I am the world’s worst procrastinator. Members of Chris Sligh’s band, Half Past Forever, were kind enough to send me a preview copy of their new CD “Take a Chance on Something Beautiful” (currently available at Amazon) more than a month ago, and I have yet to review it. In light of Chris’s untimely elimination, I gave myself a good talking to–Hello, self? Quit screwing around and write that review! And so, here it is.
I’d like to say that musically, nothing makes me happier than the sound of a jangling Rickenbacker.  In other words, I love me some melodic, catchy pop/rock. You too? Well, then, get yourself to Amazon and order Half Past Forever’s debut CD.
You can sample some tunes at both of the band’s My Space pages here and here. There’s a video for the awesomely hook-laden tune “Know” posted on You Tube. For you digital types, the CD can be downloaded from the Half Past Forever official website.
I first heard “Know” early in the season–back when I learned about Chris through a spoiler list I posted. I was directed to the band’s My Space page back then and immediately fell in love with Chris’s raspy tenor, the tune’s chiming guitars and sweet strings. Like I said–I love, love love the happy happy strains of the 3 minute power pop song.
The album features more songs, like “Know” that mine the pop vein.  While “Waiting,” “Tunnel Vision,” and “Cry Tonight” are strictly Pure Pop for Now People (anybody who gets that reference, wins a cookie. heh.), there are also tunes–”Hero,” “Naive,” and “Closer”–that do the pop thang with a harder edge. Â
There’s even a power ballad, “In a Moment”–that would not be out of place as an Idol coronation song–complete with climatic key change. Since I have an aversion to power ballads admittedly, it’s not my favorite song–but it is a nice showcase for Chris’s beautiful voice.
Some of the songs have Christian themes. “Rise” is an exuberant ode to redemption. “Naive” talks about sticking to faith in a faithless world and the protagonist in “Hero” is “looking for a savior.”
But there are songs that also speak to love, friendship, betrayal and faith in more universal terms. Chris (who wrote most of the lyrics) and his bandmates seem to have written these songs with a broader audience in mind–appealing to both Christian and secular audiences.
The CD closes with “How Long,” a lovely, ethereal ode to love and longing. The tune starts off with a minimal guitar riff that explodes a quarter of the way through. Very, very sweet.
While Chris was kicked off American Idol prematurely (that’s the way the Idol ball bounces, unfortunately) we’re lucky to have this solid offering from Chris and his band to tide us over until the tour. Oh by the way–I just downloaded Chris’s studio version of “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” from the Americanidol.com download page, Me likey. It’s terrific.
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On another note, there’s been some controversy around the remarks Chris made to reporters during his conference call interview.  Anybody who was pissed off after reading the various interviews around the net, might want to read the entire transcript of the conference call posted at the USA Today Idol Chatter blog. It puts some of his quotes into a larger context.
My impression of Chris is that he’s thoughtful, intelligent, with a definite snarky edge. In the larger article, he fully acknowledges the power of Idol to propel his career and is happy that he took the ride. He admits that he chose songs for himself, rather than to please the judges or the audience–which could have been his undoing.
Also, for more insight, you might want to check out his blog  From My Mind to Your Eyes. Chris elaborates on some of the comments he made during the conference call.
Lastly, I want to make a big ole shout out to the AWESOME Steve-0 who runs Chris Sligh’s official fan site. You can keep up with Chris’s post Idol appearances and interviews at her excellent site.Â
Great review MJ. I’m listening to my Half Past Forever CD right now.
MJ- I just brought this CD based on your review. I listened to the previews and my hubby will LOVE it.–He listens to lot’s of contemporary christian groups in theis vein of music. Here’s hoping Chris & band get picked up by one of the big labels.!!
Wow. I just listened to the music on their MySpace pages, and HOLY FREAKIN COW. I had no idea his band was that good. I’m really glad he didn’t win AI. They wouldn’t have let these guys stay together, and it would have been a shame. I just ordered the album. Good luck Chris, though I don’t think you’ll need it. If this band doesn’t get picked up, the record labels are officially crazy. Thanks MJ for finally inspiring me to get my butt over to their page and listen!
Nick Lowe’s “Pure Pop For Now People” is a great CD. He wrote one of my fave songs of all time “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding” that Elvis Costello covered. Nick’s biggest hit was probably “Cruel To Be Kind.” Nick was also in Rockpile with Dave Edmunds & all of their CDs are great too if you like power pop. The late 70’s/early 80’s were a great time for British music with two of my faves being The Clash & The Jam.
Anyway back to the subject at hand…I just might have to check out Sligh’s band (even though he was never one of my faves). Thanks for the review.
MJ!!! YAY!!! YOU ROCK!!!
This review is awesome, gonna post it on the fansite, and THANK YOU for the shout-out!! You nubs me! You really, really nubs me!
LOL
((big hugs))
See you in chat tonight!!
Kay
Here’s a review of the CD from a Christian music website:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2007/takeachance.html
Chris - If you read this….POOF OUT YOUR HAIR MORE!!
LOL
hee
Thanks for the review, MJ. Well done, Chris, and guys from “Half Past Forever”! Good stuff.
MJ, reading your insightful review gave me many Seconds of Pleasure. ;-)
Till I found your blog, I thought I was the only AI fan with roots in new wave, punk and power pop. Maybe someday we’ll get a contestant brave enough to sing the Byrds, the Smiths, XTC, Crowded House, Cheap Trick or early Pretenders from the James Honeyman-Scott era.
Constantine was the first AI contestant to introduce the songs and genres that really resonate for me — and that’s the main reason I supported him in season 4. Watching and listening to Chris Sligh gives me a similar sense of shared musical values without making me feel like I need a shower afterward.
CatFromWI, great catch! My Nick Lowe faves are “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass” and “Marie Provost” (She was a winner who became a doggy’s dinner. She never meant that much to me. O-o-o-oh, oh Marie.) — but I am a fan of most of his catalog, his 1980s collaboration with Paul Carrack, plus his early production of the Pretenders and Elvis Costello. I lurv Paul Weller and the Clash, too.
I think the full-length version of Every Little Thing is Chris’s best vocal yet, especially the bittersweet melody runs on the fadeout. Attention, label scouts and A&R execs: this guy Sligh sounds natural, commercial and very modern rock-ish in the studio.
BTW, am I the only one around here who remembers when the song fadeouts were called taglines? Or reminisces about the lost art of the tagline? Or treasures tagline masters like Brian Wilson and Elvis Costello?
Terrie, great taste in music. I love Crowded House too.
Another great Nick Lowe song is “The Beast In Me.” It’s one of his later works from the 1990’s. It was used in a episode of The Sopranos a few years back.
I’d love to hear some British power pop/new wave/punk rock from the 80’s - the present on Idol. Could you imagine Sanjaya singing “Rock The Casbah?” Okay, maybe that’s a bad example.
YAY, more Nick Lowe fans!! And The Clash and The Jam, YEAH! I LOVE this place lol! Nick Lowe has been one of my faves for more years than I care to think about :) Pure Pop for Now People was one of the first lps I bought by him, after I got hold of Labour of Lust…have everything he put out through the mid-90s (minus the collaborations of Rockpile, Little Village, Brinsley Schwarz, etc)…will have to go back and fill in what I’m missing someday…nice to know there are others out there who appreciate his lyrical/musical genius ;)
Nice review MJ…I love Sligh’s voice - I’ll definitely have to check the music out
i think it is an awesome album. so i bought it:)
I bought it because of this review but also as a protest to TPTB and “he who must not be named”, Chris rocks the house! Great lyrics, great band, he definitely deserves getting signed to a major label and making it big time!
Larry Beck