Deep Cuts (The Choir album)

Deep Cuts is the 18th studio release, and 16th full-length studio album, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir, released on April 23, 2021.[1] This album was funded by the band's Kickstarter campaign launched in February 2020,[2] and was their first album of new material without contributions from long-time bassist Tim Chandler, who died in 2018; bass duties were split between session player Chris Donohue and bassist Steven Mason from Jars of Clay.[3] The double-disc vinyl version includes five additional tracks that were previously released as digital singles in 2019 and 2020.[4]

Deep Cuts
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 23, 2021
Recorded2020
StudioSpooky's Lair, Brentwood, Tennessee, Yackland, Nashville, Tennessee
GenreChristian alternative rock, indie rock
Length57:46
LabelGalaxy21
ProducerDerri Daugherty, Stephen Leiweke, Steve Hindalong
The Choir chronology
Kissers and Killers - The Acoustic Sessions
(2018)
Deep Cuts
(2021)
The Choir studio albums chronology
Bloodshot
(2018)
Deep Cuts
(2021)

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[5]
Jesus Freak Hideout[6]
True TunesFavorable [7]
The Fire Note[8]
The Heartland Attack[9]
Cephas HourFavorable [10]

Critical reviews for Deep Cuts were generally favorable, and focused primarily on the upbeat nature of the album compared to its immediate predecessor. Dan McIntosh from CCM Magazine called the album "a positive emotional space," saying that The Choir has been "a good friend to many of us, and we’re so thankful it continues to keep this musical conversation going."[5] John Underdown at Jesus Freak Hideout also thought that Deep Cuts featured "a newer, brighter message [...] focused on pushing for better times and reconciliation." However, he saw this as a weakness compared to the band's previous work: "Deep Cuts is more laid back and simply exists because these guys love making music together. That's fine, but it feels like a middle-of-the-road Choir album."[6] Levi Yager from The Heartland Attack agreed, saying that "while Deep Cuts may not be The Choir’s best work, it’s certainly no failure."[9] Andre Salles from True Tunes was more favorable, emphasizing that the album's kintsugi cover art was representative of its more complex emotional theme: "about how love makes us whole, but also about how the scars we carry from our pain make us even more beautiful. It is the love songs that give this album its character."[7] The strongest review came from Brian Q. Newcomb at The Fire Note, calling Deep Cuts "an altogether more up-tempo effort that rocks with intentionality and purpose," and saying that the song "“The Woods,” with an aggressive guitar attack and a gripping sax solo, is a welcome return to an intensity reminiscent of the band’s great, underrated ’93 release, Kissers and Killers.”[8]

Track listing

All tracks written by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong except where noted.

CD version
No.TitleLength
1."Hurricane"6:15
2."The Woods"4:35
3."Kindred Spirits"4:45
4."Feel You Close"4:39
5."Aces Over Eights"4:40
6."Reckless Ways"5:27
7."Trouble"4:18
8."The Fool"4:23
9."Sunshine Girl"5:13
10."Eyes On Fire"4:16
11."Mystical World"3:54
12."Deep Cuts"5:21
Total length:57:46
The B-Sides (Vinyl only)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Kathie's Garden"Richard Reeves, Hindalong3:10
14."The Real WWW"Hindalong, Tim Chandler3:43
15."Counting Stars"Ryan Tedder4:30
16."What You Think I Am" (featuring Leigh Nash)Daugherty, Marc Byrd, Hindalong4:32
17."After All (Re-imagined)" 4:59
Total length:78:40
Band Commentary (digital download)
No.TitleLength
1."Choir Commentary: Deep Cuts"60:16
Total length:60:16

Personnel

The Choir

  • Derri Daugherty - lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards
  • Steve Hindalong - drums, percussion, harmonica, glockenspiel, gong, vocals, lead vocals on "Kathie's Garden" and "The Real WWW"
  • Dan Michaels - saxophone, lyricon, horn samples

Guest performers

  • Tim Chandler - bass ("The Real WWW", "What You Think I Am"), electric guitar ("The Real WWW")
  • Marc Byrd - electric guitar ("What You Think I Am")
  • Leigh Nash - vocals ("What You Think I Am," "After All (Re-imagined)")
  • Matt Slocum - cello ("After All (Re-imagined)")
  • Stephen Leiweke - acoustic guitar
  • Jonathan Noel - vocals
  • Mason Zgoda - vocals
  • Stephen Mason - vocals, bass ("Eyes On Fire," "Mystical World," "Kathie's Garden," "Counting Stars")
  • Chris Donohue - bass
  • Andy Prickett - electric guitar ("Hurricane," "Feel You Close," "Aces Over Eights," "Deep Cuts")
  • Michael Walker - electric guitar ("Kindred Spirits," "Sunshine Girl")
  • Jared Norris - Keyboards ("The Fool," "Deep Cuts")
  • Mark Uecker - twelve-string guitar ("Sunshine Girl")
  • John Steingard - programming ("After All (Re-imagined)")
  • Spooky - dog vocals ("Reckless Ways")
  • Hotcake - dog vocals ("Reckless Ways")
  • Erica Estes - voice [Angelic Laughter On Outro] ("Feel You Close")
  • Christopher Heyn - voice ["You Are Beautiful, Hit It"] ("Deep Cuts")

Production

  • Derri Daugherty - producer, engineer
  • Stephen Leiweke - producer, engineer, mixing
  • Steve Hindalong - producer
  • Dan Michaels - executive producer
  • Kimberly Uecker - executive producer
  • Lisa Michaels - executive producer, handler
  • Mark Uecker - executive producer
  • Nigel Palmer - mastering
  • Todd Evans – cover art, design

References

  1. "Deep Cuts Album Release Date". TheChoir.net. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  2. "The Choir: New Album Kickstarter". TheChoir.net. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. "The Choir: Deep Cuts (CD)". Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  4. "The Choir: Deep Cuts (Vinyl)". Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  5. McIntosh, Dan (May 12, 2021). "The Choir "Deep Cuts"". ccmmagazine.com. ‘’CCM Magazine’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  6. Underdown, John (April 23, 2021). "The Choir, Deep Cuts". jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  7. Salles, Andre (April 15, 2021). "The Choir's Joyful Meditation on Brokenness". truetunes.com. True Tunes. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  8. Newcomb, Brian Q. (April 14, 2021). "The Choir: Deep Cuts [Album Review]". thefirenote.com. ‘’The Fire Note’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  9. Yager, Levi (April 14, 2021). ""Deep Cuts" Album Review". theheartlandattack.com. ‘’The Heartland Attack’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  10. Wilson, Jerry (April 6, 2021). "The Choir Offers a Portal to Genuine Art". cephashour.com. ‘’Cephas Hour’’. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
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