Stars Go Dim, the Christian pop musician born Chris Cleveland, has released fourth studio album, Roses under Curb Records. The 11-song album represents a new step in his musical direction, a combination of the past and the present, an ancient sound in modern pop music.
Through the lead track, an upbeat song titled Mama Don t Lie (Alright) to the heartfelt Good Days, the album takes its listeners through a soul revival. Using real instruments–pianos, guitars, horns, strings and drums–they recorded them live in studio getting it in a groove-heavy 70s sound. This makes Roses very human and very real to the point of emotion being carved into each note.
Cleveland also maintains a contemporary pop sound but the songs have the opportunity to breathe more than the standard radio fare. The outcome is music that is very intimate without sacrificing any conventionality or sound-quality.
The underlying great theme in Roses is who in actual life is God? This is the question Cleveland wrote every song with, and he had his co-writers ask themselves the same, basically how God presents himself in the smallest and even biggest things in our life. Songs such as Discover God, A Little Light and Jesus Works all have a real and natural approach towards exploring faith and trust, and that God can frequently be found in the mundane.
“Roses” stands as the title song and one of the standout songs along with the reflective song “Your Song” and the playful one called “G.I.R.L. (God in Real Life).” Collectively they depict a story of hope, joy, and authenticity.
With Roses, Stars Go Dim provides more than just memorable tunes, he provides a beautiful compilation of songs that help us see that God is always there, ready and willing to be seen in even the slightest of times.
