(To be perfectly honest, I’ve been hardcore procrastinating at this over the past two months (which should be no surprise if you know me well enough), hence my needing a moment last month and being a bit late even now. But, well, here it is at last.)
For starters, I’d say I’m no more than 50% musically inclined. I played the clarinet in elementary school, played Guitar Hero for 8-10 years, and have regularly listened to MP3 players while driving or being driven since high school. I’ve never taken any music theory classes or anything like that, so composing on my own is out of the question. (I have, however, dabbled into curricular poetry and been complimented on my singing.) Back in the day, albums did not matter to me; I only ever cared about singles and sometimes artists, and I think Guitar Hero has been the biggest influence on that mentality. Thus, the only albums I had purchased prior to Life After Death are OSTs of the video games Bravely Default, Phoenotopia: Awakening, and Beat Saber. (I’ve also had albums bundled with video games: the Persona 4 Arena soundtrack, the orchestra CD that came with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Telephantasm with Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock; however, I don’t regularly listen to songs from any of them but the former.)
Changing gears, I’ve been at least somewhat fascinated by TobyMac since I started hearing “Made to Love” on the radio in the mid-2000s (about when I started entering my teens and becoming American), at which time it was the closest thing to Christian rap I had ever heard. (Not to say I’m all that into rap, just putting it out there.) For the record, I did not know that he had been part of DC Talk, despite having heard their songs “In the Light” and “What If I Stumble” (the former of which I naïvely thought was by FFH because of its similarity to “Open Up the Sky”). Between then and the release of Life After Death, I became particularly fond of “Beyond Me”, “Feel It”, and “Move (Keep Walkin’)” as anthems of humility, faith, and persistence respectively.
And now we arrive at the present. On K-Love Radio, I recently started hearing “Promised Land”, “Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)”, “The Goodness”, and “Cornerstone”. Between liking what I was hearing (especially “The Goodness”) and the recommendation of DJs Skip & Amy to listen to all of Life After Death, it fell on my heart to make the investment. This album is heavily influenced by the untimely death of the artist’s 21-year-old son, so while it has its upbeat moments, it naturally takes some emotional turns. Also note that “21 Years”, “Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)”, and “The Goodness” come with music video copies on Apple Music.
With all that in mind, I dedicate this blog post to a track-by-track breakdown followed by a final verdict.
“Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)”
In the music video, TobyMac chases after a boy who, based on the “21 Years” music video, surely must be his late son, scrambling waywardly through an urban city at night. A trio of Diverse City members dressed like cultists are also involved. After the second chorus, TobyMac is seen performing with the Diverse City members in a tent where the boy winds up at the end.
The song itself bears somewhat of a resemblance to “Move (Keep Walkin’)” but is more upbeat and not as funky. (Between the two, I prefer the latter overall.) The imagery of “rolling up His sleeves again” serves as a reminder that God is at work in every moment, even if His craft is out of line with the expectations and desires of man.
“The Goodness” feat. Blessing Offor
“A saint is not someone who is good, but someone who recognizes the goodness of God.” I don’t know how direct this quote is, but it is the theme of this song. It might just be my favorite song of the album between its inexplicable catchiness and its uplifting message.
The co-artist is a legally blind Nigerian-American who once competed in The Voice and has produced soulful hits of his own: “Brighter Days” and “Believe”. True to his name, he is a blessing, no less from humble beginnings. Also, he evidently agrees with the “rolling up His sleeves” imagery, considering his part in the second verse.
In the music video, the two artists perform their duet around Blessing’s piano, while a gathered-around crowd pops in and out to worship with them during the first chorus and from the second chorus to coda. This scene is occasionally accompanied by brief cuts of an off-camera individual applying a liberal amount of paint in many colors to various unattended objects, including letters of the words “THE GOODNESS”.
“Deeper” feat. Tauren Wells
This is what I call a song with atmosphere. While the lyrics suggest that the title refers more to a relationship, the instrumentation gives off the vibe of being underwater as in the common alternative. As atmospheric as it is, it’s not as upbeat as the previous two tracks, outing itself as a shift from party time to real talk, not unlike a sermon following hymns. One way it can be interpreted is as the offer of a doting father to provide more for his prodigal son.
The co-artist, mentioned as “T. Wells” before the second verse, hosted last year’s K-Love Fan Awards with Matthew West and is “Known” (Get it?) for his fair share of hits including “Hills and Valleys”, “Until Grace (feat. Rascal Flatts)”, “Fake It (feat. Aaron Cole)”, and more recently “Joy in the Morning”. (He is also featured in the outro of “Feel It”, which is absent from the radio edit.)
“Show Up Choose Love” feat. Jon Reddick
“Whatcha got, Mr. Reddick?” Well, for starters, he has the Christian song of 2022, “God Turn It Around”, not to mention a newer song in “I Believe It (The Life of Jesus)”. His verse kicks off what can be considered a rallying cry (or perhaps a call to arms) for those wavering in finding their purpose. “Sometimes the next right thing is all you can do,” as conveyed in the outro, amid the duality of having “come a long way” and having “a long way to go.”
Following the second chorus is what I can only assume to be a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote: “You know we should leave everyone better than we found them!” That’s part of what it means to “choose love”, putting aside one’s own desires for the sake of others, that it may help them understand the God we believe in.
“Promised Land (Collab OG)” feat. Sheryl Crow
With my apologies, I don’t know the next three featured artists well enough to provide any details on them.
Life can feel like a grind, so much so that it gets hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. One might even struggle with doubts that they’re on the right track in their daily life. In truth, this life is just the prelude, and greater wonders await in the future that we cannot see, as the Lord has promised.
“Everything About You” feat. Marlee
This, I opine, is when the album takes the emotional turn. While the closest friend I have lost was a house cat who lived for almost 17 years, this song makes me imagine how much worse circumstances could be. However, even though I prefer to avoid emotional music whenever possible, this is the second-most emotional song I can handle, behind “Blessings” by Laura Story. All in all, not my kind of song, but nice to know it exists.
“Life On It” feat. Sarah Reeves
“You can sit there moping all day, or you can pray to God for the vigor to get back up on your feet.” This isn’t really a quote, just the kind of pep talk that I imagine would inspire a song like this. The rapping in the first verse is the highlight of this song, whereas I’m not a fan of how heavily auto-tuned the chorus is. At least the instrumentation somewhat makes up for my gripe.
“Faithfully”
If you ever think you can’t get out of a depressed state, just look at this as a retrospective of being in the pits two songs ago and rising up over the course of the next song. Even if it feels like something is missing, the Lord is not. He sees His children in the midst of their struggles, and He looks on them with love, no matter the circumstances.
“Cornerstone” feat. Zach Williams
More upbeat than the previous track but still laced with troubles, this song serves as a reminder that there is no better way to live life than living out the truths that God plants on our hearts, however subtly. The album version differs from the radio version in that it opens up with studio talk instead of an introductory instance of the verse riff.
The co-artist is a former hardcore rock-and-roller who was “Redeemed” (by Big Daddy Weave) from alcohol addiction and called to put his talents to alternative use, namely in hits such as “Chainbreaker”, “Fear Is a Liar”, “There Was Jesus (feat. Dolly Parton)”, and “Heart of God”. However, to be blunt, I would say that his part in this song feels rather lacking in variety compared to his solo work. The last time he sings, “On Christ the solid rock I’m standing,” notably the “On” part of it, I feel like the kind of singing he does at that point is repeated a few too many times afterwards. (Perhaps the last chorus of “Heaven Help Me” has an influence on this opinion.)
Not to downplay the song at large; it’s a rather catchy tune with a combination of artists that I would never have pieced together in my head.
“Found” feat. Terrian & Wande
Terrian, at the time of writing actually misspelled “Terrain” in Apple Music, is notable for being a member of Diverse City, although I’m not familiar with her solo work, let alone that (or anything, really) of Wande.
This song can be considered an elaboration upon the line of “Amazing Grace”: “I once was lost, but now I’m found.” TobyMac and Wande contribute slow rap to it, while Terrian is the one with the melodies. It’s also not far off from “Faithfully,” although it’s more of an emotional tune with not as much action taken on the part of the first-person subject in the lyrics.
“Fire’s Burnin'” feat. Cory Asbury
Of all the songs I hadn’t heard before listening to this album, this one has to be my favorite. It uses a fresh type of imagery: a moth to flame, with God being the flame to which his disciples are helplessly drawn like moths. Also, my video game brain associates the instrumentation with the Eggman levels in Sonic Adventure 2.
The co-artist is the main one behind “Reckless Love”, “The Father’s House”, and “Egypt”. Another unexpected feature, not to mention one whose melody blends well, almost too well.
“Space” feat. Kevin Max, Michael Tait & DC Talk
Not only is this basically a modern DC Talk song, but it’s another song with atmosphere, carrying the vibe of outer space while the subject of the lyrics is the degree of difference between God and man. I remember once in Sunday school being taught that the cross is what bridges the gap, although that alone is not enough for us to return to God; part two of the teaching is an ABC method for one to Admit they are a sinner, Believe that Christ died for them, and Choose…something; that’s the part I don’t remember. The point is, all we can really do here on the earth (after the confession and belief) is stand in faith, overcome the trials of the enemy, and lead lives that help others experience the glory of God. Even if some things are not right, “Love keeps no record of wrongs,” as stated in the outro and 1 Corinthians 13:5.
“21 Years”
Based on how this is one of the three songs with a music video, no less the one that I have not yet heard on the radio, I imagine this is supposed to be the track that drives home the whole point of the album. It starts off like a Soundgarden song (“Black Hole Sun” in particular comes to mind) but is otherwise the sort of chill tune to be expected of the artist. In terms of emotional weight, it lies between “Found” and “Promised Land”.
In the music video, TobyMac paces around in the middle of a cold, wet, and rainy day while contemplating the difference between what could have been and what has come to pass. It makes the “Oh” shouts before the last chorus feel more poignant. Written on a tree stump is “JOHN 14:6”, which features one of the quintessential declarations of Jesus: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The video ends with the quote, “…and while he was still a long way off, the father saw his son and ran to him.”
“I’m Sorry (a lament)”
In a similar vein to “You Love Me Anyway” by Sidewalk Prophets, this song holds humanity accountable for the uncountable ways it has deviated from godliness. TobyMac mentions the major ones in the verses, adds to the second and third choruses by praying to the Lord to “Wake us up”, and recites Matthew 5:3-11. While mostly mellow in tone, it basically explodes from the third chorus until the outro.
“Rest” feat. Terrian & GabeReal
Ironic how a song like this follows a song with such a boisterous third chorus, although the decision is somewhat justified by the opening line, “I woke up to this.” GabeReal, previously featured in “Eye of the Storm” by Ryan Stevenson, has his moment in the outro of the song (after the chorus that Terrian sings).
The importance of rest is explained in Genesis 2:2-3 and reiterated as the Fourth Commandment in Exodus 20:8, both listed below.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
Thus, there is no shame in taking a moment to cool down, unwind, recharge, or whatever you want to call it.
Afterword
This album was definitely worth the purchase. There is nothing like Christian music for planting the truth of God in one’s heart, and this album delivers with an undeniable flow. As hard as it is to rank the songs, the ranking is naturally part of my final verdict.
Fire’s Burnin’ > The Goodness > Help Is On the Way > Show Up Choose Love > Life On It > I’m Sorry > Space > Deeper > Rest > Promised Land > 21 Years > Cornerstone > Faithfully > Found > Everything About You
À la prochaine! (Until next time!)
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