Description
Armed & Dangerous is the sophomore solo album by the American singer and songwriter Matthew Ward of 2nd Chapter of Acts fame, released on Live Oak Records in 1986, manufactured and distributed by both Word Records and A&M Records. The album was recorded at Easter Song Studio in Garden Valley and at Rosewood Studio in Tyler, Texas; with Matthew Ward producing. All songs composed and written by Matthew Ward and Jim Tenneboe.
Talk about a long time between albums! It’s been seven years since the 2nd Chapter of Acts‘ Matthew Ward released his first solo album, ‘Toward Eternity‘. Happily, ‘Armed and Dangerous’ makes a quantum musical leap into the ’80s, but you can’t help but wonder why it took seven years to get this record made. (Did he finally get the “seven-year itch”?) Still, it was worth the wait.
‘Armed and Dangerous’ features synth and guitar-driven rock and Ward’s awesome vocal prowess. While none of the songs here seem to require his full potential, they adequately demonstrate why he may be the best rock vocalist in Christian music. He sings with intensity, but also with remarkable fluidity. Truly a singer’s singer. And this is one case where it’s good that the vocals were mixed to the foreground.
Now to the songs. «Red and Yellow, Black and White» opens the first side and is probably the LP’s most infectious cut. A nicely arranged horn section led by Kim Hutchcroft (late of Seawind) and a tasty sax solo spice up the song. «Trust in You» is anchored by a driving, minor key bass line offset by a solid guitar riff by studio ace Dann Huff (whose instrument is featured on all but one track).
«By Your Side» is a straight-ahead rocker that would make a great concert opener. The only complaint is that it fades abruptly during one of the choruses. (It’s not as though they had to cut it off because the album was running long. The eight songs here total only about 33 minutes.) The title track starts off like one of Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s bombastic neo-classical organ rockers from the ’70s (Ward liked them at one time), but it moves into a borderline techno-pop sound that would sound at home (both musically and lyrically) on ‘Miami Vice’.
The album’s only ballad is a heart-rending song which Matthew sings about his mother’s prayers for his salvation: “Her prayers were answered/ Tho’ she never lived to see/ …Now the situation’s changed – I’m on my knees/ Praying for my baby’s eyes/ To someday see that Love is calling out her name.”
Ward wrote all the lyrics on the album, most of which are directed to God like as if they were rock ‘n’ roll psalms. He also co-produced and co-wrote all of the music with Jim Tenneboe, and they’ve come up with a solid package of rock-praise (which, by the way, bears no resemblance to the 2nd Chapter of Acts). We only hope we don’t have to wait until 1993 for more. [John W. Styll, CCM, June/July 1986]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/armed-and-dangerous/390699952)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Red And Yellow, Black And White” – 3:38
A2. “Trust In You” – 4:18
A3. “By Your Side” – 4:26
A4. “Armed And Dangerous” – 4:12
Side Two
B1. “Glory To God” – 3:44
B2. “Moment By Moment” – 3:53
B3. “Put On The Armour” – 4:01
B4. “Love” – 4:58
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Live Oak Records.
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