Shane and Shane
Oh, Shane and Shane, where do I begin? Your harmonies: simple, yet beautiful. Your lyrics: brilliant and thought provoking. Your arrangements of songs old and new: Unique and inspiring. This has been my response to pretty much everything the Shane’s have produced, live or in studio. They’re set apart by their individuality and purity of sound. Even the mildest Shane and Shane fans can agree with that to some degree. In saying all of this, I am a little saddened by their newest project.
Everything is Different, releasing over two years after the fantastic Pages, is ironically, completely different. All of the individuality and unique qualities that have recently defined the Shane’s seems to take a break for this project. It seems very over-simplified, chock-full of clichés and happy, resolving chord structures. On top of that, there is very heavy use of a string section all throughout. I think this hurt more than it helped. I love the Shane’s because usually everything you hear on the album is easily performed live. They don’t tend to “over produce” their albums, but the strings were a little too much. Another thing I personally love about the duo is their ability to create songs not intended for corporate worship, but end up being favorites of many congregations (i.e. “Yearn”). These guys don’t usually set out to make radio-friendly music, but it seems like they went completely out of their natural way to do so. There are even three repeat tracks on the end of the album that are radio mixes. Sad day (keep in mind I’m arguably the biggest Shane and Shane fan of all time. This review comes from years of bias and obsession).
The album kicks off with the title track “Everything is Different”. This, in my opinion, is maybe the album’s best track. It’s written in the spirit of “When I Think About the Lord” and “We Love You Jesus”, pretty much in the same key too. It’s got almost a techno feel, forcing you to either clap, tap your foot, or scream it from the top of your lungs (in the radio mix, there is actually a spot at the end of the chorus where you get to let out a barbaric yawlp-esque “HEY!”). The chorus proclaims, “You made a way when there was no way / You covered heaviness with garments of praise / You wrote a song and You’re singing it over me / I feel a dead heart beating now / This revelation makes me wanna shout (HEY!) / That Jesus has been sent / Everything is different!” One thing I do admire about the Shane’s attempt at making corporate worship songs is their ability to take this ancient message of the Gospel that has been beat to death with cheesy clichés, mostly because of the CCM world of today, and say it in a cool, refreshing, new way. Which leads me to the rest of the album…
I can pretty much sum up most of the rest of the album in this (hopefully not too harshly): borderline cheesy. Every other track is comprised of commonplace “Christianese.” Phrases like “Holy is the Lord”, “I love You Lord, Jesus my king”, and “You are changing me from the inside out”. On the top of the my cheese list is the track “This is Who I Am”, which sounds as lyrically cheesy as it does musically: “This is who I am / I’ve been born again / The cross is my defense / My hope secured / Now my life is Your hands, On Your every word I stand / Now I’m finding who I am in all You are.” Now, please don’t get me wrong, I have NOTHING against these lyrics. I hope that you’re not questioning my salvation by this review. My only problem with these lyrics is that Shane and Shane have previously found much better ways of portraying these lyrics, never coming close to being cheesy. This just isn’t the Shane and Shane I know and love.
To be fair, there are a couple other tracks that stand out above the rest, such as “Turn Down the Music”, which is a desperate cry to God to help Christians serve God by not just lip service or music, but through social justice and humble servanthood. If you loved “Holiday” from the Pages album, you’ll be sure to love “Portion”, which includes the same bluesy, bouncy, chord structure, with even a little two minute jam session on the end of it. Then there is my personal favorite corporate worship song, “Reign Down”. I can’t put my finger on why I love it, but it’s the one exception to my “no cheese” rule (sorry for the excessive use of the word cheese). Maybe it’s the melody, maybe it’s the overall feel. For whatever reason, it resonates with me.
So in saying all this, rest assured, I’m still Shane and Shane’s number one fan. They still have a great acoustic sound and know how to harmonize the heck out of melodies. They also include a massive load of scripture throughout the album, which is actually pretty cool. What’s better than singing scripture? You can’t really ever have issues with shallow lyrics if half of them are made up of God’s word, right? Overall, Everything is Different is worth picking up, but don’t expect the same musical genius of Pages; you won’t find it.
When he's not leading worship, Clay is a full-time student and will probably be for the rest of his life. He also secretly wishes to be added to Shane and Shane's traveling band as an honorary member.
Tuesday Nov 3rd, 2009 • View all posts by Clay Barnett • View all posts in Album Reviews
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Funny – I thought Pages was their least memorable record. Any other time – an artist will be praised for adding new elements to their sound and expanding a bit, but Shane & Shane is criticized for NOT staying the same? Sometimes, other critics confuse the snot out of me…
I don’t think this is anywhere near a perfect record – and definitely not my favorite from the duo – but it’s a definitive notch above Pages, IMHO.
I guess I’m just attached to the sound that they’ve had for all these years. There just wasn’t anything that wowed me from this album. My opinion may be completely unfair because I have a major bias with these guys. They’re definitely on a pedestal for me. I almost felt bad writing the review for these guys for that very reason. I completely respect your opinion, and yes, it is kind of backwards to criticize change in this arena, but it just didn’t work for me this time. That’s the beauty of any art I guess!
You guys are crazy! I literally have every piece of music Shane B has ever done in his career, on a flash drive. I understand you miss that accoustic sound. I was sad to see it go, myself, but that’s not what makes me like them. I’ve always loved S&S for their geniune love for Christ, and how they are not afraid to CRY!!!! out to HIM in song. One thing I can say, I feel like I’ve watched them grow spiritually and grew along with them. And I think the best song on the EID is “Worthy of Affection”. Pure worship and prayer, through song, it’s why they’ve always been top of the list for me. It’s not that they are taking a break. It’s that they are growing spiritually and realizing it’s not about the music anymore. It never was. It’s all about Christ. Everthing is getting simpler, and “everthing is different”. This is like a whole new place the Holy Spirit is taking them. For example the song “Turn Down The Music”. Duh!!! I’m sure they are not out for our entertainment. We are so undeserving to be judging someone’s worship. You can see their spiritual growth in every new song that comes out. I, for one, think it’s awesome, and better, for that simple fact. Everthing is simpler, and Everthing is different. THAT’S THE MESSAGE. C’mon man, you are supposed to be the worship leader, here.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin, on our behalf was crucified, oh that we could be the righteousness of our creator. I am a new creation. The old has passed away. I’m made new. This is who I am.”
I’m quite confused on how you can possibly describe this song as cheesy… musically or LYRICALLY. This is the freakin Gospel, man. This song is beautiful and in no way cheesy. “The cross is my defense… My hope secured!”
And I don’t think Shane Barnard or Shane Everett ever think any part of their lyrics are “Christianese.” Their hearts are never to just throw in an “I love you Jesus” to fill a gap…
The album is great.
Tim and Jaxon, I think you guys are missing what Clay’s saying here. And Clay, please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. I think Clay’s saying that he’s seen more creativity, more interesting wordplay and chord progressions on their earlier work. Hence his disappointment.
Now, Tim, passion and sincerity ARE great attributes and I’d guess that these are traits that Mr. Barnett appreciates as well. But passion and sincerity don’t necessarily make a great album. Which leads me to where you were speaking, Jaxon. Yes, it’s the Gospel, and there is a beauty to that simplicity. But let’s be honest, those lines, artistically, ARE cliched. And while it may be heresy to deem Scripture cliched in music, it’s been done. And with guys who’ve offered up creative gems like “Embracing Accusation” and “I Miss You,” I’m just thinking Clay felt they could do better…
That said, Shane and Shane are still a breath of fresh air in a fairly arid climate for sure…Thanks for all your comments!
I couldn’t have said it better Andrew. I’m in no way saying that the message these guys are portraying is cheesy, only their delivery. I’m coming from a purely artistic standpoint. This is why it’s so hard for me to “critique” Christian music. The message is the same throughout, so I don’t think anyone can dog on that, but the delivery is what could be the icing on top of the cake. I just felt the Shane’s did it a little differently than they have in the past, and that didn’t speak to me. Maybe I’m stuck in my ways?
Tim, I completely agree that it’s unfair to judge someone’s worship. Chances are, if I heard these songs live that I would be sincerely pouring my heart out to God in those moments, but the fact is that I’m looking at these songs from a creative, artistic view. I never, NEVER, question the Shane’s motivation for their songs. The fact that they came out with an album obviously devoted to the church for corporate worship is awesome. I was just expecting something different. Maybe in that lies my fault.
On a side note, the moment we eliminate the term “worship leader” from the music industry, we will be headed in the right direction.
Continue…
Oh Shane and Shane,… I write this as another Mega Super Duper Shane and Shane Fan. I absolutely love their music, and I will forever have every album they ever produce whether good, bad, or brilliant. I understand what clay is saying, and I half-heartedly agree with him. I remember sitting down for the first time and listening to “Prodigal Me,” “Vision of You,” “Embracing Accusations,” “Miss you,” “Breath of God,”The Answer,”This is the Day (Their Version is Brilliant),” “Waging War,” … and the list goes on. I think that ever album that I have ever listened to by them involved me sitting down on the couch, and turning the music, and closing my eyes, and taking in the WORD/MUSIC/HARMONIES… and undoubtedly there was also one or two songs on the album that over the next 2-4 weeks literally “wear off the CD.” This album is still very much the Shane and Shane that I know and love, but I would agree that it does lack that one or two songs that just give you the chills. I do enjoy this album and would recommend it to anyone that would appreciate Shane and Shane’s heart for ministry through passionate music. Clay thank you for an HONEST opinion of this album, and I think from a brilliancy standpoint this album does lack in comparison to all previous works. (JLK)
Does it Resonate with you?