Sanctus Real - "Say It Loud"
Year: 2002
Label: Sparrow
Favorite songs: Inspiration, Say It Loud, Audience of One, Captain's Chair, The Way I Feel
Lyric sample: "Twenty hour drive through the Rocky Mountains / Won't be stoppin' now cause you know we're rockin' / Tell me, what has happened / The stereo's stuck with the jukebox jammin' now // Stop wishing it were backwards, it is now or never / Stop wasting all the time we could have spent together / Wishing you would come back here / Times were better last year"
Sanctus Real's breakout album is easily their best, and it's no wonder. Prior to this debut on Sparrow records, the Buckeye quartet had released several independent records. The most recent, Nothing to Lose, contained earlier versions of many tunes that eventually appeared on Say It Loud. Thus, the band had worked for years writing these songs and honing them on the road. The result is a tight and focused collection of high-energy rock tunes.
It's almost a perfect record. The lead singer/guitarist Matt Hammitt's vocals are smooth and effortless, instantly elevating their music over dozens of similar groups. Although the two guitar, bass and drum setup has been done to death since the 1960's, so many bands are trying to get noticed with some sort of gimmick; Sanctus Real simply cranks up their amps and sings at the top of their lungs, and by jove, it works. Mark Graalman's drums serve as a wonderful backdrop. Listen closely on songs like "Inspiration," and you'll hear his tireless high-hat work. I love a drummer with good high-hat play. Chris Rohman works closely with Matt on writing duties and also on guitar. The two weave their parts together beautifully for accentuated rhythm or even dueling harmonic leads. It's just positive rock music done extremely well. The band's ability is confirmed by the fact that they also sound great live - much like the recording as well.
"Sink or Swim" is a fine appetizer, a warm-up track if you will. It almost seems that the CD officially begins with the dramatic entrance of "Captain's Chair," the first stadium rocker that showcases the band's signature sound and leads directly into their big single and title track "Say It Loud." Both of these two songs are album highlights, and they fit so well together you almost can't have one without the other. "Hey Wait" is one of two really proper ballads. Hammitt soars on its melodies. Then it's back to the rock with "Inspiration" and "Audience of One," the latter being perhaps the most aggressive track. I simply love the guitar sounds on this record. I don't know how they get them but they please me to no fixed end. Even Sanctus themselves have never quite recreated them, although "Alone" from Fight the Tide comes very close. The final third is not quite as memorable, but "Nothing to Hide" and "Won't Walk Away" continue the rousing sounds that the group has established. "After Today" finishes out with its slowly building passages. Sanctus Real was clearly young when they wrote most of these songs, and "After Today" puts the cap on the theme of changes that occur early in life and apprehension about the future.
So why did I say that it is almost a perfect record? Mostly because the lyrics, while usually fitting to the music, don't show a lot of originality or depth. The song titles are some of the most boring I've ever seen. I mean, we are talking about a CD that has a song called "I Love You." That's right. "I Love You." Like there haven't been 160,484,237 songs already called "I Love You." The good thing is that during the listen this really doesn't distract. It's a well-produced, punchy, fun CD that's great for singing with your friends while you drive along with the top down.
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