| Out of Ruin - What I Can't See (2008) |
| Written by Catherine | |
 After years of hard work and dedication, the two brothers of Out of Ruin have finally debuted with their album, What I Can’t See. Filled with songs ranging from a variety of different musical influences, and lyrics that are bound to help strengthen your walk with Christ, the first full length album of Ben and Gram Messer’s career is one to be proud of. The first song introduces us to the band’s smooth rock sound and David Crowder-like vocals. “Broken Pieces” forces listeners to take a different look at their soul. Our “mosaic soul” is tiled by God with the “broken pieces” of our life. The song takes on the cliché that “everything happens for a reason.” Our soul is not only built from the good in our lives, but also the bad. With this, “Broken Pieces” contains only a tiny portion of the many other powerful lyrics found on What I Can’t See, and the smooth rock sound continues right through to the next song, “Lifting Me.” The album slows down during the title track with a beautiful piano intro. “What I Can’t See” is somewhat of an apology. “Please forgive me for my absence…I promise to walk with you even if it takes some time.” The song challenges us to lean on, to feel, and to believe in what we can’t see. “This is We” has a nice, steady beat with a funky, Southern sound. As the first single of the album, the band has started an 11-week “song explanation” devotional on their Myspace dedicated to tying in their lyrics with everyday happenings in life. Lead singer Gram explains, “The title of this song speaks into the relationship built with Christ. I say 'we' because there is no way that 'I' could do this on my own.” The prayer of a song asks Jesus to “come break my heart,” “begin in the obvious”, and “help me to listen.” If it’s been a while since you’ve talked with God, play this song and sing along. It’s the perfect starting point. The next track, “Spirit”, is my favorite on the album. It’s one of the slower tracks and is virtually my testimony at the moment. The lyrics are the best on the album – very raw, very original. Gram’s emotions are heard through his voice as he begs the Spirit to free him. “Why do I fight the steps that You have laid out before me? Please don’t give up on me,” he pleads. This is a rare song that can be left on repeat and you’ll still find something amazing about it even after the 10th listen. Towards the end of the album, Out of Ruin tries to help you “feed the heart” with the Spanish-inspired instrumental “Alimente el Corazon.” It leads right into the harder rock song on the album, “Stand for Something”, which incorporates another cliché, “Stand for something or die for nothing.” The album ends on a slow note with lyrics that suggest the death of a loved one. “Only Half” contains the thoughts we all have after losing someone special. “I struggle to understand the reason that you’re gone,” sings Gram. “It changes everything. Without you, I’m only half.” The song helps us to lean on memories that won’t fade while we mourn our loss. Out of Ruin’s What I Can’t See is an album that everyone will find uplifting, strengthening, and encouraging. It’s definitely one to add to your music collection, and every time you listen to it, you’ll hear a new lyric that will tug at your heart and help you get back on the straight and narrow path. Visit their Myspace at www.myspace.com/outofruinband to listen to nearly half their album, and subscribe to their blog to read song explanations from the Messer brothers themselves. |
