Believe

Description

Believe is the sophomore album by the American alternative rock band Uthanda, released on ERG in 1992, a division of Essential Records, distributed by Brentwood Music. The album was produced by Phillip Biff Vincent and the band. “My Addiction”, “Fear”, and “Sunrise” feature Lanny Cordola on guitar.

Uthanda is one of the few “alternative” bands which blend in enough commercial elements to capture an “above ground” audience. Besides charting with two top five singles, it managed to mix kudos from the critics with acclaim from the people. In our ’92 Readers Awards, the band was named as one of CCM readers’ favorite new artists and alternative bands, selecting ‘Groove’, the band’s debut, as a favorite as well. On its latest album, ‘Believe’, the overt alternative/funk (read: INXS influences) of ‘Groove’ gives way to a more mainstream rock sound. The creativity of the arrangements on ‘Believe’ is most impressive, as the band integrates hip-hop, pop, hard rock and edgy alternative sounds; subtle ’60s tones also color certain tracks.

‘Believe’ comes busting out of the speakers with an intercepted radio broadcast, as a black preacher intones “you are what you believe you are” repeatedly, until the band kicks in with an itchy guitar figure and funky bass & drum hook. Lead singer Robert Beeson adjures us (through distorted vocal processing reminiscent of John Lennon) to “strip down your fake sensation” and reminds us that, rather than put on a «Shadow Play» of hypocrisy for people, “[Jesus’] forgiveness is the only way.” The band mixes a hip-hop groove with B.A.D./Midnight Oil-styled horns on «Love Child», a song about finding a mate which seems so perfect “[her] smile seems to turn my head around.” «Did You» is a lovely ballad which illuminates the fact that not every believer has the same experience (“did you think your method solely true?”) when it come to opening his heart to Christ. «Fear» uses an aggressively performed and sung track to drive home the point that God doesn’t want anyone to live in fear and even our most secret concerns (“Hold onto your cancer/ The control of your heart and mind”) can be overcome in Jesus. «Sunrise» takes a similar musical approach, although the theme is much more basic – “truth is in the simple things.”

The band tips it hat to power pop & new wave on a triumvirate of tunes: «Citizen» (reminiscent of The Plimsouls) makes the point that we perhaps shouldn’t consider ourselves citizens of a country no longer guided by godly principles; «Cool Water» wafts on a Byrd-ian riff, as Beeson sings of the living water that can refresh the “parched and weary land” of our souls; while «Cars», a cover of Gary Numan’s 1980 hit, is one of the best songs ever written about alienation. That theme carries over to the album’s closer, «Heroes», which laments the splintering of the modern family; the answer, of course, is that the only true example of a hero and head of the household is Christ. Far from being a musical “sellout,” ‘Believe’ finds Uthanda more fully integrating its influences and taking another stride toward establishing a niche as one of today’s premiere rock outfits. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, April 1993]

CD tracklist:

01. Shadow Play
02. Love Child
03. Did You
04. My Addiction
05. Fear
06. Midnight Jasmine
07. Sunrise
08. Wrapped Around Your Heart
09. Citizen
10. Cool Water
11. You And Me
12. Cars
13. Heros

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by ERG.

“Shadow Play” (MUSIC VIDEO)