Come Join the Living World

Description

Come Join the Living World is the third album by the American singer and songwriter Brent Bourgeois of Bourgeois Tagg fame, released on Reunion Records in June 1994, distributed by Word Distribution. The album was produced by Charlie Peacock, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Brent Bourgeois.

You couldn’t be a rad rocker with a name like Bourgeois could you? Brent is best known as one half of Bourgeois Tagg who cut two albums for Island the second of which produced a US Top 40 single «I Don’t Mind At All» in 1987. Bourgeois also recorded two solo albums. Now with encouragement from Charlie Peacock (one of this album’s co-producers) Brent has emerged onto the Christian music scene (you may remember his name on ‘Coram Deo II‘). His Reunion debut shows the keyboardist/composer/singer can write classic pop, R&B hooks and even a jazz lick or two. A standout track here is the Euro-soul (ala Seal) of «One Love», while «Total Surrender» with its delicate layers of harmony recalls the past delights of Todd Rungren. Former Bourgeois Tagg guitarist Lyle Workman pops up on the Beatle-esque «I Don’t Mind At All» while throughout straight from the heart lyrics sit nicely on the classy pop arrangements. A better album than Phil Collins has turned in for years but unlikely to sell quite as many. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, December 1994]

Formerly the former portion of 80s pop outfit Bourgeois Tagg, which scored a medium sized hit with «Mutual Surrender» and another with «I Don’t Mind At All», then followed by two mainstream pop solo albums (and another run at the charts with «Dare To Fail In Love»), Brent Bourgeois releases his first solo Christian music outing. As should be expected, the support system is quite stellar: Bourgeois gets production help from Charlie Peacock and Wayne Kirkpatrick, and musical help from the likes of bassist Tommy Sims and background vocalist Christine Dente (Out Of The Grey). While the overall results are not as earth shattering as one might expect for the collaborations, ‘Come Join The Living World’ is still a sophisticated record.

In total, ‘Living World’ is sublime and mature pop, heavily instilled with r&b and jazz tones. The last cut, «Come Home With Me», even sports a world music tone slightly similar to some of the work of Peter Gabriel. At times though the work is a bit too sublime, with some of the songs simply mushing into each other. Besides the somewhat muted nature of Bourgeois’ vocals, the production is at times too gauzy.

Despite the above criticism, this is not a weak record. Since there is not always an instant hook of the eardrum, a bit more attention is required to discover the sharp song craft presented. The lyrics are direct and clear and notably free of clichés, while the melodies are catchy without being trite. The last three cuts in particular stand out, especially the quirky syncopation of the acoustic ballad «Let His Love Into Your Heart».

Brent Bourgeois is a welcome addition to the mainstream ccm market, bringing with him a high artistic standard. Hopefully, that standard will have a positive carry-over effect on his newly chosen market. [Robert Mineo, Syndicate # 42, 1994 (Vol. 9)]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/come-join-the-living-world/319525476)

CD tracklist:

01. One Love – 4:01
02. A Little More Like Jesus – 4:29
03. All Is Well – 4:02
04. Total Surrender – 3:46
05. Restored – 4:13
06. Perfect Harmony – 4:55
07. Blessed Be The Name (From Job) – 4:41
08. Let His Love Into Your Heart – 4:30
09. God Is Not Dead – 3:34
10. Come Home To Me – 4:43

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Reunion Records.

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