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Raspberry Jam
Fans of Raspberry JAM have expressed their gratitude
with words like: "You do the work of our Lord in a truly unique
way" (Leah, Kansas), and "It has helped me so much in my
Christian faith" (Michelle, Rhode Island). Reactions like these
are continually arising throughout the Christian underground because
RBJ is personally in touch with their fans while remaining humble
and direct in their walk with the Lord. Like a treasured secret, the
music of Raspberry JAM reaches people on a personal level which is
shared only with friends you care about. "We hope the music of
Raspberry JAM creates a space for God to speak to an alternative
generation in a fresh, creative and honest way" says
singer/guitarist Phillip Kim. "Oceanic will be very different
for a lot of people since it is so personal and musically emotional,
but I think the honesty of the album will be understood and
embraced. It's the reality of God for me in the best way I can
express it, through my personal life."
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Band Members:
Philip Kim (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
Flames (Guitar)
Herb Grimaud (Bass)
Wes Faulk (Drums)
Destiny (Vocals)
Albums:
Oceanic (1995)
Chi-Rho
Grace Hotel
Overall rating: + + + +
Oceanic
1 Now Watch the Man (5:08)
2 Can I (3:46)
3 One More Time (6:02)
4 Easter (1:08)
5 Easter (7:50)
6 Oceanic (7:17)
7 Wonders of Love (7:19)
8 Burns Like Fire (5:32)
9 Burden (4:07)
10 Black Box (7:36)
11 Surrender (5:02)
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Album Reviews
Countless times
I've fallen asleep to the appropriately-titled "Oceanic" by
the strangely-named Raspberry Jam. Subconsciously, I have even made
myself exhausted by just reviewing the album (classical conditioning).
The album appropriately fades in and you're tranquilized by the pulsing
beats, droning guitars, and the lush vocals of Destiny and realize why
the album was named "Oceanic". The transient beats continue
during most of the tracks, but never lose the hypnotic effect. There is
definitely warmth found throughout with the help of a soothing voice and
lulling reverb.
"Can
I" has the feel of Til Tuesday with Destiny's similar vocals. Each
note carries out into an elongated drone along with her voice that leads
into a chorus of noise close to Morella's Forest. "One More
Time" consists of an eerie, reverbed riff that leads into an
unexpected distortion that sounds like some Helmet riff. Phillip Kim
appears this time, sounding like Layne Stanley (Alice in Chains), which
actually works here. However, it is Destiny's angelic voice over the
haunting sounds that attracts me the most. The blend of unearthly guitar
notes and ghostly vocals floating over them is frequent during
"Oceanic". The synthesizers also add a sense of drifting and
continue the aquatic feel to the album.
The song
"Oceanic" uses keyboards to give the sound that you are
traveling underwater and again utilizes Phillip's expressive, but toned
down voice. Like many of the other tracks, "Oceanic" builds
into a strong chorus, which becomes almost theatrical like a Savior
Machine song. The end of "Oceanic" even has screaming voices
muffled like the wind, which keeps with the effects they use throughout.
There is no change in the mood until the opening of "Burns Like
Fire", but even then a subtlety takes over during the verse.
Overall, the
album is quite comparable to the Cure's "Disintegration". If
you happen to put "Oceanic" on as you lay in bed, chances are
you will not reach the fourth song. I'm actually still not that familiar
with the last few songs on the LP.
~ Nolan
Shigley
Well, some stand out and some don't, and I'm afraid that "Oceanic" by
Rasberry Jam falls in the category of the latter.
I'm guessing its direction is headed towards New Age, but the result is
a musical sleeping pill. I found absolutely nothing that stood out, or
that I even remembered immediately after ejecting the CD.
The vocals are weak, the music is vanilla, and the production values
are as middle-of-the-road as the music. At best, I'd see this as background
music in a situation where the music itself was TOTALLY unimportant.
~
Bob Lewerke
Raspberry Jam(homepage)
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