The Call - To Heaven And Back CD

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Track Listings

1. Soaring Bird
2. Criminal
3. Love Is Everywhere
4. World On Fire
5. Think It Over
6. Musta Been Outta My Mind
7. All You Hold On To
8. Compromise
9. Become America
10. What Are You Made Of
11. Confession

Peter Gabriel once referred to The Call as the "the future of American music." An empty
prophecy because of the bands imminent break-up, but at the very least, a claim that
advocated the high artistic quality, skillful musical strength and genuine uniqueness of
this beloved band. By those that knew and appreciated them, they have been greatly
missed.

_To Heaven and Back_ finds them doing again what they've always done best: creating
their own special brand of thought-provoking, faith inspiring, and especially
emotionally riveting rock and roll. This new album is a most welcome return to their
form, and conjures the feeling and energy of some of their most appreciated albums like
_Reconciled_ and _Let the Day Begin_.

Some of these new songs, like "Criminal" and "World on Fire" are as gutsy and aggressive
as anything they've done before and feel more like the brash work on Michael Been's 1994
solo album, _On the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough_. "Musta Been Outta My Mind"
conjures the Rolling Stones with The Call's own unique twists. More subdued fare like
"Think It Over" are as poignantly powerful as any of the modern day laments Been's
penned in the past. With all these songs you'll not only hear The Call, you'll clearly
feel The Call as well. Michael Been continues to sing with a sense of passionate urgency
that, coupled with the band's unique take on rock and roll, can either compel or comfort
you.

There is much to inspire you here including this encouragement:
What do you live for What would you die for What do you stand for What are you made of.
Two songs here also appeared on last year's retrospective, _The Best of The Call_. I
prefer the more acoustic versions of both "All You Hold on to" and "Become America"
(which both featured Bruce Cockburn on guitar) than the more rocking versions on the new
album. Additionally, the album is not well paced and would benefit from a re-ordering
that groups some of the more aggressive tracks together thus helping to sustain the
album's overall energy rather than seeming so episodic. These are smalls complaint about
an otherwise consistently substantial album.

You'll find this album is as artistically appealing and lyrically rousing as any of
their previous albums. I'll leave you with an appropriate quote about the band from
Fingerprint Records that captures the spirit of The Call succinctly and accurately:
Since the release of their self-titled debut in 1982, The Call, hailing from
California's Bay area, established themselves as a breed apart. Led by Michael Been's
songwriting and voice, they burst on the scene like they knew everything was up for
grabs - because it was. This is a mainstream band made up of Christians, not a Christian
band for Christians only. They have toured with Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, Tears for
Fears and many others. Time magazine has picked three of their releases in their "Year
End Top Ten." Rolling Stone magazine says: "Michael Been is one of the best lyricist in
rock today." In Been's clear and jarring baritone voice, you hear the emotional
landscape of the human heart as it shapeshifts its way across different territories
where love was so intense that it threatened to consume itself, to the garden of stark
confusion, to the seemingly endless desert of doubt. With a band that will swirl itself
into a fury or whisper like a southwind, Been walks the tightrope as the group's
frontman; he descends into the shadows willingly because he believes resolutely in the
hope that there is indeed light and grace at the other side."

- Steven Stuart Baldwin

BTW, The Call's last studio album was 1990's "Red Moon" but Michael Been's 1994 solo
album is definitely worthy of your attention.