But that's a goal of little interest to these four focused ministers of music. Co-lead singer Jason Germain says "The goal isn't to land in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The goal is to represent Christ in all or our relationships. The band and the music are the medium we're using to paint this picture of what it looks like to be a Christian." With "Wide-eyed and Mystified" they prove themselves once again as artists extraordinaire.
Following their 2003 Dove Award and the oddly simultaneous disconnect from Word Records, the four members of Downhere, Marc Martel (vox, guitar, keys), Jason Germain (vox, guitar, keys), Glenn Lavender (bass), and Jeremy Thiessen (drums), cautiously sought the Lord's next direction. They reached a quick consensus of their musical calling, and settled into the writing of the 13 diverse, finely-detailed songs, lovingly and attentively crafted to achieve maximum return, sonically and spiritually. Rarely do we see such a dead-on bulls-eye.
"Wide-eyed and Mystified" is the glorious culmination of the strengths of Downhere, including their intelligent songwriting, their unique vocal abilities and arrangements, and their mature faith. It's a winning combination, and the resulting 13 songs are each worthy of note. Space doesn't permit me extensive coverage of each, but I'm hard pressed to omit a single one.
Opener "The More" is an exuberant hook-heavy rocker that slams with both enthusiasm and solid exhortation, directing us toward developing a real faith, the album's theme. Throughout the entire project Downhere consistently drives toward the ultimate target, solidity in Christ. What makes their ministry so outstanding is the superiority of their tools, the amazing music they utilize to promote their message. On top of that weightiness, "The More" is sheer fun.
"Surrender" is notable for a few things. First, Downhere's unusual vocal arrangements: Martel, an extremely expressive singer with an enormous range, and Germain, whose softer vocals are equally solid, share lead duties, trading back and forth to fit the need. The result is an exciting, multifaceted sound that continues to surprise throughout. "Surrender" also showcases the band's lyrical artistry: "I end where you begin/ Lose it all to win/ A constant realign/ Beneath your love divine/ In this fall without a bottom/the deeper my surrender/ the higher we will rise." Downhere's songwriting rises far above the tired and trite lyrics of less committed Christian bands.
Forced by space constraints to contain my raving, I'll close by noting the following: the gorgeous classical overtones of ballad "A Better Way," the passionately driving "Dying to Know You," the anthemic rocker with the hooky chorus "I Will Follow Your Voice," the engaging vocal interplay of tribute "Little is Much," the timely word to today's church in pop-rocker "Stir," the powerfully moving and important "Forgive Yourself," one of my favorites, the artfully arranged worship song "Unbelievable," the cleverly insightful and pointed "The Real Jesus," the softly groovin' "1000 Miles Apart" with its perceptively challenging call against racism, and another favorite, the melodic, throbbing closer, "I Miss You Here." I wish I had more space to rant and rave about Downhere's "Wide-eyed and Mystified," one of the year's best, setting the standard for excellence in a genre crying for it.
