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Frontman Ben Olin and his bandmates are here to remind us that we do not see things as we should. In fact, they want us to know that we usually see things completely wrong.
And This Beautiful Republic thanks God for it.
“The way we see things dictates what we believe, and how we live. We, as Christians—if we see things the way they truly are in light of sin—can only see ourselves as totally undeserving of love from God. But despite our sin, God sees us through a filter of Jesus’ blood as pure, beautiful, and precious. His perception is the complete opposite of ours, and that's incredible to think about.â€
If the bar was set high by This Beautiful Republic’s eponymous debut Even Heroes Need A Parachute, it has now been completely obliterated by their sophomore effort Perceptions. What was a well-oiled rock machine has now become one of the most dynamic, epic, and profound acts you will come across. Certain to cross walls of genre, format, and faith, these are cuts that run deep, touching the full spectrum of emotion, sonics and candor.
“We wrote harder, more in-your-face rock songs, as well as softer, vertically-oriented songs for this record,†admits Olin. “We were creative with them, writing long outros, unique bridges, used time signature changes, and other elements we've been wanting to use for so long. We feel like this is a much better representation of who we are on almost every level. It's a very satisfying and unifying feeling...all of us believe in this record wholeheartedly.â€
At first listen there are at least half a dozen tracks with heavy single potential. The band left nothing to chance, hammering home an album that is 100% complete from front to back. While beautiful songs such as “Learning to Fall†could easily become worship staples at festivals and crusades worldwide, jams like “No Turning Back†will grab you by the neck like a vice. Olin’s vocals drip of next-level charm and range, skating effortlessly between passionate melodies and devastating wails. Such is the scope of Perceptions as a whole: huge choruses against the ebb and flow of throbbing intensity and wondrous ambiance. The balance shown between these two facets of This Beautiful Republic’s sonic persona is perhaps their greatest achievement, and it is a feat that makes this collection more than just a few catchy tunes.
Olin celebrates this, his band’s opus, with a level of vulnerability in word seldom seen. The opening track, “Pain†is a love song for all practical purposes, though its subject is his Creator rather than a mortal mate. He vividly describes this perfect, unconditional love using human terms, causing the listener to see divine relationship as a tangible idea “Learning to Fall†too displays a refreshing openness, as Olin admits to the times he has chosen the opposite of God’s will. He explains, “it’s a song about knowing the truth and actively going against it …but it also focuses on our Father’s willingness to always take us back and fully restore our relationship with Him.†And similar in idea, “No Turning Back†acknowledges our life’s ultimate struggle against sin, earnestly begging: Give me liberty from death.
On “For the Life of Me†Olin sums up the record’s overriding theme: that God does not see us for our mistakes: For the life of me, why’d you bear my chains? For the life of me why’d you walk to Calvary? For the life of me I can’t explain, the reason you died and the reason you came was for the life of me. What do you see in me? I’m a leper not a King. And on “A Point Between Extremes†he speaks of plummeting from the “height†of a pious zealot back into a life of rebellion in perhaps the most poignant moment on Perceptions: I’ve pushed a crown of thorns in my brow, to show my salvation worked out...Now I’ve gone the other way. Depended too heavily on grace. I need a reprieve. A point between extremes.
While many manufacture sincerity rather than speak openly, this release has that rare quality that defies contrivance. You can genuinely sense that this band means what they say. Captured on record, co-written and produced by Allen Salmon (Sanctus Real, Mute Math), it would seem that this collaboration is a magical one. Ben speaks on the experience of recording: “We could work for a while, take a break, then go back to work whenever we wanted. It was a laid-back and comfortable experience where a bunch of friends got together to work on and record some songs. I think it was a much better situation this time around because there was a respect that had developed since the last record among everyone involved--the best idea always won out, no matter whose it was.â€
This Beautiful Republic has put in the endless hours necessary to build a stable base through sharing the stage with everyone from Family Force 5 to Falling up to Thousand Foot Krutch to Sanctus Real. They have honed their show to absolute precision, through balancing unbridled desperation, crowd connection, and controlled chaos. Now they aim to prove that a wider appeal is the natural extension of who they are as a unit.
“I think we underestimated the overall toll of being in a full-time music career. Until you’re in the middle of it, and actually experience firsthand how it affects your friendships, relationships, bank account, physical health, and mental health, you can’t fully grasp it. Yet at the same time, we never knew it would be so good. We never imagined having a job where we would see every single state in every single season. We never thought we’d meet so many incredible people. It’s an adventure we would never trade, and we’re so proud to be doing what we are doing right now. We think we’re on the brink of something big, and we’re just curious about what that is.†|
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