Artist: Chasen
Album: That Was Then, This Is Now
Year: 2010
Label: INO Records
Website: http://www.chasenmusic.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/chasen
Twitter: @chasemusic
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Run Kid Run, Kutless, Stellar Kart, Needtobreathe, Daughtry, Nickelback, Esterlyn, Seventh Day Slumber, DecembeRadio, Goo Goo Dolls
Rating: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

On March 9th we will be witness of Chasen’s true debut. The album “That Was Then, This Is Now” produced by Rob Hawkins (Fireflight) contains 10 songs, most written by frontman Chasen Callahan (vocals, guitars) and with the music of Evan Silver (lead guitar, vocals and keyboards), Aaron Lord (drums) and Jared Barber (bass / vocals). While “Shine Through The Stars” contained important tracks such as the singles “Crazy Beautiful” and “Drown”, do not satisfied the demanding music with a weak, mediocre and almost forgettable debut, I assure you, “That Was Then, This Is Now” compensates the mistake of its predecessor. With melodies, piano and pop rock with similarities to Run Kid Run, Stellar Kart, Esterlyn, Goo Goo Dolls and supported by INO Records, the success of this CD is more than assured.

The album begins with “Castaway”, an experience between “Apparitions” by Seabird at the piano intro, which then becomes vocally “Nickelback” or “Daughtry”. This song proclaims the gift of redemption and a second opportunity amid the wreckage of our mistakes, a new life without regrets with a new purpose: “I’m overboard, too far from shore / A castaway trying to make it home / I catch my breath to save myself but I can’t / In my sight you were just in time / I feel you now you’re by my side / I know you gave me, a gift of a second chance”. Then we have the fantastic “Love In Your Name”, built by strong guitars and lyrics that praises the immeasurable grace of our God: “So long misery / By grace I’ve been redeemed / There’s one thing that I know / For every searching soul / There’s love in Your Name, Jesus”. The first single ”On And On” has positioned itself as the #1 on Billboard, and interestingly it was written in just 2 hours. Callahan shares with us: “The nation was reacting to the recession and the severe political problems and negativity in the media. We had lost the joy, but when everyone fails, God’s love never does. I serve a God who is bigger than the economy or our president. His grace is eternal, so I’m not going to worry about tomorrow”. An incredible and powerful lyric accompanied by a catchy tune that declares: “There is no fear of belief / There’s just this cold reality / That wants to take me away from You / There is no doubt in my mind / That in Your perfect time / Your plans and Your ways will unfold”. One of the most outstanding tracks of the album is “Leave You Alone” with piano and falsetto marked by acoustic sound for each chord that reminds us of God’s faithfulness, no matter our situation, is never too late to find his hope: “You’ll never have to do this alone / Walking the tightrope and bracing the fall / No matter what you’ve done this far / He’s still chasing your broken heart / He’s never gonna leave you alone”. Inspired by the premature death of one of Callahan’s friends, “Airplanes” takes refuge in violin, well marked guitar riffs that encourage us to love again, try again: “I’ll be waiting for you here / And I’ll be your memories of love / I’ll be waiting for you here where the / Clouds of rain and the airplanes will never go”. With a pop sound similar to early Switchfoot, the passionate “One In A Million” compels us to take action and not to just sit down and do nothing waiting for changes, and also it asks God to break the chains that have tangled in doubt our hearts: “What am I waiting for / Standing still when I should be moving / In front of an open door / I forgot what I thought I was proving / Lay down these thoughts that I take up again and again”. Then “Bullet” became modern worship with a very aggressive feeling and similarities to U2 in their crunchy guitars and drums. Talk about the miracle of salvation and give glory to God for the freedom we get in his kingdom: “My voice rings out rings out / Louder and louder now / Victorious you’ll be / Together let’s sing out / Like an anthem in this crowd / We are free, louder now, we are free”. I’m pretty sure that “Eyes Of A Rescue” will be the next single off this wonderful album. It is simply upbeat, contagious, with all the features to achieve great success on radio, and I can’t put aside his brilliant instrumentation and lyrical, which once again proves that this band can write amazing songs: “We’re worlds apart but you’re standing here looking into the eyes of a rescue / Can’t bear to watch you fall apart looking through the eyes rescue”. With the help of Sam Mizell (Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, Jordin Sparks, Mandisa), Callahan wrote “Slow Down” inspired by a conversation he had with his mother about the comfort and peace we find in Christ. This song is like Kutless, while the violins rise next to the sublime melody that proclaims: “Life is a long road / So hard to follow / You feel like you’ll never win / Just trust in my love / And let me take care of the rest / So you can begin”. The sublime acoustic guitar on “There Is Love” sighs us God’s love for His children, from the perspective of the love of a father to his children or to his family. It is a very personal song, deep and simple with Bryan Adams features: “Ooh, there is love for you / There is love for you in my arms / Ooh, you are everything / Everything that I’m living for / And don’t be afraid to tell me what’s on your heart / Ooh, there is love for you here in my arms”. The best way to conclude this unforgettable recording.

In summary, “Thas Was Then, This Is Now” shows the great talent of Chasen, with an impressive record of songs that thank God for the great grace shed on the privilege of salvation, and Callaham vocal maturity is remarkably successful. Get ready to get this album and hear powerful pop/rock songs with intimate moments of worship.

Este 9 de marzo seremos testigos del verdadero debut de Chasen. El álbum “That Was Then, This Is Now” producido por Rob Hawkins (Fireflight) contiene 10 canciones, la mayoría escritas por el líder de la banda Chasen Callahan (vocalista, guitarras) y con la musicalización de Evan Silver (primera guitarra, voces y teclados), Aaron Lord (batería) y Jared Barber (bajo y voces). Si bien “Shine Through The Stars” contenía tracks importantes como los sencillos “Crazy Beautiful” y “Drown”, no satisfago el exigente mercado musical con un débil, mediocre y casi olvidable debut, les aseguro que “That Was Then, This Is Now” compensa el desacierto de su antecesor. Con melodías, pianos y pop rock con similitudes a Run Kid Run, Stellar Kart, Esterlyn, Goo Goo Dolls y el respaldo de INO Records, el éxito de este cd está más que asegurado.

El álbum se inicia con “Castaway”, una experiencia entre “Apparitions” de Seabird en el intro de piano, que luego se convierte en Nickelback o Daughtry vocalmente. Esta canción pregona el regalo de la redención y una segunda oportunidad en medio del naufragio de nuestros errores, una nueva vida sin arrepentimientos con un nuevo propósito: “I’m overboard, too far from shore / A castaway trying to make it home / I catch my breath to save myself but I can’t / In my sight you were just in time / I feel you now you’re by my side / I know you gave me, a gift of a second chance”. Seguidamente tenemos a la fantástica “Love In Your Name”, construida por sólidas guitarras y una lírica que alaba la gracia inmensurable de nuestro Dios: “So long misery / By grace I’ve been redeemed / There’s one thing that I know / For every searching soul / There’s love in Your Name, Jesus”. El primer sencillo del álbum “On And On” se ha posicionado como el #1 en Billboard, y un dato interesante es que fue escrita en tan solo 2 horas. Callahan nos comparte: “La nación estaba reaccionando a la recesión y a los graves problemas políticos, así como a la negatividad en los medios de comunicación. Habíamos perdido la alegría, pero cuándo todo el mundo te falla, el amor de Dios nunca lo hace. Yo sirvo a un Dios que es más grande que la economía o que nuestro presidente. Su gracia es eterna, así que no me voy a preocupar por el mañana”. Una increíble y poderosa lírica acompañada de una melodía pegajosa que declara: “There is no fear of belief / There’s just this cold reality / That wants to take me away from You / There is no doubt in my mind / That in Your perfect time / Your plans and Your ways will unfold”. Uno de los tracks más sobresalientes del disco es “Leave You Alone”, con pianos y falsetes marcados por el sonido acústico en cada acorde que nos recuerda la fidelidad de Dios, que no importa nuestra situación, nunca es tarde para hallar su esperanza: “You’ll never have to do this alone / Walking the tightrope and bracing the fall / No matter what you’ve done this far / He’s still chasing your broken heart / He’s never gonna leave you alone”. Inspirada por la muerte prematura de uno de los amigos de Callahan, “Airplanes” se refugia en violines, riffs de guitarra bien marcados, que nos animan a volver a amar, a intentarlo de nuevo: “I’ll be waiting for you here / And I’ll be your memories of love / I’ll be waiting for you here where the / Clouds of rain and the airplanes will never go”. Con un sonido pop similar al de los inicios de Switchfoot, la apasionada “One In A Million” nos impulsa a tomar acciones y no quedarnos inmóviles esperando cambios sin hacer nada, y le pide a Dios que rompa las cadenas que la duda ha enredado en nuestros corazones: “What am I waiting for / Standing still when I should be moving / In front of an open door / I forgot what I thought I was proving / Lay down these thoughts that I take up again and again”. Llega el turno de “Bullet” con un sentimiento modern worship muy agresivo, y semejanzas a U2 en sus crujientes guitarras y batería. Habla sobre el milagro de la salvación y le da gloria a Dios por la libertad que obtenemos en su reino: “My voice rings out rings out / Louder and louder now / Victorious you’ll be / Together let’s sing out / Like an anthem in this crowd / We are free, louder now, we are free”. Estoy casi seguro que “Eyes Of A Rescue” será el siguiente sencillo de este prodigioso álbum. Es simplemente impulsador, contagioso, comercial, con todas las características para lograr gran acogida en la radio, y no puedo dejar de lado su brillante instrumentación y lírica, que una vez más prueban que esta banda sabe escribir canciones espectaculares: “We’re worlds apart but you’re standing here looking into the eyes of a rescue / Can’t bear to watch you fall apart looking through the eyes rescue”. Con la ayuda de Sam Mizell (Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, Jordin Sparks, Mandisa), Callahan escribió “Slow Down” inspirada en una conversación que tuvo con su madre acerca del consuelo y la paz que hallamos en Cristo. Esta canción se asemeja a Kutless, mientras que los violines se elevan junto a la sublime melodía que proclama: “Life is a long road / So hard to follow / You feel like you’ll never win / Just trust in my love / And let me take care of the rest / So you can begin”. La sublime guitarra acústica en “There Is Love” nos suspira el amor de Dios para con sus hijos, desde la perspectiva del amor de un padre con sus hijos, o con su familia. Es una canción muy personal, profunda y simple con rasgos de Bryan Adams: “Ooh, there is love for you / There is love for you in my arms / Ooh, you are everything / Everything that I’m living for / And don’t be afraid to tell me what’s on your heart / Ooh, there is love for you here in my arms”. La mejor manera de concluir esta inolvidable grabación.

En resumen “Thas Was Then, This Is Now” nos muestras el gran talento de Chasen, con un impresionante registro de canciones que le agradecen a Dios la inmensa gracia derramada en el privilegio de la salvación, y la madurez vocal de Callaham es notablemente satisfactoria. Prepárate para conseguir este disco, y escuchar potentes canciones pop/rock con momentos de íntima adoración.