I didn’t own a CD player until my senior year of high school. I was strictly a cassette tape guy for a long time. I had friends with CD players, and I remember going through their collections, admiring the silver disks in their jewel cases, the larger liner notes that I could actually read without squinting. And the sound quality? So much better1
Before I even bought a CD player, I started buying up my own collection. I could have bought albums that I already had, sort of upgrading, but I didn’t. I think because I figured, if I have an album on tape, why buy the CD? Solid logic from a teenager, if you ask me.
One of the CD’s I bought was Circle Slide by the Choir. I’d never heard the music of The Choir before, but they were listed as “Christian Alternative”, and I just knew I would enjoy them. I was right.
Once I had a CD player, I think I had about ten CDs. Circle Slide was the first one that I played, and it became an instant favorite. With poetry that played with metaphor better than anyone, a wall of guitar, percussion that was all over the place (in a good way), and the occasional saxaphone, listening to Circle Slide is a 39 minute journey through every emotion you can think of - sadness (“A Sentimental Song”), Laughter (“Laugh Loop”), regret (“Restore my Soul”), and love (“Tear for Tear”/”About Love”).
I come back to the latter song often. They are listed as seperate tracks, but I really feel like they are one song. “Tear for Tear” is a short contract between a man and his wife - “I’ll try to trade you grin for grin/and tear for tear”2 - and it’s one that I try to keep in mind in my own marriage.
If you were to listen to this album, you would hear excellent rock music first, and then, you’ll get hit with its faith infused poetry. It’s beautiful art, reflecting a beautiful Creator. I highly recommend it.
I know vinyl has made a much deserved comeback in recent years; the sound quality is unmatched, and it’s cool to have a shelf full of records if you have the storage space. But for the life of me, I don’t think I can wrap my head around the resurgence of cassette tapes. Cassette tapes, and their forerunner, the eight-track, are easily the crappiest listening experience when it comes to music. Multiple plays wear the tape down to the point that the songs are unrecognizable from their original recordings. I can’t believe how long I stuck with tapes.
Steve Hindalong, the primary lyricist for The Choir, echoed this line in the song “House of Blues”, from their 2018 album Bloodshot. While “Tear for Tear” was a promise to his wife, a vow to try to be the best husband possible, “House of Blues” use of the same line, “I’ll trade you, tear for tear”, is as tragic as it is beautiful, describing the painful end of his marriage.
That's funny, I'm posting Circle Slide this Friday.😉
Truly A great Album . My CD got lost in a move (along with many others) and I was searching for a digital copy to buy when i came across your blog. You might want to consider another classic that appeared 9 years later,
Chasing Furies
their one and only self titled album.
Also good on you standing up for the truth (your next post)