Abandon: Control

Abandon: Control

Abandon’s newest CD Control is a bit different that their first album Searchlights. Though both have the same main focus, Christ, Control has a more tech-ish feeling to it but not so that it seems like it’s a different band, the changes are more subtle, it’s still 100% Abandon. One thing I love about the hard copy that you don’t get through digital download is on their artwork when you first open the CD it had the definition on control which sheds some light why they named their CD that. CON-TROL –noun – the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events: Who’s in control here?
Abandon is a rock band from San Antonio, Texas. Their success has grown substantially since their release of Searchlights. They’ve been nominated for a Dove award and have had a few of their tracks featured on TV spots, including a commercial for Food Network and EPSNs ESPY awards. But it’s not about their track record it’s about the music. This five person band includes Drums. Piano, Guitars, and Bass in their music and uses each of those God given talents and more to create catchy beats and songs that can stay stuck inside your head. And I have to encourage you, if you have the chance to see these guys in concert then go! They put on such an amazing show! I thought one of the coolest things about their live show was how everyone got a chance to be “showcased.” It’s easy for the singer and guitar players to jump around and draw attention to their part of the stage but the drummer is always stuck in the back and maybe trying to do a few drum stick flips here and there. But when I saw Abandon, during one of their songs the drummer and the guitar switched places and Dave the drummer grabbed a snare drum and played an intense little piece at the front of the stage. I liked it, it was unexpected.

Anyway, back to Control. This CD consists of 13 songs one of which was on their last CD. “Hero” has become a pretty popular worship song especially in youth groups. I love when it’s played at my youth group. So the CD features 12 new songs including the song they named their tour after, Feel It In Your Heart. This song is the one that introduces their slightly new vibe and it’s really catchy, I caught myself singing the chorus after the first time I heard it. It’s a really interesting song talking about knowing Christ truly and not just going through the motions. I think the best part that really gets you thinking is when he sings: You can say, say all the right things, But in the end what does it all mean? Yeah, you can say, say all the right things, But in the end what does it mean? It kinda reminds me of Matthew West’s “The Motions” where he talks about going through the motions of a Christians life but it doesn’t mean anything when all you do is wear the mask. We can say “good” things and do “good” things but God doesn’t just want that. He wants you to dedicate your life to Him and those good things will come out because you give your life to Him. That last two lines sung go: All the world listening. It’s a great reminder for me, all the world is listening, even if they don’t want to they will notice so I need to live my life daily as Christ would have me to.
Your Love Goes On is one of my favorites just because it reminds me how even though I screw up He is there and won’t leave and His love is unconditional! Who else could ever love like that? We try to fill our lives with stuff we “love” and people we “love” but can that stuff love us back? Do those people always love us back? Unconditionally? We can never fill that void with anything or anybody but Him. And He’s deperate to show us that, He loves us unconditionally and it wait for us to love Him back. Though we’re not perfect and won’t be able to love Him like He loves us (which is crazy to think about because people have a desire to be loved how they love or more or else why waste time on them) we can be desperate to be near Him. I encourage you to really listen to this song and even look up the lyrics to it, it’s so good!
I could go on and on about every single song but you probably don’t have time to read all that and I have to go make dinner now. But I encourage you to listen to the entire CD, the lyrics make to message so clear just take the time to really listen to them.