Listening to Luke Spehar’s new album is like coming home to a place just ever so gently removed from your heart. There are moments on The Pilgrim that are evocative of a time not so far removed from our daily life when our toiling was done in the daylight, heads laid down only when darkness fell and sometimes your faith was the only thing that held you up. Spehar wholeheartedly takes you on his personal pilgrimage with an album that joyously awakens those places of the past that need to be stirred in order to propel one forward on the path towards fulfillment.
It is nearly impossible to write about the album without first acknowledging the sheer beauty of it musically. The phenomenal guitar alone is worth giving it a listen! Spehar worked with Matt Patrick at The Library to create an album that hits all the high marks–honest, heartfelt lyrics, in turns striking acoustic numbers along with catchy, clap your hands and stomp your feet tracks. Vocally, Spehar is wonderful, if you need a comparison think Jack Johnson.
On the album Spehar balances his faith–he very nearly went into the Priesthood–with raising a young family, being married and creating music that stirs the soul. Both “Love Songs and Lullabies” and “Time With You” are exceptional examples of love and redemption that gently reminds us the gifts that await once we take stock of our priorities. From Luke himself the album was inspired by: “those I love, spirituality and the concept of life as a gift and journey”. He also notes that marrying the love of his life and fatherhood are among his greatest adventures. Here’s more on Spehar’s journey:
The album also tackles some challenging spiritual issues. “Which Road” and the more evangelistic “Joshua” deal with the biggest obstacle of all–ourselves. For Spehar it deals with the question of surrendering to his faith, but that doesn’t isolate the album from those who are not in his shoes religiously. Spirituality in our lives can look like so many things, from the everyday to the sublime. The album celebrates that faith and elevates it.
Spehar will celebrate the release of The Pilgrim at The O’Shaughnessy Auditorium this Friday April 20th. Tickets here.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-pilgrim/1328688316
~By Rebecca Marx
Photo Credit Dan Rippl
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