Shining a Light on Exceptional Christian Music

There are certainly uniquely gifted bands today that release albums with their own brand of style that has the listener relishing to come back for more, both musically and lyrically. This is, without a doubt, Paper Route. After three scores of EPs since forming in 2004, this synth-powered rock band from Nashville unveiled their first full-length album entitled Absence in the early going of 2009.

Absence should not be taken too lightly. It will most likely need a few extra spins than the average album in order to be understood. While you might find the cover to be a simple red on the outside, what is inside is somewhat intricate and needs to be pieced together one at a time.

Though Absence seems to be heavily influenced by popular 80s renditions, it undoubtedly comes together with a modern twist. That is where the album leads off with one of the strongest tracks, ‘Enemy Among Us’. The song talks about asking for security from the enemy. “In the silence, You’re the first one that I turn to; You’re the first voice that I turn to in the absence of my own”. Musically, its simplistic nature does not overbear what the song is trying to convey.  Secondly, ‘Wish’ deals with one who wishes their life away, ultimately leading to finding meaning in life. The third track, ‘Carousel’ is the first single and music video off of Absence. Next to follow is ‘Good Intentions’, which is self-explanatory, however in the end, it portrays someone who fails to carry out those said intentions.  ‘Tiger Teeth’ is possibly one of the many captivating tracks on the record and absolutely has that Depeche Mode influence in it. ‘Be Healed’ and ‘Lovers’ Anthem’ are efficiently-layered tracks that are both unquestionably consoling. In contrast, ‘Last Time’ and its complicated lyrics consults about how some relationships can be complex, and the commitment needed to face those complexities. ‘No Sudden Revelations’ serves as a semi-instrumental bridge track to what might be the anthem, ‘Gutter’. You might find your head swaying a bit from front to back on this one.  The encouraging ‘Are We All Forgotten’ is one of the first songs written by Paper Route and is the title track to a preceding EP. What makes it a heartening song is how it was well-written lyrically, “I still believe forgiveness comes with Love and God when it watches over me”. ‘Dance On Our Graves’ concludes the album and is the most spiritual song on the album. Musically, it stands apart from the rest of the pack in regards to its deliberate worship-like nature.

The first long-form effort from Paper Route is a true work of art. However, if you are looking to pump your rawk-fist, odds are you probably will not find it on this record. Paper Route started from the ground up with raw lyrics and raw programming loops, merged them with their undeniably gifted talents and brought us a brilliant album. It certainly was not put together overnight, as it was five years in the making. Paper Route has pioneered a new wave of music through Absence, such that whomever has grasped this album will listen to it for years to come.

Sounds similar to: Mew, Depeche Mode, Mute Math

Written by: Trevor Evans