Think Iowa. Think straw-in-the-mouth, corn-fed tractor rock. Think The Afters. Okay, those things are not necessarily bad. Hootie & the Blowfish made a career out of it – in fact I think I have a couple of Hootie albums somewhere – as did John Cougar Mellencamp. The Afters and their debut album, I Wish We All Could Win, is generic rock but that doesn’t make it bad - just easy to listen to.
The foursome from Texas began their careers working at a Starbucks and singing for the customers when it was slow. They have come a long way and taken a very unusual route. The Afters are a respected Christian rock band and are now trying to cross over into mainstream music and take their message with them. I don’t think it’s going to work.
I Wish We All Could Win starts well enough with a rather enjoyable love song, “Beautiful Love”. With distorted guitar and almost heavy bass lines and Josh (frontman number one) Havens’ voice is a less emotive version of Thom Yorke (Radiohead). The track sounds like it could have been interesting. It shows that they are capable of so much more. These boys certainly have talent but seem unwilling to reach for something better.
“The Way You Are” has a harder feel with heavier guitar and excellent bass lines however the lyrics are weak. This time sung by frontman number two, Matt Fuqua, whose voice is stronger and less whiny than Havens. This song is a nice departure; however it’s not enough to lift this album from the blandness it is mired in.
For a band that is trying to “cross over” they really should cut out the Jesus lyrics. The tracks “All That I Am” and “You” are both love songs to Jesus and God. I think that’s fine and dandy when that’s the reason you buy an album but when thrown in with mainstream songs the album feels contrived. I found myself feeling very uncomfortable during those tracks and, by extension, I found that it took some of the joy out of the other love songs. I couldn’t help but feel the songs weren’t what they appeared to be – like listening to George Michael sing about women, you know he doesn’t mean it. Maybe it shouldn’t be that way but it is.
Article comments
1 - RC of strangeculture
I did my own review of the Afters cd:
Strange Culture: The Afters: "I Wish We All Could Win"
What do you think?
--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
2 - Irene
I read you review, and I honestly don't think that you give them and their message enough credit. Many well respected Chirstian bands have "crossed over" into mainstream music. Take Switchfoot and Relient K for example. They're music is very much about God, his love for us, and how important a relationship with Him is. Thay have become hugely successful with it. As for your comment about them being capable of so much more, I disagree. They are putting thier heart and soul into every song.
3 - A.L. Harper
Fuck the message that's not why I listen to music dear. As for giving them enough credit I think I'm giving them more credit than you are. I think they are very talented and as long as they swim in the shallow end of music they are going to be stuck in that John Denveresque/wannabe-post-grunge band place. But they are capable of SO MUCH MORE. But if you think this is as good as they get then they have obviously not made the impression on you that they wanted to.
And Switchfoot and Relient K have both had slightly less than minimal success. If you sing about god and jesus then you are going to alienate a huge part of your audience. The price you pay I guess.