Natural

Description

Natural is an album by the American singer and songwriter Eric Champion, released on Essential Records in 1998.

Christian artists and labels stand guilty of embracing modern rock trends years too late, leading to embarrassing tags such as “the Christian Nirvana,” “the Christian Pearl Jam,” etc. Not so with Eric Champion.

‘Natural’ (the follow-up to 1996’s ‘Transformation‘) mixes post-grunge rhythms and Euro-poppy keyboards into an all-hook, no-filler explosive that shoots from the speakers – and lands well ahead of the general market musical pack.

The opening cut, «Am I Looking Good?», is a disco-pop-mosh salvo that hits where it hurts; Champion’s ode to self-absorption will make listeners dance and squirm at the same time (“All the starving little children tell me how could I care/ When I’m in a crisis ’cause I just can’t do a thing with my hair”).

Champion has a gift for lyrics that provoke without preaching. Chalk that up to his caustic sense of humor and lack of self-righteousness. «Just Me» points the cannon back at ambitious Christians (“I love to hear the preacher when he’s preaching on prosperity/ My very best friends are Jesus, I, myself and me”).

Champion’s potent sound is tough to pinpoint, reminiscent of the ’70s bubblegum of Sweet, the West Coast power pop of Red Kross and Jellyfish, and the retro-glam swagger of Urge Overkill.

Christian music fans note: There is no need to apologize to your dressed-in-black friends for digging this disc. Stack ‘Natural’ against the most world-weary of alternative albums, and it will slam every bit as hard. There is a difference, though: While Champion’s shadowy rhythms and textures sound too cool for words, there’s a bright, inviting light shining inside them. [Lou Carlozo, CCM, May 1998]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/natural/321352664)

CD tracklist:

01. Am I Lookin’ Good? – 3:41
02. Natural – 3:29
03. God Only Knows – 3:47
04. Hacker’s Prayer – 3:58
05. Giving Up – 4:45
06. Breakin’ The Room – 3:53
07. I Am Nothing – 3:26
08. Simulated Sunlight – 3:49
09. Just Me – 3:54
10. I Wanna Come Home – 4:42

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