Spoken (Last Chance to Breathe) :: Deeper Devotion

By J.A. Lopez

Artist: Spoken
Site: www.spokenmusic.com
Album: Last Chance to Breathe
Label: Tooth and Nail

Release: 2005
Type: Rock/Emo
If you like: Linkin Park, Underoath, Thousand Foot Krutch

Yes, the rock genre has been bombarded with many acts that thrive on heavy bass lines, melodic guitar rifts, and ear-piercing vocals. As a band it would be difficult to have your music stand out and ascend the influx of other talented musicians. That is unless your name is Spoken.

This happens to be one of those bands that have a song for the masses. The newest release from Spoken, Last Chance to Breathe, happens to be their sophomore Tooth and Nail release. Due to prior contract and ownership issues, Spoken is not allowed to advertise their several albums via their website. Not to downplay earlier releases, but they just do not match the effort and payoff that comes from this newest project. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Echoes of the Spirit Still Dwell and it can always visit my CD player again once I’m done getting over how much Last Chance to Breathe rocks!

This album seems to have a call out for their listeners to wake up to the truth of the love of God and act upon it.

What sets Spoken apart from other acts is their message and their sheer drive! From beginning to end this album is a musical trip. Each song’s lyrics are inspiring and emotionally moving. This album seems to have a call out for their listeners to wake up to the truth of the love of God and act upon it. What made me interested in Spoken years ago was their cutting edge sound, but it was their lyrics that made me a fan.

Their song, “Everything is Burning,” is a call to “forget all about your lies and indecisions, time is fading…and all that we’ll be left with is the truth of God.” Once again this theme is visited by the album’s title track. Last Chance to Breathe points out that it is difficult to think that we may not have tomorrow, but we need to be sure that we take care of things today. As for their message being as genuine as the band themselves, it’s right on. They are a Christian band that is not ashamed for others to know; it was confirmed via email with their manager.

This is a CD that is going to make you want to test out how much you can push your car or home speakers. For fans of the rock sound of Linkin Park and Underoath, you will want to pick this up.

The band’s style shines on every track as though they were all singles. From the ability to softly wait for that perfect moment to lay out a solo to maintaining a steady rock drive, Spoken has been able to show their maturity and skill in writing that will hopefully continue for a long time.

There is only one that I would have to point out, “Time After Time.” Yes, if you are a child of the 80’s, you may have heard Cindy Lauper’s original version while playing with your GI Joes and Transformers. If you are a fan of covers, which I defiantly am, you know that covers either do justice or make you more irate with the original version. Spoken’s cover has done the original version much justice. They met a good balance of keeping the song’s original tempo, while introducing a little of their own flavor. All in all a great mix! I’m told that you may have heard it in Napoleon Dynamite.

On their web site they have six of their tracks available, or you can open up their ecard and listen to five. Purevolume.com has the same songs as the ecard, but it also features past songs too! A radio interview is also available on www.radiou.com.

It's so easy to crush. But is it right? Jeremy Smith shares about his high school crush and what he's learned.

From the Archives

I Ate My Love Letter (When Crushes Crush You)
Jul 31, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
5 Comments

Ways of Keeping a Prayer Journal
Jun 30, 2008 @ 06:56 pm
37 Comments

Be Gone!
Jun 30, 2008 @ 02:29 pm
1 Comment

Thief-to-Thief: A Christian View of Piracy
Jun 30, 2008 @ 01:27 pm
36 Comments

Keep Seeking Christ
Jun 30, 2008 @ 01:11 pm
1 Comment