Search - Various Artists :: Roaring Lambs

The Roar that shook the world

Christopher J. Ouellette | NH, USA | 06/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is based on the book by Bob Bringer (by the sametitle) The Thesis of Roaring Lambs is that the Church of America (inhole, not denominations) is one of the largest organizations in the country. Despite this it has the least effect on the culture of any organization. Bob Bringer contests that the reason for this is Christians retreating from "culture shaping venues" and not being "salt and light." the Book Roaring Lambs truly is a "simple plan to affect your cultur." This is a great album, and if it inspirers you to read the book it is even better. This album ranges in style and everyone is at the top of there game. These people saw the Vision that Bob Bringer pointed out in his book, to Reach the culture for Christ by being a positive influence in it, and not just cursing it. Highlights include the first duet by Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapmen (if you like that sort of thing) The first new stuff to come from STEVE TAYLOR in a long time (a song that has hints of industrial with lots of new Orleans piano it's very cool) , new stuff from defunct PFR and a great song from Sixpence (accessible like Kiss Me but not as pop-ie or dippy) Michael Tate (of DC Talk) teams up with Ashley Cleveland for a great Gospel/rocker "Salt and Light". The songs in this album all focus on getting out there and living your faith so that other can see. Being a city on the hill, instead of a giant church organization that has NO effect on the culture that it's in."

More Than We Want to Handle

E. [Holmes] Asbenson | Michigan and Virginia, USA | 02/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I hear listeners complain- and I often agree- that CCM music is too much fluff and not enough substance, that you could just as easily insert the word "baby" for "Jesus" to secularize the song, and no one would know the difference. With that said, the responses to this album seem to indicate that when we are presented with a work of greater depth and thought, it remains on the back of the shelf gathering dust. Listeners complain that it wasn't what they expected, that it wasn't their usual, easily digested fluffy mix. They want a solution, but they don't like working through the answer. This album is an incredible, eclectic mix from talented writers and musicians who bring more to the table than a pre-made batch for trend-chasing success. The lyrics feature inspired metaphors with thought-provoking depth, but it takes a little more attention and contemplation to truly enjoy the layers of this album than would your average CCM pop piece. This is a work of great subtlety and taste, but it is not for easy listening.



I very much enjoyed "Daisies and Roses" by Burlap to Cashmere's Stephen Delopoulos and "Headstrong" by Jars of Clay both for their beauty and for their slight tilt from each of the bands' usual sounds. "Daisies and Roses" has a slightly more folk-colored appeal, very characteristic of Mr. Delopoulos's personal release "Me Died Blue." "Headstrong" is in a sense a pre-cursor to the sound of Jars' more recent release "Who We Are Instead." The refreshing and excellently executed rhythm and vocals of "Akehlulek Ubaba" is a great highlight of the album.



There were only a couple of mild disappointments from line up that is, on the whole, stellar. Ginny Owens displayed a much lower level of instrumental sophistication than on her personal releases. "Out There" by Mr. Smith and Mr. Chapman was a very easy, extremely mellow, and on the whole uninspired piece. I have heard far better work from each of them, particularly on some of there earlier releases, so there does not seem to be any accounting for this anomaly.



On the whole, an excellent compilation for someone weary of the average, run-of-the-mill CCM fare. Add a little bit of eclectic, spiritually sound spice to your collection with this album."

Excellent "odds-and-ends" compilation of Christian bands

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 07/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, I have not read the "Roaring Lambs" book to which this album is a companion, as I am going strictly on what I heard on the CD.



"Roaring Lambs" (12 tracks, 49 min., released in 2000) brings music of some of my all time favorite bands. The highlights for me are Over the Rhine's "Goodbye", an outstanding evocative song that would appear one year later on OtR's "Films for Radio" album (still their best album to date). Then there is Sixpence None the Richer's "The Ground You Shook", an introverted gentil song from Matt Slocum and Leigh Nash (this track would later be included on "The Best of Sixpence None the Richer, released in 2004). Then there is Bill Mallonnee & Vigilantes of Love's "Wondering Where the Lions Are", an excellent cover of the 1979 Bruce Cockburn song. Those three songs alone are worth the price of the CD as such. Other good songs are the contributions of Ashley Cleveland & Michael Tait, Steve Taylor (not to be confused with Aerosmith's Steve Tyler), and Burlap to Cashmere.



When this album came out in 2000, it didn't garner much attention, which is a pity. While there is some filler, there is a LOT of great music on here, punctuated by the last three tracks on the album, by Over the Rhine, Bill Mallonnee and Sixpence. You can probably get this for a few dollars in the used bin store or here on Amazon, and it's absolutely worth that.



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