Jeremy James Bonner - Raging River

Jeremy James Bonner - Raging River
Jeremy James Bonner - Raging River

STYLE: Pop
RATING 3 3 3
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 21030-11783
LABEL: Independent
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Tim Holden

'Raging River' is South Carolina-based Jeremy's first album and has taken him five years to write, arrange, play, record and produce. Unfortunately it shows, with an electro pop sound courtesy of some very dated synth drum sounds, a rock feel to the arrangements, some very heavy handed effects on the vocals and some odd production choices leading to an edgy sound that verges on sounding cheap and nasty. The songwriting tries to cover some good ground mainly looking at grace and our personal relationship with God without using "church" language. However, it does not really cover any of the subjects to any depth and gives the album an immature feel. Jeremy unwittingly sums it all up in the lyrics to "My Voice" - "There's nothing special about the chords that I play/And there's better singers that you hear everyday, Yeah/And there's nothing new under the sun/And all that I do - has already been done." I suspect it's much better live. But I must report the album is not up to it.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Sierra in my bedroom @ 19:27 on May 12 2007

Whoever wrote that review at the top of Jeremy's website should be ashamed of himself... I think that he is a very good writer and he should get praise for his first CD! I believe the reviewer shows a lack of maturity spiritually. This CD is spiritual and should be approached as such!!!! I'd like to see you do any better!! :7P
P.S.- Think about what you should say before you say it!! Or else you'll get messages like this one!!!!



Posted by Jeremy James Bonner in Florence @ 20:56 on Mar 20 2007

I do find it interesting that you listened to the entire CD and came up with only negative comments. I also find it ironic that you would take a beautiful lyric from a song that is about not feeling relevant, or not good enough, but simply giving yourself to God. As that's all He asks from us, all He wants to hear is our voice in praise to Him.
So you take that lyric out of context and it is rather amusing, but you completely miss the message. This CD is all about heart, perserverance and hope. NOT perfection. Sincerely in Christ, your friend, Jeremy.



Posted by Jeremy James Bonner in Florence, S.C. @ 14:37 on Mar 18 2007

Thank you for being honest. I simply took the resources I had and did as much as I could with them, it's better than doing nothing at all. Thanks again for the constructive criticism I will take it and grow from it. Take care and God bless. Sincerely in Christ, Jeremy



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