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CURRENTLY IN MUSIC
Rowland geared to adults, not youth

Nelson Boschman

The Main Thing
Sam Rowland. Word Entertainment, Inc. $18.98.

The Main Thing is Vancouver-based Sam Rowland’s fifth album to date. Closely associated with Youth for Christ, Rowland is well-known across North America and around the world as a Christian communicator and recording artist.

This latest release contains music with a definite purpose. In a Youth for Christ pamphlet, Rowland calls his music “a contemporary look at timeless truth”, relating basic Scriptural truth “through music in a way that both Christians and non-Christians can relate to.” This claim, however, needs some qualification.

The album would appeal mostly to Christians between the ages of 35 and 45 who are seeking a fresh alternative to the “contemporary praise and worship” genre. The lyrics are simple and somewhat repetitive, and communicate basic biblical truth. He is honest in his approach to God and in his faith, as exemplified in the excellent cover of Randy Stonehill’s “That’s why we don’t love God”. The music is a straight-ahead, late-80s rock style with occasional folk instruments added. Aside from a few catchy guitar and vocal ideas, however, the arrangements are quite predictable and the melodies fairly uninteresting. Rowland’s raspy, baritone voice is comparable to Neil Diamond and Rick Cua.

It is interesting that Rowland’s music ministry is aimed at youth and young adults, because this album does not strike me as youth-oriented. Perhaps his music is best experienced in the context of his broader speaking ministry, or in finding that his lifestyle matches his music. To me, that speaks louder than his music alone.

Nelson Boschman is an instructor in worship and arts at Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C., and worship leader at Fraser Heights Community Church in Surrey, B.C.

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Last modified December 9, 1999.

© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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