 Mark
Hansen breaks new ground in the area of LDS music with his freshman
release, One United Generation. Though there are songs on the CD with
more of a pop feel, the majority of the tracks have an edgier sound
that up to this point hasn't graced the shelves of LDS bookstores.
Listening through the first few songs, I noticed a little bit of a
homemade sound, but this soon disappeared, being covered up by higher
aspects of the album such as lyrics and catchy tunes.
There are hints of other bands strewn throughout the album. "He's
Out There" has a little bit of a Blink 182-ish sound to it, and
is comparable to music found on any pop radio station. Arguably the
strongest similarity in One United Generation to a popular band is
found in "Millstones". If someone played the music from
this song and didn't tell me who it was, I'd think I was listening
to Metallica. Seriously. The powerful, rhythmic guitar playing lends
to this definitely being the (dare I say) hardest song on the album.
A personal favorite of the CD is "Toy Soldiers", a song
that breaks ranks from the rest of the bunch, and is more soft-spoken
and introspective. A rolling drum beat begins the track, and the vocals
seem to convey more emotion than most other songs on the album.
The vocals on "Pharisee" seem to be a bit muted through
the verses, though the music of the song sounds like the inner workings
of a factory, and makes a unique, catchy background. "Here in
Me" has a contagious energy and likeability that makes the song
a perfect opening for the album.
Hansen's singing is sincere and heartfelt, though it sounds a bit
strained, especially on some of the higher notes. His singing may
not be the best in the world, but Hansen's music has certainly crossed
the line and brought rock music to the LDS market. Parents can rest
assured that when their teens are cranking this one up, they won't
need to worry about the filth that has become so prevalent in today's
music. It's good to see a risk-taker like Hansen jump outside the
circle of what the LDS market has become used to.
3 Stars
out of 5
------------------------
Cory
Reese
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