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The rich complexity of Andrew Osenga’s "The Morning" has me spellbound. He has tapped into my soul in a way specific and yet indescribable, but it feels very Americana.
He is at once optimistic and pragmatic; he veers from whimsical to straight ahead rock in a blinding instant, and he makes it work at every turn. Produced outstandingly by Osenga and Cason Cooley, the project is divided into halves, Morning & Evening, and contains four mini-songs that serve as chapter introductions. They are sparkling slice of life grace notes, possessing the insight of Sufjan Stevens, with the same stunning effect. "After the Garden" is the first full length track, surprising you with its solid rock groove, chords as thick as walls under impassioned wailing of our endless need for our father's arms. The sparkling production values show up clearly on "White Dove," as does Osenga's spectacular songwriting chops. It's another glorious track thick with sound, his raspy vocals expressing the deep longing of the lyrics brilliantly. Speaking of brilliance, the up-tempo rocker "Santa Barbara" burns with Springsteen-like urgency, the B3 simmering beneath the tight groove of the rhythm section. Thundering guitars and hi-hats lay a rich bed for Osenga's story of young love, with all the élan and power of Bruce at his best. We've never seen this side of Osenga before, but it's as if he was born for it. The seething "Dance Away the City" may be one of the most romantic songs of the decade, deeply satisfying in its quiet groove. The "Evening" half of the album is more introspective, and "House of Mirrors" is typical of the slice of life coverage throughout. One of the things I enjoyed most about "The Morning" is the variety of topics Osenga covers, each one unsparingly. "House" reaches out to a withdrawn friend with a sincerity that speaks of the caring we all long for from our relationships. Its intricate guitar solo adds to the real life feel of the track, and in fact, the entire album comes across with this same authenticity. The chapter song "Just a Kid" reveals a youthful cruelty from his past, typical of Osenga's truthful bravery throughout the album. The R&B slow burn of "Trying to Get This Right" sounds like real marriage to me, but it too is ripe with passion and more of that fierce rhythm section. He opens another vein in "All the Wrong Reasons," addressing the universal affliction of wrong motivations. His storyteller chops come on strong in standout track "New Beginnings," and the lyrics in this redemption tale are nothing short of stunning: "And I can feel a prayer rising/ and I don't even know the words/ still the groaning is the postage/ And it will not be returned/ Though we're living in this rubble/ of our reckless plans and games/ we are reaching for the promise/ that we will not stay the same." But if "New Beginnings" is standout, I don't even know what to call quiet closer "Early in the Morning." Osenga manages through the quiet calm of this track to recreate the still feel of early morning, and his images of a family's awakening are dead on, leaving us with hope, thankfully mindful of the beauty of the ordinary. Andrew Osenga has won me over completely with the intelligence, honesty and sheer beauty of "The Morning." One of the year's richest offerings.
The copyright of the article Andrew Osenga: The Morning in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Andrew Osenga: The Morning in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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