The Summer of 2007 brought out some of the best rock debuts we’ve seen in the market. This Beautiful Republic came as a surprise with their debut record, Even Heroes Need Parachutes, it left media outlets and Christian airwaves alike applauding this new talent.
Turning the tables to now, we see another stunning set of follow-up releases, including Republic’s, Perceptions. Setting sights on how there are two sides of every story, lead vocalist Ben Olin says, “Things inevitably appear different to each individual based on their experiences, predispositions, prejudices, or vantage point. When we understand this—that what we see may not be the whole truth—we arrive where grace and love prevail.”
The record starts off with the melodic, “Pain,” which showcases the evolving talent, picking up exactly where Parachutes left off. Next is the intense, “Surrender Saved My Life,” it gives fans of old a taste of a rejuvenated rock sound, it too carries a vibe from their last album, but with a new lyrical element which has refined This Beautiful Republic’s vocals to new heights. Next is radio single “Learning to Fall,” a song about redemption, forgiveness, and actively following what we know is right. “Beautifully Broken” and the fierce “No Turning Back” follow. “My God” featuring Aaron Glimpse of Underoath and side-project The Almost, guest stars on the song, giving it diversity and an edge. “For the Life of Me” comes next, Olin describes it as a song that makes the record’s theme stand out. “Last Second Chance” shows the perspective of a non-believer and where they grasp hope from. Ben notes, “As believers we have the freedom and comfort of knowing that God loves us and is always going to take care of us. He is our hope and our rescue when things start to come down around us.” Following is “Stay With You Tonight” and piano-driven “Change The World,” a song about unity in the Church, and how if we would unite together, instead of allowing conflict arise admits differences in theological beliefs. “A Point Between Extremes,” “The Ones,” and “Say Goodnight” close out the album.
Even Heroes Need Parachutes was a stellar debut, likewise, Perceptions meets and surpasses it’s predecessor. More instrumentation, group vocals, and creativity, helped in expanding This Beautiful Republic’s sound and message.
Perceptions is a solid rock album. It has a few minor weak spots, but maintains a common theme, without boring it’s audience. The record will be loved by previous fans, and enjoyed by new listeners. I was eager to hear this record, I had high expectations and it met all of them. At times it even passed them. Be sure to check out this great record!
Article by Jeremy Koering
