Phil Stacey
If a pop album is going to reach an unsaved generation, it has to convey the gospel in a palatable – no, make that extraordinarily – appealing way that doesn’t bury the truth in generic “love is good” platitudes. It’s a thin line to walk. If the message is too overt, it will be dismissed as Christian propaganda. If the message is too subtle, it will not prompt a spiritual awakening. But if the balance is masterful, if the lyrics appeal to that angsty quagmire of youth and yet hint of a greater, holy solution, the album becomes a formidable sword of truth against secular despair. Phil Stacey’s Into the Light is one razor-sharp sword.
Stacey, forever tattooed as ‘American Idol Season 6 finalist,’ recorded his debut album in 2008, but Into the Light is his first project with the Reunion Records label. His style is a pop cocktail mix of Nick Lachey and fellow AI finalist Chris Sligh (“Empty Me”), although Sligh has more honeyed oak in his tone, but what makes this album remarkable is the way the songs piece together to form a beautiful thematic quilt regarding the nature of God‘s amazing love versus the fallible nature of romantic love.
It’s the perfect mainstream/Christian pop crossover album, with songs which, at the casual listening level, seem to be about romantic love interspersed with songs that directly reference God. “Only You Can Save Me” could be mistakenly interpreted as a man hoping a woman will save him, except for the divinity-implied capitalization in “Let Your truth and Your grace change me” (“Only You Can Save Me.”) Similarly, “Sanctuary” flirts with the salvation of secular love, but the message becomes better defined in context of the rest of the album. “Well, it’s 3 am/ And my life feels like a battleground … And there you are/Right beside me … I can hear you say/ Let me be your sanctuary/ There’ll always be a place you can hide” (“Sanctuary.”) “It’s Gotta Be Love” makes a subtle reference to the song “Amazing Grace,” while the bridge of “You’re Not Shaken” references Psalm 23: “When I am in the valley of the shadow of death/ You’re not shaken” (“You’re Not Shaken.”)
On the less subtle side, “With All My Heart,” written by Bebo Norman and others, is straight worship, as is “Glorious,” the only song to mention Jesus outright.
These arrangements are a pleasant, soft rock/contemporary mix of piano and guitar. “Some Kind of Love” has that Brandon Heath-ish hand-clapping sort of percussion moving it along, while the ethereal notes of “Into the Light” seem to imply that romantic love is not the answer: “Reach out and take the hand/ Of the God who understands your pain/ And He loves you just the same” (“Into the Light.”) With lovely piano chords that roll like the tide, “One” conveys the inspirational message that small efforts can make a difference: “One drop in the ocean/ One prayer from your heart/ …One cup of cold water/ … Sometimes one is the biggest thing of all” (“One.”)
Stacey, a former worship leader and co-writer of four tracks, is drawn to good material – it would be difficult to pick out a song to release as a single when they’re all solid, with the possible exception of “Old Glory,” a patriotic piano ballad about the flag that seems out of step. However, Stacey‘s cover of Rich Mullins‘ lesser known “Hard to Get,” with its delicate acoustic guitar, is not only better than the original, thanks to Stacey’s buttery voice, but fits perfectly with the album’s theme, borrowing a metaphor from romantic love to describe a longing for God: “Did You forget about us after You had flown away … Still I’m so scared I’m holding my breath/ While You’re up there just playing hard to get” (“Hard to Get.”)
Into the Light provides an introspective treatise on the nature of divine love, backed by balanced pop arrangements and rich vocals. These songs are even stronger grouped together, and that’s the mark of a great album.
Cindy Lane Poch is a former opinion columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. She shares a home in Minnesota with four guitars, three drum sets, two sons, and one husband.
Thursday Aug 20th, 2009 • View all posts by Cindy Poch • View all posts in Album Reviews
↓ 13 comments
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Thank you for this review. I had to chuckle a bit at your description of yourself with the instruments and family, lol. Sounds like my house. As far as Phil’s cd. Provident Press has a release where Phil explains the story behind every song. What I like about “One,” for example, is that it is the story of his grandfather who was a church planter. And if “Old Glory” seems out of step, it is because he added it as a bonus track. The song became popular when he was performing it, to where his former label, Lyric Street Records, encouraged him to record it. He has received standing ovations for it, including at the Grand Ole Opry. His original version, though, is the one that is on this cd and is the one he always performs. Phil has said that Psalm 46:1 is the theme of the cd, which is that God is that strength in times of trouble. I agree that any of the songs can make for hits.
I’d like to add that in more than a year of writing reviews, this is the first inspirational CD that my non-Christian, adult daughter really liked. I ordered it for her (but I get to keep the T-shirt.)
In retrospect, I would raise this album a higher rating – it’s one of the best albums I’ve heard in many months.
I hate to be the bad guy here, but Stacey just doesn’t do it for me. He’s a friend of my uncle, but I can’t endorse the album. It’s so… polished and inoffensive — predictable.
Not that I would be able to change your mind, Cindy. Nor would I want to. But… I shudder at the thought.
Johnny, you’re a man for whom the phrase “radio friendly” is just too sad for words. I endorse Sgt. Pepper’s whereas you like The White Album – a disjointed, unpredictable hodge podge with no unifying elements whatsoever – so we do not agree on what makes an album good. But I still love your dark little soul.
Cindy:
You pretty much nailed it!
When I think radio-friendly, my heart palpitates. I actually listened to the radio on the last 50-mile stretch to Michigan a couple days ago, and the stuff I heard actually made me sick inside, once I was done laughing like the maniacal little gremlin that I am.
Having said that, Stacey’s got nothing but a great reputation as a nice guy. So, I’ll give him that, even after I wrote that scathing review of his debut.
But people like you, who appreciate music that teeters on the fringe, give hope to indie artists everywhere.
I’m going to use that phrase in an article sometime. “Teeters on the fringe.”
oh sorry cindy, i am gonna have to agree with john…this album bombed for me…eek. i played three songs…and couldnt get through any more…over production tarnished his potential.
Is it our function, then, to critique each other’s reviews in a public forum? Does that attract visitors to the site, or does it undermine the credibility of soul-audio? Because if my job is to nitpick my fellow reviewers’ reviews, I can certainly do that.
Well, I don’t know about all that, but since I’m not a writer for S-A anymore, I can run free without getting slapped on the hand for it.
I will say that I argue with my fellow writers all the time, and they me. It’s great; promotes interpretative exploration, but I have no clue if it draws readers or not. Probably has no effect either way.
And Grace, shame on you for having an opinion!! Also, shame on me for disagreeing with you about Skillet, but AHHHH! Really not my thing.
Perhaps it promotes interpretive exploration, or perhaps it is just another symptom of the facebook mentality, that every blip on the brain’s radar screen is somehow worthy of being shared.
I think the two are connected. Share information, to better facilitate discussing it. Even if it’s been a slow music week.
Excellent CD with a powerful message. God bless you Phil,
Does it Resonate with you?