Regular Columnists

Artist: Jeff Silverman
Genre: Christian
CD Review:
Jeff has a passion, which has also spilled over into his passion for music. To quote a few lines from his bio, he's an Oregon-based singer/songwriter, a born again Jewish follower of Jesus, his lyrics are saturated with biblical truths, passionately conveying the hope, joy, and peace that are found in the Lord. While I think at times his voice doesn't quite hold a few whole notes perfectly, the music itself is enjoyable and like a well-structured Schoolhouse Rock special on Sunday School, you don't realize you're learning until it's too late.

It's a set above and beyond folk. It's a flavor of pop that doesn't often plug the instruments in, yet the beat's consistent around here, and the backing band on title track 'Cleansed' pushes Jeff to the front nicely. I dig the creaky rhythms, the very slight wah-guitar in the back, the moaning bass that floats around. And as with many Christian songwriters, verses are given to show you where, lyrically, he's coming from. Take the start of opener 'Lion and the Lamb', a fast, outdoorsy, hippy, hoppy song with words, 'when I wake up in the morning anew / you are on my mind / filling me with your spirit inside / I leave my troubles far behind.' You see, when the lion lies down with the lamb, Jeff's going figure out how deep his woman's/Lord's love is.

Positive, energetic, not perfect, but let's leave that for God.