A Review of Royal Tailor's debut album - 'Black and White'

So…you all know how I am Jason Castro’s biggest fan.  Well, he’s a solo artist.

So now I’m introducing you to the band that I am the biggest fan of.  There are three things that make me like a band.  #1 – The lead singer’s voice.  #2 – The lyrics of the songs.  #3 – The music.

Royal Tailor has surpassed all of my standards for each of those categories.  Seriously, people, I.love.these.guys!!

Ladies and gents...

 Royal Tailor

The first song I heard by them was ‘Hold Me Together’.  I loved it!  And my bro got it free on iTunes.

THEN…I liked them so much, I looked them up on YouTube and watched their ‘Make A Move’ music video.  Loved them even more!

The last straw was after hearing their ‘Black and White’ song – another one that my bro got free.

And when I say ‘last straw’, I mean that in a good way.  I heard those three songs and I was completely sold out on their music!!

And just a couple days ago…I made myself a very happy person by buying their debut album: ‘Black and White’.  Hello, people!!

And this is my review for that CD…

(Oh, and I’m planning on writing a post on them soon…just, like, all about them!  Keep an eye out for it ;)

Death of Me –

This song is about salvation.  About God rescuing us from our sinful selves and making us see that ‘living is worth dying for’.  We die to our old selves…and are made anew in Christ.

Make A Move –

Okay, they seriously knew what they were talking about, when they named this song.  As soon as it starts, I just feel myself moving.  Almost subconsciously!  You can’t help but start dancing to this song.  I’m gonna write the first verse and chorus out for you here because honestly…I can’t say it any better. :)

‘Mr. Good Intentions, so much I wanna do.  My mouth just keeps on running.  But I never follow through.  I heard that true religion is love with hands and feet.  I wanna find my own way.  To reach a world in need.  I’ve been captured by the unimportant .  Locked in and now it’s time to break free.  (CHORUS) There’s more to life.  Open my eyes.  Someone is needing you.  So I gotta make a move. What good are words.  When this world hurts.  Real faith will come through.  When I make a move.’

Seriously, people, this is a TRUE message!  And one that we all need to hear.

Oh, and check out this rad music video!  I know I’ve posted it before, but just watch it again. ;)  I love all the dancing!!  There are a couple people who aren’t necessarily ‘dancers’…but Tauren is amazing!  I wanna get that good!!! haha

Freefall –

This song talks about how having faith in God is everything.  Even when we’re hanging over the edge of our choices…if it is a choice and decision that we know is right in God’s eyes, He is holding us. 

‘I don’t know how or when.  But I believe that You’ll come through.  Lord, I’m trusting You.  Can’t wait to see what You will do.’

Control –

Okay, so you know how you can hear a song over and over again, but you don’t actually get it until you read the lyrics?  That’s what happened to me today when I heard this song.  I was listening to it and heard a part that I was like ‘Did he just say what I think he said?’  So I grabbed the cover out of the case and flipped through till I found the lyrics.  I was blown away with what I found!  It made me love these guys even more!!

This song is about how this world is making us live up to their standards by all the secular music that artists are producing so rapidly – and that are hitting the #1 charts.  As Christians, we will not let them take control of us.

And I LOVE how these guys wrote this song, because they take phrases or titles from top secular songs in today’s world and squeeze them into these lyrics.  Here are some examples:

‘This world is ra ra.  In a bad romance, going ga ga.’

‘Life is short, baby, tik tok.  Ain’t got no time for your blah blah.’

‘No teenage dream could ever be worth your soul.’

Okay, none of you have to be told where those are from!

And then they do this awesome comeback in the chorus:  ‘We won’t go with the flow.  We’ve got to stand together.  It’s all plastic and I won’t be a fake.  It’s all static, every word that they say.  We won’t let them take control.  Won’t let them take control.’

Gravity (Pulling Heaven Down) –

I love how this song starts out slow and calm.  But it slowly speeds up (not a lot!), but it has some really good rap in it.  And…it’s just a great combination/flow. 

‘Gravity found us a Savior. Put him on earth so He could save us.  No love, no force is greater.  Heaven meets earth, that’s the gravity of love.’

And this song ends really cool too!!  There’s a short pause, and then all of a sudden…well, I won’t tell you.  You’ll just have to listen to it ;)

Hold Me Together –

Okay, warning!!  This song is REALLY, REALLY catchy!!!! :)  Another thing I like about these guys…

And whenever I hear it, I just begin praising God.  I have my own little worship moment of about 3 minutes.  I’m serious!  You come into my room while I’m blasting this song, and you will find me lifting my hands and crying.

This chorus basically says is all: ‘Can You hold me together?  Can Your love reach down this far?  Can You hold me together?  ‘Cause without You holding my heart I’m falling apart.’

LORD, without You, I can’t live.  Please come down and hold my heart.  I give You my life.  You are why I live.  You are the Holder of my heart.

Wannabe –

No, this isn’t like the ‘oh, he’s a Keith Urban wannabe’. Haha :)  This is about being who we ‘wannabe’ because our identity is ‘in the One Who came to set me free’.  Thank you, Jesus!

Black and White –

We are so lost without God.  We have caused Him so much pain.  We need clarity.  We need His Spirit to lead us.  ‘I’ve been locked in this maze for so long.  Show me the way back home.  Open my eyes to see You.’

There’s a part in this song that is SOO amazing!!  And just goes to show you how amazing God has made Tauren’s voice!!  The first time that he says ‘Truth’s all I want, all I want is You’ (in the bridge), he shakes his voice and it’s like, seriously, so amazing!!  I literally squealed when I heard it the first time!  (No, I’m not joking!  Ask Noah :P haha) 

Run To Love –

This is such a sweet song.  Just telling the world that there is hope in the arms of love.  God is just waiting for us to turn to Him for healing and comfort.  We must run to love.

Hope –

I love the piano in this song!  Just sayin’ ;)

I really, really like songs that can relate to any and all of us.  ‘Hope’ is one of those songs. 

‘This life is a struggle.  And you’re so far ‘cause you’ve been running and you put trust in all of the wrong things.’

Love Is Here –

I’m guessing that they wrote this song for someone, because it starts out ‘Henry, you’ve been waiting and now this day has arrived…’  I like it when artists make songs personal.  (It reminds me of the one Francesca wrote to ‘Emily’.) 

‘Love is here (no matter where you are).  Love is here (you can’t escape).  Love is here (it’s more than we deserve).  Love is here (you keep hearing these words).  Love is here.’

So yeah…go and buy their album NOW!! :)  Hope you enjoyed this review and that is was helpful.

I’m just going to end by reminding you all of the #89 wish on my bucket list:

‘To sing with Royal Tailor’

Tauren is one of the few Christian artists that I can sing along perfectly with!!