The Waiting Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
One of those rare albums that feels wholly crafted to be an album, carrying the listener along on terrain carefully mapped and emotionally guided. The road runs from outright faith and awe of God to admissions of failure and despair, with pleas for strength, recognition of selfishness, and a return to ultimate, undying, and hard-won faith. Probably a landmark Christian rock album, although the lyrics slightly suffer (if only when compared to the heady days of Blue Belly Sky). The textures on Unfazed are sonically rich and Todd Olsen's guitar is powerful and inventive; he belongs in a category with Lindsey Buckingham and Dave Navarro, while sounding not like either of them. The music punches, rocks, and grooves so beautifully one cannot imagine better versions or takes. Brad Olsen's voice shows no strain now and greater inventiveness, reminding the listener of when Michael Stipe really started to hit his stride. The rhythm section is muscular and spot-on; kudos all around. All the songs are great, with "I Am," "The Company You Keep," "Make It Disappear," "Speak," and "Too Many Miles" deserving special mention. ~ Doug Dwyer, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The Waiting's third album (1997) offered slightly darker imagery while retaining awe. Nobody writes about the love of God like Todd Olsen (lead vocals, some guitar); on The Waiting, that love is alternately grounds for wonder and fear. This tension culminates in the astonishing "Hands in the Air," which is likely to become Christian rock's "Stairway to Heaven" or "Three Days": an incredible epic bearing the listener along on an unforgettably powerful journey. Sonically, a little more daring than its predecessor, Blue Belly Sky, and lyrically less dense, pointing the way toward 1998's Unfazed. ~ Doug Dwyer, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Blue Belly Sky, the first album by the Waiting to receive much attention, is a sharply focused set of songs combining rock, pop, astonishing poetic imagery, and worship. The fusion is confident, resulting in a set that bears repeated listenings. Todd Olsen's guitar catches real fire here, foreshadowing the heady sonics to come on future releases. Outstanding tracks are "Look at Me," "Mercy Seat," "Staring at a Bird," "Dead Man," and "Is This the Day?" Later re-released on Sparrow with four additional tracks are the nice but marginal "Still So Pretty" and the Jackson Five cover "I Want You Back," the very good "Nobody's Love," and outstanding cut "Dead Man." ~ David Dwyer, All Music Guide
