April 2000 - Exitzine.com Album of the Month

After hearing UHQ for the first time at Cornerstone and then falling in love with their last release, St. Paul Town, I have been waiting on pins and needles for Beautiful Lazy. Believe me, it was worth the wait.

Beautiful Lazy is real music without pretension or hype. You can hear the love that this band has for their art in every song on this CD. It continues the musical craftsmanship of their last release, while at the same time taking a new and interesting musical direction. While there are still some rollicking hillbilly songs (I.E.--"Blood on the Door"), overall the band has moved more into this creepy kind of southern rock-influenced, moody alt-country vibe. The creepiness is weird, but it is so cool. It really is hard to explain, but this is the kind of album that I feel strangely compelled to listen to over and over again. (On musical influences, I also have to mention the disco guitar section in the bridge of "I Will.")

Lyrically, this album deals more with issues of faith than do UHQ's previous releases. Really, this is the kind of CD I would want to give to a friend who doesn't know Christ, and with good reason. The band avoids Christian-y cliches and church lingo, while speaking their message in a real and authentic way. The lyrics and the stories in the songs are gritty and sincere (and just like all good country music, UHQ spins some good yarns in their songs).

I love every track on the album, but to pick just a few to comment on (Boy, this is tough!) . . .

"Looking for Sunlight" tells the story of a hungover drunk waking up Sunday morning and realizing his desperate need for repentance. This song just seems too real for me when I think back to the times in my life when I was far from God.

"One Day" is a beautiful song that just makes me feel good. It has a sweet harmonica, a lively fiddle, and lyrics that sing about the day when "we will walk above the earth, laughing till our bellies hurt, bellies swell with hunger truth."

"Trespass" is one of the creepy songs, featuring a dead trespasser singing to the man that shot him. The music on this really sets the mood for this song. (Be sure and listen for the strange stuff going on with the drums and guitar.)

"Rat Race" is a fantastic song that totally slams our modern American workaholic culture. My favorite line in the song is "but even if you win this rat race, You're still a rat." (You just have to hear this song to appreciate the vocalist's forceful delivery of this accusatory line). I also totally dig the organ and fiddle going all over the place, while the guitar is doing its creepy background thing.

Memorable lyrics can also be found in "Indelible." The poetic rhythm reminds me of some T.S. Eliot's poetry.

The mood of this track flows well into the next track, "Amy's Ring Waltz," a moving instrumental piece with the violin playing center stage. Parts of the harmonies remind me of the background music from The Waltons.

The quiet contemplative place of the listener is continued through "I Need You." This song . . . oh my! I just can't find the words to do it justice. It is a song that is so plaintive in its quiet plea for God to extend His love once again. The words come from a sinner who has betrayed his Father, but who still experiences the forgiveness that can be found in an encounter with God.

From the brokenness of "I Need You," we are taken to the joyful, foot-stomping vibe of "Love On the Way." This song serves as a fitting bookend to this album.

This album's uniqueness, its musical craftsmanship, and its message of hope through faith and repentance have quickly made it one of my favorites. In my opinion, this album is the best example in recent history of the kind of album that Christian musicians should be making.