| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
God of Power and Might | Matthew Fogle | 3:56 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
Come Back Source | Matthew Fogle | 3:24 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
Garden Flame | Matthew Fogle | 3:49 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
Splashdown | Matthew Fogle | 4:06 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
You'll Be There | Matthew Fogle | 4:03 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 5 Songs |
Customer Reviews
Matthew Fogle "Plea:491"
There’s no question that Kentucky native Matthew Fogle has his heart in the right place, what with his motto of “Serve. Inspire. Rock.” On his debut Christian rock EP Plea:491, Fogle wades into waters that many have traversed before with full-bodied spirits and high expectations. This Louisville gentleman’s songs are decent but the delivery lacks luster. Fogle’s voice has a nasally pitch that comfortably rests in the upper treble regions. Without a hint of country twang, he instead bends the pitch to his will ala Tom Petty but strays dangerously close to the far edge of the tonal center – usually drifting sharp. This unfortunate characteristic is emphasized in “God of Power and Might” where the long “ee” sounds of Fogle’s lyrics are held out and his vibrato does little to help the situation. In Fogle’s defense, this track is mostly acoustic, leaving the minute details of his vocal delivery more exposed despite the full sound of the guitar, drums, and piano.
Fogle tries a different vocal approach in “Come Back Source”, where he heavily accents and enunciates the beginning syllable of each word, adding an exciting dynamic to this song that expertly juxtaposes the minor piano riff in the verses to the lilting sing-along chorus. The slightly overdriven guitar solo in the bridge is well executed. Fogle’s guitar playing only gets better in “Garden Flame” with his bluesy bridge solo and tasteful blend with the synthesizers.
The most interesting track on Plea:491 is “Splashdown.” From its straight-ahead rock opening to its well-structured chorus, Fogle attempts his most daring vocal range on this song and for the most part delivers a reputable performance. However, the song with the most potential and appeal to his target audience is “You’ll Be There.” This poignant ballad is well-written and could easily become another praise and worship standard, though some tweaking may be needed in the instrumental arrangement. “You’ll Be There” is the only track to boast a string quartet that does a beautiful job from the serene cello opening to the excellent melodic bridge. The danger however lies when the synthesizer sneaks in coupled with Fogle’s all ready high voice and the blend loses its charm.
Despite his uninspiring vocals, Fogle’s songs are good and his enthusiasm should not wane. Plea:491 is a gracious debut from a singer/songwriter who should not be deterred or deflated.
Review by Kelly O’Neil
Off The Path
Matthew Fogle didn't grow up with music the way many singer-songwriters do. The Louisville, Kentucky native started his odyssey ten years ago by singing melodies into a cassette recorder. Over a short period of time Fogle had accumulated so many original tunes he was inspired to buy an acoustic guitar. With very little musical knowledge but a lot of motivation, Fogle turned into a prolific and capable songwriter in a short stretch of time. After eight years playing secular music, Matthew Fogle was bitten by the Contemporary Christian Music bug. Jump forward to November of 2009, with Fogle entering Franklin, Tennessee's Dark Horse Studios and laying down five original Contemporary Christian tunes under the guiding hand of producer Rick Mara. The result is Fogle's latest EP, Plea:491.
Plea:491 is carried by the courage of Matthew Fogle's convictions. Fogle wears his heart on his sleeve, professing love, adoration and fealty to God, all the while struggling against a tendency toward awkward lyrical turns and a voice that occasionally does its own thing with regard to pitch. Fogle writes catchy tunes with solid arrangements that run the gamut from folk to rock n roll. Plea:491 opens with "God Of Power And Might", a catchy worship song set in a solid acoustic-rock arrangement. Fogle's convictions are clear, but he does struggle mightily with his breath control and phrasing, particularly at the end of phrases. "Come Back Source" is offered up in a simple rock arrangement, and is another solid worship tune but is not likely to find much traction outside of fans of worship music. It's a catchy, danceable tune but the lyrical approach is child-like in its simplicity and occasional awkward turns of phrase.
"Garden Flame" features solid guitar and a good, strong melody, but Fogle's vocal issues are more apparent here than elsewhere on the album. This is the strongest songwriting on the album, but anyone with any sort of ear for pitch will have a hard time getting by the melodic inconsistencies to hear the song for what it is. Fogle brings a more muscular guitar sound on "Splashdown", but this approach turns out to be at-odds with the song itself. "Splashdown" calls out for rescue. Fogle closes out with "You'll Be There", which sounds like a heartfelt paean to a loved one who’s already passed beyond the veil. While full of emotion, some of the lyrical turns are so awkward ("and we'll match the sun to set") as to a major distraction. "You'll Be There" wins points for heart and for a truly decent melody, but wipes them away with the awkward lyrical fumbling that melody is married to.
Songwriting and faith have tremendous similarities. Both involve listening to an inner voice. In songwriting, there are as many names used for that voice as several thousand years of human history has been able to manufacture. Come to think of it, that's true when it comes to faith as well. The truest expression of faith or of songwriting is allowing that inner voice to speak to you and channeling it out into your world. Hence the admonishment of many religions that people be like children and accept. In fact, it's not uncommon to hear a songwriter talk about the occasional song that practically writes itself in about five minutes and turns out to be their best work. In both faith and songwriting, things go awry when we think too much about that voice and begin to impose our own ideas on it. At this point we are no longer speaking in our true voice, but garbling it with the machinations of second thoughts that are often better left to their own devices. Listening to Plea:491, it seems clear that Matthew Fogle allows his inner voice clear rein in the melody and arrangement departments, but tries too hard to fit his own lyrical creations into the gifts of his muse. Musically, Fogle is a solid composer with a penchant for simplistic but catchy folk/rock arrangements. Fogle's voice is decent, and while he struggles with pitch at times, such things can be overcome with catchy songs and an unfettered authorial voice. Fogle's not there yet, but Plea:491 does show some promise; it's a decent worship album that won't find much traction outside of that market.
Rock N’ Roll Heaven
Matthew Fogle has thrown his hat in the Christian rock arena after playing in the secular indie rock scene for eight years. His latest offering is the EP Plea: 491 was recorded in November 2009 in Dark Horse Studios in Franklin, TN, and is a real rocker that is almost like a collage of the last thirty years in music. The five tracks on the EP seem to touch many genres from classic rock to power pop and alternative.
Fogle sounds a bit like Dylan on the opener, “God of Power and Might.“ Actually, he sounds like both of the Dylans, father and son. His voice takes on an eerie similarity to the elder Dylan while the music sounds like Jakob’s Wallflowers. The song is a good mixture of modern and classic sounds with a spiritual message and is by far the strongest on the album. It is often said that song is making a joyful noise unto the Lord. If that is the case, Matthew is doing that loud and clear.
The highlight of the album comes with the second track, “Come Back Source.” It has a great riff and a catchy chorus that will have you singing along in no time. This song has the potential to crossover into the mainstream pop arena. “Splashdown” is a wonderful song that speaks of baptism. The opening line sets the tone as he sings “I feel the colors of the earth. Splashdown to waters of rebirth.”
The closing track is a ballad that will touch anyone’s heart. The lyrics are heartfelt and seem to be the most secular of the five tracks that make up Plea: 491. If you give the song a few listens, you will find that there is likely more to it. When he sings “I’m Sorry I let you down. Crying in your final hour.” it is hard not to think of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial of Christ.
This EP is a well-rounded taste of what Matthew Fogle has to offer his listeners. He delivers songs that rock and ballads that make you think and possibly even strengthen your faith. He does all of this with a healthy dose of guitar and some great drum beats. One of the best guitar solos can be found on the song “Garden Flame.” It will have you head banging like Wayne and Garth.
Plea: 491 is fresh and enjoyable listen for any fan of Christian music. Fogle’s ability of writing songs that appeal to the masses, while still bringing his message of faith can certainly gain him listeners. He manages to share his beliefs in a way that neither overwhelms the listener nor takes a backseat to the music. Fogle’s music is what it is: solid Christian rock.
Review by Andrea Guy
Top Albums and Songs By Matthew Fogle
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
You'll Be There | Plea:491 | 4:03 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
Splashdown | Plea:491 | 4:06 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
Garden Flame | Plea:491 | 3:49 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
Come Back Source | Plea:491 | 3:24 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
God of Power and Might | Plea:491 | 3:56 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
6 |
Garden Flame | Everyone Separate...One Purpose, Vol. 2 | 3:49 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
- $4.95
- Genres: Christian & Gospel, Music, Gospel
- Released: Jan 25, 2010
- ℗ 2010 Matthew Fogle
