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So I think I will write a review of sorts on the new Brave Saint Saturn cd. Just because I feel like doing it… gives me something to do.

So here it is.

Review of Brave Saint Saturn – The Light of Things Hoped For…

All in all, this album is definately better then the first album. It is heavier musically, no longer the acousticy stuff that was on the last album… with the exception of one or 2 songs. However, it is very much like the former album in terms of subject matter. It deals with the darker side of things, but it is not depressing at all… It really is very encouraging… and the message of hope that Reese put into the album comes across very clearly. It is just an extremely encouraging cd.

It starts off with the prologue, which sort of sets the stage and the tone of the cd. I thought that the instrumental tracks were really cool, and a nice touch. They were very well done.
The first real song is The Sun Also Rises, which is one of the most upbeat songs on the album. Is a great album starter, and it foreshadows the ending of the album with it’s message of hope.

“I believe the Sun also Rises / Dries our tears / Bringing the blue skies of day…”

Next up is binary, which has changed a good deal from the old live version that was on the Brave Saint Saturn website. While I liked the old version better at first, this one has already grown on me, and I love it. One of the highlights of the cd. It is another song about Reese’s ex-fiance. I think it is some of the best lyrics that he has ever written.

“You hide behind your broken wings / Your dreams are all for better things / And in the dark we climb this slope / ‘Cause the bravest thing of all is always hope / Goodbye, goodbye…”

Next up is Mercury, an instrumental, which is followed by Enamel… which is another song about Christy (the ex-fiance). It is an extremely harsh song (full lyrics are in the last post on this site)… but an extremely good song. Another highlight of the album. An interesting note is that in the line “So here’s to me saying ‘fare-thee-well’, and when you hear this song, i hope it hurts like hell”, that last word there was censored… apparently by Tooth and Nail. If you listen closely though… you can still hear it being said… VERY low in the mix… and I think only in the left channel. I never would have heard it though if I wasn’t listening for it. The uncensored version of this song will be available one the Brave Saint Saturn website. Stupid Tooth and Nail…

“Enamel, is stretched too thin / You’re beautiful, but not beneath your skin…”

Following this song is a song about his current fiance, Stacie. It is called Anastasia, and it is a very pretty song. There’s really not much else to be said about it, it’s a really pretty love song. And I like the line that makes reference to a song on the last album… for some reason I love it when bands do that 😉

“When Anastasia smiles / the world is getting lighter / when Anastasia wakes / the lights come on inside her / and stars will light the path for her tonight / and yes, the moon is burning oh so bright / Anastasia…”

Next on the album is actually my least favorite song, though I like it better now then when I first heard it. And it did get a laugh out of me the first time I heard it just because of the movie clip played at the very beginning of it. Is a clip from War Games, which says “Would you like to play a game?” That was a great movie 😉 Anyway, the song is called Titan. Some people have said it sounds like Skillet. I’ve gotta say… I don’t hear the resemblance. I do agree that it is kind of Linkin’ Park-esque though. Anyway, yeah. It’s a decent song, but definately not the greatest.

Next is another instrumental… followed by Estrella, which is best explained by just typing out what Reese wrote in the liner notes… “This song is about a dear friend of ours, Matt Estrella. Matt suffered from a genetic disease called Neufibromatosis 2, which causes tumors to grow on the myelin sheaths of the outer nervous system. Eventually, the tumors will cause the nerves to stop functioning. Our friend Matt was deaf when we met him. He was losing his sight, and a lot of feeling in the other parts of his body. The tumors were large, and very noticeable in some places. He was almost the same age as I was, but I was living an amazing life for any 25 year old, while he carried this enormous and hideous burden. It seemed that any time I began to complain to God about what I felt was fair or unfair, somehow i would see he never did. His faith was beyond measure, and that is why I loved him. Last spring he died while undergoing an operation to remove one of his many tumors. This is just some stupid song I wrote in the basement. It will never make up for what is missing from this world now that Matt Estrella is gone from it… but it is the best that I could do. Shalom my friend… we will see you again. –Reese Roper- February 4, 2003”

I have known people kind of like that, though not to that extreme… that they have so many reasons to be mad or upset at God.. or feel cheated by him…. and yet they have so much more faith then I do that it really puts me to shame. Thank God for them…

“The angels wings will cover you tonight / Hallelujah / Press your head against the breast of Christ / Hallelujah…”

Heart Still beats is a song that Dennis wrote and does the vocals of, and it shows that he is also a talented writer and vocalist. It’s basically a song about human need. And sometimes seeing that need, and not knowing what you can do about it… It is a powerful song. It was also censored, which really ticks me off in this case, because it ruins the effectiveness of the song, and the entire point of the line. Here is the verse which was edited:

“The man finally comes to the door / I’ve seen him several times / He always looks pissed off / And his sunglasses stay on / I think he got his biceps and tattoos while in prison / And it doesn’t seem to bother him / When he says ‘Go to hell’…”

It was edited to say:

“The man finally comes to the door / I’ve seen him several times / He always looks (really MUTED pi)-ssed off / And his sunglasses stay on / I think he got his biceps and tattoos while in prison / And it doesn’t seem to bother him / When he says ‘go to *record scratches*…”

And the liner notes cut out the phrases entirely. Way to censor, Tooth and Nail. And by the way, great job promoting the album… seeing as like no stores have it and very few people know it exists. You’re a class A record label (note heavy sarcasm).

“And her heart still beats inside / The blood runs in her veins / A remnant of life remains / Her heart still beats inside…”

Enough about T&N… Next song is Babies Breath, which I actually heard last year at Cornerstone when Reese played his solo acoustic set, which was incredible. I really liked the song then, and I like it now… it is one of the lighter songs on the album. I like how it is foreshadowing to the final song also…

“I keep feeling that the strangest peace is all around / In the speechless, in this quiet / Angels never make a single sound / Softest moonlight making garlands, forms the crown / Glassy seas of blue / I will dream of you…”

And next up is I Fell Away, which was originally entitled Icarus, for reasons which are apparent when you hear the lyrics. It’s basically about trying something and failing at it, just because you are human and not strong enough to do it on your own… but that God will lift you up and heal you. I really like the imagery in it.

“Today on fragile wings I tried to touch the sun / as wax and feathers melted / all my dreams have come undone / today…”

The next song is another one done by Dennis… and it is called Recall. It’s about remembering the love of God after you have forgotten about it for so long… It also goes heavy back into the imagery of the “U.S.S. Gloria” theme…. And this, by the way, is a much better done concept album then their previous, which barely qualified as a concept album….

“Like a flicker of light in the back of my mind / It all comes back to me / Like an overdue sunrise / It all comes back to me / I remember your love being better than life / When it all comes back to me / I will sing in the shadows when it all comes back…”

Next is Atropos… another instrumental ;)… is a cool intro into the final song, Daylight. This is an awesome song, reminiscent of other album closers written by Reese… but it is just a really good song. It just demonstrates the fulfillment of hope… the lyrics in the outro are incredible… as well as the raw emotion there….

“Jesus Christ, light of the World / You never did forget me / And When I bled in darkness / You held me, still held me / When desperate nights I cursed You / You loved me, still loved me / Jesus Christ you dry the tears / You break my heart of stone / Your words are life / Cut marrow through the darkness / Through the bone / A heart of flesh You gave me / Only You can save me / Savior / Dayligh / I am coming home…”

And it closes with a final instrumental… Irides of M. A very fulfilling cd-listening experience… which lasts close to an hour. About 52 minutes to be exact.

I hope you buy it… (click the album cover below to do so) and like it… and are encouraged…. and don’t ever forget….

“the bravest thing of all is always hope…” “you are not alone.”






Brave Saint Saturn

The Light of Things Hoped For