Jan 13, 2003 12:16 PM
4799 Views
(Updated Jan 13, 2003 12:16 PM)
My introduction to Darrell Evans was quite accidental. A couple of years ago I went to see some friends perform at a small 'coffeehouse' to an informal gathering. They opened with Trading My Sorrows and sang it again towards the end by popular request! I still remember my friend freaking out on the drums and the song rang in my head... although I never knew who sang it. A few days later when I was doing an MP3 search for some other song I saw Trading my Sorrows sitting in the middle of the results. Soon it was on my computer and I had discovered darrell Evans. A couple of MP3s more and I was ready to buy
His album. FREEDOM appeared in my bookstore a few months later and the rest of the experience follows! This is not a live album but the worship mood is felt throughout the 10 songs. The album is off to an explosive start with the first three songs setting a blazing speed! Trading My Sorrows starts off with an innocent sounding bass intro but they slowly builds up into an absolutely mesmerizing interplay of drums, bass and guitars. This is probably one of Darrell's most famous numbers and is a popular praise song in many churches. Listen to it once and you'll understand why!! I'm trading my sorrows....for the joy of the Lord: That's Darrell's invitation to the album. So Good To Me crashes in with a roll on the drums and keeps you riveted with a fast tempo. This is another great song to sing live. Some of the words are almost childish but run deep. You got me jumping/and now I'm singing/... You're so good to me The theme song Freedom is another livewire of a song and has plenty of pace changes. Where the Spirit of the Lord is... There is Freedom. Kinda puts the whole purpose of the album into perspective. The pace the abruptly slows down with 2 slower numbers - I am in Love with You is a song straight from the heart and has Darrell soulfully singing out I can't get enough of you... 'Coz I am in Love with You. The quietness continues with I Know.. The second half of the album opens briskly with the rather peppy sounding You Bless Me. This has a rather finger-snapping, feet-tapping rhythm. Just as the song seems to be over Darrell brings back a 2 chord guitar jingle that goes on for a minute or so... funny how 2 chords can make the song so addictive.. it will ring in your ears long after the song is over!! bring back all the guitars and distortion and you have When I pray packing in some extra punch into the album as he rips through the song with some excellent guitarworks. The album then slows down again with You are My Portion
Next is the most intimate song in the whole album. Your Love is Extravagant has the fewest words in the album but is one of the longest songs as it blends some quiet interludes with Darrell's vocals to churn out a song that is quiet and worshipful The album then closes with I lay me down - a simple song that is a song of surrender. It's lyrics are a reminder of what what this album is about. ... and Freedom is now the song that I sing as it slowly fades away.
On the whole, the guitar driven music is excellent and no two songs are alike. Quite a few of the songs are singable. All are catchy. The mood is good and most of all it is uplifting!! The album artwork is good. Needless to say the cover is a textured photo of Darrell with his guitar. There are full lyrics and some other photos. Makes a pretty CD!!
