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Christian Music Fan

Album Review "Deconstruction" by Justin McRoberts

by Jason Bean on June 16th, 2008

cdcover-justin-mcroberts-deconstruction

I’m going to make a strong comment in this review but I’ve been thinking about it now for the last few weeks as I’ve listened to more and more albums.

Justin McRoberts is the absolute best independent Christian music male artist I’ve heard since I’ve been blogging here at Christian Music Fan.

I received his album “Deconstruction” for review a number of weeks ago and I just can’t stop playing it over and over and telling everyone I know about him and this album. His clean and clear vocals really remind me a lot of Derek Webb, and his straight to the heart and mind lyrics continue the similarities. The talent isn’t just a mirroring of Webb though. Justin really brings a folksy touch to the sound that’s just lovely.

It’s not going to sound like a compliment, but I’m going to say this because I think there will be a number of people that will immediately get the connection and sound description. His solo vocals and guitar playing in the folk music style really reminds me recent American Idol contestant Jason Castro. Obviously much more performance experience and talent than Jason, but the melody of his singing immediately brought that to mind.

The album consists of 13 tracks that all tell a wonderful story:

  1. Done Living
  2. America and the Soul
  3. A Hope Deferred
  4. Driving by the Accident
  5. Deconstruction
  6. When it Don’t Come Easy
  7. Religion Poisons Everything
  8. On the Night You Were Betrayed
  9. Bullhorn Theory
  10. Hope is Where We’re Starting From
  11. Common Sense
  12. Until There Is No More Tomorrow
  13. My Only Victory

With lyrics like…

“..the question isn’t if you’re going to suffer anymore, but what will it have meant when you are through. The question isn’t if you’re gonna die, you’re gonna die. Will you be done living when you do?”

on the song Done Living

and

“you curse the very ground upon which you are walking, to prove the point that you’re no longer walking on the ground. If it’s absurdity you find in my believing, tell me more what’s more absurd than believing in your doubts.”

on the track Religion Poisons Everything.

If you get this album I think I can pretty clearly guarantee that you won’t be disappointed in what you receive.

To give you just a taste, here’s a video of Justin McRoberts performing “Religion Poisons Everything“. Now I’m off to review his concert schedule and see if there’s any way on earth I can make it to one of his shows.

To enjoy more videos of Justin performing songs from this album just follow this link to his profile on YouTube. He’s posted the video of each song from his entire album. You’ve got GOT to take advantage of this and experience the music of this guy. He is tremendous!

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POSTED IN: Christian Album Reviews, Christian Music Lyrics, Christian Music Songs, Christian Music Videos, Independent Christian Artists, Male Vocalists

15 opinions for Album Review "Deconstruction" by Justin McRoberts

  • justin
    Jun 16, 2008 at 9:25 am

    Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you like the record and are willing to share your voice with the masses. When you make it to a show be sure to introduce yourself.

    Justin

  • Jason Bean
    Jun 16, 2008 at 9:26 am

    I absolutely will! Looks like the closest you’ll be to me is Bluffton, OH. Maybe I’ll have to organize a Christian Music Fan artist showcase over here in Indianapolis soon.

  • wtgm3
    Jun 16, 2008 at 10:37 am

    Thanks for this review, Jason. You happen to be a namesake of my son, :-) . And Justin, this sounds great! I’m partial to the guitar as my brother also plays it, teaches it, and has done many an accompaniment for other artists on their albums. I love the comparison to Jason Castro, as he is my favorite of Idol’s season 7. I look forward to seeing both you, Justin, and Jason C. do well.

  • Elaine
    Jun 16, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    hi jason, i read your review bc i have a google alert for jason castro. i like your plain no-nonses review and bc of it am now loading the above youtube. will get back to you with comments, could take a awhile as i have dial up. i’m gonna listen bc of castro. i found him to be the most unique character ever on american idol. for the first time in years i’m liking music again. so, if there is anything out there that comes close well it’s worth checking out.
    peace love
    elaine

  • Elaine
    Jun 16, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    okay, i listened. WOW
    headed over to yutube. adding your page to my favorites. also passing the link to friends. go justin.

  • Jason Bean
    Jun 16, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    Glad you liked what you heard Elaine! Stay tuned for more reviews coming later tonight and tomorrow hopefully.

  • Stephanie
    Jun 16, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    Another Jason Castro fan here…actually I think Jason is quite talented, particularly considering the fact that he’s only been singing for 2 years. FYI, Jason is also a strong Christian himself and has spoken publicly about that.
    I listened to Justin because of your comparison to Jason and I agree, Justin is also very talented. It’s definately a similar “folksy” style and Justin’s voice sounds very deep and rich. Will listen to more of his material now. Thanks.

  • Hanna
    Jun 16, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    Justin is obviously very talented. I must say, though, that for me Jason Castro is the one whose music I play all day long and whose voice I love more than anyone else’s. I don’t think it’s so OBVIOUS that Justin is more talented than Jason. That’s a matter of opinion…your opinion. ;) Listen to Jason’s Studio Versions of the songs he performed on AI; you may be pleasantly surprised.

  • Linda
    Jun 17, 2008 at 1:34 am

    I,too, received a Google Alert because Jason Castro was mentioned in this Review.
    I played the You Tube clip of Justin McRoberts and in my opinion, he does have a good voice and he plays the guitar very well. Like Jason Castro, he seems to connect emotionally to his songs and doesn’t feel the need to “belt” to be heard. They are both easy on the ears.
    I would also encourage you to go to You Tube and play the *Studio* versions of Jason Castro’s songs. Just do a search for “Jason Castro Studio”. Frankly, in my opinion many of the Studio songs (such as “I Don’t Want to Cry”, “Traveling Thru”, “Over the Rainbow”, “Forever in Blue Jeans” and “Tambourine Man”) could be played on the radio right now and his live performance of “Hallelujah” was breathtaking both times he did it. Jason actually counts his church’s music worship leaders as his mentors and calls them “geniouses”, he & his family also asked church leaders to “commission” him at his Homecoming (with 15,000 people in attendance) so that he can be used to spread the word of God and love through his music…there’s a lot more to Jason Castro than just what you saw on American Idol!

  • Casey
    Jun 17, 2008 at 9:19 am

    Hi,

    Thank you for this review. I have become very interested in the Christian music genre after listenening to Jason Castro on American Idol. I had discovered that he had done a couple of Christian music covers on youtube. I saw a link to your review on one of his message boards and I must say that I am really impressed with Justin’s voice and I do see the folky similiarity between the two of them. I will certainly check out more of Justin’s music.I hope to see a review of Jason’s cd on here when it comes out.In the meantime, I think you’d be pleasantly surprised by some of Jason’s studio versions on youtube. Mr. Tambourine Man is excellent.

  • Jason Bean
    Jun 17, 2008 at 10:27 am

    I’ve got to checkout the music by Jason Castro on YouTube now. Can’t believe all the great comments I’ve heard about him through this post. Don’t want to detract at all from Justin’s work though. Always a good thing to get introduced to two great artists with one shot right?

  • Patty
    Jun 17, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Another Jason Castro fan here. Jason has gotten me listening to music again. I had not heard an artist I could connect to in decades and spent most of my time listening to Classic Rock. I listen to his music every day because he touches my heart and soul with his emotional performances. I like what you have here by Justin and will check out more of his music. I am impressed with the Christian music I have been exposed to by my interest in Jason and plan to check out more of it.

  • Julia
    Jun 17, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    Was alerted to the mention of Jason Castro on this site and came on over to check it out. I listen exclusively to Christian music, big fan of Chris Rice, Chris Sligh, Stephen Curtis Chapman and am definitely liking Justin… I have never watched American Idol until this year when I was flipping through the channels and there was a voice that made me stop everything around me just so I could listen…. Needless to say did some digging and found out why Jason Castro sings with such passion, he proclaims Jesus Christ as his saviour. Hopefully one day you will be writing about his cd’s and telling the world what a great guy he is… Enjoyed all the videos on you tube…. You have gained Justin a new fan….

  • Debbie
    Jun 17, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    Another huge Jason Castro fan here who was made aware of this review through some friends… Looks like I may have found another talent to listen to in Justin…I like his style of music from what I am hearing. Thanks for the review.

  • Paul
    Aug 3, 2008 at 8:36 am

    Thanks for your blog God bless you ! :)

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