I have received several e-mail over the past couple of days, from a variety of sources, asking whether or not I knew that I had featured a Christian musician as my Band of the Week. (That would mean a ticket straight to both music journalist and atheist hell – oddly enough they are in exactly the same place, Utah.) Before I review this very talented man’s work I wanted to address this issue. I intensely dislike the corn-fed, watered down, straight-off-the-tractor, comb-in-the-mouth, artistically barren music that is Christian “rock”. As far as I am concerned it has no redeeming artistic or social value in that it neither inspires people to worship nor to appreciate great music. It is, in my opinion, just one more attempt to make Christianity appeal to younger people by showing how much “fun” being a Christian can really be.
Andrew Osenga is a Christian and he is a musician but he is not a Christian musician. He does not make Christian rock. If he were an agnostic, would it be agnostic rock? Maybe he is left-handed- would that make it left-handed rock? Vegetarian rock? 5′ 10″ rock? Glasses-wearing rock? What it comes down to is this: Christian music is about the promotion of Christianity and Andrew’s album is not.
Andrew talked about Christian music during his interview and said that, although he is a Christian, he hates Christian music. Unfortunately for this diverse, hard-working, and very talented man he has been labeled by some – probably those in the Christian rock movement who would like to claim his talents for their own – as a Christian musician. That is a very hard label for a mainstream artist to shake.
Andrew Osenga’s music is an interesting fusion of folk, indie, country and roots-rock blended with power-pop. His intelligent, vivid lyrics run the gamut from passionately breathless to sweetly romantic and regret-filled melancholy. Andrew’s tangled tapestry of sound and lyric paints an ardent, stirring picture of this deep, multifaceted and truly talented young man.
His newest album, simply titled The Morning, is split into two sections, “Morning” and “Evening”. Both show the different sides of Andrew’s complicated inner self, reflecting his love, anger and impassioned joy. Andrew’s love for his wife and children, songs inspired by Hemingway characters and his questioning statements about the world we live in and life in general resonate throughout; but despite the depth of the emotion portrayed on the The Morning it maintains a playful, energetic, rock-music flavour.
The first section of The Morning, Morning, is the high-powered section. “After The Garden” is a solid, heavily guitar-influenced track with a great pop hook and raw vocals. “Following The Blind” is a power-pop/ indie rock track with Andrew’s great guitar riffs. “Farmer’s Wife” is a slightly more low key song with a roots-rock/alt.country feel to it. Overall it’s a sweet song about the hardships of, well, a farmer’s wife.
“Dance Away the City” is one of the best tracks on the album, a beautiful track about a loving couple. Lyrics like “put on a soft dress, turn down the lights/ I’ll put on a soft song, pour a little wine/ let’s move the kitchen table, let the candles fill the room”. Add the soft, swaying melodies and rhythm Andrew successfully evokes the image of a couple just holding each other close and swaying back and fourth. It’s enough to make your heart ache for a long time lover, someone with whom you have this kind of intimacy.
The final track on the morning section is “Marilyn”, Andrew’s Hemingway inspired track. Reflecting summers in Spain, bullfights and sleeping trains brings Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises into full and brilliant, bright colours in your mind.
“House of Mirrors” is the first track on the evening side of The Morning and reflects the darker, deeper, more sensitive side of Andrew. Always the consummate storyteller in “House of Mirrors,” Andrew tells an emotive, achingly raw story of a man trying to find a way past her defences, trying to find a way into her heart once more.
“Trying to Get This Right” is again more alt.county than power-pop, with country music feel riffs and twangy vocals. This time the story is of two young people trying to find their way through love. It’s a beautiful love song that will make you smile with melancholy memories.
The final, touching, superbly expressed track on the evening side of The Morning is an ode to the beauty in getting up early. The joy of seeing your sleeping loved ones, peaceful and still. The early morning smells and the freshness and coolness of the air. “Early in the Morning” is a folk-rock tale that is both humorous and touching in its utter simplicity. It is also the perfect end to this beautifully executed album.
Whatever else he may be, Andrew Osenga is a fascinating man. His gentle, intelligent wit, strong and obvious love for his wife and kids, and his musical and storytelling/songwriting talent make him a man you want to get to know better. I know I do. If you want to hear The Morning you can visit Andrew’s MySpace space or his own website.
