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Krystal Meyers is about to collide with superstardom. You can feel it. She’s sitting on its edge, and The Wizard of Oz production team (Andrew Bojanic, Elizabeth Hooper, Avril Lavigne, and Liz Phair) are going to push her over. Her sophomore album, Dying for a Heart, is due to release September 19, 2006 and promises to earn her a spot near the top of the Christian charts. Heart is a ten-track melody-driven, exhilarating thrill ride.
The album opens with Collide, a frenetically charged rock song with a great tempo change-up on the hook. The quality of the musicians is evident from the very first guitar chord, and if you listen closely you can hear other well processed guitar sounds. Their timbre perfectly complements her voice here, and it’s a great start and a promise of things to come.
On the heels of the opener is Live, a call to make the most of the time we’re given. Once again, the musicianship shines with terrific drums and heavy guitar licks. The lyrics are concise and drive the point home. In the money spot is The Beauty of Grace, the first of four tracks that are sure hits on the contemporary Christian radio stations. This is not a sell-out of her harder style, but rather an expansion of her incredible talent. Grace’s lyrics are worth a second look. If they are a picture into Krystal’s heart, then it is one of absolute joy, understanding, and dependence upon the Lord.
The Situation will hit home to many teens who are feeling the pressure to conform in compromising situations. Her message is one of anti-conformity – not of stark individuality, but of not conforming to this world at the expense of morality. Her voice comes off as just a little affected here on the verses, but it’s pure Krystal on the catchy hook and chorus. Love is on the Run gives her a chance to let loose on a rock song. It has a somewhat 80s retro rock "Pat Benatar meets the B52s" feel that works.
Only You Make Me Happy is one of those little ditties that will never leave you – even if you want it to. I dare you not to go around whistling this or singing its hook; it can’t be done. The simple and incredibly memorable hook overshadows some excellent and sometimes smart-alecky lyrics ("Elvis is dead, but my King is alive", for example). This is the most likely song to chart on the Top 40 because it’s just plain FUN to sing along with. The production staff had their own fun with Together, a song of teenage angst and the resolution of that struggle. There’s an awful lot going on here, and it bears listening over and over to catch the subtleties.
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It is those songs that are done in collaboration with Ian Eskelin that are the most radio-friendly, and Shake It Off is likely to be a big hit. Meyers says that "This song is about letting go of all the weight and baggage that has been holding you back from being completely in love with God – letting your fears and troubles roll off your shoulders." Unlike some other chart-toppers, Meyers’ messages are clear while maintaining their relevancy to the youth of today. There’s no obscurity here, no hiding her faith. The Christian maturity reflected in lyrics such as Grace’s "You say you want new life, in My arms there’s mercy" or Shake’s imagery belies her tender years, and reminds me of the enormity of talent that was wrapped up in a young Amy Grant.
Stand and Scream is Meyers’ nod to her punk fans and her musical roots, but it feels just a tad out of place on this project. Musically it’s very well done, with some excellent background vocals, well-written lyrics, and fine musicianship. But the whole rest of the album is about a beautiful and joyful heart, and S&S has a somewhat angry edge to it.
The album is heavily produced, which sometimes means a singer comes up short in the vocal department. Hallelujah proves that Krystal has the pipes to match the production. This is an incredible way to close out an album whose focus is the heart. That she managed to take fast guitars and heavy drums and turn them into a beautiful and tender worship song is amazing, and a testament to the songwriting skills. The last line stands out on its own, with the music fading. "I realize the reason You came." The sustained voice is very effective and leaves the listener with a grateful heart and misty eyes as the reason He came hits home.
The album as a whole flows well from one song to another with the same underlying wonderful spirit. The continuity is near seamless considering the variety, and the song placement is set for maximum enjoyment. Most of the songs come in right around 3 minutes. They’re geared for a generation grown up on fast-paced video games and music videos. That’s in keeping with her sound - Krystal Meyers is as current as it gets. She melds punk, rock, pop, and even praise & worship into her own melody-heavy style. And that style is poised to become a standard. |
