The River

Description

The River is the fifth album by the American pop/rock band Allies, released on Dayspring Records in ‎1990, a division of Word. The album was recorded at Allies Recording Studio in Franklin, Tennessee; with band members Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas producing.

Allies is a pop/praise band; no, it’s hard-driving rock band. Actually, it’s two-two-two-bands-in-one. Which one you’re hearing depends on which cut you’re listening to on ‘The River’.

The band’s fifth album confirms Bob Carlisle as one of contemporary Christian music’s top vocalists, with the perfect foil in lead guitarist/co-composer Randy Thomas, a firey, yet restrained soloist, who can crank it up when the mood is right. The pair pilot Allies through ten terrific new songs. But these guys continue to be eclectic, resulting in an album that may confuse some because of the wide stylistic swings.

‘The River’ starts in fine fashion with «Take Me to the River» – not the Al Green tune, but equally as soulful, continues with the piano-driven ’50s rock ‘n’ roll of «Carried Away», and rips into «Mule-Headed Man», containing Thomas’ best guitar work. The band puts on the brakes for «Someone to Turn To», a driving pop ballad that displays Carlisle’s vocal prowess, but seems out of place after the blues-based material. Allies cranks it up again for the Van Halen-ish «Rock ‘n’ Roll Angel», and sustains that drive through the second side opener, «Burden Down». Just when you’re rockin’ full bore though, you hit a brick wall again, first with the a capella «Requiem For the Living», which serves to introduce «Can’t Stop the River», a powerful, but plodding ten minute epic. Carlisle displays his sense of humor on the ersatz calypso number «The Island», and the album closes, with the altar call ballad, «Come to the Family».

Over the past six years, Allies has proven that it is one of the most accomplished and talented bands in Christian music, capable of composing excellent songs. But I’d love to see the guys settle into one groove for a whole album and nail it home. Still, ‘The River’ is Allies’ most satisfying effort to date. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, November 1990]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-river/1165897676)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Take Me To The River” – 4:43
A2. “Carried Away” – 3:26
A3. “Mule-Headed Man” – 5:05
A4. “Someone To Turn To” – 5:29
A5. “Rock N’ Roll Angel” – 5:47

Side Two
B1. “Burden Down” – 2:28
B2. “Requiem For The Living” – 0:44
B3. “Can’t Stop The River” – 10:33
B4. “Island Song” – 4:28
B5. “Come To The Family” – 5:53

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Dayspring Records.

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