LIBERTY AND JUSTICE - SOUNDTRACK OF A SOUL
The first thing I need to say is that Justin has obviously learned a few lessons after the release of WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION. This album is 99.9% rap free. What about that .1 percent? Well, you'll have to buy the album to see what I mean. Don't worry, I guarantee you will not be put out by it. Also, this stands up much better as a hard rockin' album and will surely be more pleasing to the majority of the people who are going to be interested in hearing and buying it.
Let's go to the songs...
INTO - OK, this is way cool as we get the best part of the pre-performance prayer from the movie SCHOOL OF ROCK and the promise to melt some faces.
KINGS OF HOLLYWOOD - This song comes on with a full frontal attack of rock and roll and features some nice lead guitar.
ANOTHER NAIL - Another rocker with a great vocal delivery from Sebastian Bach.
STATE OF GRACE - This one lightens up a bit with a more melodic rock approach, but I like this song.
MALICE IN WONDERLAND - This song features Jamie Rowe and it's more of a ballad about fallen man. It's not bad, but it's not my favorite.
GRENADE - These boys from Bride know how to rock and this song is no exception. I quit listening to Bride a couple albums ago, so I really can't compare this to what they are doing now, but both this song and the song on WTTR are top notch rock and roll.
SHOW ME THE WAY - This is good heavy rock. I like it.
SIGHT UNSEEN - No this isn't a remake of the old Petra song. But this is a really good song in it's own right and it's really nice to see Leif Garrett taking part in something like this.
UP THAT HILL - This is more of a heavy rock ballad and a pretty good one at that.
SURREAL - This is basically just a little comedy bit. There is no actual song here. It's OK I guess, but I would have prefered to have had an actual song from Scott Wenzel, especially in light of the fact that he got stuck with a rap song last time and this dude needs a song where he can really put that awesome voice to some good use.
FLINCH - This is another good 'n' heavy tune.
THY WILL BE DONE - This is a really good song and I'm glad because I have the joy of knowing that in some small way, I helped inspire Justin to write this one. I'll let Justin decide if he ever wants to provide the back story on that one. Anyway, it's one of my favorites on the album.
KILLER GRIN - Now this is my kind of melt your face rock and roll and since we didn't get a song from Scott Wenzel, Stephen Pearcy is probably the next best thing.
IF THE WORLD COULD BE MINE - This one just doesn't do much for me. Sorry.
ALWAYS TOMORROW - This song is much better and I think it's one of those that will grow on me with time.
HOPE & PRAY/BALLAD OF KING DAVID - This is a story song of both triumph and failure, but most of all, it's about hope in God. Another good song.
MAKE BELIEVE - A pretty good rock ballad, but it would have been nice to hear Mike Lee on something heavy. I know, complain, complain complain. You can't please everyone, right?
OUTRO - Here we get a nice little sermonette from Justin and an invitation to receive salvation. A very cool move and the right way to end something like this. Well, then again, there is that rap thing.
"Ah, what da ya mean, Mike?"
Buy the album. It's well worth it.
- Mike Tifft
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