Brian Chandler
Where Are You Now?
A Review

I ran across a post on the Burnside Writers Collective the other day entitled Damn That Radio Song (Hey, Hey, Hey), which of course is in reference to Radio Song by R.E.M. (I hope the link works cuz the man won't let me watch it here in the 3rd world.)  The author, Josh Langhoff, basically points out the sad state of "Christian" music right now.  Well, I will let Josh sum it up


I know it does no good to beat up on Christian radio.  Can it really help that it’s lame?  Couldn’t I just switch to the FAR HIPPER Dadrock station?  Why do I subject myself and my loved ones to this musical manure?


So as I am reading this inspired bit of literary gold I think back to that song, Radio Song, and I shed a small tear.  This guy is right.   Music on the radio, ESPECIALLY on "Christian" radio, is just lame.  R.E.M. and KRS-1 wrote that song, that fantastic song, a fusion of College Rock and Hip Hop, to be a light in the darkness.  Radio Song is a collaboration of two varying points of view and life experiences fused to form  poetic genius  with the sole purpose of raising awareness to the crap being blasted through the universe to bombard our sensitive auditory receptors.  


Its that same sing song, and the DJ sucks.  It makes me sad.
 
 
 
 
There are, however, still people willing to fight the boring, uninspired, garbage that is polluting our airwaves.  That is where Brian Chandler comes in.


Brian Chandler is the Worship Director for Ethos Church in San Diego.  His latest effort, Where Are You Now?, is an extremely intimate and raw look into the heart of a true follower of Christ.  Every time I hear this album I am struck at how it reflects my life with Christ.  Joy, pain, struggles, excitement, doubt, but still following.


First off, Brian is an excellent guitar player with an extremely soothing voice.  The album itself, reminds me of some of my favorite singer/songwriters like Elliot Smith, Ari Hest, Joe Purdy, with subtle hints of modern sampling techniques indicative of Death Cab for Cutie, or Owl City.  The beautiful guitar and piano tracks, simple yet powerful lyrics, and heart combine to make this one of my favorite overall albums of all time.


The album definitely has a flow.  The first track, At Least I Can Breathe, seems to reflect the heart of someone meeting Jesus for the first time.


After so long, living without you, I can finally see, there is no hope if your not there...
While most "Christian" albums give us an idealized view of the follower of Christ where everything is happy and I want to serve Him at ever single moment, this album gives us a real, raw look into the heart of a follower, a true follower. Where Are You Now?, the title track, really hits home for me.


Are You worth belief, or have I just misplaced my trust? It paints a picture of someone struggling to believe, wanting to believe in the midst of pain, surrounded by the pressures of life.   I know in my life at least, I have been there.  I have struggled with my faith at times.  I have wondered if its all worth it.  Brian makes me feel like I am not alone, like there are others to help me. Brian finish up, Where Are You Now?, with  the song, To Think I Never Knew.  The song is really a song of thanks and joy based on a thoughtful examination of one's life. To think I never knew, to think that I almost missed You.
What would our world look like if we really thought about that?  If we thought about our lives without Christ and lived a life that reflected the joy we have in Him. If you are sick of the "Christian" music out there that gives us a false "peaches and cream:" view of a disciple, and are looking for something real, something that speaks to the true cost of being a disciple, pick up Where Are You Know on iTunes.  It is an authentic and encouraging picture of someone who doesn't have all the answers and still continues trusting in our Saviour.