#2 The Myriad – With Arrows, With Poise

When the Myriad released their first album You Can’t Trust a Ladder I liked it, but wasn’t totally turned on by the sound.  They had a great thing started when they released this album in 2005 and created a name that has something to do with seeking meaning beyond the earthly and ordinary.  The sound was new, they weren’t going with the same old pop-punk/alt-rock sound that so many delivered in 2005.  Distinguishable and unique with a refreshing splash of a sound that appeals to humans.  That is the best way to describe You Can’t Trust a Ladder.

Fast forward three years and one album and welcome With Arrows, With Poise to my musical pediatric ward.  I listened to this album for the first time in March of last year and thought it was extremely interesting.  Another stand out in the world of the same old lame old.  It is unique with its vibe, really painting a wild picture of bowman hunting wild elk through the mangroves.  First impressions of the CD are definetly the cover art.  The artist really paints (literally) an image of, what seems like, the whole world coming at this hunter and all he has is a bow and single arrow to fight it off.  Amazing how the cover really speaks more words than the few words I have to describe the scene.  Music really comes down to a good cover doesn’t it, where has that been stated before?  hmm.

The Myriad has done something that Christian music rarely experiences or has experienced, they have created a great fusion of modern rock and UK epicness (*see below for definition).  This album does not limit the Myriad to just being in the Christian genre of music, it really does transcend genres.  They have left the lyrics open to great individual discernment and opinion.  Great music, like great writing, leaves the listener wondering “what just happened there?” or thinking “where can my thoughts take that?”  The Bibles’ grey areas are alot like Jeremy Edwardsons’ writing in the fact that they make you look at things a new way or think a new way without defining things.  Spending your time in God’s word is good, it cements your beliefs and gives you a great guidebook before you get to Greatness.  With Arrows, With Poise, while not being as important as the Bible, was important in 2008 and if you spend time with it I’m sure you will discover greatness.

Favorite tracks:  “You Waste Time Like a Grandfather Clock”, “A Clean Shot”, “Holiest of Thieves”, Throwing Punches”.

*UK epicness is defined as a distinguishable voice because of the british accent and a song that is epic in scope and is likely to be featured in a war movie (ie. Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2).

9/10

– Luke –