# 49

For those of you that missed #50 it is six entries down. Now it's time for #49.

#49 Further Seems Forever (How to Start a Fire)
These days the word emo is a red flag, and for that matter so is the term christian rock. That being said, here's a band that's a derivative of both. To be clear, I don't care for specific labels, but there are elements of both present in this album. This '03 release from this veteran act showed there was life after Chris Carraba. Carraba left the band prior to this release to pursue other opportunities(Dashboard Confessional).
The new vocals provided by Jason Gleason, former singer for hardcore band Affinity, simply elevate the band as a whole. As a result the album is a visceral, hard- hitting, and emotional exploration of spiritual and personal issues of the human psyche. Each song paints a concrete, tangible picture. The title track begins the album with a spark that ignites the rest of the album and creates an anthemic manifesto for life in general. The Sound adds a tinge of pop to exploring one's perception of God. I Am adds power and an intelligence to the album, as the lyrics are spoken from the point of view of God. Pride War is one of the strongest tracks on the album, followed by the most tender offering, On Legendary. The Deep offers incite into faith and following God. The last track is unique in presentation and depth. It closes the near perfect album with poignancy and the stark reality that faith is presented differently in everyone's life.
How to Start a Fire is one of those rare albums that adds relevance to counter culture, but doesn't alienate the mass culture, which makes it a classic album in my opinion.