Description
Songs We Wrote on Tuesdays is a collaborative side project co-written and performed by the American singers/songwriters Andrew Ripp and Chris Rice, self-released in December 2018 (though official release date was January 4, 2019), with the CD edition manufactured by amazon.com. While the 13-track album features some crossover when it comes to background vocals, there are essentially seven and six alternating tracks by Rice and Ripp, respectively, and thus could be considered a split album. The album was recorded and mixed by Logan Matheny.
Featuring Chris Rice on piano, DeMarco Johnson on keyboards, Andrew Ripp and Jerry McPherson on guitars, and a rhythm section consisting of James Gregory on bass and Ken Lewis on drums and percussion. Strings by Matt Nelson and Avery Bright. Background vocals provided by Carly Ripp and Rachael Lampa.
‘Songs We Wrote On Tuesdays’ is the first album from Andrew Ripp, who has established himself on the US coffeehouse and small theatre songwriter scene though has escaped the notice of US Christian radio, and Chris Rice, who from 1997 to 2006 was a major figure on the CCM scene before pulling away from recording and touring to concentrate on his duel career in the visual arts. Now these two talented songsmiths are working together and this duo debut is a delightful first effort. It is a soulful and heartfelt exploration of love in its various forms, and Andy and Chris alternate in taking lead vocals from one track to the next. The opening track «Via Dolorosa» is a piece of Americana that features piano and the smooth vocals of Rice. Some half bars are thrown in to mix up the time signature and make it less straightforward than it at first seems, which is nicely done. «Not So Far Away» is a little more upbeat and poppy, with strummed guitar and simple beat, building up to a full band love song about a couple overcoming their differences. «This Ain’t No Love Song» feels a little bit gospel, piano, slide guitar, and a choir joining to build the sound. And of course, it is. The choir are present again for «Let It Burn», as is the build from simple piano to full band, though it strips right back again at one point, a soulful jam. «Nothin’ Like This» is a sweet love song about how real love is so much richer than the songs and movies portray it, and «Hold On» is a slow piano ballad of hope and encouragement through life’s storms, the slow-dance rhythm itself feels like it gently rocks a lover in its arms to comfort them. «Gorgeous» is a stand-out; played on piano, cello, it is a true psalm of awe and sense of our smallness before creation, and the instrumental interlude is lovely. «Gloria» begins as real Americana, both in sound and the picture it paints, but it becomes something a bit more Beatlesy as it progresses into plodding piano, strings and quirkier chords. Next comes «Carry On», an upbeat, folky strummed and picked guitar track. It felt this could use a little more percussion, as it’s not quite as strong as it could be to carry the pace. The mellow, orchestral «Boy» is followed by the emotional «Took Your Breath Away», a gospel song on piano about a life lived in faith. «Frontlines» is a short piano piece with the simple message “I just want to make you happy”, before the album closes with the uplifting «See You There». The whole album has an organic and intimate feel to it. [Helen Whitall, Cross Rhythms, April 2019]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/songs-we-wrote-on-tuesdays/1552547229)
CD tracklist:
01. Via Dolorosa – 3:58
02. Not so Far Away – 4:34
03. This Ain’t No Love Song – 2:52
04. Let It Burn – 3:51
05. Nothin like This – 3:38
06. Hold On – 4:14
07. Gorgeous – 2:46
08. Gloria – 3:35
09. Carry On – 2:47
10. Boy – 3:59
11. Took Your Breath Away – 2:55
12. Frontlines – 1:47
13. See You There – 2:17
Via Dolorosa Rice borrows the traditional name of Christ’s Jerusalem pathway from his trial to his cross to hold out hope in the face of affliction.
Hold On Ripp vocalizes the tearful moments of holding on to each other and reminding each other through the darkest night that morning will soon come.
Gorgeous Rice celebrates the magnitude of Creation, hoping to somehow live up to its beauty.
Not So Far Away Ripp sings about being a kid, growing up “playin’ it cool, livin’ by the book” while his tough, fearless sister was “ready to take on the whole damn world.” And now that they’re grown-up, his powerful voice soars with hope (“now we’re healing and our hearts are open”) as he pines for the future days when they can be together again and love and laugh like siblings. (My favorite upbeat, sing-alongable song on the record.)
Nothin’ Like This Rice references centuries of poems and films and love songs, and finds them yet unable to capture love perfectly.
Frontlines Ripp renders a tender short-and-sweet song of promise to do whatever it takes to love his sweetheart well.
This Ain’t No Love Song Rice sings romantic line-after-line of innocent fibs, denying his obvious crush on the girl he’s singing to.
Let It Burn Ripp visits the biblical image of the burning bush to learn what he can about trust, and asking God to show up in the hard times.
Took Your Breath Away Rice simplifies, in an Appalachian-style melody, the curiosity of a kid about a grandparent’s faithfulness up to the final moments of life.
Boy Ripp boldly and poetically longs for innocence in the chaos of modern times and humanity’s dilemma.
Carry On Chris cheerfully sends off a loved one, ready for the celebration awaiting her on golden streets. (Yeah, I know, we joked about titling this whole record, “Make ‘Em Cry”)
And more. Thirteen songs in total. Songs that cover a lot of ground and span the wide capacity of living.
Two unalike creative guys spent eight years of Tuesdays hashing out ideas and melodies, draining coffee mugs, consuming too much gelato, processing hardship and celebrating life. These songs are the fruit of friendship. What a privilege to finally share these songs with the rest of you!
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