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Review Summary: Whether by luck, talent, "grace", or a combination of all three, Kings Kaleidoscope wrote a perfect album; an album that elevated the potential of what congregational music could be, and changed the landscape of Christian music forever. In the year 2013 when this album was being recorded, nearly all the music being made in the “christian music scene” was, for the most part (there are always exceptions), completely homogenous and derivative. On the one hand you had "CCM” (Christian Contemporary Music). This was essentially the Jeremy Camps, TobyMacs, and Chris Tomlins of the universe, spewing out radio-friendly “I’m a 35 year old evangelical mom who lost her keys and it’s a rough day but God’s going to turn it around and it’ll be a “GOD DAY” songs or some other form of this same formula. On the other you had “worship music;” songs made for congregational singing in church. In this lane, well known worship band Hillsong United had essentially created a formula for what worship music at its best was “supposed” to sound like, and essentially every church or group making music for corporate worship were trying to tap into that success. Now, to be fair, Hillsong had released Aftermath a couple years prior (2011) which was their attempt at experimenting slightly with electronic sounds and breaking their own formula, but it was definitely a mixed bag, a transition album, with the sounds they were trying to achieve never really reaching their potential until Zion (2014). That said, the genre was stagnant. It was full of innovative people, like Joel Houston (Hillsong), John Mark McMillian, and others, but there was no real incentive for people to innovate, since the formula worked so well for congregational worship.
Enter Kings Kaleidoscope. A collective of musicians led by Seattle native (and writer/producer/frontman) Chad Gardner, KK were an odd group. They had spent the previous years leading worship at now-defunct megachurch "Mars Hill," and most of their offerings had been short EPs with rearranged hymn covers. But in 2013 they would enter the studio, and with the production help of local Seattle legends Dustin Kensrue (yes that Kensrue, of Thrice), Brian Echelberger (Citizens, The Sing Team), and Zach Bolen (Citizens), "Becoming Who We Are" was born.
If you could go back and listen to this record when it was released, you would immediately realize; absolutely nobody in the scene sounded like this. By some stroke of luck, (or providence), Chad Gardner and co stumbled upon a collection of songs that managed to transcend their genre. Rather than going the CCM or “Hillsong formula” route, they used the ancient hymns as a foundation, and built from there. They incorporated elements of soul, pop, jazz-rock, funk, classical, r&b, and hip hop and birthed an entirely new thing altogether. And while the album oscillates and borrows from many genres, they do it so well, it never feels confusing or inauthentic. From the jubilant woodwind and horn instruments on album opener "Glorious," to the groovy and aggressive bass in "Felix Culpa," to the sample-laden beats of "Light After Darkness," KK revel in the diversity of their sound. Chad Gardner's voice, while by no means perfect, seems to have a natural "groove" to it, and fits perfectly within KK's musical landscape.
More than just a musical masterpiece, this album is also lyrically rich. So often the lyrics in CCM felt like they were written by some corporate guy in an office rather than actually birthed from a person’s genuine experience. And congregational worship music, while more diverse, has always struggled with being derivative, repetitive, and crippled by tradition and history (Many Christians still sing hymns that were written hundreds of years ago in their original format). But with "Becoming..." KK managed to write songs that were both congregational and deeply honest. In this way Chad Gardner was able to "meld" very personal, introspective songwriting with elements of traditional hymns and corporate song structures.
In conclusion, "Becoming Who We Are" is a masterpiece within its genre, and holds up pretty well as a piece of art in general. While it may seem "par for the course" amidst the current musical landscape, when seen in its time and context, "Becoming Who We Are" might be one of the most important pieces of music for the Christian community in the last decade, if not even century. Whether by luck, talent, "grace", or a combination of all three, Kings Kaleidoscope wrote a perfect album; an album that elevated the potential of what congregational music could be, and changed the landscape of Christian music forever.
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Album Rating: 5.0
Good review and great album. Yes, this is easily the best worship album released in the past ten years, maybe of all time.
There is no post-rock on here, it’s more jazz-rock. That’s a minor quibble. I think your take down of CMM was overall fair but tbh Tobymac’s Alive and Transported slaps.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
"More than just a musical masterpiece, this album is also lyrically rich. So often the lyrics in CCM felt like they were written by some corporate guy in an office rather than actually birthed from a person’s genuine experience"
Show, don't just tell. (I agree with you, and I love this album, but you gotta write for people who haven't listened to this yet.)
"In conclusion, "
Never use this phrase. You're not writing the end of your middle school essay. Find another transition, or write in such a way that makes it clear that you're concluding.
"Whether by luck, talent, "grace", or a combination of all three, Kings Kaleidoscope wrote a perfect album"
Yet you only gave it a 4.5/5?
IMO you could probably cut a lot of the intro. Use things you like about Kings K to compare to things that are problems with CCM.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
also why are there two entries for this album? Need some mods for cleanup in here
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Fixed
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
this didn't have a review? dang.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
yeah that's kind of astounding really, sput's christcore legions fell asleep on the job (self included)
ty Sowing!
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
@Friday13th Thanks man! Appreciate the clarification, and agreed, Jazz-rock is probably more accurate. Fixed.
@Project Thanks for the feedback. Only my third review so I'm trying to become better. Always open to constructive criticism.
"Yet you only gave it a 4.5/5?"
In response, while personally I actually do think BWWA is a 5.0 album, imo "Classic" is a distinction that can only be given through the lens of time. I don't think it's black and white, the amount of time that needs to pass before something can be considered "Classic," and I think we are nearly at that point with this album, but I thought to just keep it on the safe side with a 4.5.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
"yeah that's kind of astounding really, sput's christcore legions fell asleep on the job (self included)" [2] ... actually forgot this didn't have a review otherwise I would've tried to give it a go at some point
Either way, good review! I appreciate the introduction of explaining how it doesn't conform to the vanilla ways of CCM or the formulaic patterns of "Hillsong"-worship. However, I do wish there was a bit more in depth discussion on the lyrics (like Project said) because this is what really defines the album for me!
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Ayy, good review compadre
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Great album
"Yes, this is easily the best worship album released in the past ten years, maybe of all time."
Ascend the Hill - O Ransomed Son for me
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Solid review. Album is great. Definitely agreed that it's one of the better worship albums of the 2010s.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
"Ascend the Hill - O Ransomed Son for me"
AtH is ridiculously technically skilled but I can't shake the feeling that all their songs sound the same, a problem that is definitely not true of this album
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Great record, more people should hear this. Not as much of a fan of the review though, it is mostly bashing CCM and other genres, not really explaining as much of the record as a 4.5 would need imo
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This kind of reminds me of Kings of Leon and Thank You Scientist
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
"However, I do wish there was a bit more in depth discussion on the lyrics (like Project said) because this is what really defines the album for me!" [2] the lyrics on this are amazing, especially Felix Culpa
"This kind of reminds me of Kings of Leon and Thank You Scientist" have no idea where you got KoL from apart from the name!
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AtH is ridiculously technically skilled but I can't shake the feeling that all their songs sound the same, a problem that is definitely not true of this album
I can see that for sure, but at least for me that's more of a "pure" worship album. What's your feeling on Beautiful Eulogy?
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
@Beardog I can see how you could interpret it that way. Truth is I'm a bit of a "churchboi" myself and actually love a lot of CCM lol. But I was trying to give this review context to justify such a high rating if that makes sense. This might actually be the most important corporate worship album in the last 100 years. And the more years that pilr up since its release, the more I am convinced of that.
Appreciate the feedback on explaining more of the record though, I will work on that! Still a review noob haha
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