Description
Knock, Breathe, Shine is the sophomore album by the American rock band Jacob’s Trouble, released on Alarma Records in August 1990, an alternative imprint of Frontline Music Group, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was recorded by Gene Eugene of Adam Again with Terry Scott Taylor of Daniel Amos fame producing.
I’m a sucker for a Rickenbacker guitar – I have to say that at the outset, by way of admitting that I can’t be completely objective about J.T.’s second release. I loved the band’s ‘Door Into Summer‘ debut – it was one of my faves of 1989. ‘Knock, Breathe, Shine’ is every bit as good; better , in fact.
Da/Eddies head honcho Terry Taylor once again mans the production helm. He has whipped the band’s instrumental chops into shape, and has honed its harmonies to a razor-sharp edge. Taylor contributes backing vocals to a few selections, as does Randy Stonehill, and both helped the J.T. nucleus of Mark Blackburn (guitars, vocals), Jerry Davison (drums, vocals) and Steve Atwell (bass, keys, vocals) with a lyric or two. Other prominent “ringers” include Gene Eugene (Adam Again), Ojo Taylor (Undercover) and Dan Michaels (The Choir). Beside the obvious “Daniel/Eddie-isms” that occasionally creep in, J.T. has been well-schooled in the music of the trinity of ’60s harmonic rock, Beach Boys/Beatles/Byrds – specifically, the “raga-rock” Byrds era, ‘Rubber Soul’-era Fabs, and ‘Pet Sounds’-style Beach Boy production.
But the greatest strength of ‘Knock, Breathe, Shine’ is the lyrical growth of Atwell, Blackburn and Davison, and the energy which they bring to their songs. Whether slow or fast, all the tunes are delivered with enthusiasm, and an obvious concern is that the listener take away more than what a superficial listen would give them (scripture references for each song are included). Best tracks include the new-’50s raver «Is it True», the Eddie-ish «There Goes My Heart Again», the cynically funny «Mr. Hitler», the confrontational «Wounded World» and the public service announcements «I’m A Little World» and «About Sex (Part 1)». But, hey! – why single out a few tunes. This record is tons o’ fun, start to finish! [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, October 1990]
Down the decades thousands of record producers have endeavoured to recreate a retro sound that makes references to the Beatles, Beach Boys, Byrds et al without being a mere pale pastiche, Studio maestro Terry Taylor succeeded brilliantly in achieving a convincing 60s sound and with this talented bunch of musicians from Alanta made some artfully crated CCM. The opener here, «Look At You Now» is a rollicking hooky rocker and it wasn’t for Jerry Davison’s lad voice in place of Terry Taylor’s, you’d swear you were listening to Daniel Amos. There are plenty more goodies here. The Encyclopedia Of Contemporary Christian Music called «There Goes My Heart Again» “a masterpiece of melody and harmony akin to ‘Pet Sounds’-era Beach Boys” and I wouldn’t argue. The Taylor-penned song uses romantic imagery to describe the experience of renewed devotion to Christ. Then there’s «Beggars And Kings» with contributions from Randy Stonehill and some sublime Byrds-style jangly guitar; the tuneful pop of «Dreammaker» penned by the band’s Steve Atwell, Mark Blackburn and Jerry Dawson; the worship anthem «Further Up And Further In» based on a theme fom C S Lewis’ Narnia stories; an engaging cover of Dylan‘s «I Believe In You»; and the witty «Mr. Hitler» which depicts a disgruntled employee who wants to invite his boss and colleagues to dinner and “convince them right between their eyes” (ie, with a gun) that God is on his side. Finally, there an arresting «About Sex Pt 1». When Cross Rhythms reviewed ‘Knock, Breate, Shine’ way back in 1990 the reviewer innexpliccably gave the album a thumbs down. In fact, if you enjoy retro pop rock this is close to being a classic. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, November 1990]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/knock-breathe-shine/387820278)
CD tracklist:
01. Look At U Now – 3:04
02. Little Red Words – 3:40
03. Dreammaker – 4:20
04. Further Up & Further In – 2:33
05. Beggars And King – 3:43
06. Is It True? – 2:58
07. Islands, Buildings And Freeways – 2:50
08. I Believe In You – 4:44
09. There Goes My Heart Again – 3:18
10. Bad Lick & Gun Shot – 0:06
11. Mr. Hitler – 4:10
12. I’m A Little World – 2:33
13. About Sex (Part II) – 4:02
14. Wounded World – 3:40
15. These Thousand Hills – 3:07
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records.
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