Flicker Recording artist, Nevertheless releases their debut album, Live like we’re Alive. Nevertheless is an: Indie Rock / Pop / Rock band out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. They’ve been together for about 3 years and got their name out of Luke chapter 5. Lead singer Josh Pearson’s vocals, can resemble Relient K’s Matthew Thiessen throughout a couple of their songs, but their style is very different.
Starting off the album is the band’s first single “The Real,” a song about not giving up on God, and not losing your belief in God. The chorus goes: “This is you; this is me. This is who we’re meant to be. We are the real, but the truth is unchanging. This is a call to hearts that are fading.” Showing right off the bat where the band stands lyrically.
There are many other songs that I really fell in love with, both lyrically and musically, for instance “O’ Child,” a last minute song that Josh wrote while recording in a hotel room (see interview for full story). A song Josh wrote about how he felt, how he was straying away from God, and he explained, “I don’t know, sometimes you just feel like you’re straying away from God and from what he has you doing and you lose focus, and in the hotel room that night, God was calling me back to himself.” (Josh Pearson)
Another song I’d like to make a note on is “Lover.” The ending is probably my favorite part of the song… “God of new beginnings, to you I cry, ‘Teach me how to love. Teach me how to die.’ In death there’s forgiveness, and forgiveness calls on new life! You can find me here with my head against the wall, lost in my regrets and every time I fall – you catch me in your hands. You circle me like a wedding band.”
Musically the album is a very well written and performed. The one thing that could potentially turn people off is how they start off with a bang, and finish on a very calm song. I personally like it; the last song is probably my favorite for two reasons, the honesty in the lyrics and bluntly the sound of the song, the vocals are performed very well, not only in “O’ Child,” but the entire album.
Overall, a great debut from Nevertheless! I’ve been hooked on the catchy tunes, I find myself replaying the album over and over. The band has some of the most honest lyrics I’ve heard from a debut band. I look forward to see what happens, and how well they’ll be accepted, my hope is that they become Christian music’s next big hit! They have the potential to be just that. Go out and buy Live like we’re Alive!
Article by Jeremy Koering
