A Review by The Phantom Tollbooth


Starlight Wish Artist: Glisten Label: KMG Records Time: 13 tracks/50:01 min.

Remember the "artsy" side of 80's rock? Depeche Mode, The Cure, XTC, and Duran Duran? Glisten is the love child of those adored mentioned bands, but who also yearned for more 90's style music as well. Jason Pettit does a good job recapturing those 80's New Wave vocals, combining them with the rich textures of the modern guitar lines of Travis Scott. This mixture of modern music and throwback vocals makes this probably the only retro-80's modern rock band in the Christian market. Despite the vocals sounding tiredly out-of-date after several listens, the cleverly crafted guitars must be praised, the double whammy of production by Marc Byrd and Steve Hindalong clearly evident. With an eye lyrically toward blatant praise and worship, Glisten will not leave anyone guessing on songs like "waiting in latham":

i am empty
and You're a million miles away
and You don't hear me
when i kneel down to pray
but You've always
been right here
when it seems You¹re far
You're so near

and "Honey":

without You God
i'm all washed up
without You Lord
i'm an empty cup
without my Christ
i'm burning out
without Your Spirit
i'm screaming out

While the guitars are handled quite well on the musical spectrum, the vocals will probably come across as too retro for many listeners to enjoy. An overall honest debut, but this band needs to join the times in the vocals department.

Joe Rockstroh 10/10/99