Pros: A truly wonderful compilation. Not one questionable song in the mix.
Cons: The almost unforgivable exlcusion of "Let Go", the song that put PfR on the map.
The Bottom Line: Despite one missing song and an unimaginative track order, this collection is a great way for fans to reminisce, and an even better way to get new fans hooked.
Behold, the mighty PfR. Anyone who’s kept an eye on the Christian music scene for the last decade would likely tell you that they’ve been one of the most sorely missed bands in the genre since their breakup in 1996. for quite a few years, and still today in some cases, you couldn’t turn on a Christian rock station for too long before one of the band’s catchy little ditties would float across the airwaves. While the pioneers of Christian rock came much earlier, PfR is widely recognized as one of the first Christian rock bands to cross over into the more “pop” and “adult contemporary” side of things without losing their edge or their creativity, which helped to bring on the more blurred and integrated radio formats that many Christians enjoy today. Building off of three simple instruments, two vocalists, some clever songwriting, and a ton of Beatles influence, these three guys quietly infiltrated the industry in the early to mid-90’s, leaving a permanent mark with their bouncy, catchy harmonies and a versatility in musical character that pretty much defined the sound of many of the pop/rock acts out there in Christian music today. Trust me, without PfR, Jars of Clay (my favorite band in the whole wide world) might not be where they are today.
Of course, listeners were devastated when they hit their creative stride with their fourth album, Them, and then suddenly announced that they’d be going their separate ways. Their parting was amicable and admirable – they couldn’t pretend that they all had the same goals in mind any more, and they were in quoted in CCM Magazine as not wanting to try to drag this thing out forever with “new members and new hair” (an obvious dig at the revolving-door band Petra, in my opinion, but we won’t talk about that right now). They gave us a great final album, and a brief farewell tour (which unfortunately never came out to my neck of the non-woods here in L.A.), and in 1997, they recorded a few new cuts for the obligatory greatest hits album, the last thing ever put out by the now defunct Vireo records. Joel Hanson, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band, went on to pursue a solo career, while bass player and alternate vocalist Patrick Andrew formed another band called Eager (which never really took off), and drummer Mark Nash began hanging around with Sixpence None the Richer (their lead singer Leigh Nash being his wife would make him the lucky recipient of the invitation given in the smash hit “Kiss Me”, but that’s another story). Many fans, including one of my best friends, held out for a PfR reunion eventually, and we got a little bit of that wish in 2000 when the band recorded a song for the Roaring Lambs compilation album on Squint Records. That ended up being the catalyst for the band getting back together full-time later that year. But that’s a whole other review. For now, we’re going to pretend that PfR is lost and gone forever. And we’re going to mourn and pay homage to the wonderful memories that they left us.
Great Lengths Quiet my desires until they die, or align with Your will…
I remember when I first heard this on the radio in 1995 – it was one of my first exposures to the band. I heard the whimsical string intro to the song and thought it kind of sounded stupid at the time, but then, I wasn’t used to PfR’s style yet. This is a short, fun, bouncy little number from their album of the same name, replete with Beatles-inspired harmonies that cleverly disguise lyrics which lament turning against God’s will and seeking temporary pleasure in the place of righteousness. If you haven’t heard this song, I can guarantee in will get caught in your head, and you’ll probably be glad that it doesn’t carry on for more than about three minutes – otherwise it might never leave your head.
Pour Me Out I want to understand this greater plan, how character can shape a man…
The rather predictable opening of “Great Lengths” (which was also the first track on that album, so not a very creative choice for the first track here) gives way to this song, the bent and twisted opening track from 1996’s Them album. This is a truly rocking song, even if its flailing guitars and warped rhythms take a little getting used to. It’s got more of a rebellious 60’s streak to it, like PfR was trying to escape some of the Beatles comparisons at this point in their career, and they managed to pull it off. Them as a whole earned them a little credibility due to its darker, less “poppy” textures. I love how the rhythm speeds up for Joel’s guitar solo midway through, then slows back down for a final verse, and then the whole this gets more and more distorted until it finally falls apart. It fits with the rather minimal lyrics which describe an openness for God to use and change us however He sees fit, despite it seeming unnatural to us.
Name And here we are, another verse, a different view – God as a Father, us His pursuit…
This is the first of three new songs, always a necessary element to make a greatest hits album worth buying (remember, this was before Napster). It starts unassumingly with some quiet electric guitar chords and Joel crooning sweetly, but quickly builds to a rocking chorus. The song is a curious marriage of melody and purposeful weirdness, and at first it seems to try too hard to replicate the rougher sound of Them, but it too deserved its status as one of PfR’s rock hits. The lyrics are a little more straightforward, celebrating God’s offer through Christ to let us “wear His name”.
Walk Away from Love Maybe you think I’m a fool for what I’m saying, maybe that’s what I’d like to be…
Another opening track, this time from 1993’s Goldie’s Last Day, which may just be their best album yet. Strangely, its hillbilly intro got tacked onto the end of track 3, but it’s still a barrel of fun when it very suddenly shifts into the no-nonsense rock and roll that at the time, was a touch rougher than what fans were used to from the band’s first album. It’s a very simple evangelistic song, and I suppose it’s never been one of my favorites, but it’s still a lot of fun. The basic premise: You may think I’m an idiot for being a Christian, but can you really afford to turn this evidence away and find out it was right all along after it’s too late? A little bit of rhythmic twisting here and there makes this tune a worthy predecessor to the trippiness of the previous two tracks.
Forever I believe we’ll see the face of Jesus and we’ll both embrace together…
Another new track – this is the first glimpse that new fans will get of the band’s mellower side. Its beat and melody aren’t terribly creative, making this a tune better suited for middle-of-the-road AC radio, but it’s still got the trademark PfR harmonies, and it transitions nicely out of “Walk Away from Love”. The song looks forward to Heaven, where old friends will be reunited as meet Jesus at last, with a touch of sadness, as if the song was written for a friend who moved or passed away. It’s like PfR’s version of Michael W. Smith’s “Friends”, except not nearly as obnoxiously overplayed.
Anything Nothing I can say will matter anyway, just a vain display with me in the middle…
I was a bit disappointed that this was the only other entry from Them on this collection, but it’s a fine choice, a good marriage of fuzzy rock and catchy pop. It’s wonderful to hear a band at the cusp of their popularity put forth a tune denouncing their own celebrity, saying it doesn’t mean a hill of beans if God isn’t the focus of it all. The verses deliver this message with a special punch, due to Mark’s drumming, and Joel’s voice soars nicely on the chorus.
Spinnin’ Round You’ve got your four wheels spinning, you dig ‘em down into the ground…
Woohoo!!! This has got to be, hands-down, one of the most fun rock songs of the band’s career. Guitars rev up right at the beginning like race cars just waiting to be let out of the gate, and then the drums kick in with an irresistible rhythm, and everything just takes off from there. This may be the best example of PfR’s ability to rock out while maintaining an irresistible melody that can’t help but draw the pop crowd in as well. The lyrics are more or less nonsense, though there seems to be an overt message of spinning your wheels and getting nowhere, searching for meaning in meaningless things. This song is simple genius, offering a wonderful acoustic echo during the bridge as the guys harmonize, leading back into the chorus with a powerful blast of drums, and then cleverly changing the time signature from 6/8 to 4/4 as the song hurtles towards its grand finale, skidding to a halt as it crosses the finish line with an extended drum ending taken straight out of the classic rock handbook.
Goldie’s Last Day Puppy love, yeah she gave all she had, not like a brother or sister, more like a mom or a dad…
Out of all of the songs PfR ever recorded, this has got to be the most absurd of the bunch. (We’ll forgive the fact that this song also came directly after “Spinnin’ Round” on the original album.) It definitely recalls the more psychedelic era of the Beatles (not that I’m a Beatles expert by any means, but this is such an obvious tribute that it’s frightening). Listening to this song, you’re not sure whether to laugh or cry. It’s about a dog named Goldie, obviously a dearly loved pet, who passed away due to unknown causes. The song opens in a very dreamlike fashion, with people calling Goldie’s name in the distance, and then Jpel begins singing from a distance, his voice suddenly zooming up close as the production very suddenly switches from 60’s to 90’s. Don’t look for too much deep spiritual meaning here – all you’ll learn is that 11 is 77 in dog years, and that the dog never missed her vaccination (when the voices join in during the bridge singing “We are confident that this incident was not an accident”, it can be very tempting to tack on “I am the eggman, I am the walrus, coo-coo-ca-choo!”). If you listen very carefully as the song draws to a close, you can hear the keyboard playing “Taps” while a dog comes sniffing up to the microphone. Lord, my eyes are tearing up just thinking about it…
Pray for Rain Many times in my life I’ll kneel under the moving showers that brought this change…
This is the first of two entries from the band’s first album, back before they knew that another band had already copyrighted the name “Pray for Rain”. This song is a simple pop/rock tune which sparkles with just the right blend of acoustic and electric guitar, and it very simply sums up what the band is all about. The lyrics adequately depict a desert scene in which a struggling Christian is going through a difficult period in his faith, wondering why the weather isn’t as bountiful as it was when he first converted. Still, he’s confident that the clouds will form again, and that seems to be the hope that PfR has stood for all these years.
Wonder Why Like a man lost at sea, your thirst leads you to drink the water – the more you drink, the more your throat runs dry…
The second track on “Great Lengths”, and another one of the band’s punchier rock hits, this is also one of my very first memories of the band, due to an enigmatic music video directed by none other than the genius Steve Taylor, who now runs the label that the band is signed to (oops, I forgot, we’re supposed to pretend the reunion hasn’t happened yet!) It opens with a more distorted guitar and keyboard, offering a very cool 70’s sort of vibe to their classic rock-inspired sound. The song could well be addressing the character in “Great Lengths” who is running from God even though he knows better, and it wastes no time in calling him out on the carpet with brilliant lines such as “You won’t put two and two together/You know the sum would expose you.” Complete with a wailing, if slightly muffled, guitar solo in the middle, this song does a great job of depicting the desperation of a soul who feels separated from God and has no one but himself to blame.
The Love I Know Two hearts in search of wholeness, both willing to risk it all, could true love have fled so easily, leaving both broken from the fall…
Also from “Great Lengths” (it kinda bugged me that three tracks from the front end of that album were left so close together here), this is a quieter, prettier song, more of a ballad, though not without its plugged-in element. The guys do a great job of harmonizing here, as Joel signs about a couple who has fallen on tough times, using that story as a reflection on I Corinthians 13, which describes the ideal that love is supposed to live up to, which everyone but our Savior will fall short of. Granted, this comparison between Jesus and the boyfriend/girlfriend who will always let you down has always been a pretty common impetus behind many Christian radio hits, but PfR does an adequate job here.
Do You Wanna Know Love Does the question call to your mind, are you just doing time, could there be a better way…
This may well have been the band’s first radio hit, though due to its overall quirkiness, it may not have been as easily digested on Christian radio back then as it is now. It opens with a skidding beat, and Joel’s voice distorted to sound like it’s coming through a 40’s-era radio broadcast, and then dives in full power during the chorus. It’s almost a foreshadowing to the extreme nature of “Goldie’s Last Day”, but presented in more of a traditional rock format. Once again, the focus is on the emptiness of life without Christ and the tendency of other people to let us down. Probably one of the weaker tracks on this CD, in my opinion, but a good reference point to the band’s earlier days.
Merry Go Round Didn’t I just see your face last time that I was here? Weren’t you standing in that place? Was it you or me that disappeared?
The last of the “power four” that opened Great Lengths, this is a wonderfully psychedelic rocker that describes the tendency humans have to jump in and out of each other’s lives without a care, never stopping to truly spend time with those who are hurting. The carnival sounds in the middle of this song add to the spookiness of it, and the melody rises up and down, almost mocking the music you might hear when riding a carousel. I love how everybody else fades out at the end, leaving Mark drumming on allb y himself until he finally comes to a halt as well. I probably would have placed this one next to “Spinnin’ Round”, just for grins.
That Kind of Love Oh, I would give anything to have seen Him face to face…
This was another of the band’s softer radio hits, and in many ways, a predecessor to the acoustic formula that would allow Jars of Clay to hit it big. It has that same easygoing, joyful feel as some of the first Jars album (think “Love Song for a Savior” or “Like a Child”). Chris Rice’s first big hit, “Deep Enough to Dream”, is also built with a similar recipe – acoustic guitar, wonderful echoing harmonies, and quiet hand percussion. I believe that the only percussion used in this song was somebody tapping on a guitar case, as a matter of fact. The lyrics here are a simple description of the life of Christ, and Joel seems to be singing from the point of view of someone investigating Christianity for the first time, wanting to know so much more about what He was like and how He could have loved people so intensely. Out of all of the songs in the PfR catalog, this may be the most fun to sing along to, especially in a room with three or four other people who know how to pick various ranges and harmonize.
Wait for the Sun He’s won greater battles before, what makes you think He won’t fight now?
The closing track from Goldie’s Last Day, which is rightfully the most represented album on this collection, this was the very first PfR song that I ever heard, back when I started listening to Christian music back in 1994. I didn’t even know who it was for a while, but the song remained memorable due to its lovely tune, its words of encouragement, and its sudden shift to double-tempo right in the middle. The analogy is a simple (and admittedly overused one) – waiting for the storms of life to pass and praying that God will show His face again. You have to kind of ignore the inconsistency between this analogy and the band’s name! In any case, it’s a very straightforward but powerful song of hope, and it has more up its sleeve than the usual ballad, because as I mentioned, it shifts into high gear midway through the song, capturing an almost Motown feel complete with horns and everything, and then smartly incorporating a line from the classic rock tune “Age of Aquarius”: “Let the sun shine, let the sun shine in.” It’s my favorite PfR song to this day, and a great penultimate thought for this collection.
Fare Thee Well Now it seems our ship has found the shore, the flag still flies, but she don’t sail no more…
Once again, we see PfR’s penchant for conveying sad thoughts in a deceptively happy song. Not to be confused with Jars of Clay’s “Tea and Sympathy”, which came out around the same time, this is the final tune that the band recorded (or so they thought!), a poetic attempt to explain to the fans that it couldn’t last forever, they’ve enjoyed the years they spent as PfR, and now it’s time to move on. Once again, they make no secret of the fact that the Beatles are a huge influence – after all these years, PfR became known by many as the “Christian Beatles”, even though I tend to avoid labeling one band as a Christian copy of another. They had that same effect on people, and I think they knew they’d be sorely missed. So this one’s for the fans, one last little morsel to savor, and it’s really a fun song.
Listen carefully after the last track ends – tacked on the end as a “minus track” to the nonexistent track 17 is a little joke track affectionately called “The Pig Song”. I won’t ruin it for you – it’s pretty funny, in a redneck sort of way.
If you’ve never heard PfR before, or you’ve been meaning to finally get a few of those old radio hits for keeps, this is a great place to get most of ‘em. I will VERY LOUDLY object to the omission of “Let Go”, a lovely ballad from their first album that is also one of my very favorites to this day, and was likely the first song that gained them access to some of the normally more conservative Christian radio formats. It’s also a bit strange that none of the songs that featured Patrick Andrew on lead vocals were featured – I would have at least expected the furious rocker “Last Breath”. Still, this is an awesome trip down memory lane, and a worthy investment if you don’t already own PfR’s back catalogue (which I do, so I simply bought this to get my girlfriend caught up). I’m ecstatic that the band has gotten back together, and that they’ll have a new record, Disappear, out in July. So I’ll make sure to keep you all posted on that. Had they planned this all from the beginning, the breakup would have been one of the most successful publicity stunts in the history of Christian music. But, since publicity shouldn’t matter, and these are just three gifted musicians trying to spread the Word of God, I think we can safely assume who it was that pulled the stunt.
TRACK REVIEW SUMMARY Excellent: Wait for the Sun, Spinnin' Round, Goldie's Last Day, Pour Me Out, Merry Go Round, That Kind of Love, Forever, Anything, Wonder Why, Pray for Rain
Good: Great Lengths, Name, Walk Away from Love, Do You Wanna Know Love, The Love I Know, Fare Thee Well, Pig Song
Decent: NONE
Weak: NONE
Skippable: NONE
Band Members:
Joel Hanson: Vocals, guitars
Patrick Andrew : Vocals, guitars, bass guitar
Mark Nash: Drums
Website: http://www.pfrhq.com
Great Music to Play While: Reminiscing about the good old days. Man, do I feel old.
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