Recollection
Artist: Plumbline 
Label: GoDigital Records
Length: 10/50:10

As indie as it gets, Plumbline rely on word of mouth and live shows to sell their CDs, which has worked so far to the tune of 32,000 discs sold. They are musically adventurous, ranging anywhere from Live to Rush to New Radicals to '70's rock stalwart Styx. Mix all of that with a laid back Southern California mentality, and you begin to get the picture. 

"Run" is a highlight, oddly mixing a Bonnie Raitt/Melissa Etheridge type of vocal with a the passion of The Cult. "This is a Song of Hope" is much more in the anthemic vein of New Radicals, while "Bottletop" just rocks. "All I Want" (not a toad the wet sprocket cover) speaks of surrender with lines like "Here's my life...like clay to the potter". "Let Me Drown" is built around a keyboard/piano part. "Pain"'s harmonies recall Dada's best days, and "Courtroom" features a driving instrumental bridge that builds on itself between each verse. The latter is a call for people to stop judging themselves, and to see themselves as God does. 

While difficult to pin down, Plumbline brings an intense passion to what they do. Alternating between uplifting tunes and self-examination, there is a lot here to dissect. The effort is worth the time.

Brian A. Smith
7 Septemeber 2007