Canopy Red

4 out of 5 stars.
Totaling about 20 minutes, Canopy Red introduces its first album (titled by its own name) in extended play (longer format than singles but shorter than full length albums) with only five tracks. The "EP" in the album's name Yes, it's short, but extremely sweet. The four members from Tallahassee, Florida have a heartfelt passion for the gospel, which is relevant from the first to the last lyric in their songs.

Lead singer Forrest Krazit has an astounding voice with stable pitch and meshed consonants that blend perfectly with the guitars, especially in their last track, "Why Would You." My only disappointment is that he didn't make fuller use of his vocal range, especially on the faster, poppy, "Falling Apart".

The band's most prominent song, "All Around Me," matches its theme with Canopy Red's passion, being sheltered in Jesus' love. Forrest needs no background singers-he has the talent to take control without overshawdowing the instrumentals.

The band has a lot of growth and developing to do, especially if they want to stand out from similar sounds like Relient K. But Canopy Red's shortcomings are all fixable, and the young group has plenty of talent and energy to make that happen. I look forward to future albums with greater variety, and maybe a few more songs. - OnCourse Magazine, Matt Smith

The boys that make up the band Canopy Red, Forrest Krazit-vocals, Joshua Schmidt-guitar, Nicholas Cleary-bass and Ryan Harvell-drummer must really like rocking it out while shinning a light on the way we can mess up yet find redemption in Christ. From the first opening of this CD these guys go at it with a fierceness that is undeniable. The title track "Falling Apart" is a hard hitting, drum pounding song that sings of how we try to mask our mess but end up "falling apart" doing it. They slow it down with the track "All Around Me" which once again focuses on how God surrounds us even when we have done wrong. Finally they end it with the questioning "Why Would You" again another song about straying and coming back to God. Seems like these guys deal with repentance constantly...I would love to hear a little happy song on here but maybe that just isn't their style. You can check these guys out at www.canopyred.com. - BellaOnline, Candace Walker, Christian Music Editor

Like a lot of Christian bands Canopy Red was birthed out of a church praise band. The four teenagers from Tallahassee, Florida were signed by Nashville-based Creative Soul Records and now they're ready to release their self-titled 5-song EP.

The band list musical groups like Sanctus Real, Relient K, Switchfoot, Coldplay and the Fray as some of their musical influences.

Canopy Red's members hope to target their music's message to their peers. Band drummer Ryan Harvell says, "It's written for Christians, primarily teenagers through young adults. Within the songs, we want to convey God's plans are always way better than anything that the world has to offer."

Band bassist Nick Cleary adds, "We want to show more people, both save and unsaved, what it means to live under the shelter of Christ's blood."

This 5-song EP offers up a nice mixture of up-tempo and more melodic track to give you a full flavor of the band's music. Things start off with "Falling Apart", the most up-tempo track found on the EP. The song's lyrics are about trying to hide your sins from God and the more you try doing things on your own the more they fall apart. But the good news is that because of God's grace you don't have to do it on your own. This song is also the first single released from the EP.

Track 2-"All Around Me" is a mid-tempo song that starts off with a piano part joined by controlled guitar and drum beats. The song is about God's forgiveness and that no matter how many times we turn our back on Him or try to run away, God is still there watching over us.

Track 3-"True" is a mid-tempo rock song featuring a nice guitar solo. Track 4-"Sorry" starts out as a piano ballad then about halfway through it picks up the pace and mixes in a guitar solo. The song talk about God's grace for us even though we don't deserve it.

Track 5-"Why would you", takes this EP in a whole new direction with its rich, orchestral sting (violin, viola, cello) parts. The song talks about straying from God and wanting to draw close to Him again and not understanding how after all that you've done why He's still willing to take you back.

This self-titles EP from Canopy Red works well at showcasing the band's talent, offering up nice heaping spoonfuls of the band's music goodness through the five songs that are found on it. - C. W Ross, Christian Rockers Online

Four young men infatuated with music and the covering of Christ's blood. What better name than Canopy Red? These four bring the rock with Falling Apart, a song that illustrates every Christians continually rising pile of debt to God. It is seldom that we groups come out this polished, but polished they are. Unique in more than name only, Canopy Red shows that they can come through with music, vocals, and lyrics. In 'Sorry' they speak of asking forgiveness and repenting. As most of us do, they have come to a realization of what they have become and have brought themselves back to the feet of God. It is something we, as Christians, should do each day. None of us are immune from sin, only forgiven. Canopy Red has a bright future on the Christian music stage. - Crosswayz Music Reviews

With its modern rock approach coupled with piano pop tendencies, Canopy Red evokes the Fray or the Afters, while singing of personal shortcomings and a message of grace. - Andy Argyrakis, Christianity Today Magazine