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A Best Fourth Release Honorable Mention in the 2006 Awards

 

Kutless’ fourth album Hearts Of The Innocent blends portions of their first- and second-release music styles together and then also adds a touch of something new. While, overall, this is still not the Hard-Edged Rock/Hard Rock of their debut, it does take a step back in that direction.

The album begins with its title track, the lyrics of which deliver a cutting message on the state of today’s families and youth (and on who is ultimately responsible).

Next is “Shut Me Out”, an excellent, quite heavy rocker with powerful vocals. Lyrically it states that the message of truth will go on, even after they’re gone; and while they’re here, they won’t stop telling it no matter what happens.

“Beyond The Surface”, another quite heavy rocker, deals with the false (yet often extreme) pressures of image, and also with the rampant problem of self-injury.

“Smile” musically moves into non-heavy Rock. Lyrically, it describes how we can sometimes change a life by starting with just a simple smile.

“Promise Of A Lifetime” is the first true slowdown of the CD, with a piano lead at first and medium rock later on.

“Winds Of Change” picks the pace back up a bit, especially during the chorus and final bridge, where the heavy guitars crank in.

“Somewhere In The Sky”, a rocker that is quite heavy in places (indeed, even as heavy as their debut!) picks up the pace even more.

“Mistakes” is musically lighter; lyrically, it encourages you to learn from both your own mistakes and also from others’.

“Push Me Away” contrasts softer verses with an excellent heavy-rock chorus.

“Changing World” is a slower track with soft verses and a medium-rock chorus.

“Million Dollar Man” gets right back into the great heavy rock. Lyrically, it warns you not to forsake relationships and true happiness for eventually-empty money and fame.

And finally “Legacy”, still another great heavy rocker, closes off the album with the message to not let your past control you.

Special Edition Bonus Content:

The Special Edition comes with a DVD that contains the entire Kutless music video collection to date, and four extra acoustic-version tracks on the CD.

The acoustic “Shut Me Out”‘s vocals are still powerful, yet the music consists of only several acoustic guitars. This is a somewhat odd combination, and the original heavy-rock version is better; but this version is still good.

“Smile” is a great acoustic version (utilizing a bass and piano as well as acoustic guitars), and just as good as the original.

“Somewhere In The Sky”‘s acoustic version, like “Shut Me Out”‘s acoustic, is a little odd because of its powerful-vocal/somewhat-bare-music combo, but it’s still good.

And “Changing World”‘s acoustic, like “Smile”, is equally as good as the original version.

Our rating for Hearts Of The Innocent: 4 & 3/4 Stars.

 

Strong Tower is a different album than their previous ones in that it is entirely Rock Worship. Though it is occasionally acoustic-driven and there is no Hard-Edge per se, it still does rock quite a bit, making for some cool worship versions.

There are ten covers (“We Fall Down”, “Finding Who We Are”, “Take Me In”, “Draw Me Close”, “All Who Are Thirsty”, “Better Is One Day”, “Jesus Lord Of Heaven”, “I Lift My Eyes Up”, “Word Of God Speak”, and “Arms Of Love” {the last featuring Anne-Marie Hunsaker}) and three original songs written by the band (“Ready For You”, “All Of The Words”, and “Strong Tower”).

Deluxe Edition Bonus Material:

The Deluxe Edition contains three extra tracks on the CD (“We Exalt Thee”, “My Savior And My God”, and a live audio version of “Strong Tower”), along with a live video of “Strong Tower” and guitar tabs for several of the songs.

Our rating for Strong Tower: 4 & 1/2 Stars.

 

Sea Of Faces shifts away from the Hard-Edged Rock/Hard Rock combination of Kutless’ previous album to a combo of Rock with a little Hard-Edged Rock. (There are, in fact, only four tracks on this record that really come close to the heaviness of their first.) Even the vocals are less powerful overall.

The disc begins with “Not What You See”, a good rock track with great lyrics.

“All Alone” is a much slower song that does become somewhat powerful (musically) during the chorus. Lyrically, it reaches out to those who feel lonely and hopeless, offering them comfort and hope.

“Better For You” is lyrically almost a sequel to the previous track.

Title track “Sea Of Faces” is slow and mostly (though not entirely) acoustic-driven.

“Let You In” (featuring Benjiman and Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter) is the first of the four heavy tracks— and it’s excellent.

Also-excellent track “Passion”, the second heavy song (in the chorus and bridge— the verses are softer), is lyrically visual and very powerful.

“Perspectives” has slow verses and a medium-paced, medium-rock chorus.

“Treason”, the third heavy track, is (like the other heavy ones) excellent, with some powerful vocals.

“All The Words” is slow and acoustic-driven.

“Troubled Heart”, the last heavy track, gives uplifting lyrics to those who are hurting and in need of healing and love.

And the final track, “It’s Like Me”, is a slow-paced, medium-rock song that lyrically encourages you to think about how you’ve been living your life.

Our rating for Sea Of Faces: 4 & 1/2 Stars.

A Best First Release Nominee in the 2005 Awards

 

Kutless’ classic debut album [still their heaviest (and best) to date] combines Hard-Edged Rock and Hard Rock. This style, along with frontman Jon Micah Sumrall’s medium- to medium-low vocal powerhouse, made it their label’s highest-selling debut at the time of its release.

The album begins with fan favorite “Your Touch”, containing the great Hard-Edged Rock/Hard Rock that fills this entire album. Near the end the song slows and then builds perfectly.

“In Me” has music that is somewhat different from the other tracks during the verses, but during the chorus it returns to the album’s familiar sound.

“Run” has a slower pace, but don’t be fooled— the lyrics are powerful, and the music certainly rocks during the chorus (especially near the end).

“Vow”, kicking the pace back up again, describes not only wanting to change for the better, but actually doing so. Vocally, this song is a great example of Jon Micah’s naturally powerful voice, and the other bandmembers provide a great-sounding harmonious backdrop during the chorus.

“Pride Away” (featuring Benjiman) is another all-around great song. Near the end, guest Benjiman adds some rap verses over excellent guitars, and Jon’s final vocal emphasis finishes off the track in style.

“Down” starts somewhat slow and soft, but the heavy rock kicks in soon after. Lyrically, it describes a girl who is obsessive about her appearance to the point of self-injury, and how destructive and unnecessary that really is.

“Again” begins with background voices and sound effects, and the verses use darker music, picking up into the familiar sound during the chorus. Also, the bridge near the end is quite heavy (and very good).

“Dry” starts slow and then everything builds by steps throughout; in fact, the later choruses are another great vocal-power example.

Full Hard Rock track “Tonight” is the most constantly-heavy track on the disc; and with its great lyrics and excellent, very memorable musical qualities, it’s easy to see why it’s a fan favorite.

“This Time” is another track that begins slow but gradually builds, and again its later choruses are quite powerful (vocally and musically).

“Saved” contrasts softer verses with heavy chorus work.

And the final track “Grace And Love” (featuring Danielle Capps) closes off the CD with the album’s only completely non-heavy track. It’s piano-driven, using only that instrument in the beginning. The rest of the band (and the guest vocalist) jump in towards the middle of the song; and then the track finishes off with piano alone.

In all, this is a great debut album, and we recommend it.

Our rating for Kutless: 5 & 1/4 Stars.