About.com Rating

Vendor's Site

Remember when "happy" used to be a good thing? Back before it became chic to be "dark and moody" and the whole "existential angst" thing got way out of control? Well, apparently it's okay to be happy again.

The Background - 'Save the Humans'

Save the Humans is Ian Eskelin's first solo venture in ten years and his first release on the Inpop label. Co-producing the record in LA with the Wizardz of Oz (Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz), Eskelin spent twelve months massaging the ten-song project into one of the tightest and brightest alt-pop offerings in recent memory.

Majestic hooks, honest sentiment, expressive instrumentation and a disarmingly upbeat outlook combine in a way that makes Save the Humans immently original as well as immediately accessible.

The Songs of 'Save the Humans'

• "Shout": This is one of those get up off your feet, upbeat songs. The drumming is incredible with a solid rythm guitar in the mix that gives the song a great "crunch" sound.
• "Solid Rock": A traditional hymn with a twist. The lyrics were changed slightly, and the musical composition is nothing like the original; but it is a refreshing combination of the old-time, heart-felt lyrics and an edgy, modern-day rock sound.
• "Magnify": A very well put together song, both musically and lyrically. It's attempt at being a "worship" song misses the mark because of the contemporary composition, but it works.
• "Save the Humans": This song has a 70's flare to it. It combines great lyrics with a "days gone by" musical tone. I was a bit disappointed by this blend being the title track, (it should have been edgier), but it's catchy.

• "Taboo": The best way to describe the music of this song is The Monkees meets Nirvana! The lyrics are very pointed and will hit the mark, but the music/lyrics combination is a bit lacking.
• "Into Your Arms Again": This is a heart felt worship song that has lyrics that are reflective of a broken spirit and transparency. Musically reflective of worship with a nice strings mixture to spice it up, yet still contemporary.

• "American Idle": The lyrics in this song are very bold and points the finger at a lot of social issues. Musically, it's contemporary with a good use of interesting effects, and a short lead guitar solo.
• "Throw It Away": It's back to the 70's with this song's music. The whole feel of the song has a kind of happy-go-lucky, snap your fingers sound to it. Lyrically, the song is pointing out that God is the only thing to hold on to.
• "Amplified": If you like the music that the Beatles made, you'll love this song. It has a great retro sound to it, but, unfortunately, that doesn't reflect a modern sound well. The lyrics, compared to the rest of the album, come up short.
• "I Love To Tell The Story": This is another traditional hymn remix done very well. The way the modern contemporary/rock sound is blended with the sacred words of this hymn is unparalleled.

'Save the Humans' - The Bottom Line

Overall, this album has something for everyone. It has lyrics that will make you think about where you are as a Christian and that will make you squirm if you're not. The musical blend of the songs is well done, but a bit too retro in some for my taste. I was especially impressed with the old hymns that were remixed. They were very refreshing.

Vendor's Site