- Love Is the Bridge
- Radiance
- The Call
- Fall
- The Only Love
- The Anchor
- Grace Alive
- All Praise Rising
- Rescue
- No End
- I Am Yours
"Welcome to a world that's complicated."
Right from the start of their debut effort,
Of course, the band doesn't revel in angst, eventually pointing to the Answer, and reminding us in their second track "Radiance" that "All good things come from You." But instead of favoring the pat answers that praise music is often criticized for, The Museum's lyrical content strays away from the trite in favor of recognizing our emptiness without God in our lives. It's a captivating call to action that ends on a high note with the Ecclesiastes-inspired "Meaningless," which packs a punch emotionally for anyone who's dealt with the heartbreak of a failed relationship.
Unfortunately, the same thoughtful approach didn't naturally extend to the musical wing of this Museum. The skillful production certainly ups the ante from the usual indie project, but the arrangements are far too perfunctory to give The Museum any real distinction. On the opening track "Love is the Bridge,"The Museum merely sounds like a Lifehouse knock-off. Later, both "The Call" and "The Anchor" could've been sung by Building 429, and I wouldn't have known the difference. It's not to say that Richter's voice isn't pleasing enough, but the band's musicianship as accompaniment certainly doesn't make The Museum's overall sound unique.
However, in the battle of style versus substance, I'd opt for substance any day of the week. One just hopes that The Museum will be equally adventurous in their musicianship on future endeavors. At least lyrically, thanks to poetic turns of phrase and a spot-on analysis of the human condition, they're already off to an impressive start.
For more information on The Museum, check out www.museumband.com.
Christa Banister
Attn: Independent Christian Artists
300 E. 4th St. Suite 406
St. Paul, MN 55101