• It's About Time It's About Jesus by Cory Engel of CelticChristianTunes.com
• Warrior of the Cross by Cory Engel of CelticChristianTunes.com

It's About Time It's About Jesus

After a long absence from the studio, The Carpenter's Son brings us a new album, just in time for the 2004 holiday season.

It's About Time It's About Jesus is a collection of 13 new songs, three of which are original Christmas tunes.

With acoustic instrumentation including flutes and whistles, guitar, mandolin, piano, and a heavy vocal emphasis, The Carpenter's Son could best be described as an acoustic folk band with a strong Celtic influence (though they aren't strictly a traditional Celtic act).

Bible-based ecumenical lyics pervade the album; believers will identify with It's About Time's diverse themes ranging from God's direction, Christmas celebration, and repentance.

"Silent Night" is undoubtedly the finest track on the album. Through an application of the traditional lyrics to a sweet new tune, this new version of one of Christendom's favorite Christmas songs provides a fresh sound while staying true to the spirit of the hymn. It's vocals are also particularly tight, whereas most of the album has a more folksy sound with strong vocal vibratos that don't lend themselves to smooth blending of timbres.

Of particular interest to CelticChristianTunes.com readers will be the thickly Celtic-influenced "The Brotherless Child", a tune with a provocative counterpoint between major and minor keys and traditional Celtic and modern sounds.

Folk styles represented on It's About Time range from bluegrass to Celtic that form a mostly cohesive sound. One notable exception is "Now I Lay Me Down", a song inspired by the children's traditional bedtime prayer whose jazzy melody and chord progressions give it a "lounge act" sort of feel that, while well executed, may seem out of place to some listeners.

Though this album may reflect more experimentation with musical styles, fans of 2001's "Warrior of the Cross", will find familiar territory in The Carpenter's Son's newest album.

Due in mid-November 2004, ordering information for It's About Time It's About Jesus may be found at the band's official web site.

--Cory C. Engel, CelticChristianTunes.com

Warrior of the Cross

Some new CDs are the kind that one listens to once, immediately loves, and plays repeatedly until its welcome is prematurely worn out. This is certainly not true of this recording. Though I did like The Carpenter's Son's Warrior of the Cross upon an initial listen, after 3 or 4 sittings, it is really beginning to grow on me. For that reason, I suspect it will be in my regular CD rotation longer than a lot of other CDs.

The Carpenter's Son has been playing together in British Columbia for several years. This is their first recording since 1994's Angels Will Be Dancing.

Most of the album shows subtle Celtic influences that somehow sound "New-Worldy", yet they retain an Old-World spirit. At times, its folksy male-female harmonies are reminiscent of Peter, Paul, and Mary. A few tracks have a strong country flavor, while two a capella songs highlight the group's vocal abilities with tight chording.

The first of these vocal tunes, "He is Coming" is a simple earnest prayer:

Come Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit come
Rain down Your gifts from heaven
Fill our lives with peace
Fill our hearts with love

This leads directly into "Fires that Burn", one of three very catchy tunes that have a heavier Celtic sound.

One of my favorite songs on Warriors is "Angels will be Dancing", a joyous and uplifting look forward to the return of Christ:

Lift your voice, lift your voice!
The Joy we expected has come
To gather together His children forever
To live His perfect love

"Angels will be Dancing" is a catchy (almost addictive) reminder that this dark world is not our home--a place of infinite joy awaits!

Warriors of the Cross clearly demonstrates that The Carpenter's Son has talent and promise. Hopefully we'll see more from this original band before too much time goes by.