Live Blogging "The Water and the Blood" by Sojourn

This is Sojourn's latest release. I had never heard this record before and I simply documented my thoughts as I heard it.  You can get their new release here.  Be sure to watch the video at the end.

The Water and the Blood - Sojourn

Absent from Flesh - Emotive intro. Love the swells. I am getting the vibe that this record is going to be a bit more organic. Feels more earthy right out of the gate. Love Brooks’ voice. At least I think that is him singing. Very cool guitar swells. I think I have heard this song before. The other EP? That one has this huge groove drop in but this one is more of a country sort of feel, less produced. That is not a good or bad thing. I think I hear an upright bass? Nice. Great guitar tones. Twin guitar solos is very cool. Definitely more of a live feel. This recording sounds more wide open. Wish the drums were mixed a bit louder. This Brooks Ritter dude can flat out sing.

The Water and the Blood - Ok, I think I get what is going on here. Going for a way more live, organic, wide open sound that is less produced and polished. It’s a good vibe. Less studio tricks and going for more raw instrument sounds. I like it. I would be curious to hear how the drums were mic’d. Sounds almost like more of a jazz approach. This drummer on this track sounds like he could lay down a good swing feel. The 3/4 tune here is romantic and lazy in a Sunday afternoon kind of way. Lead vocal has a classic jazz tone to it. Warm, fast vibrato. Very vintage. Great voice.

From Deep Distress - Nice guitar tone and riff. Sounds like the Black Keys. This gal can sing. This song grooves nicely. The vocal here sounds mixed a bit more out front. I really like how this record has a consistent sound. Makes you feel like you are experiencing a whole event and not just singular stand alone songs. Now I am really head bobbing. Very cool riff and feel. So far this is an album that guitar players are going to love. Some very cool tones and parts. Well done on the orchestrations. Wouldn’t mind hearing a little less reverb and delay from time to time. Not sure I am hearing how I could use these tunes in corporate worship, but maybe that is not the point. Melodies sound a bit complex for congregational use. I could be wrong on that.

Compel My Heart to Sing - Very nice intro. Very nice “out of the key” chords changes on the chorus. Didn’t expect to hear that. I like how the vocals get passed around on this record. This gal has many different tones in her voice. Would like to hear her more. This melody is interesting but doesn’t quite grab me. I am grabbed by all these different guitar tones. I no fan of country music but I dig the vibe on this track.

Let The Seventh Angel Sound - Cool organ riff. This sounds more like something that could be sung in a congregation. Very nice groove. Great bass line. The tambourine holds it all together. There is a lot going on in this track in terms of musical busyness and that can be recipe for disaster but they are holding is all together quite well.

Oh God Our Help in Ages Past - Not my favorite. This one is a bit too country for my liking.

Deep in Our Hearts - I like the dark flavor of this tune with the tuned down guitars and minor tonality. Almost sounds like the main guitar riff is hinting at quoting “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder. Nice! Big vocals at the end are passionate and powerful.

Blest Be The Lamb - Oh no! Here comes the banjo! You know how I feel about banjos. This song is an old-fashioned country hoe down. Uh... Where are my over-alls? I can hear the cows mooing in the background. Not my favorite but nice change of pace and executed quite well! Nice build into the last chorus breakdown.

Death Had Lost Its Sting - Great guitar tone with a big fat juicy organ. Soulful. Another great guitar solo with yet another new tone for the listener. I like the big vocals on the chorus.

Early My God - Love the crusty piano. I like this gal’s voice a lot. My favorite thus far. This melody is strong. This song has a poignant beauty to it. Sounds useable as well for congregation use. Great choice to let this gal sing with a more sparse accompaniment. Great guitar swells.

Let Your Blood Plead For Me - Interesting reverb on the lead vocal. Wow, didn’t expect that piano part. I didn’t think I was going to like this song, but now I do. Fun, happy, and upbeat. It will make you smile and celebrate. Nice chord changes after the first chorus. Made my ears perk up. Lead vocal has a seriously fast vibrato. Drummer should be commended. This is not an easy feel to play well. He/she did.

The World Will Know - Melody is not really grabbing me. Love the falsetto vocals on the end of the chorus. Very nice. Yet more great guitar tones and parts. Very sweet Wurli riff there. Great singers and loving the Wurli use on this track. Wish they had used it more on other tracks. Cool song over all.

Conclusion:
All in all I really like the cohesive vibe and tone of this record. The guitar tones and parts seem to me to be quite noteworthy and of course they have great vocalists as usual. Guitar players will love this record. After one listen, this record is not my favorite that I have heard from Sojourn but most certainly will grow on me. I really dig what they were trying to accomplish here. I’m not sure the melodies on the songs are quite as memorable on the whole as some of their records in the past but on the whole it’s certainly a strong addition to their catalogue.

You can get their new release here.