Jordan Feliz “The River” Album Review

Prime Cuts: The River, Simple, Your Great Hands

Jordan Feliz is no new kid on the block.  Formerly, he has sung lead vocals for the heavy metal band A Current Affair.  He has shared stages with many prominent rock artists.  But it's only on his debut album for Centricity Records Feliz has found his own voice.  It's on this album he feels comfortable enough to stretch himself musically to embrace his own patented pop/folk sound.  And it's on this record, we find him comfortable enough to utilize his multiple octave vocals to nuance the variegated emotional shades of his songs' lyrics.  "The River" finds him working with producers Joshua Silverberg (Michael W. Smith, Audio Adrenaline) and Colby Wedgeworth (Lincoln Brewster, The Maine).

"The River" isn't entirely a new record.  Four of the eleven songs have already been released last year as part of Feliz's "Beloved" EP.  However, released for the first time on this Feliz's debut full length album for Centricity Music are seven new songs.  Nevertheless, hands down the best song on the set is still Feliz's #1 hit single and title cut "The River."  Though "River" has a mainstream pop sound, the earthy lyrics gives the song an infectious organic feel that makes it a standout.  Further, the picturesque use of language in its lyrics allows us not only to hear but to "see" the song: "We're goin' down to the river/Down to the river/Down to the river to pray/Let's get washed by the water/Washed by the water/and rise up in amazing grace."  

A worthy follow-up is the worship ballad "Satisfied."  Here Feliz bears his soul before God in what is one of the most stunning moments of prayer on this record. "Simple" lives up to its titular in the sense that the backing is much sparser. Boasting a lazy beat shuffle that undergirds the song, Feliz marvels at how simple the Gospel is as far as our response is concerned. On the title track "Beloved," Feliz allows himself to soar to great heights across lots of elongated notes on what is a love song to his daughter. Fathers may do well in learning a few lessons from this song. 

Of the new songs, "Your Great Hands" is a highlight.  Featuring a refreshing Americana rock percussion riff and a singalong "oh oh oh" tag, "Your Great Hands" is a catchy worship piece that fans of Rend Collective would be proud of. "Never too Far Gone" is defintie propulsive radio darling sung from the vantage poiint of God and how he yearns for us return.  A nod back to noir is "Carry Your Troubles," which boasts a 78 record player presentation that includes the scratchy backdrop of an album well worn. "How Long" is the sole ballad amongst the new batch of songs. It is a song that showcases Feliz's vocal elasticity as he stretches himself over long elongated notes.  The rest of the newer songs are fair without being exceptional. 

Nevertheless, this album's greatest asset is that you can hear in every nuance Feliz love for what he is singing.  And when an artist invest his soul and heart into an album, the record immediately has a compelling draw. "The River" is a prime example.

 

Tags : jordan feliz jordan feliz the river jordan feliz the river album review jordan feliz news jordan feliz latest