Artist: Andrew Greer
Album: Open Book
Year: 2009
Label: Mr Andy’s Music
Website: http://andrew-greer.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/andrewgreermusic
Twitter: @agreermusic
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Elton John, Ryan Adams, Mat Kearney, Ginny Owens, Julie Lee, Cindy Morgan, Michael Buble, The Elms, The Who, Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, Greg Sczebel
Rating: 4/5 ♥♥♥♥

Andrew Greer discovered the secret to communicate with his Creator. It all started when he decided to move away from the noise of civilization and go into the mountains to compose with an 80 years old piano. Desperate to uncover the truth, he decided to surrender his perpetual anguish, his sin, into a dark night of the soul and pray for a morning of grace. All of these feelings and experiences gave birth to “Open Book”, produced by the same Andrew Greer and mastered by Matt Odmark (Jars Of Clay). The creativity of this album, involves a lyrical blend of deep, complex instrumental and sentimental vocal melodies, which transports the listener into different stages and levels of worship.

A vibe organ opens the album in “And To Our God” which reminds us that God is with us even in failure. Inspired by Psalm 22:11, this song is the answer for those days of weakness: “And to our God, and to the Lamb / Who says wherever you are / There I am / And to the hope, that this King brings / Into our lives, into our days / Into everything / And to our God”. With a melancholy feeling and captivating soul/piano, “Time Has No Meaning” sounds like Elton John and Greg Sczebel, reflecting the pain we feel at losing a loved one: “And everytime I look into the sky / I wonder when I’ll earn my own wings to the other side”. The concept might best be consolidated with Psalms 34:18. The album also has quiet, delicate moments, as in the case of “All I Need” which starts with a whispering violin, which together with the viola and cello remind me Angus & Julia. It is a spiritual journey where we find God’s mercy, a humble prayer, accurate for a night of communion: “Break me down into bread / Pour me out into wine / Until all that’s left, it is hardly mine / Use me up ‘til nothing’s left / Any less would be unkind / All I need is in you to find”. Don’t panic. “Mais Pour Amour” is a candid and beautiful combination of strings and violins interpreted in French and inspired by Psalm 94:18. Ginny Owens adds vocals to “You Came Pulling Through”, with touches of jazz into a hymn about perseverance and the immediate relief of God: “The only name I had to call it was you / And you came pullin’ through / In my how of desparation / You brought me pure inspiration”. I am fascinated with the variety of aspects of life that this album touches, such as in “Some Other Time (Avery’s Hymn)” where Andrew celebrates his new role as an uncle, celebrating the joy a newborn brings to home. The piano leads to perfection, while the lyric seems to be the paraphrase of Matthew 6:34 and sings: “But who knows what she’ll have to go through / What this old world can do / So Jesus hold her for dear life”. The sublime “Hymn For Living”, is mapping the deep love and great desire to be with our families, when distance intrudes into our destinies: “Had we know leaving was part of the giving / Then our hearts would ache less for the missing you”. One of the songs with more spring feeling and an organically perfection is “Gone Are The Days” that treats in an explicit and abstract way the fact of divorce, but also offers the solution. To recognize our mistakes and let the grace to take control of the relationship. The accordion, mandolin and Julie Lee’s voice adequately ambience the soul of the song: “We found each other in the wrong time and place”. Crossing the trail of country/black gospel, “Emmylou” is an ode to singer Emmylou Harris, whose voice and music were a great influence in Greer. The song shows us some lessons he learned through this inspiration. With similarities to The Elms and The Who, the dynamic “Learning To Live” talks about the triumphs and lessons of life. Also dedicated to her friend Sarah Conley, who was diagnosed with cancer. “Wait For Us” sings a sweet gospel melody, gently breathing into the following phrases: “Bring your peace in our lives / In your love conquer strife / For our hearts have suffered long / Through the tempest bring us home”. The lyrics become more personal, poignant and appropriate to face the suffering of our world (Romans 8:22-24). Childhood is the most unforgettable period of our lives, and “Remind Me” focuses on this age. A song of autumn, full of questions and sweet melodies that are complemented by the featuring of Cindy Morgan: “Should I ever forget the price that was paid past for me? / Should I ever forget this life so freely given to me? / Then I will sing our song of the reedemed / And should I ever forget? / Remind me”.

“Open Book” is a journey that explores various aspects of life from the viewpoint of a song. Andrew Greer has such a poignant melodies, like a baby first cry and this album brings all those feelings we as humans have to experience.

Andrew Greer descubrió el secreto para comunicarse con su Creador. Todo comenzó cuando decidió alejarse del ruido de la civilización e irse a las montañas a componer con un piano de más de 80 años de antigüedad. Desesperado por descubrir la verdad, decidió rendir su perpetua angustia, su pecado, entrar en una noche oscura del alma y orar por una mañana de gracia. Todos estos sentimientos y experiencias dieron a luz a “Open Book”, producido por el mismo Andrew Greer y masterizado por Matt Odmark (Jars Of Clay). La creatividad de este álbum, envuelve la mezcla de una lírica profunda, complejidad instrumental y sentimentales melodías vocales, que transporta al oyente a diferentes fases y niveles de adoración.

Un órgano apertura el álbum en “And To Our God” que nos recuerda que Dios está con nosotros aún en medio del fracaso. Inspirado en el Salmo 22:11, esta canción es la respuesta por aquellos días de debilidad: “And to our God, and to the Lamb / Who says wherever you are / There I am / And to the hope, that this King brings / Into our lives, into our days / Into everything / And to our God”. Con un sentimiento melancólico y soul/piano cautivador, “Time Has No Meaning” suena como Elton John o Greg Sczebel, reflejando el dolor que sentimos al perder a alguien amado: “And everytime I look into the sky / I wonder when I’ll earn my own wings to the other side”. El concepto podría consolidarse mejor con Salmos 34:18. El álbum también posee momentos silenciosos, delicados, como en el caso de “All I Need” que se inicia con un susurrante violín, que en conjunto a la viola y el cello me hacen recordar a Angus & Julia. Es un viaje espiritual en dónde nos encontramos con la misericordia de Dios, una oración humilde, precisa para una noche de comunión: “Break me down into bread / Pour me out into wine / Until all that’s left, it is hardly mine / Use me up ‘til nothing’s left / Any less would be unkind / All I need is in you to find”. Que no cunda el pánico. “Mais Pour Amour” es una cándida y hermosa combinación de cuerdas y violines interpretadas en francés,  inspiradas en el Salmo 94:18. Ginny Owens le añade coros a “You Came Pulling Through”, con pinceladas de jazz en un himno a la perseverancia y el socorro inmediato de Dios: “The only name I had to call it was you / And you came pullin’ through / In my how of desparation / You brought me pure inspiration”. Me fascina la diversidad de aspectos de la vida que este álbum toca, como por ejemplo en “Some Other Time (Avery’s Hymn)” dónde Andrew celebra su nuevo papel como tío, festejando la alegría que un recién nacido nos trae al hogar. Los pianos conducen a la perfección, mientras que la lírica parece ser la versión parafraseada de Mateo 6:34, y nos canta: “But who knows what she’ll have to go through / What this old world can do / So Jesus hold her for dear life”. La sublime “Hymn For Living”, traza un mapa sobre el amor profundo y el gran anhelo por estar con nuestras familias, cuando la distancia se entremete en nuestros destinos: “Had we know leaving was part of the giving / Then our hearts would ache less for the missing you”. Una de las canciones con un sentimiento más primaveral y orgánicamente perfecta es “Gone Are The Days” que trata de manera abstracta y explícita el tema del divorcio; pero también ofrece la solución. Reconocer nuestros errores y dejar que la gracia tome el control de la relación. Los acordeones, la mandolina y la voz de Julie Lee ambientan adecuadamente el alma de la canción: “We found each other in the wrong time and place”. Atravesando el sendero country/black góspel, “Emmylou” es una oda a la cantante Emmylou Harris, cuya voz y música fueron de gran influencia en Greer. La canción nos muestra algunas lecciones que aprendió gracias a esta inspiración. Con semejanzas de The Elms y The Who, la dinámica “Learning To Live” habla sobre los triunfos y enseñanzas de la vida. Dedicada además a su amiga Sarah Conley, que fue diagnosticada de cáncer. “For Us Wait” nos canta un dulce melodía góspel, que respira delicadamente en las siguientes frases: “Bring your peace in our lives / In your love conquer strife / For our hearts have suffered long / Through the tempest bring us home”. La lírica se torna personal, conmovedora y adecuada para enfrentar el sufrimiento de nuestro mundo (Romanos 8:22-24). La infancia es la más inolvidable etapa de nuestras vidas, y “Remind Me” se centra en esta edad. Una canción de otoño, llena de interrogantes y dulces melodías que se complementan con la participación de Cindy Morgan: “Should I ever forget the price that was paid past for me? / Should I ever forget this life so freely given to me? / Then I will sing our song of the reedemed / And should I ever forget? / Remind me”.

“Open Book” es un viaje que explora los diversos aspectos de la vida desde el punto de vista de una canción. Andrew Greer tiene unas melodías tan conmovedoras, como el primer llanto de un bebé, y este álbum reúne todos aquellos sentimientos que como humanos tenemos que experimentar.