Deep Cuts (The Choir album)
| Deep Cuts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 23, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2020 | |||
| Studio | Spooky's Lair, Brentwood, TN, Yackland, Nashville, TN | |||
| Genre | Christian alternative rock, indie rock | |||
| Length | 58:46 | |||
| Label | Galaxy21 | |||
| Producer | Derri Daugherty, Stephen Leiweke, Steve Hindalong | |||
| The Choir chronology | ||||
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Deep Cuts is the 16th studio album by Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released on April 23, 2021.[1] This album was funded by the band's Kickstarter campaign launched in February 2020.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| CCM Magazine |   [2] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [3] |
| True Tunes | Favorable [4] |
| The Fire Note |  [5] |
| The Heartland Attack | [6] |
| Cephas Hour | Favorable [7] |
Critical reviews for Deep Cuts were generally positive, and focused primarily on the upbeat nature of the album compared to its immediate predecessor. Dan McIntosh from CCM Magazine called the album "a positive emotional space," saying that The Choir has been "a good friend to many of us, and we’re so thankful it continues to keep this musical conversation going."[2] John Underdown at Jesus Freak Hideout also thought that Deep Cuts featured "a newer, brighter message [...] focused on pushing for better times and reconciliation." However, he saw this as a weakness compared to the band's previous work: "Deep Cuts is more laid back and simply exists because these guys love making music together. That's fine, but it feels like a middle-of-the-road Choir album."[3] Levi Yager from The Heartland Attack agreed, saying that "while Deep Cuts may not be The Choir’s best work, it’s certainly no failure."[6] Andre Salles from True Tunes was more favorable, emphasizing that the album's kintsugi cover art was representative of its more complex emotional theme: "about how love makes us whole, but also about how the scars we carry from our pain make us even more beautiful. It is the love songs that give this album its character."[4] The strongest review came from Brian Q. Newcomb at The Fire Note, calling Deep Cuts "an altogether more up-tempo effort that rocks with intentionality and purpose," and saying that the song "“The Woods,” with an aggressive guitar attack and a gripping sax solo, is a welcome return to an intensity reminiscent of the band’s great, underrated ’93 release, Kissers and Killers.”[5]
Track listing
All tracks written by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hurricane" | 6:15 |
| 2. | "The Woods" | 4:35 |
| 3. | "Kindred Spirits" | 4:45 |
| 4. | "Feel You Close" | 4:39 |
| 5. | "Aces Over Eights" | 4:40 |
| 6. | "Reckless Ways" | 5:27 |
| 7. | "Trouble" | 4:18 |
| 8. | "The Fool" | 4:23 |
| 9. | "Sunshine Girl" | 5:13 |
| 10. | "Eyes On Fire" | 4:16 |
| 11. | "Mystical World" | 3:54 |
| 12. | "Deep Cuts" | 5:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Kathie's Garden" | Richard Reeves, Steve Hindalong | 3:10 |
| 14. | "The Real WWW" | Steve Hindalong, Tim Chandler | 3:43 |
| 15. | "Counting Stars" | Ryan Tedder | 4:30 |
| 16. | "What You Think I Am" | Derri Daugherty, Marc Byrd, Steve Hindalong | 4:32 |
| 17. | "After All (Re-Imagined)" | 4:59 |
Personnel
- Derri Daugherty - Lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards
- Steve Hindalong - Drums, percussion, harmonica, glockenspiel, gong, vocals, lead vocals on "Kathie's Garden" and "The Real WWW"
- Dan Michaels - Saxophone, lyricon, horn samples
Guest performers
- Jonathan Noel, Mason Zgoda, Stephen Mason - Vocals
- Stephen Leiweke - Acoustic guitar
- Chris Donohue - Bass
- Stephen Mason - Bass ("Eyes On Fire," "Mystical World," "Kathie's Garden," "Counting Stars")
- Tim Chandler - Bass ("The Real WWW", "What You Think I Am"), Electric guitar ("The Real WWW")
- Andy Prickett - Electric guitar ("Hurricane," "Feel You Close," "Aces Over Eights," "Deep Cuts")
- Michael Walker - Electric guitar ("Kindred Spirits," "Sunshine Girl")
- Marc Byrd - Electric guitar ("What You Think I Am")
- Jared Norris - Keyboards ("The Fool," "Deep Cuts")
- Mark Uecker - Twelve-String Guitar [12-String Acoustic Guitar] ("Sunshine Girl")
- Leigh Nash - Vocals ("What You Think I Am," "After All (Re-Imagined)")
- Matt Slocum - Cello ("After All (Re-Imagined)")
- John Steingard - Programming ("After All (Re-Imagined)")
- Spooky and Hotcake - Dog vocals ("Reckless Ways")
- Erica Estes - Voice [Angelic Laughter On Outro] ("Feel You Close")
- Christopher Heyn - Voice ["You Are Beautiful, Hit It"] ("Deep Cuts")
Production
- Producers - Derri Daugherty, Stephen Leiweke, Steve Hindalong
- Executive producers - Dan Michaels, Kimberly Uecker, Lisa Michaels, Mark Uecker
- Handler - Lisa Michaels
- Mixer - Stephen Leiweke
- Recorded by Derri Daugherty, Stephen Leiweke
- Mastered by Nigel Palmer
- Cover Art, Design – Todd Evans
References
- ^ "Deep Cuts Album Release Date". TheChoir.net. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ a b McIntosh, Dan (May 12, 2021). "The Choir "Deep Cuts"". ccmmagazine.com. ‘’CCM Magazine’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Underdown, John (April 23, 2021). "The Choir, Deep Cuts". jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Salles, Andre (April 15, 2021). "The Choir's Joyful Meditation on Brokenness". truetunes.com. True Tunes. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Newcomb, Brian Q. (April 14, 2021). "The Choir: Deep Cuts [Album Review]". thefirenote.com. ‘’The Fire Note’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Yager, Levi (April 14, 2021). ""Deep Cuts" Album Review". theheartlandattack.com. ‘’The Heartland Attack’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Wilson, Jerry (April 6, 2021). "The Choir Offers a Portal to Genuine Art". cephashour.com. ‘’Cephas Hour’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.