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City of Two Rivers
Artist: Jason Morant
Label: Vertical Music.
Time/Length: 6 tracks 30 minutes 28 seconds
Jason Morant’s album, City of Two Rivers, is a wonderful example of how well written lyrics and well-constructed music can reach deep and reflect the images of our emotions. The album dedicated to relief efforts for hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast focuses on pointing to hope that can be found. The album seems to be very heart felt, inspirational and warm; probably because he is from New Orleans and had family, friends and his own home impacted by the hurricane.
The music is straightforward acoustic pop with a minimal use of instruments other than the guitar and human voice. The simple backdrop evokes a feeling of sorrow, anguish and expressions of joy and hope that comes at times in the middle of it. The guitar is crisp and melodic and provides the structure for each song with some layers of an accordion, some string instruments and keyboards of various kinds. But, each song is simple in its presentation to the listener. Many of the songs on the album are acoustic version of his material on previous records, something people have asked him to record on many occasions, probably because it is able to connect to the listener.
Jason Morant is able to communicate through well-constructed lyrics the longing we all have in our hearts for a deeper connection and understanding of God. His expressive voice lending a deeper connection you the listener’s emotions.
The signature song is the title track, City of Two Rivers, featuring a piano, accordion and mostly an acoustic guitar. It is a song he wrote after seeing the destruction of hurricane Katrina in his hometown of New Orleans. He hangs on the final word of each phrase that leaves the listener to be suspended for the next phrase of the song; this allows this allows a person to ponder what was stated. He punctuates each phrase with a stroke on the piano or accordion, which again creates the angst and anticipation throughout. It is psalm like in its presentation, a person filled with anguish having lost everything, but finding out that as the chorus states,
“My life is in your hands, my life is in your hands. I’m weak but I will stand. My life is in your hands,” God is in control and can be trusted with the events in life. Anyone who has been through hardship may recall having the same expression to God. It is a reflection of a person who is utterly dependant upon God. Jason Morant uses wonderful imagery of rivers, storms and water throughout this song that points the listener to many things. Take for example the first verse of the song using the imagery as a means of a person wanting to escape from the circumstances of life,
“From within, I am learning
how to live without because this heart has lost its home. In times like
these every child can find a reason to skip away across the river.”
The only critical remark
I could make of this wonderful album is that it is too short with only
6 wonderful songs on it. Taking the listener through a journey that ends
in finding hope and the relationship with God that is deeply expressed
throughout.
If you appreciate acoustic pop music you will love this offering by Jason Morant and it will leave you not only hungering to hear more but singing along at times as you find the lyrics hit feelings and emotions within you.
Robert W. Blake
