moore, and eclectic Andrew Osenga legitimize the band's collaboration with the very capable local talent. The album is very much Caedmon's Call and very much something organically new.



The Songs: Although doctrine and belief motivates much in this album, the songs are primarily portraits: of individuals and families that the band met and the bandmembers' responses to what they experienced. In some cases, especially the beautiful "Wings of the Morning" and somewhat martial "Dalit Hymn," the band's reactions were so strong that the resulting songs became something quite new for a Caedmon's album: political.



Beside's the band's resident composers Joshua Moore and Andrew Osenga, they took with them Randall Goodgame and Aaron Sensemen. More often than not a collaborative effort, the songs were principally written or co-written by Goodgame (7), Osenga (6), and Moore (5). Goodgame's catchy "Share the Well" kicks off the CD and provides the theme for the album; inspired by an incident in India, it encourages sharing both material and spiritual blessings. Goodgame and Osenga's "Mother India" is a moving and majestic hymn beautifully sung by Danielle Young. Moore's "Volcanoland" is a hoot--accompanied by the very family band it's about!--with a fine vocal by Cliff Young. Osenga and Miller's(!) "The Roses" is a simple and simply beautiful meditation on simple living. Moore and Goodgame's "Dalit Hymn" concludes the CD with a gutsy plea for abolition of the caste system that brings torment to the Dalit people in India: "caste is a lie". When the songs aren't snapshots of local life, they are portraits of the inner lives of bandmembers and how they reacted to what they saw: Osenga's "Bombay Rain" and the first hidden track, especially, do this best. Enjoying an album like this almost makes one forget the culture shock the band must have repeatedly experienced.



Multimedia: The album is enhanced with video from the band's travels and messages from Dalit Freedom Network and Compassion International. The Dalit Freedom Network video was very interesting. The band's videos show some of the local musicians who participated in this project, but images of them interacting with the band are fleeting. The second hidden track makes up for this with an extended, exciting performance by some local group.



Overall: As a folk album, Share the Well is very entertaining. As evidence of a band alive and kicking, the CD succeeds. In many ways, the band had something to prove, for it had lost its lead guitarist and talented songwriter, Derek Webb, to a solo career and replaced him with Andrew Osenga. This is the first album where Osenga has been a major player in songwriting, and he doesn't disappoint. He seems to have found his niche in the band. Although his vocals will take some getting used to, he has an interesting voice that can take some surprising turns, as seen in "Bombay Rain". As a call to action, I think the CD speaks very eloquently of how the artists have matured and moved increasingly outward from the cozy world of Christian circles to the world's unforgiving stage. They want to make a difference, and they invite us to join them. Whether we accept or not, they seem determined to move forward."

Share the Wealth Baby

Forrest Walker | Chattanooga, TN | 10/13/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Now wait just a minute Holmes. The first reviewer on here is a victim of not giving this album a chance to resonate. I bought this much anticipated album on its release day (Oct 12) and my first reaction was, "Is this some kind of joke"? I got home and listened to a few more cuts and slept on it. On my way to work and all throughout the day I kept playing this album and I finally got it! This album is nothing but a huge labor of love between this band and the Indian Dalit nation. What you have here is a beautifully woven taperstry of American Folk Music with a middle eastern influence. Caedmon's travelled to India, Equador, and Brazil to record and write this album and I think the album is absolutly beautiful.

First off-the cover art and inside artwork on this CD are stunning. I was lucky enough to obtain several posters of the album cover and it is just awesome. The artwork should win the Dove Award for album artwork.

By FAR-the highlight of this album is "Mother India". This song will go down as one of the most touching songs Caedmon's has ever recorded. If this song doesn't give you chills you need an IV. Highlights include the title cuts touching lyrics, "All I Need", "Volcanoland"-which is just a fun cool song, "The Roses"-beautiful story, and "Wings of the Morning".

It is so great to hear Andrew Osenga's influence on this album. The former lead singer of "The Normals" really adds a great mix to the CD-and his song "Bombay Rain" fits in perfectly. I don't miss Derek Webb at all-especially since his new album "I See Things Upside Down" comes out next month. Also-Danielle Young's vocals are as tight as ever-especially on "Mother India". "There's Only One"-the album's first single is so-so but with very powerful lyrics and a cool drum beat. "International Love Song" is a wierd song and "Dalit Hymn" is nothing to get excited about. "The Innocent's Corner" is a great Josh Moore moment.

Folks-I don't write too many glowing reviews but I encourage you to give this album a chance. Go into this record with an OPEN MIND and don't be too quick to judge. If you do-I think you will be making a mistake. The album also includes an enhanced CD portion and 2 hidden tracks-one of which is a hidden Andrew Osenga track titled, "I Miss You"-the other is a middle eastern sounding song."

Yet another exceptional album...

P. D. Nelson | Dallas, TX | 01/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Caedmons' Call has once again demonstrated their ability as phenomenal musicians and lyricists, as well as strong keepers of the faith with Share the Well. The album is an emotional account of the group's travels to various parts of the world and their interaction with oppressed people groups, namely the Dalit people of India. The band also combined native instrumentation and style into their already unique sound to create this new and sensational album.



I, like some others, was a little meek about Caedmon's adventure into world music, but being a die-hard fan I picked up the CD. Like many other Caedmon's Call albums, you will find after a few listens of Share the Well that the whole cd is great and that listening to your favorite songs on the album usually entails listening to the entire cd. Many lament the loss of Derek Webb's song writing ability (he has a new album out!), but I found that Caedmon's Call lyricists Joshua Moore, Randall Goodgame, and Andrew Osenga have really proven their ability (in the true spirit of Caedmons) to write music that is deeply personal and truly inspired (See songs: Mother India, The Roses, Innocent's Corner). Humble (yet exceptional) musicianship and self-less love for oppressed peoples has yielded this fine album. If you would like to hear music that is a real treat for the ears and may soften your heart for the world, check this album out. You will not be disappointed."