ORPHAN PROJECT

3.5 stars. My last review for 2009 and i've struggled with the rating for this one.I very much liked their debut "Orphan Found" both the concept and the music,in fact the "Classic Rock Society" claimed it was the best debut by a U.S. band since SPOCK'S BEARD's "The Light".Here we are 5 years later and they've increased the heaviness quite a bit.What we get is song after song of heavy,melodic and very catchy music,almost like listening to hit after hit.I kept thinking of NICKELBACK because like that band this album stays with a formula that is heavy but radio friendly hard rock if you will. And that's the only negative for me but it's a big one. The piano and drums stand out in the intro of "Reach".It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes and the vocals follow.I like the guitar here.Piano ends it. "Angels Desire" is heavier as the vocals come in quickly.The vocals are deep and the guitar is prominant especially after 3 minutes. "Fallen" is catchy with the guitar out front until it settles with piano.Reserved vocals join in.It gets fuller as contrasts continue. "One Dark Moment(Providence)" is heavy with some organ this time.Very catchy too. "My Goodness" opens with piano as reserved vocals join in.It's fuller before 2 minutes.Strings to end it.I like the lyrics on this one. "Head On Your Platter" kicks in heavily quickly.Lots of bottom end.I like the mood here.Strings before 4 minutes then it's heavy to end it. "Empty Me" features prominant piano,guitar and vocals.It settles before 3 1/2 minutes briefly then kicks back in. "The Battle Rages On" is heavy and uptempo.We get a childrens choir singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" at one point.Lots of piano when it kicks back in. "Spooning Out The Sea" is really the only laid back tune although it does get fuller.Nice guitar after 3 minutes. Also missing for me on this one is that emotional element that i felt on the debut.Good album though.

Shane Lankford is the inspiration behind the ORPHAN PROJECT. Shane was an orphan himself and was fortunate enough to be adopted into a loving home.Yet he still questioned his identity,that is until he found God.The first person he thanks in the liner notes is "his father,who art in heaven". This album is really a look at Shane's life from birth to eternity.I have to say that this album is inspiring,moving,melodic,heavy and very well done.His vocals remind me of Marco from SYLVAN,yes they are outstanding.Oh i wanted to mention as well that another band i'm a fan of VISUAL CLIFF, which originally was an instrumental Jazz/Fusion band has enlisted Shane on vocals for their last two albums. "Coming Into View I : Discovering New Surroundings" is a top three tune that opens with sounds that build into a melody.Nice guitar when it comes in and turns heavy.Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes as it settles.It kicks back in as contrasts continue.Aggressive guitar before 5 minutes then it settles with piano then kicks back in with vocals.More great guitar to end it. "Chosen" pictures Shane at the orphanage seeing his friends being chosen and hoping that one day his turn will come.It opens with the sound of a music box and door being opened before acoustic and electric guitars and drums come in.Vocals follow.Some violin and organ in this one as well.It ends as it began with the music box. "Full But Lonely" kicks in quickly and hard.Vocals before a minute.A good heavy tune. "Leaving My Seat At The Table" is another top three for me.Piano and strings to start before drums and guitar join in.A nice heavy sound before a minute as he cries out "Mother!... Father!...".Violins after 4 1/2 minutes. "Trickle Down" opens with synths.Vocals a minute in.It kicks in as contrasts continue between the mellow and powerful. "Coming Into View II : Encircling Arms Of The Father" features some outstanding guitar and synths early.Vocals after a minute.Great sound on the chorus.The guitar lights it up before 4 minutes. "See What He Sees" is the other top three tune.Piano to open as strings join in then reserved vocals.All i can say is "gulp". So beautiful and moving.These lyrics are inspired. "Orphan Found" is heavy duty then the vocals come in as it settles.Great sound when it kicks back in.Contrasts continue.Strings in this one too.Ripping guitar 4 minutes in. "Parts As One" has this bright and happy intro.Vocals and a fuller sound follow.This is incredible! "Paupers Unfulfilled" continues with the piano,strings and vocals and contrasts.Great tune. "Coming Into View III : Gazing Down On Golden Streets" opens with the sound of synths and waves both washing in.Reserved vocals before a minute.Check out the lyrics here.This has to be a top three track too.Words about seeing God for the first time,hearing him for the first time,touching him for the first time.I like to dream about that too. "Outro: Wondrous Love" ends as it should with no words,just vocal melodies from a choir and piano.No words as it ends with the sound of those waves washing in.

Spooning out the Sea is the peculiar title of the sophomore effort by Orphan Project, a US based Christian progressive rock outfit.

For those intimidated by the thought of music with Christian lyrical contents, in this case they aren't too bad. You will encounter a few instances of God and Jesus in here, but you won't find any instances of "Repent you sinners" or messages of a similar nature. These guys take pride in their faith though, but in a more subtle manner than most artists flying the religious flag.

Musically we're treated to an album residing somewhere in between progressive hard rock and progressive metal. Heavy guitar riffs dominate manners, but often played in a too slow fashion and somewhat too subdued to truly be called metal, yet slightly heavier and more intense than what's usually described as hard rock.

Synths, piano and organ adds details, and a few nukbrs with an electronic-sounding guitar further variety. Strong and distinct moods throughout, and generally good songs. Personally I find My Goodness to be the best of the bunch, a brilliant number on an otherwise solid release. And a venture well worth seeking out by hard rock and metal fans alike, as long as sophisticated music of a progressive variety is of interest and the lyrical contents isn't regarded as problematic.

SPOONING OUT THE SEA is the type of album that any good music lover will make audition after audition and will discover new amazing and attractive things about it each time!It's rare in today's music to have the feeling that you are listening some music made not to prove some technical abbilities or any sparkin demonstration,but music that comes from the soul and it's passionated and full of emotions!This is the feeling thet you have after listening SPOONING OUT THE SEA!From REACH until the last song of the album ,the so superbe title track,not any minute or even second of musical boredom ...au contraire,how the French are saying...you have the sensation of a very well done music made,and Shane's voice,especially is so personal and unique and offers to the listener the feeling that this man.this band has a story to tell indeed... that ORPHAN PROJECT delivers some intelligent and pure musical message to the world!Technically speaking the music is excellent too and the musicians in the band are very skilled and masters on their instruments!!!The sound is so beautiful and the artwork is simply superbe!The lyrics are so wonderful and intense and EMPTY ME seems to be a true masterpiece indeed,one of the most beautiful songs ever composed...intense,profound,even painful in it's message.Music is such a noble art and ORPHAN PROJECT brings his contribution to enrich a musical genre thet still has many things to say when it's made with burning passion for a true art! ORPHAN PROJECT has a huge potential and I am sure that many albums will delight us in the future!Pay attention to an amazing band with a wonderful message to tell ,a surprisingly strong message,attitude and possibilities and you won't be dissapointed at all. SENSATIONAL ALBUM!!! 5 STARS WELL DESERVED!

This is a very personal album from Shane. He was an orphan himself and the story of a child searching the truth about his origin is fully autobiographic. This album is full of melancholy during "Chosen". But believe me, this is an extremely vigourous album.

If you exclude the vocals, a song as "Coming Into View" is rather Crimsonesque (what an influent band !). Dark, complex, superb guitar riffs definitely influenced by Fripp. Very heavy. All mighty. An extremely violent song. But most of the album will be very powerful. Closer to prog-metal than anything else. Of course, some violins will add a special Kansas mood here and there, but really for short breaks only. Actually, "See What He Does" will even adopt the acoustic mood of Kansas. A bit mellow but an exceptional violin duo will give it another dimension.

Arena is not very far away when you listen to the power of the title track. At this time of the record, one has to agree that their vocalist / leader has a beautiful voice : melodic, catchy, profound and emotional (the theme of this album must definitely encourage him to be so poignant). "Ophan Found" is another great track (but so far, nothing weak can be found).

Another quiet moment follows. "Parts as One" will bring some welcome tranquility and melancholy again. It would have been hard to go on with such a tempo. For the first itme, two slow songs will appear side by side. Of course, during the chorus for "Paupers Unfulfilled" the volume will raise quite substantially but the general sensation is a good rock ballad.

The third piece suite "Coming Into View" is spread over the entire album. Total lenght : over eighteen minutes. Wild and almost neo-prog flavours during the first movement; it is a great opening number. It sets the pace for most of the album. This is not a quiet album for sure. The second movement "Encircling Arms Of The Father" has some "Watcher Of The Skies" feeling during the intro. But how many times have it already been the case ? It is probably the poppiest and catchiest song of the whole. Very nice melody. It is not the best song according my taste, but very pleasant. It breaks a bit the overall style and it features some great guitar work as well.

Third movement, "Gazing Down The Golden Street" is the slowest part. At times, you'll get the impression to listen to Mark II Marillion. It is the weakest song of the album (would you believe ?).

The very short closing number features some great choir and this is a wonderful goodbye.

This is a very good album that would deserve more recognition and exposure. Almost no reviews on this site. I really invite you to give it a try and to share your comments about this work. Please, do me this favour.

Four stars.

simply kick ass, I would be delighted to see these guy's live, or find thir album. Truly a leap in originality for the vocals and musical meshing. It's nice to hear hardcore talent used where it should be. As a huge fan of prog rock I can tell you guy's are really going to turn some heads. Your somthing diffeent, your talented, and you tell a story through song.

This is a fantastic album. For those of us with a taste for the music of older greats like Yes, Kansas, Peter Gabriel and the like, as well as newer styles and artists like Dream Theater and so on, Orphan Project is a creative blend and welcome addition to our CD collections. While one song is a little subpar, "Parts as One," the other ten more than make up for it and "Chosen" and "Pauper's Unfulfilled" are both good enough that for their sakes alone you should buy this album.

I can't stop listening to this masterpiece. You won't find vocals like this in any other prog outfit. This guy is an original. Not operatic, yet very appealing and original. The music does have a Christian overtone, which I don't mind a bit as my life has a Christian overtone. The story of one man's struggle with becoming an orphan and finding a family. A true story nonetheless. Thanks guys for this brilliant part of my music repitoire.