By The Tree: "Invade My Soul"
Title: Invade My Soul
Category: Rock/Alternative
Artist/Group: By The Tree
Rating: 3.5 / 5
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By the Tree, a band probably new to many of us, consists of Chuck Dennie, vocals and guitar, Kevin Rhoads (vocals, guitar, keyboard, mandolin), Samuel McKern (drums), Chris Donahue (bass), and Steve Hindalong (percussion). The sound of the album ranges a bit from the rock/alternative style of bands such as Seven Day Jesus to at times a more acoustic approach. The overall tone of the album is catchy with most songs having a “pop” melodic quality. But underneath the familiar rock style are words that realistically convey many truths of the Christian life.
The messages of the songs are diverse but mainly center around the desire and practice of having a very personal relationship with God. The title track, Invade My Soul, sets the tone of the album, “I will never be silent, can never be tamed--I will always speak your name…You invade my soul, Lord take control.” Yet these desires are put in the context of an imperfect faith…
In Reveal, the lyrics capture the spirit of a person whose faith falters at times, a person who is ultimately brought back to the reality of ever-present grace by God Himself: “Takin’ time to realize I was wrong, you were never gone--when you fell, you fell on me…You reveal yourself to me.”
This type of realization is echoed in Wonderful Again: “Always in the back of my mind, things I already knew, always looking for a sign, missing the ones in plain view, tried to be a sinner but time after time, I come running back to you, and in the end YOU make it wonderful again.”
By the Tree calls listeners to realize His grace even through difficult circumstances. In Walk, we hear words of comfort possibly meant for someone grieving the loss of a loved one: “Close your eyes, close your eyes now—reach for the holy one, realize His grace—He will dry your tears, and take away your fear.”
The final track is a quiet ballad titled Wait, one of the high points of the entire album. In the progression of the tracks, with this song placed at the end, we get a sense that when all is said and done, all that we can do is “wait for [Him] patiently” and “give [Him] everything in return just for [Him].” The song then leads into the familiar hymn ‘Tis so Sweet to Follow Jesus, again a quiet reminder of why we do the things that we do.
By the Tree’s musical style is not for everyone. While they occasionally employ the use of a quieter acoustical approach as well as some non-traditional instruments (violin and hammered dulcimer), By the Tree is primarily a rock band -- one that generally sticks to the tried and true sound of many bands that have preceded it. For those of us who like this style and bands such as Seven Day Jesus, this album is definitely worth checking out. And even for those of us who do not appreciate the rock genre as much (myself included) the album is certainly worth a listen.
Invade my Soul captures what it is to be imperfect but in the hands of a perfect, loving God. The heart behind the songs is one of a genuine desire to know God more and it is that heart that drives this album.
I give the album 3.5 out of 5.
Kenny
Yang
2.24.02
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