The Boy Vs. the Cynic (CD)

John Reuben sounds like he just doesn’t care anymore. This is still the John Reuben fans know and love, but on his fourth Gotee release he’s decided to throw some artistic caution to the wind. Where he used to spike his hip-hop with a little alt-rock, Reuben now pushes the envelope of hip-hop until it tears. Songs are dominated by live alt-rock riffs, acoustic guitars, electronic flairs and Reuben’s spoken word/rap style delivery.

The disc starts out in somewhat classic Reuben form, joyfully sloughing off popular opinion on “Out of Control.” He continues to pull new listeners into his world with the clap-happy, lite punk-rock swing of the “Nuisance” (featuring Matt Thiessen of Relient K). Once they are in, Reuben then hits listeners with some of the most unflinching, emotionally charged, socially incisive title tracks heard on a Christian label.

“Follow Your Leader” drops a refreshing verbal smackdown on both media wonks who pigeonhole all Christians as wackos and the hardline conservatives that fit the description. The standout track, “Sales Pitch,” cuts even further, exposing the human tendency toward emotional dishonesty, amidst Radiohead-like blips and swirls. In a time when American Christians are starting to respond with conviction to global geopolitics, Reuben bares his thoughts and his fangs on the wake-up call “What About Them?” And lest he be dismissed as simply an adolescent rabble-rouser, “There’s Only Forgiveness” and “All I Have” display a level of honesty and a godly heart that only comes with experience and maturity.

At times too tame, at times too “out there,” The Boy vs. the Cynic does have some style and delivery kinks. Reuben will probably gain and lose fans on this one, but he doesn’t seem too concerned. These are just the things that happen when an artist makes one of the most interesting and provocative releases of the year.

ANTHONY BARR-JEFFREY

Review Provided by CCMmagazine.com