- Just Pretending
- Something to Give
- What in the World
- The Wasteland
- Land of the Living
- To See Your Face
- Everybody Wants Everything
- More Is Less
- Free
- No Trespassing
- Not Alone
- I've Got a Hope
On what's essentially a refreshingly non-preachy commentary on modern culture, Carolyn Arends'
There's not a bad song in the bunch, and some moments stand out more than others—including the energetic opener "Just Pretending" with its relevant message and clever turns of phrase like "Family full of achievers/Beat the Jones and be the Cleavers/Give the lawn a manicure/No rough edges, that's for sure," and the somber Mark Heard song "To See Your Face" that articulates a desire that every Christian has had one time or another: "If I ever get to hear Your voice/And I can take it/I'm certain that I will listen/To the better choice/And I will make it."
"More Is Less" is also a poignant and catchy take on the truth that having all the world has to offer will actually leave you empty in the end. And while there's ultimately a few lulls musically by album's end (personally, 10 tracks would have been better than 12 here), the project is a step in a more progressive direction for the singer/songwriter that'll likely throw a few listeners for a loop while eliciting a resounding "amen" from those bored with the usual candy-coated sentiments that's been served up again and again already in typical Christian music.